Sparks of Ancient Light

Sparks of Ancient Light is the sixteenth studio album by Al Stewart, released on 15 September 2008.[2] Like many of Stewart's works, the album's songs deal with historical figures, including British prime minister Lord Salisbury, deposed Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and 34th U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. According to Stewart, the songs all deal with the themes of "certainty and uncertainty."[3] A music video for "Elvis at the Wheel," shot in Arizona, was released in December 2013.[4]

Sparks of Ancient Light
Studio album by
Al Stewart
Released15 September 2008
GenreFolk
LabelAppleseed (US), EMI (UK)
ProducerLaurence Juber
Al Stewart chronology
A Beach Full of Shells
(2005)		 Sparks of Ancient Light
(2008)		 Uncorked
(2009)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

Critical reception

Allmusic reviewer Richie Unterberger praised the production on the album. He wrote: "Stewart's principal strengths – pleasant haunting melodies, mellifluous vocals, accomplished folk guitar work, and literate, historical-minded lyrics – stand at the forefront, undiminished by extraneous arrangements."[5]

Track listing
  1. "Lord Salisbury" - 3:26
  2. "(A Child's View Of) The Eisenhower Years" - 3:11
  3. "The Ear of the Night" - 3:06
  4. "Hanno the Navigator" - 4:17
  5. "Shah of Shahs" - 5:03
  6. "Angry Bird" - 2:42
  7. "The Loneliest Place on the Map" - 3:31
  8. "Sleepwalking" - 4:31
  9. "Football Hero" - 5:38
  10. "Elvis at the Wheel" - 3:10
  11. "Silver Kettle" - 3:56
  12. "Like William McKinley" - 4:15[2]

Personnel

Musicians
  • Laurence Juber - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
  • Jim Cox - Organ, Piano
  • John "Hot Fat Reynolds" Ferraro - Percussion, Drums
  • Eric Gorfain - Violin
  • Daphne Chen - Violin
  • Leah Katz - Viola
  • Richard Dodd - Cello
  • Rick Baptist - Trumpet

Production
  • Laurence Juber - Arranger, Producer, Engineer
  • Greg Townley - Engineer, Mixing
  • Joe Gastwirt - Mastering
  • Buzz Person - Photography
  • Aaron Walk - Assistant
  • Steve Chapman - Management[6]

Allusions and historical references

References
  1. Allmusic review
  2. "Sparks of Ancient Light", amazon.com (release date, track listing, and commentary)
  3. 'Like going home', Courier Post Online, August 8, 2008
  4. Video on YouTube
  5. "Sparks of Ancient Light - Review by Richie Unterberger". Allmusic. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  6. allmusic.com, Sparks of Ancient Light, Credits



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