that's cool, i won't beef if we can all agree Al Stewart is one underrated magical motherfucker
― Jamie_ATP, Friday, 16 November 2012 21:31 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah "Time Passages" rules. I love the sound of those records he made with Alan Parsons. Everything after that is hit or miss; everything up to Time Passages is pretty great, though.
― xanthanguar (cwkiii), Friday, 16 November 2012 21:32 (eleven years ago) link
i went on a huge binge of these 2 records earlier this year (year of the cat and time passages) and i'm still not tired of them. still in disbelief that this guy's essentially been lost to time popularity-wise, i didn't even know who he was a year or 2 ago.
― ciderpress, Friday, 16 November 2012 21:52 (eleven years ago) link
I would figure he's part of the same aging boomer generation on the cusp of thirty that made Gerry Rafferty a hit too.
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 16 November 2012 21:53 (eleven years ago) link
Gerry / Al / Boz / Dan / Prefab
basically all you need in life.
― Jamie_ATP, Friday, 16 November 2012 22:00 (eleven years ago) link
xxpost Yeah, it's ridiculous that pretty much no one knows him anymore. If you can get your hands on a copy of the box set To Whom It May Concern, I would strongly recommend it. That's got his first three albums plus some early singles, all as good as Year of the Cat and Time Passages, if not better.
Also, he tours non-stop, and is worth seeing at least once.
― xanthanguar (cwkiii), Friday, 16 November 2012 22:01 (eleven years ago) link
Year of the Cat is great, Time Passages rather overrated. His best albums are the mid-period ones, Modern Times and Past Present & Future.
― my father will guide me up the stairs to bed (anagram), Friday, 16 November 2012 22:40 (eleven years ago) link
Yeah Modern Times is great, it has the same FM production vibe and awesome stuff like 'Sirens Of Titan' and 'Apple Cider Reconstitution'.
― multiple decades of jazz (Jon Lewis), Friday, 16 November 2012 23:07 (eleven years ago) link
http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/11-15-12-23-17-al-stewart-from-signing-body-parts-to-album-covers/
― xanthanguar (cwkiii), Friday, 16 November 2012 23:16 (eleven years ago) link
"People would rather hear the music they grew up listening to because that is the sound of being young and, of course, if you listen to that music, you get to be young forever."
well said...
― henry s, Saturday, 17 November 2012 14:29 (eleven years ago) link
His best albums are the mid-period ones, Modern Times and Past Present & Future.
Also, the Dark Side bootleg has an unreleased track, "Sailing Into The Future", that sounds exactly like something Grant McLennan might've written.
― doug watson, Saturday, 17 November 2012 19:12 (eleven years ago) link
had never heard of this dude until being mentioned on the destroyer thread but I'm listening to Modern Times and its pretty dece imo
― well if it isn't old 11 cameras simon (gbx), Friday, 21 December 2012 23:14 (eleven years ago) link
i put "year of the cat" on the spotify version of mackro's apocalypse mix.
― gimme some reggae! (get bent), Friday, 21 December 2012 23:24 (eleven years ago) link
I'M NOT THE KIND TO DWELL IN THE PAAAHST
― the little prince of inane false binary hype (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 22 December 2012 02:51 (eleven years ago) link
THE PICTURE IS CHANGING YOU'RE PART OF A CROWDTHEY'RE LAUGHING AT SOMETHING, THE MUSIC'S LOUD
― your damn bass clarinet (Eazy), Saturday, 22 December 2012 02:52 (eleven years ago) link
jergins to thread
― buzza, Saturday, 22 December 2012 02:56 (eleven years ago) link
every time i have this song playing in my head, it turns into ABC's 'look of love' halfway through
― john wahey (NickB), Thursday, 25 September 2014 21:28 (nine years ago) link
YOTC is obv classic
I first heard Al when HBO used to play the "Time Passages" video all the time to fill in space between movies.
― Now you're messing with a (President Keyes), Friday, 26 September 2014 01:43 (nine years ago) link
glancing at my player, peter white gets writing credits for both yotc and time passages.
― music for cryonic suspension (Hunt3r), Friday, 26 September 2014 01:56 (nine years ago) link
Still at it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMZ9gEPgI9o
― the man with the black wigs (Eazy), Friday, 26 September 2014 14:51 (nine years ago) link
saw him live circa '83-84 (not my idea, but i didn't mind)
― son of a lewd monk (Dr Morbius), Friday, 26 September 2014 14:58 (nine years ago) link
Booked my ticket for his Past Present & Future/Year of the Cat show in London this morning.
― goth colouring book (anagram), Friday, 26 September 2014 15:14 (nine years ago) link
Year of the Cat is a small miracle of a record
why is this guy so underappreciated?
― niels, Thursday, 3 August 2017 17:33 (six years ago) link
I love his historical songs - all of "Past, Present and Future" is brilliant.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 3 August 2017 17:37 (six years ago) link
for some reason that album doesn't seem to be on spotify but I'll check it out!
― niels, Thursday, 3 August 2017 17:43 (six years ago) link
Year of the Cat sounds kinda like something John Lennon could have made if he was very ambitious
― niels, Thursday, 3 August 2017 18:39 (six years ago) link
He's great, such a delicious fm rock sound and that voiiice
― harbinger of failure (Jon not Jon), Thursday, 3 August 2017 22:33 (six years ago) link
"Terminal Eyes" off of PP&F is very reminiscent of "I Am The Walrus", but other than that I can't say I detect any similarities between Al and Lennon. But Al is great nonetheless, so literate and wistful.
― heaven parker (anagram), Friday, 4 August 2017 07:37 (six years ago) link
there's a great moment in the Beatles Anthology doc where George Martin goes through the A Day in the Life tracks, and after some studio talk where iirc it's all pretty advanced and more about the conceptual side of things, he gets to John's vocal track and can't say much more than: and then there's that voice
Lennon's voice is indeed beautifully unique, and I'd never mistake him for Al Stewart - but all the same there's something in the phrasing (I'd do an imitation if this were not a msg board), kinda like he's singing from the bottom of his mouth with slightly pursed lips, and also the guitar work reminds me of Harrison or early solo Lennon - have not done extensive listening, but that's what comes to mind in the first 60 seconds of opener:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu_z0xK6qYY
also sounds informed by Bowie, and other parts of the record channel Dylan for me
I saw it recommended on the Kaputt thread so that was my way into it
― niels, Friday, 4 August 2017 09:08 (six years ago) link
Year of the Cat is a nice record and all, but as Gerald says Past Present & Future is his masterpiece, closely followed by the follow-up Modern Times. After that he got signed to RCA, put out YotC and it was soft rock FM-land from then on, a few later killer tracks notwithstanding.
A few years ago I ran an Al Stewart albums poll here which garnered all of one vote, my own.
― heaven parker (anagram), Friday, 4 August 2017 09:24 (six years ago) link
listening to PP&F now does indeed sound great
do love that FM land of soft rock though...
I considered posting to your poll thread but ultimately found it too sad
― niels, Friday, 4 August 2017 11:01 (six years ago) link
past present & future, modern times, year of the cat, time passages are all underappreciated classics imo. haven't really ventured further forward than that in his catalog though
― ciderpress, Friday, 4 August 2017 14:33 (six years ago) link
Russians & Americans is probably the strongest one after that, but they all have a mixture of killer and filler on them. There's a v strong compilation to be made from those later records.
― heaven parker (anagram), Friday, 4 August 2017 14:36 (six years ago) link
Go backwards!
― cwkiii, Friday, 4 August 2017 15:07 (six years ago) link
Seriously, all of the albums before Past, Present & Future are so good.
― cwkiii, Friday, 4 August 2017 15:08 (six years ago) link
i've heard all the early ones already they're good too
― ciderpress, Friday, 4 August 2017 15:09 (six years ago) link
I know what you mean, niels i.e. Lennon's voice. It's the aspect that makes you want to stick out your chin a little if you try an impersonation.
― pplains, Friday, 4 August 2017 18:17 (six years ago) link
If someone wants to cherry pick the best tracks, I'd love a list!
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 4 August 2017 19:06 (six years ago) link
I'd say the strongest albums that followed Time Passages were 24 Carrots and Last Days of the Century. The latter has a late-80s sheen but the songs are great, esp the title cut, Fields of France, Where Are They Now and Antarctica. Russians & Americans was disappointing to me after 24C.
― doug watson, Friday, 4 August 2017 19:38 (six years ago) link
My father-in-law is a hardcore Al Stewart fan. Has seen him live dozens of times, brings him up in conversation regularly, and would not hesitate to say he never made a less-than-great album. I will try to hit him up for a post-Time Passages playlist.
― cwkiii, Saturday, 5 August 2017 01:29 (six years ago) link
Or, you know, you could just ask me, what with me also being a hardcore Al Stewart fan who has seen him live dozens of times.
My post-Time Passages playlist would be:
From 24 P/Carrots:
Murmansk Run/Ellis IslandRunning ManMerlin's Time Rocks in the Ocean
From Russians & Americans:
Accident on 3rd StreetRussians & Americans
From Last Days of the Century:
Fields of France Antarctica
From Famous Last Words:
Trains Feel Like
From Between the Wars:
Three Mules League of Notions
From Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time:
Coldest Winter in Memory (one of his greatest songs ever, yet it languishes on an outtakes compilation)
― heaven parker (anagram), Saturday, 5 August 2017 07:34 (six years ago) link
From Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time:Coldest Winter in Memory (one of his greatest songs ever, yet it languishes on an outtakes compilation)
No arguments here. This one is fantastic.
― doug watson, Saturday, 5 August 2017 14:33 (six years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR4-CvASpkI
I already recommended this song upthread but with the recent requests for suggestions, it bears repeating.
― doug watson, Saturday, 5 August 2017 14:40 (six years ago) link
Cool! I think there will be a lot of overlap between his playlist and yours (asked him about it tonight before I saw your post), but I'll post it anyway when he gets it to me.
I remember really enjoying A Beach Full of Shells when it first came out but haven't listened to it in years.
― cwkiii, Sunday, 6 August 2017 02:57 (six years ago) link
1) I have heard "Year of the Cat" on my favorite radio station (87.7 MeTV radio!) and have enjoyed it but never knew who was singing because they rarely say (I know you can check the website but I don't look at the internet in the shower or while I am driving and I always forget to look it up) 2) Thanks to this thread I knew it is Al Stewart3) The radio also tells me that Al Stewart is touring with the band America
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 6 August 2017 16:19 (six years ago) link
here's what i don't know -- is there some connection between Al Stewart and the band America?
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 6 August 2017 16:20 (six years ago) link
Al Stewart is English, which wouldn't necessarily preclude him from being somehow associate with America, but, no, I don't think they have any sort of history with each other.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Sunday, 6 August 2017 17:24 (six years ago) link
Oof, my bad. He's actually a Scotsman.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Sunday, 6 August 2017 17:34 (six years ago) link
he sounds kinda like robyn hitchcock
even if i watched this on mute i would have bet for sure he was from somewhere in the UKhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckthyI3UQbI
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 6 August 2017 19:28 (six years ago) link
here he is in 2014 -- he still sounds good imo!
― weird woman in a bar (La Lechera), Sunday, 6 August 2017 19:32 (six years ago) link
I was going to say that I’d seen him recently but after checking I realise it was way back in 2015. Eight years ago he was still worth seeing if that helps.
― AlanSmithee, Tuesday, 5 September 2023 19:38 (eight months ago) link
he played at the venue attached to my workplace within the last year but i did not catch his performance unfortunately
― Piggy Lepton (La Lechera), Tuesday, 5 September 2023 20:07 (eight months ago) link
He did this extremely comprehensive 50 CD BOX SET a few years ago, and my first question was "why? who is this for? Al and his family? Who in the world needs 50 CDs of Al Stewart?" The answer is probably not many, because it's reguarly onsale on Amazon for quite a bit less than original price. But I also admire him for having the guts to do it, and I guess if you're one of the select few who needs all of this material, there it is.
https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/al-stewart-the-admiralty-lights-complete-studio-live-and-rare-1964-2009/
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Tuesday, 5 September 2023 21:19 (eight months ago) link
i mean if nothing else, you do get "Year of the Cat print individually SIGNED by Colin Elgie" along with it
Yeah I'm a Stewart fanatic but even I baulked at that box set.
― lord of the rongs (anagram), Tuesday, 5 September 2023 21:27 (eight months ago) link
Only went to number 31 in the UK charts, just HOW did this song become so well known??
What’s his best song that isn’t Year of the Cat?
― piscesx, Tuesday, 5 September 2023 22:18 (eight months ago) link
Time Passages
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Tuesday, 5 September 2023 22:34 (eight months ago) link
which is kind of the same song but you know
A better song.
― the dreaded dependent claus (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 5 September 2023 22:37 (eight months ago) link
i was going to say "a shorter song" but they are both 6:43
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Tuesday, 5 September 2023 22:42 (eight months ago) link
From Real Gone Music, who are real good, in my experience (thanx again to Alfred's Pitchfork coverage of Dusty's The Complete Atlantic Singles)
https://realgonemusic.com/cdn/shop/products/8540348299132769f77b7cb555c69174_1024x1024.jpg?v=1689092710
Al Stewart Songs on the Radio Complete U.S. Singles 74-81 CD$ 17.99he Vietnamese Lunar New Year identifies 2023 as The Year of the Cat…and the timing couldn’t be better! Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records are proud to announce a definitive, first-ever singles collection from legendary singer-songwriter Al Stewart. In 1976, Stewart took “Year of the Cat” to the top ten of the Pop and AC charts, inaugurating a run of timeless hits still heard on radio today. Now, for the very first time, each and every one of the British troubadour’s seminal A- and B-sides from his halcyon period has been brought together. Songs on the Radio: The Complete U.S. Singles 1974-1981 brings together 20 tracks which catapulted the artist from folk clubs to the mainstream. Often in collaboration with producer-engineer Alan Parsons, Stewart bridged the gap between FM rock and AM pop. He brought his passion for historical events and flair for lyrical invention to these singles originally issued on the Janus and Arista labels, including “Nostradamus,” “Carol,” “On the Border,” “Midnight Rocks,” “Year of the Cat,” “Song on the Radio,” and the record-breaking, chart-topping “Time Passages.” And the B-sides (“Terminal Eyes,” “Sirens of Titan,” “A Man for All Seasons,” “Merlin’s Time”) are every bit as compelling as the A-sides! Every track is presented in its original U.S. single version (most of which are new to CD and not even included on Stewart’s massive The Admiralty Lights box set) as newly remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision. The deluxe 20-page booklet features Joe Marchese’s extensive interview with Al Stewart as well as rare photos and memorabilia. As a special bonus, the unique U.K. single edit of Al’s signature song “Year of the Cat” is also included. With vivid lyrics, captivating melodies, crisp guitars, and, yes, smooth saxophone, these Songs on the Radio celebrate the remarkable discography of a master musical storyteller. Limited edition of 2500…and they’re gonna go fast!1. Nostradamus2. Terminal Eyes3. Carol4. Sirens of Titan5. Year of the Cat6. Broadway Hotel7. On the Border8. Flying Sorcery9. Time Passages10. Almost Lucy11. Song on the Radio12. A Man for All Seasons13. Midnight Rocks14. Constantinople15. Paint by Numbers16. Optical Illusion17. Running Man18. Merlin’s Time19. Indian Summer20. Soho (Needless to Say)21. Year of the Cat (UK Single Version)
he Vietnamese Lunar New Year identifies 2023 as The Year of the Cat…and the timing couldn’t be better! Real Gone Music and Second Disc Records are proud to announce a definitive, first-ever singles collection from legendary singer-songwriter Al Stewart. In 1976, Stewart took “Year of the Cat” to the top ten of the Pop and AC charts, inaugurating a run of timeless hits still heard on radio today. Now, for the very first time, each and every one of the British troubadour’s seminal A- and B-sides from his halcyon period has been brought together. Songs on the Radio: The Complete U.S. Singles 1974-1981 brings together 20 tracks which catapulted the artist from folk clubs to the mainstream. Often in collaboration with producer-engineer Alan Parsons, Stewart bridged the gap between FM rock and AM pop. He brought his passion for historical events and flair for lyrical invention to these singles originally issued on the Janus and Arista labels, including “Nostradamus,” “Carol,” “On the Border,” “Midnight Rocks,” “Year of the Cat,” “Song on the Radio,” and the record-breaking, chart-topping “Time Passages.” And the B-sides (“Terminal Eyes,” “Sirens of Titan,” “A Man for All Seasons,” “Merlin’s Time”) are every bit as compelling as the A-sides! Every track is presented in its original U.S. single version (most of which are new to CD and not even included on Stewart’s massive The Admiralty Lights box set) as newly remastered by Mike Milchner at SonicVision. The deluxe 20-page booklet features Joe Marchese’s extensive interview with Al Stewart as well as rare photos and memorabilia. As a special bonus, the unique U.K. single edit of Al’s signature song “Year of the Cat” is also included. With vivid lyrics, captivating melodies, crisp guitars, and, yes, smooth saxophone, these Songs on the Radio celebrate the remarkable discography of a master musical storyteller. Limited edition of 2500…and they’re gonna go fast!
1. Nostradamus2. Terminal Eyes3. Carol4. Sirens of Titan5. Year of the Cat6. Broadway Hotel7. On the Border8. Flying Sorcery9. Time Passages10. Almost Lucy11. Song on the Radio12. A Man for All Seasons13. Midnight Rocks14. Constantinople15. Paint by Numbers16. Optical Illusion17. Running Man18. Merlin’s Time19. Indian Summer20. Soho (Needless to Say)21. Year of the Cat (UK Single Version)
― dow, Wednesday, 6 September 2023 00:31 (eight months ago) link
He was getting both Adult Contemporary AM radio and Album Rock FM airplay at that time, he managed to appeal to both audiences.
― Halfway there but for you, Wednesday, 6 September 2023 23:04 (eight months ago) link
Yeah, that’s in the US though where it was a big hit. I’m not old enough to remember UK radio in the 70s but I know Ken Bruce played “Year of the Cat” and “On the Border” quite often on BBC Radio 2 until he left this year.
― houdini said, Thursday, 7 September 2023 01:44 (eight months ago) link