Al Stewart Year of the Cat re-release

[Garyhead]

Gave it a first spin (and heard 1/2 the live set) What an enjoyable evening it was! I didn't have this album in my playlists. I realized I had the live versions of most of the tunes in the playlists so hearing the original studio versions was fun. I'll have to revisit, but I think I heard a few bits of new keyboards on the first track. YOTC wasn't my favorite AS album....It was Past, Present & Future.

Might dig through my Ticket Stubs today, I might have been at that Seattle concert! Stubs in a cigar box (with my dates name on the back) but in the early days, I put the stubs (and Tour Book) in the album cover. A fun scavenger hunt!

[Fracktured]

Picked up the 2 cd version today. Listened to the studio album and found the remaster to be a bit bright for my tastes. Have to listen to it on the home stereo and see if I get the same feeling. It does reveal some nuances that I’ve never heard before.

[interbellum]

When the LP was released in 1976 I've listened to it a couple of times, but never bought it although I liked it. So with this edition I decided to go for it. The 5.1 mix gives the music a lot of punch. Last week I decided I also wanted his next album, Time Passages, in this format, so I got that one too. Stewart himself wasn't feeling comfortable with his status after he had a couple of hits b.t.w. He rather sang for a small crowd about ancient European figures.

https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/...ition-box-set/

[SunRunner2]

When the LP was released in 1976 I've listened to it a couple of times, but never bought it although I liked it. So with this edition I decided to go for it. The 5.1 mix gives the music a lot of punch. Last week I decided I also wanted his next album, Time Passages, in this format, so I got that one too. Stewart himself wasn't feeling comfortable with his status after he had a couple of hits b.t.w. He rather sang for a small crowd about ancient European figures.

https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/...ition-box-set/

Yes, in subsequent interviews following his run of radio hits he complained about his record label and how they wanted him to keep on putting out songs in the "Year Of The Cat" mold. He also attacked "Time Passages" after hearing it years later in an elevator, indicating that he wrote it only to sound like YOTC and that "Time Passages"" now sounds like boring Musak that isn't worth a listen. Understanding his feelings, I still vehemently disagree with that analogy as I consider TP to be up there with YOTC and several other great hits of his at that time. One of those hits that doesn't get much play these days and has been largely forgotten by many is 'Midnight Rocks". Man, that guy could write and play with the best of them.

[Mythos]

When the LP was released in 1976 I've listened to it a couple of times, but never bought it although I liked it. So with this edition I decided to go for it. The 5.1 mix gives the music a lot of punch. Last week I decided I also wanted his next album, Time Passages, in this format, so I got that one too. Stewart himself wasn't feeling comfortable with his status after he had a couple of hits b.t.w. He rather sang for a small crowd about ancient European figures.

What about Past, Present and Future?

Roads to Moscow is an awesome song, sung with such passion...!

[rdclark]

What about Past, Present and Future?

Roads to Moscow is an awesome song, sung with such passion...!

My favorite album of his, and the one that first drew my attention. It got a lot of play here on WMMR back in the day. But some of the production hasn't aged well, all the phasing and panning of acoustic guitars for example, and I can see why Parsons might have been a step up.

[Piskie]

Finally got to see Al Stewart in concert a couple years ago. I have most of his albums; he is one of the great songwriters and Year of the Cat deserved the success it had. I don't think he's done a bad album.

[Fracktured]

Yes, in subsequent interviews following his run of radio hits he complained about his record label and how they wanted him to keep on putting out songs in the "Year Of The Cat" mold. He also attacked "Time Passages" after hearing it years later in an elevator, indicating that he wrote it only to sound like YOTC and that "Time Passages"" now sounds like boring Musak that isn't worth a listen. Understanding his feelings, I still vehemently disagree with that analogy as I consider TP to be up there with YOTC and several other great hits of his at that time. One of those hits that doesn't get much play these days and has been largely forgotten by many is 'Midnight Rocks". Man, that guy could write and play with the best of them.

When Al was making the Russians and Americans album the record company didn’t hear a single on the album so in order for them to release it they told Al to record a cover tune and I believe gave him several songs to pick from. Al at first told them he writes all of his music and didn’t want to do a cover tune but they insisted or it would t be released. So he picked the old tune 1, 2, 3 but changed the lyrics and recorded it. The record executives didn’t even notice that he had changed the lyrics and released it that way. It was Al’s way I suppose of telling them how ignorant and stupid they are. Here are some of those rewritten lyrics.

“Once they get you sucked into the system
Once they get you under control
The hard part is knowing how to resist the grip
That they keep on your mind and your soul
So in the end we just compromise and pretend
If you close your eyes it’s easy
Like taking candy from a baby.”

[interbellum]

What about Past, Present and Future?

Roads to Moscow is an awesome song, sung with such passion...!

I got the Esoteric-rerelease from 2015, a single CD with three bonus-cuts. Also a fine album.
In my early years as a reviewer I also received Famous Last Words from 1993. That's the one in which the cover shows Al in a library reading a comic. The funny thing was that I had just got my certificate after finishing my study for librarian. In the following years I hardly worked as a librarian though.

How's Modern Times b.t.w., the first album Stewart did with Alan Parsons?

[Fracktured]

I got the Esoteric-rerelease from 2015, a single CD with three bonus-cuts. Also a fine album.
In my early years as a reviewer I also received Famous Last Words from 1993. That's the one in which the cover shows Al in a library reading a comic. The funny thing was that I had just got my certificate after finishing my study for librarian. In the following years I hardly worked as a librarian though.

How's Modern Times b.t.w., the first album Stewart did with Alan Parsons?

I love Modern Times. Side two is perhaps a perfect record side.

[SunRunner2]

When Al was making the Russians and Americans album the record company didn’t hear a single on the album so in order for them to release it they told Al to record a cover tune and I believe gave him several songs to pick from. Al at first told them he writes all of his music and didn’t want to do a cover tune but they insisted or it would t be released. So he picked the old tune 1, 2, 3 but changed the lyrics and recorded it. The record executives didn’t even notice that he had changed the lyrics and released it that way. It was Al’s way I suppose of telling them how ignorant and stupid they are. Here are some of those rewritten lyrics.

“Once they get you sucked into the system
Once they get you under control
The hard part is knowing how to resist the grip
That they keep on your mind and your soul
So in the end we just compromise and pretend
If you close your eyes it’s easy
Like taking candy from a baby.”

Interesting, and somewhat typical of this free thinker who didn't like the idea of commercialism and radio friendly "hits".

[moecurlythanu]

Al is one of the nicest guys you would ever want to meet. I don't share his passion for wine, but I expect he would discuss at length with those who do.

[alucard]

I am a mild fan of his early work, but I kind of overlistened to Year of the cat and Time passages. Recently I listened to his post Time Passages records and I was positevely surprised. My favorite AS record has become his last (so far)from 2008 : Sparks of ancient light , long time I haven't listened to a record a couple of times in a row. The ear of the night, Sleepwalking and The loneliest place on earth are absolute masterpieces of songwriting and arrangement. Ear of the night could have been written by Bert Jansch same vibe and playing. The real spice for me is Jim Cox's haunting organ playing, his solo on Sleepwalking is stunning.
BTW also on of the best Football songs with Football Hero. Would really like to se e him live in a club setting as a preference with Jim Cox on organ.

[Fracktured]

I am a mild fan of his early work, but I kind of overlistened to Year of the cat and Time passages. Recently I listened to his post Time Passages records and I was positevely surprised. My favorite AS record has become his last (so far)from 2008 : Sparks of ancient light , long time I haven't listened to a record a couple of times in a row. The ear of the night, Sleepwalking and The loneliest place on earth are absolute masterpieces of songwriting and arrangement. Ear of the night could have been written by Bert Jansch same vibe and playing. The real spice for me is Jim Cox's haunting organ playing, his solo on Sleepwalking is stunning.
BTW also on of the best Football songs with Football Hero. Would really like to se e him live in a club setting as a preference with Jim Cox on organ.

Al’s done some very good albums in the last 20 years or so. Famous Last Words and Down In The Cellar are very good albums. Also Between The Wars is well worth listening to.

[alucard]

He is touring next year in the US and the UK, quite tempted to see one of the London shows

[JKL2000]

Listened to P, P, & F last night for the first time in over 30 years! It held up very well, every song is great!

[Mister Triscuits]

Listened to P, P, & F last night for the first time in over 30 years! It held up very well, every song is great!

That’s the only Al Stewart album I’ve ever owned. It really is terrific all the way through, and “Roads to Moscow” is a total masterpiece.