Al Stewart was one of the greatest songwriters and lyricists/storytellers over the last 50+ years. Huge rabbit hole and his music is flipping timeless, and transports your sense of time when you listen to his work. Pure genius and one of a kind.
When Alan Parsons and Al Stewart were mixing this song, Parsons did not like that there were two guitar solos, and suggested a sax solo. Al Stewart said "I'm a folk singer, folk songs don't have saxaphones." Parsons said "Let's try it and see." so he called up Phil Kenzie who lived near Abbey Road Studios, and Phil said "No, I'm watching a movie" Parsons managed to get him to come in, he played the solo twice and left. Stewart still didn't like it. Parsons said "Go home and sleep on it and we'll look at it again tomorrow" so he did and decided to leave it in and it became Stewarts biggest hit. Professor Of Rock has an interview with Alan Parsons and Al Stewart discussing it.
The whole album is really good. On The Border is another classic and favourite song off this album. Yet another album produced and engineered by Alan Parsons Back in the day this album and Don McLean's American Pie album were so often played one after the other. We still do as a matter of fact when you are just in the mood for some classic soft rock and 70's and 80's sax solos. Add in Boz Scaggs - Silk Degrees and Gerry Rafferty's - City to City for four hours of blissful listening.
This is a song from my childhood. It reminds me of hot summers at my grandmother’s with my transistor radio and the slip and slide with her neighbor’s kids. What a sound. I still love it. Also Van Morrison had this groove. So so Sweet.
"in a country where they turned back time" i always thought of it as a place where things are like they were 50 or 100 years ago, One of my favorite lines is "You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre contemplating a crime", which is a powerful visual if you remember the actor Peter Lorre, which I do. Fantastic song and its like everyone got their own solo in :-)
Al Stewart is a very unique singer/songwriter. He’s fascinated by history and many of his songs evoke past eras. While his other big hit (besides Year of the Cat) is Time Passages, he has lots of great songs worth checking out: On The Border, Nostradamus, Roads To Moscow, Not The One, Flying Sorcery. He’s still performing-I saw him last year in Columbus, OH and really enjoyed his storytelling as well as his music!
The title of the final version was born when Stewart saw a book of Vietnamese astrology that his girlfriend had left out; the book was open to a page titled “Year of the Cat.” The opening lyrics were inspired by Casablanca, which was playing on the TV, as Stewart describes a “morning from a Bogart movie.” Stewart goes ...May 23, 2020
Wikipedia-Co-written by Peter Wood, "Year of the Cat" is a narrative song written in the second person whose protagonist, a tourist, is visiting an exotic market when a mysterious silk-clad woman appears and takes him away for a gauzy romantic adventure. On waking the next day beside her, the tourist notes that his tour bus has left without him, and decides to stay where he is for the time being. Per the Financial Times, Stewart's "girlfriend left a book of Vietnamese astrology open at the page for the Year of the Cat, then just beginning, the words fitted the same four notes - and also contained the word 'of'. Stewart was obsessed with Bob Dylan’s 'of' songs - 'Masters of War', 'Chimes of Freedom', and presumably in 1975, 'Simple Twist of Fate' - believing that the preposition made them sound 'portentous'. When he watched Casablanca on television, an opening couplet came to him: “In a morning from a Bogart movie, in a country where they turn back time/ You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre contemplating a crime…” In the Vietnamese zodiac, the Cat is one of the twelve signs. At the time of the song's release, the most recent Year of the Cat had been 11 February 1975 to 30 January 1976; thus, the song was written and recorded in the Vietnamese Year of the Cat
One of my very favorites of all! And he has more goodies to choose from! I probably was hooked on his music first time around! THANKS BP FOR KEEPING GOOD MUSIC ALIVE!!
He’s my favorite. He has amazing lyrics. He does so many songs about historical events and people. The Roads to Moscow, Nastrodamus, The Palace of Versailles about the French revolution. He has an entire album dedicated to events between the two world wars, Life Between the Wars. The music is in the styles of the times, jazz and pop of the time.
On the Border is one of my favorites by Al Stewart. The "Year of the Cat" album is one of my favorite albums of all time, and it is one that I listen to from start to finish All the songs are Wonderful.
Al Stewart is a Scottish Singer/ Songwriter and he specialises mainly in historical stories. When did many of his studio albums he would have many top Artists playing for him, such as Jimmy Page! I have seen him a couple of times in the UK and he is very entertaining and witty!
I loved this song when i was a kid i knew every word. Jammin with my Nother and my older sister Sweee song Childhood memories are the greatest memories ❤️
A real car stopper ! Driving home from work, I heard this song for the first time and had to park the car ! Never thought of astrology, just a beautiful song with meaning - listen to the lyrics.
Excellent huh! he sang Peter Lorre's name too. You can't get the songs lyrics because of copyright laws. Taken from Copilot: Peter Lorre's legacy is woven into the fabric of classic cinema. His compelling roles and distinctive style made him unforgettable, especially in movies like "M" and "The Maltese Falcon". Whether portraying the sinister or the sympathetic, Lorre's screen presence was always magnetic. He was in many movies. The Maltese Falcon has Peter Lorre & Humphrey Bogart in it. Great movies but they are older than I am! Year of the cat is a Vietnamese astrological thing similar to the Chinese astrological calendar. It may be a Tiger as well.
@@snikkerr1949 I enjoyed this songs vibe and others from Al Stewart. I found the copyright message on Bing or Co pilot and just accepted it as true. I just liked Bogart and grew up watching his flicks with admiration. I'll go back and look again on your advice, thank you much my friend.
I Listened to the video that BP pointed out at the end of this video called, "Al Stewart talks Year of the Cat". It's short and some interesting things happened. He and I have a few things in common, one being history. He also had some astounding luck in his life travels with running across some pretty well known musicians we all admire. On the last quarter of Stewards video, you'll see the album cover of the album in question. Look for all the references to felines, they are everywhere on it. Thought you might be interested in this bit of useless trivia I'm hooked on. I'll still look for the lyrics of the song, thanks again!
@@snikkerr1949 That was quick: On a morning from a Bogart movie In a country where they turn back time You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre Contemplating a crime She comes out of the sun in a silk dress Running like a watercolor in the rain Don't bother asking for explanations She'll just tell you that she came In the year of the cat She doesn't give you time for questions As she locks up your arm in hers And you follow 'til your sense of which direction Completely disappears By the blue tiled walls near the market stalls There's a hidden door she leads you to "These days," she says, "I feel my life Just like a river running through The year of the cat" While she looks at you so coolly And her eyes shine like the moon in the sea She comes in incense and patchouli So you take her to find what's waiting inside The year of the cat Well morning comes and you're still with her And the bus and the tourists are gone And you've thrown away your choice and lost your ticket So you have to stay on But the drumbeat strains of the night remain In the rhythm of the newborn day You know sometime you're bound to leave her But for now, you're gonna stay In the year of the cat Mm, year of the cat The mention of "her coming in (wearing) incense and "patchouli" oils bring me back to my life and years in Salem, Massachusetts. She was a Wiccan or a witch! My screen name is The Amelas One, pronounced aimless one. Meaningless and with no point or purpose in sight. I always enjoyed playing word games, go figure. Take the A off and spell melaS backward. A simple, but effective way for me to describe the endless lines of tourist passing my shop windows every day from April to November. Yes, a long season. Many visitors had a wide eyed slack jawed look of thinking they had arrived in the Mecca of their dreams! A money maker indeed, but the historian in me was appalled by the fact Salem has yet another 398 years of history that was true and unspoken of. Think of Elias H. Derby being America's first millionaire making the first world trade from the new world, bringing us spices & opening trade with China & Russia. Our military was created in Salem & our Navy was born in Beverly a part of old Salem before the United States of America was. The ship Hanna was first captained by a captain in the US Army and yes George Washington slept in Beverly. Salem brought money, industry and pirates to us while Washington DC burned. The list continues with the first telephone call to Boston by Alexander G. Bell. But I won't on. The Amelas One
Phenomenal song writer who paints pictures with words but who never quite made it into the mainstream with the exception of this one song. Shame because he has 50 more that are just as good. If you are interested, ‘On the Border’, ‘Life in dark water’, ‘Roads to Moscow’, ‘Soho needless to say’, ‘Nostradamus’, ‘Time passages’………..and on and on. All playlist worthy for lovers of story telling music.
Al Stewart is a master storyteller. He writes love songs and Historical Fiction - meaning that he has songs about people and events from long ago history where he creates stories based on what we knew happened and adds things that might have happened or could have happened. He also just has songs with clever poetry. And lots of beautiful acoustic solos. Back in the 60's before Led Zeppelin, he was roommates with Jimmy Page.
Al is a master story teller who is 80 and still touring! I think 2025 is his farewell tour. Other hits include Time Passages, Modern Times and many many more! More Al Stewart please!!
If I were going to carve a "Mount Rushmore" of Singer-Songwriters, the Four I would put on the mountain would be Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Gordon Lightfoot and Al Stewart. Of course everyone has their own "four best" but these would be mine.
8 track Banger. I heard this song as a kid coming out of my parents 8 track player in regular gas guzzling Station Wagon with no seat belts or cabin filter on my way to pre school. This band is stellar. I always thought The Pet Shop Boys kinda bit this guy’s style. I think he lives in Minnesota and still does lots of shows up there.
I always love songs that use a musical interlude or solo to designate the lovemaking part of the story. Kinda like films showing the train into the tunnel. This song is pure musical melancholy reminiscence!
Casablanca was a movie starring Humphrey Bogart, and in included Peter Lorrie contemplating a crime. Casablanca is a city in Moraco, which is in North Africa.
I did not expect you to react to Al Stewart, but I'm glad you did. I think you'll love "Lord Grenville" and "On the Border," they're from the same album.
Some fun Al Stewart facts ~ -Before Simon and Garfunkel became famous they broke up, and Paul Simon lived in London for several months. While there he was room mates with Al Stewart. -Before Led Zeppelin formed, and even before being in the Yardbirds, Jimmy Page was a session guitarist. He played on several of Al Stewart’s early songs. -Supposedly Al Stewart and Rod Stewart are not related, but once Al did say they are cousins during a concert. -Al Stewart asked Tori Amos to write a song with him and they became good friends.
The Year of the Cat is a zodiac year that symbolizes strength, power, and aggression. In Vietnam, the Year of the Cat is believed to bring good luck and smooth sailing. Songs of my youth, thank you for sharing.
"In a country that turns back time." How did you get time zones out of that? Means a more rustic, still clinging to old ideas or is just less technologically advanced place. Nice catch on the Casablanca reference!
He was also the first artist to put the word, fuck. In a song. In the late 60s. On his 1969 album, Love Chronicles. The song, Love Chronicles is the one. It’s 18 minutes long.
One absolute gem here out of three Scottish sparklers: as well YOTC, other two Gerry Raffety/Baker Street and Gallagher & Lyle/ I wanna stay with you, for the rest of my life. Was there something in the Scottish water at that time for songwriters and musicians? Those three always great to chill my brain waves.🐱🐱🐱
There's a brilliant longer version with another heavier guitar solo towards the end. A feastof solos. And those lyrics... 'She came out of the sun with her silk dress running like a watercolour in the rain.'
Notice the symbol of a man kicking a star in the background? That means you're watching "The Old Grey Whistle Test". It was on these programs that we saw top talent performing live every week, introduced by whispering Bob Harris. Everything about this show was iconic. So much so that it could not be reproduced on TV today. Bands were actually eager to go on the show!!!!
The show (on the BBC) was the one and only vital one watched by real rock/pop music lovers for many years. I remember the programme debuted 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' on the night prior to its release. I bought the album next day in Glasgow!
Year of the 😾was released in 1975 i was 15 also the same year Bohemian rhaposdy By Queen I wasliving in Kodiak Alaska with my family having a great time being a 70s Brat ,Black P WOULD you please react to Smoke on the water by The Rock band deep Purple 1972 from their MACHINE HEAD L,P The GITAR Riff will blow youe mind 70s STYLE.
His song, The Roads to Moscow, is about the Russian retreat from Nazis in we 2. It also tracks the eventual victory by Russia. I tear up every time I hear the end.
you should check out his album Past Present Future-he wrote a song for each decade of the 20th century (well, up to the 60s). came out back in 73-great album!
Year of the Cat is about a mysterious, dreamlike encounter with an enchanting woman that leads the narrator to abandon routine and embrace the magic of the moment. The song's cinematic imagery and haunting melody make it timeless.
Al Stewart is a genius! Such iconic 70’s music. Love seeing reactions to music us ‘old timers’ grew up on! …music like this is the reason we think todays musicians have no idea what real music and lyrics are. Year of the Cat is Chinese astrology.
The year of the cat is Vietnamese "astrology". This is the kind of song where you imagine yourself in French Polynesia, chilling in a hammock on a beach with your favorite drink. "Time Passages" is another Al Stewart popular song.
This is most likely doubt with the studio version and I'm glad it is. Those smooth transitions between those solo instruments is amazing and this can only mean one thing: The producer was the legendary Alan Parsons.
Ironically, Al has said this song is an update to the Casablanca story. Keep that in mind, find a lyric video, pay attention to the words. Awesome song.
I had to chuckle when the Sax came in Cherry on top? ☺️I think the lyrics are enigmatic and mysterious, like the woman on the Song, and Cats Mine is still a mystery to me at times.The Cat that is.
IMHO this is the perfect song. Beautiful arrangement, three solos and a story of an unexpected adventure with a mysterious stranger in an exotic location (Morocco ?).
Thinking the year of the cat would be The Year of The Tiger (Asian Astrology). Love this tune, how it expands and surrounds you. B.P., please listen to the studio version on the best technology you have, you won’t regret it. Thanks for the memories 👍💕
I've heard this song 100+ times and it never gets old!
Al Stewart is a national treasure, this song and “ Time Passages “ are the epitome of 70s music!!
Would have never remembered "Time Passages". Didn't know the artist, just that I'd heard it before.
Al Stewart was one of the greatest songwriters and lyricists/storytellers over the last 50+ years. Huge rabbit hole and his music is flipping timeless, and transports your sense of time when you listen to his work. Pure genius and one of a kind.
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress running like a watercolour in the rain"........talk about a beautiful, descriptive line!
Evocative moments in songs linger forever.
MAY BE A STRETCH ... BUT SOUNDS LIKE HE TALKING ABOUT AN ASIAN( OR CHINESE) GIRL ...
That's what I love about Stewarts songs is that he paints such great images with his lyrics.
Sheer poetry
Al Stewart is a phenomenal songwriter. "On the Border" is another of my favorites by him.
I believe "On the Border" is his best.
Year of the cat is a Vietnamese zodiac❤
I saw an interview with Al Stewart not long ago where he said this song was like a rich Uncle. The gift that keeps on giving $$$ 😊
When Alan Parsons and Al Stewart were mixing this song, Parsons did not like that there were two guitar solos, and suggested a sax solo. Al Stewart said "I'm a folk singer, folk songs don't have saxaphones."
Parsons said "Let's try it and see." so he called up Phil Kenzie who lived near Abbey Road Studios, and Phil said "No, I'm watching a movie" Parsons managed to get him to come in, he played the solo twice and left.
Stewart still didn't like it. Parsons said "Go home and sleep on it and we'll look at it again tomorrow" so he did and decided to leave it in and it became Stewarts biggest hit.
Professor Of Rock has an interview with Alan Parsons and Al Stewart discussing it.
One of my all time faves for the last 50 years. Hugely underrated.
Al Stewart is a GOAT to me…and at age 70 I can’t believe I said GOAT. This album takes me back to a really wonderful time. So easy to get immersed in.
Fabulous song. I have always and will always love this one.
Nice song! Love his voice, another good one from him is “Time Passages” very sonically pleasing too!❤️🔥✌🏻🫶🏻
Love this song. The sax always sends me into to some fabulous memories ❤❤❤❤
It never gets old. Timeless classic.
The whole album is really good. On The Border is another classic and favourite song off this album. Yet another album produced and engineered by Alan Parsons
Back in the day this album and Don McLean's American Pie album were so often played one after the other. We still do as a matter of fact when you are just in the mood for some classic soft rock and 70's and 80's sax solos. Add in Boz Scaggs - Silk Degrees and Gerry Rafferty's - City to City for four hours of blissful listening.
Agreed!💕👍
This is a song from my childhood. It reminds me of hot summers at my grandmother’s with my transistor radio and the slip and slide with her neighbor’s kids. What a sound. I still love it. Also Van Morrison had this groove. So so Sweet.
"in a country where they turned back time" i always thought of it as a place where things are like they were 50 or 100 years ago, One of my favorite lines is "You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre contemplating a crime", which is a powerful visual if you remember the actor Peter Lorre, which I do. Fantastic song and its like everyone got their own solo in :-)
Absolutely love this song
Oh Lord!! I loved this song during the day. Loved voice.
This song is a whole vibe. Simply sublime.
To me .ALS sounds just lIke Davey Jones of the monkeys but now in the 70s lol
Al Stewart is a very unique singer/songwriter. He’s fascinated by history and many of his songs evoke past eras. While his other big hit (besides Year of the Cat) is Time Passages, he has lots of great songs worth checking out: On The Border, Nostradamus, Roads To Moscow, Not The One, Flying Sorcery. He’s still performing-I saw him last year in Columbus, OH and really enjoyed his storytelling as well as his music!
Saw him number of times live in the 1970. Very entertaining and distinctive voice
The title of the final version was born when Stewart saw a book of Vietnamese astrology that his girlfriend had left out; the book was open to a page titled “Year of the Cat.” The opening lyrics were inspired by Casablanca, which was playing on the TV, as Stewart describes a “morning from a Bogart movie.” Stewart goes ...May 23, 2020
Fascinating info, TY!👍
One of my favorite songs growing up
Wikipedia-Co-written by Peter Wood, "Year of the Cat" is a narrative song written in the second person whose protagonist, a tourist, is visiting an exotic market when a mysterious silk-clad woman appears and takes him away for a gauzy romantic adventure. On waking the next day beside her, the tourist notes that his tour bus has left without him, and decides to stay where he is for the time being.
Per the Financial Times, Stewart's "girlfriend left a book of Vietnamese astrology open at the page for the Year of the Cat, then just beginning, the words fitted the same four notes - and also contained the word 'of'. Stewart was obsessed with Bob Dylan’s 'of' songs - 'Masters of War', 'Chimes of Freedom', and presumably in 1975, 'Simple Twist of Fate' - believing that the preposition made them sound 'portentous'. When he watched Casablanca on television, an opening couplet came to him: “In a morning from a Bogart movie, in a country where they turn back time/ You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre contemplating a crime…”
In the Vietnamese zodiac, the Cat is one of the twelve signs. At the time of the song's release, the most recent Year of the Cat had been 11 February 1975 to 30 January 1976; thus, the song was written and recorded in the Vietnamese Year of the Cat
One of my very favorites of all!
And he has more goodies to choose from!
I probably was hooked on his music first time around!
THANKS BP FOR KEEPING GOOD MUSIC ALIVE!!
This is my all-time favorite song. I could listen to it every day and never get tired of hearing it. I also recommend "On The Border".
He’s my favorite. He has amazing lyrics.
He does so many songs about historical events and people. The Roads to Moscow, Nastrodamus, The Palace of Versailles about the French revolution.
He has an entire album dedicated to events between the two world wars, Life Between the Wars. The music is in the styles of the times, jazz and pop of the time.
On the Border is one of my favorites by Al Stewart. The "Year of the Cat" album is one of my favorite albums of all time, and it is one that I listen to from start to finish All the songs are Wonderful.
Absolutely!
Al Stewart had a really great sound. Both the Year of the Cat and the Time Passages albums are just great. Lots of good music.
Live performance on the Old Grey Whistle Test a BBC TV show in the 70's/80's
Al Stewart is a Scottish Singer/ Songwriter and he specialises mainly in historical stories. When did many of his studio albums he would have many top Artists playing for him, such as Jimmy Page! I have seen him a couple of times in the UK and he is very entertaining and witty!
I loved this song when i was a kid i knew every word.
Jammin with my Nother and my older sister Sweee song
Childhood memories are the greatest memories ❤️
Musical masterpiece.
A real car stopper ! Driving home from work, I heard this song for the first time and had to park the car ! Never thought of astrology, just a beautiful song with meaning - listen to the lyrics.
This is such a great song. Glad to see you find it.
I havent heard this song in 20 yrs i cant believe i still remebered most of the wotds. Love this song. Thanks for bringing back. ❤
Thanks for reminding me of this artist. Everyone have a safe and happy Thanksgiving everyone, no matter where you are! 🖖🐢
One of my all time favourites. ❤
This song was playing everywhere in early 1977, great song!
Oh dude awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome awesome song thank you thank you thank you for posting❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I'm glad you played this version.
Excellent huh! he sang Peter Lorre's name too. You
can't get the songs lyrics because of copyright laws.
Taken from Copilot: Peter Lorre's legacy is woven into the fabric of classic cinema. His compelling roles and distinctive style made him unforgettable, especially in movies like "M" and "The Maltese Falcon". Whether portraying the sinister or the sympathetic, Lorre's screen presence was always magnetic. He was in many movies. The Maltese Falcon has Peter Lorre & Humphrey Bogart in it. Great movies but they are older than I am!
Year of the cat is a Vietnamese astrological thing similar to the Chinese astrological calendar. It may be a Tiger as well.
You can get the lyrics...you can buy the sheet music too.
@@snikkerr1949 I enjoyed this songs vibe and others from Al Stewart. I found the copyright message on Bing or Co pilot and just accepted it as true. I just liked Bogart and grew up watching his flicks with admiration. I'll go back and look again on your advice, thank you much my friend.
I Listened to the video that BP pointed out at the end of this video called, "Al Stewart talks Year of the Cat". It's short and some interesting things happened. He and I have a few things in common, one being history. He also had some astounding luck in his life travels with running across some pretty well known musicians we all admire. On the last quarter of Stewards video, you'll see the album cover of the album in question. Look for all the references to felines, they are everywhere on it.
Thought you might be interested in this bit of useless trivia I'm hooked on. I'll still look for the lyrics of the song, thanks again!
@@snikkerr1949 That was quick:
On a morning from a Bogart movie
In a country where they turn back time
You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre
Contemplating a crime
She comes out of the sun in a silk dress
Running like a watercolor in the rain
Don't bother asking for explanations
She'll just tell you that she came
In the year of the cat
She doesn't give you time for questions
As she locks up your arm in hers
And you follow 'til your sense of which direction
Completely disappears
By the blue tiled walls near the market stalls
There's a hidden door she leads you to
"These days," she says, "I feel my life
Just like a river running through
The year of the cat"
While she looks at you so coolly
And her eyes shine like the moon in the sea
She comes in incense and patchouli
So you take her to find what's waiting inside
The year of the cat
Well morning comes and you're still with her
And the bus and the tourists are gone
And you've thrown away your choice and lost your ticket
So you have to stay on
But the drumbeat strains of the night remain
In the rhythm of the newborn day
You know sometime you're bound to leave her
But for now, you're gonna stay
In the year of the cat
Mm, year of the cat
The mention of "her coming in (wearing) incense and "patchouli" oils bring me back to my life and years in Salem, Massachusetts. She was a Wiccan or a witch! My screen name is The Amelas One, pronounced aimless one. Meaningless and with no point or purpose in sight. I always enjoyed playing word games, go figure. Take the A off and spell melaS backward. A simple, but effective way for me to describe the endless lines of tourist passing my shop windows every day from April to November. Yes, a long season. Many visitors had a wide eyed slack jawed look of thinking they had arrived in the Mecca of their dreams! A money maker indeed, but the historian in me was appalled by the fact Salem has yet another 398 years of history that was true and unspoken of. Think of Elias H. Derby being America's first millionaire making the first world trade from the new world, bringing us spices & opening trade with China & Russia. Our military was created in Salem & our Navy was born in Beverly a part of old Salem before the United States of America was. The ship Hanna was first captained by a captain in the US Army and yes George Washington slept in Beverly. Salem brought money, industry and pirates to us while Washington DC burned. The list continues with the first telephone call to Boston by Alexander G. Bell. But I won't on.
The Amelas One
Phenomenal song writer who paints pictures with words but who never quite made it into the mainstream with the exception of this one song. Shame because he has 50 more that are just as good. If you are interested, ‘On the Border’, ‘Life in dark water’, ‘Roads to Moscow’, ‘Soho needless to say’, ‘Nostradamus’, ‘Time passages’………..and on and on. All playlist worthy for lovers of story telling music.
So many good songs. Road to Moscow is incredibly moving. Al was one of my favorites. So much good music, lots featuring saxophone
In 1977 when this was in the Top Ten, I was working in an office in Minneapolis and probably heard it twice an hour on the radio. Good memories.
Al Stewart is a master storyteller. He writes love songs and Historical Fiction - meaning that he has songs about people and events from long ago history where he creates stories based on what we knew happened and adds things that might have happened or could have happened. He also just has songs with clever poetry. And lots of beautiful acoustic solos. Back in the 60's before Led Zeppelin, he was roommates with Jimmy Page.
Al is a master story teller who is 80 and still touring! I think 2025 is his farewell tour. Other hits include Time Passages, Modern Times and many many more! More Al Stewart please!!
Great song. Great vibe.
If I were going to carve a "Mount Rushmore" of Singer-Songwriters, the Four I would put on the mountain would be Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Gordon Lightfoot and Al Stewart. Of course everyone has their own "four best" but these would be mine.
..."Class of 76"...Has always been just a mellow song...
One of the best songs ever written imo
Oh you've made my day - thank you. This is such a magical song for me, and takes me way, way back...🌻
Up there in the top half of my all time top 100.
8 track Banger. I heard this song as a kid coming out of my parents 8 track player in regular gas guzzling Station Wagon with no seat belts or cabin filter on my way to pre school. This band is stellar. I always thought The Pet Shop Boys kinda bit this guy’s style. I think he lives in Minnesota and still does lots of shows up there.
I always love songs that use a musical interlude or solo to designate the lovemaking part of the story. Kinda like films showing the train into the tunnel.
This song is pure musical melancholy reminiscence!
If you don't know history , you don't know Al Stuart
In the studio recording of this song there is a longer version of the piano intro. This version is well worth checking out.
They just edited the beginning but this is clearly the same audio as the studio recording.
Casablanca was a movie starring Humphrey Bogart, and in included Peter Lorrie contemplating a crime. Casablanca is a city in Moraco, which is in North Africa.
Love Al's music; favorite is Time Passages
Same. One of my favorites from him.
I did not expect you to react to Al Stewart, but I'm glad you did. I think you'll love "Lord Grenville" and "On the Border," they're from the same album.
Reminds me of "Suzanne" by Noel Harrison. Not all cats are like that. My cat is ecstatic when I come home and I love our cats.
Some fun Al Stewart facts ~
-Before Simon and Garfunkel became famous they broke up, and Paul Simon lived in London for several months. While there he was room mates with Al Stewart.
-Before Led Zeppelin formed, and even before being in the Yardbirds, Jimmy Page was a session guitarist. He played on several of Al Stewart’s early songs.
-Supposedly Al Stewart and Rod Stewart are not related, but once Al did say they are cousins during a concert.
-Al Stewart asked Tori Amos to write a song with him and they became good friends.
The Year of the Cat is a zodiac year that symbolizes strength, power, and aggression. In Vietnam, the Year of the Cat is believed to bring good luck and smooth sailing.
Songs of my youth, thank you for sharing.
"In a country that turns back time." How did you get time zones out of that? Means a more rustic, still clinging to old ideas or is just less technologically advanced place.
Nice catch on the Casablanca reference!
Great composition.
1974, release of this music, was the ‘Year off-the-Cat’ ( Tiger, in Chinese astrology-signs)
I knew this song but never saw the guy who sang it. Thanks P.
He was also the first artist to put the word, fuck. In a song. In the late 60s. On his 1969 album, Love Chronicles. The song, Love Chronicles is the one. It’s 18 minutes long.
If you haven’t already , another great song is by Joe South titled Games people play . Awesome Channel :) thank you
This whole album also called, Year of the Cat, is awesome! Listen to, On the Border.
In the first verse he mentions Peter Lorre (contemplating a crime). He was in the film Casablanca.
One absolute gem here out of three Scottish sparklers: as well YOTC, other two Gerry Raffety/Baker Street and Gallagher & Lyle/ I wanna stay with you, for the rest of my life. Was there something in the Scottish water at that time for songwriters and musicians? Those three always great to chill my brain waves.🐱🐱🐱
There's a brilliant longer version with another heavier guitar solo towards the end. A feastof solos. And those lyrics... 'She came out of the sun with her silk dress running like a watercolour in the rain.'
Finally thank you, thank you,, please check out his banger " time passages" please thank you!
The very old Chinese zodiac works in 12 year cycles. The Year Of The Cat is the 4th animal in the cycle. One of my top ten pop songs of all time.
Great reaction. This album is awesome with headphones on and the lyrics handy.
Notice the symbol of a man kicking a star in the background? That means you're watching "The Old Grey Whistle Test". It was on these programs that we saw top talent performing live every week, introduced by whispering Bob Harris. Everything about this show was iconic. So much so that it could not be reproduced on TV today. Bands were actually eager to go on the show!!!!
The show (on the BBC) was the one and only vital one watched by real rock/pop music lovers for many years. I remember the programme debuted 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' on the night prior to its release. I bought the album next day in Glasgow!
It was an iconic show but not all performances were live, as this one clearly is not. What you hear is the studio recording.
@@ChrisEchoes Fair point, but there was always at least one live performance each week and normally several. It was something to behold .
Year of the 😾was released in 1975 i was 15 also the same year Bohemian rhaposdy By Queen I wasliving in Kodiak Alaska with my family having a great time being a 70s Brat ,Black P WOULD you please react to Smoke on the water by The Rock band deep Purple 1972 from their MACHINE HEAD L,P The GITAR Riff will blow youe mind 70s STYLE.
Very evocative moody song… a classic that is so easy to listen to
Everyone gets a solo - This is also on my playlist....
His song, The Roads to Moscow, is about the Russian retreat from Nazis in we 2. It also tracks the eventual victory by Russia. I tear up every time I hear the end.
you should check out his album Past Present Future-he wrote a song for each decade of the 20th century (well, up to the 60s). came out back in 73-great album!
Year of the Cat is about a mysterious, dreamlike encounter with an enchanting woman that leads the narrator to abandon routine and embrace the magic of the moment. The song's cinematic imagery and haunting melody make it timeless.
Al Stewart is a genius! Such iconic 70’s music.
Love seeing reactions to music us ‘old timers’ grew up on!
…music like this is the reason we think todays musicians have no idea what real music and lyrics are.
Year of the Cat is Chinese astrology.
Stewart"s producer told him he needed a hit, so he wrote this. 😮
A great song. Especially the saxophone solo and the guitar solo. I'm sure you will like it.
🎶🎶🎶😘🙋♀️
That melody, that voice, that sax, that guitar all make an iconic song!
The year of the cat is Vietnamese "astrology". This is the kind of song where you imagine yourself in French Polynesia, chilling in a hammock on a beach with your favorite drink. "Time Passages" is another Al Stewart popular song.
This is most likely doubt with the studio version and I'm glad it is. Those smooth transitions between those solo instruments is amazing and this can only mean one thing: The producer was the legendary Alan Parsons.
This is the single edit. The album version is twice as good😮😊
The great Alan Parsons producing this...
Ironically, Al has said this song is an update to the Casablanca story. Keep that in mind, find a lyric video, pay attention to the words. Awesome song.
Great tune!
I had to chuckle when the Sax came in Cherry on top? ☺️I think the lyrics are enigmatic and mysterious, like the woman on the Song, and Cats Mine is still a mystery to me at times.The Cat that is.
In Vietnam, the year of the Rabbit,is called the year of the Cat.
IMHO this is the perfect song. Beautiful arrangement, three solos and a story of an unexpected adventure with a mysterious stranger in an exotic location (Morocco ?).
Thinking the year of the cat would be The Year of The Tiger (Asian Astrology). Love this tune, how it expands and surrounds you. B.P., please listen to the studio version on the best technology you have, you won’t regret it. Thanks for the memories 👍💕
Peter Lorre was in the movie, "Casablanca." Cat is synonymous with Rabbit