Al Stewart "Past, Present, & Future" (New 5.1 surround mix from Stephen W Tayler!)

[GOS]

And now, what you have all been waiting for...the announcement that my copy has arrived.

Seriously, the package is must larger than I had expected. I thought we'd get something much more compact considering that there are no LPs in this set.

If I recall, this is the same size as both previous Stewart box sets.

 

[ar surround]

If I recall, this is the same size as both previous Stewart box sets.

Just checked. Indeed it is the same as the previous two sets. But three of the discs in my set had become dislodged and were sliding around inside the sleeve. I don't see any obvious physical damage to the Bluray. I hope it plays OK.

 

[LuvMyQuad]

Just checked. Indeed it is the same as the previous two sets. But three of the discs in my set had become dislodged and were sliding around inside the sleeve. I don't see any obvious physical damage to the Bluray. I hope it plays OK.

All 4 of mine came loose. All you'd have to do is tip the box upside down and they just fall out of the slots they are in.

 

[GOS]

I think I can beat you all, though I didn't take a picture, you know what sort of packaging the box came in (USPS I mean). Mine arrived and it was 100% unsealed. Not taped!!! I cannot believe the set arrived at all without either being lost or someone with sticky fingers simply stealing it.

 

[Scott M4]

I think I can beat you all, though I didn't take a picture, you know what sort of packaging the box came in (USPS I mean). Mine arrived and it was 100% unsealed. Not taped!!! I cannot believe the set arrived at all without either being lost or someone with sticky fingers simply stealing it.

People stealing CDs is such a non-issue these days.

 

[LuvMyQuad]

I've played parts of this 2x now. I'm stunned at how great the mix is and how it opens the soundstage. The LP and CD versions have always had So-So sonics. Sonics are improved here and separating out the instruments of the sometimes dense production is noticable. Especially the keyboards.

I haven't listened to any of the CDs yet, but it's nice to have the bonus track.in 5.1. I could have done without the book and trinkets. Just more crap I'll never use collecting dust.

The only negative so far is the weird packaging.

 

[cbmmm3]

damn you all. read all the hype - and ordered yesterday. I should have known better - Afterall its SWT !!

 

[sjcorne]

I'm stunned at how great the mix is and how it opens the soundstage.

How do you rate it in comparison to Parsons' YOTC and Time Passages 5.1 mixes?

 

[SomethingAnything]

How do you rate it in comparison to Parsons' YOTC and Time Passages 5.1 mixes?

Great question. I'm expecting it to be better.

 

[LuvMyQuad]

How do you rate it in comparison to Parsons' YOTC and Time Passages 5.1 mixes?

Great question. I'm expecting it to be better.

I would say the mix is even more discrete where it can be. Some of this album is sparse, instrumentally, but every track offers something. The busier tracks are awesome. From the book, it looks like they used 16 Track to record this. Tayler had plenty to work with.

The sonics are analog like warm. YOTC was too bright. I thought TP was fine.

It's a tough call. This is easily as good as the Parsons stuff. It might be more adventurous than the Parsons releases. I am more partial to the material on PP&F though.

 

[ar surround]

The sonics are analog like warm. YOTC was too bright. I thought TP was fine.

That is great news regarding the sonics. I figured that SWT would apply some TLC in that regard.

 

[DisneySpirit]

If I recall, this is the same size as both previous Stewart box sets.

That is correct!

 

[DisneySpirit]

It's a Blu-ray?! That's new for this series!

Yes! The 2 previous box sets had DVDs.

 

[ar surround]

At least I am making progress on album. I've actually unwrapped it. One more Joni box set album layer to listen to then this one is next in the cue. I'm very much looking forward to it from what I've seen of the reviews. But the Joni stuff has not disappointed.

 

[bktouchstone]

After seeing all the stellar reviews, I could not stop myself from ordering this. My impoverishment from surround purchases has made me rich.

 

[Clement]

A review (of sorts) from the second disc:
https://theseconddisc.com/2024/09/2...present-and-future-goes-deluxe-from-esoteric/

 

[Shermatz]

I recognize the album title but not the cover.
Was there a different cover for the North American market?

YES US Janus release had a striking Hipgnosis cover, later re-released on Arista. Still pretty easy to bag used, I think. NOT a gatefold, just a single-disc sleeve.
Al was really "in the zone" with this release, the following albums "Modern Times," "Year of the Cat," "Time Passages" were all his absolute pinnacle, though I hasten to add that his abundant later work was still pretty damn good. Of course during these peak '70's releases, he had Alan Parsons producing, plus top-shelf sidemen, most prominently IMO the extremely tasteful lead guitar of Tim Renwick.
My personal favorite is still "Modern Times," but over time, I've really come to appreciate "Year of the Cat" and appropriately so because of the monster hit title track & the stunning perfection of the entire album.
I always admired Al, he's certainly NOT the best singer & guitarist of the "classic rock" era, but he never let it stop him, and he still built an OUTSTANDING discography & presence as a formidable talent, even during the peak boomer surge of the '70's.

 

[Tres Discrete]

After seeing all the stellar reviews, I could not stop myself from ordering this. My impoverishment from surround purchases has made me rich.

That’s a good way to put it!