ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 375 AL STEWART - YEAR OF THE CAT (1976)

[RJhog (Admin)]

Disclaimer: All info that does not reside in my brain is gathered from wikipedia.com (mostly because Jon can't stand it) unless otherwise noted.

This week's Album of the Week comes from 1976.  It's Year of the Cat by Al Stewart.  I'll say that I never really cared for the title track back in the day.  Not sure why, just didn't.  However, I heard it a while back with some ear phones on and it sounded quite epic.  Isn't it funny how that can happen?  

Anyway, the album is the seventh studio album by Al Stewart.  It has been certified Platinum by the RIAA.  It climbed as high as the number 5 slot on the Billboard chart in the US.  The title track was a number 8 single, while On The Border just missed the Top 40 (number 42).  Speaking of On The Border, it is a phenomenal song that I had never heard before I purchased this.  A couple of tidbits for you:

• The album was engineered and produced by Alan Parsons
• Lord Grenville was about Elizabethan sailor and explorer Sir Richard Grenville
• According to Stewart, he often writes up to four sets of lyrics for a song
• The cover art was designed by Hipgnosis and Colin Elgie

Side One:

1. Lord Grenville

2. On The Border

3. Midas Shadow

4. Sand In Your Shoes

5. If It Doesn't Come Naturally, Leave It

Side Two:

6. Flying Sorcery

7. Broadway Hotel

8. One Stage Before

9. Year of the Cat

[Jon]

I didn't like the title track way back then either, now I do. And I really like this album as well. I also like the album cover even though there's a nod to Kiss? That should knock it down a few notches just for that, but I'm in a giving mood today except for that asshole sitting in front and to the left of us in the movie theater today who kept checking his phone even though I was mean and told him to turn it off and then was nice and told him to turn it off and then was mean again.

Then he leaves when there's 15 minutes left in the movie and I felt kinda bad because he was really old and then I didn't because I couldn't figure out who would be texting this guy. Think he was also checking out some dating sites, could have been one of those featuring Russian women but I'm not too sure.

I'm mellow again since I'm listening to this album again. But still.........

[Scott]

I Liked the title cut enough back in the day, not enough to buy the 45, or the album for that matter, but I didnt change the radio dial when it popped on either.  Around the same time I was getting into The Alan Parson Project who had released "Tales of Mystery and Imagination: Edgar Allan Poe" - a masterpiece of a concept album if there ever was one.  But I didn't know of his producing prowess, that came later...

Now I hear the AL Stewart album and I hear an Alan Parson album at the same time.  Why not, he used different vocalists, and the production and songwriting is almost a perfect match.  These are all good things, especially at that time.  Though I admit that I prefer Time Passages over this album, that's just a nit really because the title track is soooo good...

Nice post though you avoided controversy this week, maybe you will strike another nerve later?

[Jon]

Maybe he'll post an APP album. You know, some "yacht rock".

[Scott]