Al Stewart - Year Of The Cat
Guitar, Keyboards – Al Stewart [click here to see more products featuring AI Stewart]
Guitar – Peter White, Tim Renwick
Keyboards – Don Lobster, Peter Wood
Alto Saxophone – Phil Kenzie
Backing Vocals – David Pack, John Perry, Stuart, Tony Rivers
Bass – George Ford
Drums, Percussion – Stuart Elliot
Harmonica – Graham Smith
Keyboards – Al Stewart, Don Lobster, Peter Wood
Triangle – Marion Driscoll
Violin – Bobby Bruce
Arranged by Andrew Powell
Written by Al Stewart
1 LP, gatefold sleeve
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : RTI
Label : Friday Music
Original Label : RCA Victor
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios
Produced by Alan Parsons
Remastered by Joe Reagoso
Originally released in 1976
Reissued in 2012
Tracks:
Side A :
Side B:
Reviews :
"Al Stewart had found his voice on Past, Present & Future and found his sound on Modern Times. He then perfected it all on 1976's Year of the Cat, arguably his masterpiece. There is no overarching theme here, as there was on its two immediate predecessors, but the impossible lushness of Alan Parsons' production and Stewart's evocative Continental narratives give the record a welcome feeling of cohesion that keeps the record enchanting as it moves from "Lord Grenville" to "Midas Shadow" to "Broadway Hotel," before it ends with the haunting title track. Along the way, Stewart doesn't dwell too deeply in any area, preferring to trace out mysteries with his evocative lyrical imagery and a spinning array of self-consciously sophisticated music, songs that evoke American and European folk and pop with a deliberate grace. This could be unbearably precious if it didn't work so well. Stewart is detached from his music, but only in the sense that he gives this album a stylish elegance, and Parsons is his perfect foil, giving the music a rich, panoramic sweep that mimics Stewart's globe-trotting songs. The result is a tremendous example of how good self-conscious progressive pop can be, given the right producer and songwriter -- and if you're a fan of either prog or pop and haven't given Al Stewart much thought, prepare to be enchanted." AllMusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Ratings :
AllMusic : 4,5 / 5 , Discogs : 4,01 / 5