Original Album Series

As a clearly befuddled and out-of-his-depths Emperor Joseph II (played by Jeffrey Jones) tries to reply to Mozart in Milos Forman's "Amadeus" when asked if he liked Wolfgang's new symphony – the Emperor quickly babbles - "...There's too many notes! Yes that's it! Too many notes!" Mozart tries in vein to advise the clearly ignorant European deity that his masterful musical composition has absolute no superfluous notes of any kind (you twat) – but Mozart's pleas for an enlightened audience fall on deaf ears and some seriously caked-on rouge.Al Stewart is the same. His high-pitched almost effeminate voice and particularly wordy songs (like a college professor who can't stop himself giving you a history lesson - too many syllables Al) has the same effect. He's a Bovril artist - not everyone likes the Glaswegian Folky but if you do you're thinking our Alistair may very well be a misunderstood genius and then some. But what about the icky Bovril you say. I for one am down with both opinions when it comes to Al Stewart (he's good and bad). I find the first two LPs period-fey and at times unbearably hard to take - but the gorgeous Nick Drake vibe of "Zero She Flies" from 1970 has always seemed like a forgotten gem to me - and the last two LPs on RCA are simply quality work from a classy and accomplished songwriter. Here are the Small Fruit Songs...UK released January 2014 - "Original Album Series" by AL STEWART on Parlophone/Warners 2564636168 (Barcode 825646361687) is a 5CD Mini Box Set of Remasters (four are) that plays out as follows:Disc 1 "Bedsitter Images" (41:40 minutes):1. Bedsitter Images2. Swiss Cottage Manoeuvres3. The Carmichaels4. Scandinavian Girl5. Pretty Golden Hair6. Denise At 167. Samuel, Oh How You've Changed! [Side 2]8. Cleave To Me9. A Long Way Down From Stephanie10. Ivich11. Beleeka Doodle DayTracks 1 to 11 are his debut LP "Bedsitter Images" (cover has the LP title as "Bed Sitter Images" but the label and song is "Bedsitter Images") - released October 1967 in the UK on CBS Records BPG 63087 (Mono) and CBS Records S BPG 63087 (Stereo) - the STEREO version is used for this CD Remaster which was done in 2007. His debut was also reissued in June 1970 in the UK on CBS Records S 64023 with different artwork under the title "The First Album" - the card sleeve here uses the original 1967 artwork (there was no US issue).Disc 2 "Love Chronicles" (43:09 minutes):1. In Brooklyn2. Old Compton Street Blues3. The Ballad Of Mary Foster4. Life And Life Only5. You Should Have Listened To Al [Side 2]6. Love ChroniclesTracks 1 to 6 are his second studio album "Love Chronicles" - released January 1969 in the UK on CBS Records S 63460 (Stereo) and June 1970 in the USA on Epic BN 26564. The original British LP was a gatefold sleeve with a profile photo of Al in a fur coat on the front sleeve with a photo of him and his girlfriend wrapped in blanket sat on grass on the rear. The US LP in 1970 on Epic Records dropped the gatefold to a single-sleeve and reversed the cover art (him and the girl on the front and not on the rear). The card sleeve here uses the UK artwork and the 2007 CD Remaster is used.Disc 3 "Zero She Flies" (37:16 minutes):1. My Enemies Have Sweet Voices2. A Small Fruit Song3. Gethsemane, Again4. Burbling5. Electric Los Angeles Sunset6. Manuscript [Side 2]7. Black Hill8. Anna9. Room Of Boots10. Zero She FliesTracks 1 to 10 are his third studio album "Zero She Flies" - released March 1970 in the UK on CBS Records S 63848 (Stereo) - No US Issue. 2007 CD Remaster used.Disc 4 "Year Of The Cat" (39:14 minutes):1. Lord Grenville2. On The Border3. Midas Shadow4. Sand In Your Shoes5. If It Doesn't Come Naturally, Leave It6. Flying Sorcery [Side 2]7. Broadway Hotel8. One Stage Before9. Year Of The CatTracks 1 to 9 are his seventh studio album "Year Of The Cat" - released October 1976 in the UK on RCA Records RS 1082 and in the USA on Janus Records JXS 7022. Peaked at No. 38 in the UK and No. 5 in the USA.Disc 5 "Time Passages" (44:38 minutes):1. Time Passages2. Valentina Way3. Life In dark Water4. A Man For All Seasons5. Almost Lucy [Side 2]6. Palace Of Versailles7. Timeless Skies8. Song On The Radio9. End Of The DayTracks 1 to 9 are his eight studio album "Time Passages" - released September 1978 in the UK on RCA PL 25173 and in the USA on Arista AB-4190 - peaked at No. 39 in the UK and No. 10 in the USA.By now most know the gig with these 'Original Album Series' Mini Box Sets - five CD albums in single card sleeves with front and rear cover repro artwork that looks nice but is impossible to read. There's no booklet and the only real info is the track lists on the CD labels. The original gatefold sleeves of "Love Chronicles", "Zero She Flies", "Year Of The Cat" and the inner sleeve of "Time Passages" are all AWOL. The repro sleeves are best described as adequate at best and you do need to be careful of the easily crushed flimsy card slipcase that scuffs easily too.But there's good news where it matters - on the Audio front. Other reviewers have noted that the first three albums presented here - his 1967 debut "Bedsitter Images" - its follow-up "Love Chronicles" from 1969 - and the wonderful 1970 effort "Zero She Flies" are all 2007 Remasters - so the Audio is toppermost of the poppermost. His huge 1976 chart breakthrough LP "Year Of The Cat" is a 2001 Remaster - but no-one seems to know when 1978's equally melodious "Time Passages" was mastered (or remastered for that matter). As all three of the 2007 versions are deleted and costing a pretty penny ever since and the other two not easy to nail down either - this 5CD Mini Box Set with repro art card sleeves for all 5 LPs represents good value for money and a reasonable way to explore a singer well worth checking out.The first album is a victim of dates – despite great lyrics about 'panelled patterns on the door' the title track for "Bedsitter Images" is given strings and heavy-handed drums to make it bop – the results are ham-fisted. The same applies to "Pretty Golden Hair" – a forced happy-wappy vibe trying to make the song CBS chart material - while a clavinet gives "A Long Way Down From Stephanie" a sort of Simon & Garfunkel feel but not in a good way. His second studio outing pulls back on the musical clutter but goes nuts with the words. "The Ballad Of Mary Foster" is 8:02 and almost all of Side 2 is taken up with the 18:04 minutes of "Love Chronicles" - but at least that feyness that blighted the first LP is gone. Christine gets kissed at ten - joints come in in his late teens - and "Love Chronicles" does well to retain your interest for such a time. But my fave on here is the simple, sad and 'don't get things for nothing' weariness of "Old Compton Street Blues" where an impressionistic girl smiles - sadly slipping off her dress for the sailor or the clerk in one of London's most notorious haunts. The "Love Chronicles" LP was a huge leap forward but I think his next was even better."...I was playing brag in Bedlam and the doctor would not deal..." he sings on the brilliant "My Enemies Have Sweet Voices" - a funky little opener for the fab "Zero She Flies" LP from 1970. For the beginning of the decade Al Stewart seemed to have discovered his inner Funky South Kensington Donovan as the Harmonica and Georgie Fame organ Funk-Folk their way throughout the astute lyrics of "My Enemies Have Sweet Voices". As the bent-notes of a high-string acoustic chug along to an Old Grey Whistle Test Theme harmonica - Stewart sings "...I was blindside to the gutter...and Merlin happened by...asking me why do you lie down there bleeding...I answered him magician as a matter of fact...I was jumping to conclusions and one of them jumped back..." The audio on opener and the lovely follow on "A Small Fruit Song" are utterly stunning - clean and full - as the strings rattle around your speakers. In fact CBS used "A Small Fruit Song" as one of the tracks on the famous 1970 2LP label sampler "Fill Your Head With Rock" - it's acoustic simplicity as pretty as any song they had over on Nick Drake's and Cat Stevens' Island Records. An affectionate rumination on the soppiness and humanity of Jesus ("Gethsemane, Again") is followed by a gorgeous acoustic instrumental called "Burbling" which sounds like its playful-water title. "...Waiting for the ambulance and the cops to come..." come the world-weary lyrics to "Electric Los Angeles Sunset" chronicling the end of the hippy-dream as Cadillacs move snakelike through the haze of smoke from once hip cafes.His storytelling brilliance can often floor you - take the words to the Eleanor Rigby elegant "Manuscript" as he recalls an old lady remembering - "...And my grandmother sits on the beach in the days before the war...a young girl writing her diary...while time seems to pause...watching the waves as they come one by one to die on the shore...kissing the feet of England..." More acoustic dexterity comes in the shape of "Black Hill" which quickly turns into a mandolin ballad with a few short lines and then it's gone. Beautiful and sad are words to describe "Anna" - a lady listening for the echo of his foot on the stair - the sound of a man who only took flesh from her bones and left little else. It ends on a duo of accomplished acoustic songs - like Leo Kottke with words - "Room Of Boots" and "Zero She Flies" - small wonder the album made No. 40 on the UK LP charts (he wouldn't taste chart success until 1976).We then skip three albums on CBS ("Orange" in 1972, "Past, Present & Future" in 1973 and "Modern Times" in 1975) to when he signed to RCA Victor and saw his biggest chart success and the album/song he's most remembered for - 1976's "Year Of The Cat". It opens with the slow but majestic "Lord Grenville" with its 'voices on the wind' - followed by the equally sweeping piano-frantic "On The Border" with those acoustic-guitar flourishes sounding so sweet. The electric keyboard shimmer of "Midas Shadow" sounds sweet too as does the almost seaside vibe to "Sand In Your Shoes" where Al sings goodbye to his lady of the island. Side 1 ends with "It Doesn’t Come Naturally, Leave It" where some lady bends his back and many other things too. The Audio for "Flying Sorcery" is pleasingly full as he sings of a lady on the tarmac waiting for another shot at wind-in-her-hair. And then we get the big one – the full album cut of "Year Of The Cat" at 6:48 minutes with its extended piano intro – as sophisticated now as it was then.The follow-up album "Time Passages" yielded more class in the almost Pink Floyd guitar swirl of "Like In Dark Water" and that catchy title track. It's true that tracks like "A Man For All Seasons" and that other saxophone hit "Song On The Radio" could do with an Audio brush up - but the sound here is still more than acceptable. The combo of Acoustic Guitars and Strings on "End Of The Day" is impressive too.Sure the Sixties Hippy-Dip first two albums are hard to swallow nowadays - but the other three are worth the price of admission alone - especially the brilliant and unfairly forgotten "Zero She Flies" from 1970 - one for Nick Drake lovers out there."...You're on my mind...like a song on the radio..." Bovril or no - Al Stewart is a melody taste worth acquiring. Get this songsmith in your home...

This set comprises Al Stewart's first three albums (1967-70) and his two biggest hits (1976-78), so in some respects it is an odd sampling of his long and fruitful recording career. However, if you're only familiar with Al's hits of the 70s, this would be a fine and inexpensive way to hear his beginnings as one of the key figures in the 1960s British folk scene.All of the discs are in cardboard replicas of the original LP sleeves, which are very nicely done. None of the discs contain any of the bonus tracks which have appeared on other editions of these CDs, but they are all from recent masters and sound great. The original US CD of "Year of the Cat" on Arista was one of the worst-sounding CDs of a major album ever released, and so if you have the misfortune of owning that edition, then you urgently need to upgrade!The real prize here, though, which may interest those who already own an extensive library of Al Stewart recordings, is that this set includes Al's first album, "Bedsitter Images", in its original 1967 format with the original cover and track selection rather than that of the more common 1970 reissue. If, like me, you've never been willing to pay the astronomical prices commanded by the original British vinyl edition on the collectors market, here is your chance to have a nice replica of it, even including the original sleeve notes on the back cover. All in all, if this set interests you, you will probably find it to be a very worthwhile purchase.

Love it.Great addition for my collection.

This collection of Al Stewart's records is outstanding! As a long time Al fan, I was pleased with the mastering and presentation of the material. All the album covers are reproduced and color coordinated with the discs inside.Some folks will balk at the cardboard sleeves for the discs saying they cause scratches but if you are careful it won't happen. It is very similar to taking vinyl out of the cover....Finally, without regurgitating information that is easily found in the description, suffice it to say that these records by Mr. Stewart are a fine collection of his early great work. I hope they put together a second compilation of later material, but that is yet to be seen. The Original Album Series is a great new way to listen to great old music!!!BTW I saw Al Stewart not long ago and he generously autographed each one of the enclosed disc covers! Catch him live with Dave Nachmanoff if you can...

Music cd of this long time performer

Music from my childhood. Time Passages was the first 8 track tape that I ever had. My uncle gave it to me which makes it even more special. "Life in Dark Water" is one of my favorite songs. I've made sure that I've had this music with me in all forms for my whole life.

I liked 2 of the 5 CD's included.

Not my favorite folk rock artist, but this is a great deal with lots of fine music. Year of the Cat and Time Passages have the songs and sound I'm most familiar with and are still my two favorite of the five albums. A close second would be his first album which is nicely orchestrated chamber folk. Third would be Love Chronicles with the memorable "In Brooklyn" and the memorably epic title song. "Zero She Flies" is the rawest, most unadorned album and to me the least noteworthy. Overall, this is distinctive, sophisticated,MOR Folk-pop with a Continental flavor. Great cozy music for cold weather. Caveat emptor: There are no added tracks and the packaging is minimal.

These Original Album Series packages are terrific value for money, and allow old farts like me to re-purchase or hoover up who swathes of albums from a particular artist, all in a simple slip case. I wasn't too familiar with the track by track details of all Al Stewart's albums, so I assumed this box would be a complete trawl through his earlier work frim the late 60's and early 70's - I listened through them all, and found them generally enjoyable, with some of the deep cuts being rather weak. One thing puzzled me. I knew of a song called "Nostradamus" and pored over the track listings getting increasingly baffled as to why it wasn't featured. A stroll through Discogs revealed that one of his most famous albums "Past Present & Future" (ft. the aforementioned "Nostradamus") was not included! Just bear that in mind when buying (which I recommend), you will need to seek out another album to complete the set.

I first heard Al Stewart's 'A Small Fruit Song' on a CBS Sampler LP in the late 60's and have been hooked ever since. The music is wonderful, the playing superb, and I really like these 'Original Series' reissues. These prove, at a silly price, that Al Stewart was not just 'Year of the Cat', but much. much more.There is one problem, however, in that this version of 'Bedsitter Images' does not contain the sublime 'Clifton In The Rain'. Still 5 stars, though.

The early career of Al Stewart encapsulated in a budget box set. For £11, a bargain. The highlights being his debut album "Bedsitter Images" and his best known album, "Year Of The Cat". CDs turned up on schedule.

5 albums at a bargain price, mini replica LP sleeves.Would recommend

Al Stewart is, in my opinion, a superb songwriter. He is no mean guitarist himself but all his albums include a first class guitarist who include Jimmy Page (later of Led Zeppelin) and Peter White.