Between The Wars (1995)

Al Stewart's "Between the Wars" album is a journey through historical narratives woven into Al’s music. With each track, Al transports you across different eras and places, combining a rich array of instruments and styles. It took me a few listens to really get the distinctions between the songs, and boy am I glad I did.

"Night Train To Munich" kicks off the album with great energy, pace, and guitar accents, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of an Italian villa. The orchestration and guitar combination are vibrant and delightful throughout this opening piece. "The Age of Rhythm" follows with a bluesier vibe, featuring a skipping shuffle feel and wonderful solos that add depth to the album.

“Sampan" takes a more smooth mid-tempo approach, accompanied by nice subtle saxophone. In "Lindy Comes to Town," Al introduces a 20s-30s jazz bip-bop, skillfully incorporating fiddles that, although unconventional, seamlessly work within the style. Only Al can make this work. "Three Mules" emerges as a gorgeous down-tempo ¾ time song, standing out as one of the album's musical and lyrical highlights. The composition and storytelling shine bright on this one. "A League of Notions" presents an interesting play where, at times, Stewart sings against himself.

“Between the Wars" charms with super pleasing guitar playing and chord progressions, creating a sunny, Italian ambiance with what sounds like an accordion. "Betty Boop’s Birthday" introduces a playful and cartoony instrumental, featuring delightful interplay between acoustic guitars and strings. "Marion the Chaitlaine" tonally reminds of ‘Clifton in The Rain’, with raw, isolated, and beautiful moments. The song is a testament to Stewart's ability to evoke emotion and goes down as my favorite from the album.

"Joe the Georgian" is a proper storytelling track, exuding a classic European style, further enriching the album's diversity. "Always the Cause" injects a lively, crowd clapping atmosphere into the mix while “Laughing into 1939" takes a slightly darker, more serious sonic turn. With bright and shiny moments that reveal themselves with each listen, this song gets better and better. "The Black Danube" serves as a fantastic instrumental closer, bringing the album to a truly satisfying end.

In the symphony of "Between the Wars," Al Stewart crafts a raw, stripped record that puts what he does best in the forefront. His storytelling and his guitar prowess. From the lively energy of "Night Train To Munich" to the haunting beauty of "Laughing into 1939," each note contributes to a harmonious storytelling experience. "Between the Wars" is not merely an album; it's a sonic exploration of history through the lens of music.

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Highlight Songs:

• Marion the Chaitlaine

• Night Train to Munich

• Three Mules

• Laughing into 1939

• The Black Danube

• Joe The Georgian

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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?

If you enjoy full acoustic albums, then not only should you own this record, you should own this NSA. Without a doubt, for an album arranged in this style, there are truly No Skips. Al is consistent if nothing else!

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Overall Rating:

4 Stars