Published: September 18, 2026 · 12:28 AM EDT
The 10-track album, out Sept. 18 via Bay Street Records, was built from spontaneous one-take performances recorded at Stewart’s Bahamas studio
Dave Stewart, co-founder of Eurythmics, has released his new solo album The Way It Was Back Then, a 10-track collection recorded through an unusually spontaneous process and issued on September 18, 2026 via Bay Street Records.
Stewart told Billboard that the album effectively came together “back to front.” Rather than building finished instrumental tracks before adding vocals, he began by singing and playing guitar in single takes, often improvising lyrics and melodies as he recorded. Engineer and longtime collaborator Jesse Samler later helped add drums, bass, keyboards and other instrumentation around those original performances.
Recorded at Stardust in the Bahamas, the project grew out of the stripped-down working method Stewart had explored on his 2025 Bob Dylan covers project, Dave Does Dylan. The new album moves instead into original material dealing with memory, relationships, childhood and personal history.
The release is initially being offered as a limited physical edition on vinyl and CD. Stewart also told Billboard that material will be available through his Art of Chaos app and suggested that wider platform availability could follow later.
The music video for the album’s title track, “The Way It Was Back Then,” was directed and filmed by Kyle Wilkinson of creative studio HAUS OF THRILLS™. Wilkinson has worked with Stewart and the RARE team for several years as a creative collaborator and consultant, contributing to projects across music, film and art direction.
THE WAY IT WAS BACK THEN TRACKLIST
The Way It Was Back Then
Your Wishes
Cry If You Want To
The House Where I Was Born
Black Cat
Makes Me Happy (And Sad)
Oh Jesse
All Done
Thin Ice
What’s A Man Supposed To Do
The album arrives as Stewart, now 74, continues a career that has included Eurythmics, solo work and production or songwriting collaborations with artists including Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Tom Petty and Ringo Starr.
Watch Eurythmics’ official “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” music video below:
Written by Gino Alache – Music Journalist
IMAGE CREDIT: Dave Hogan
