Al Stewart: Year of the Cat
The Year of the Cat
Format reviewedCD
Released1976
Review
Wrongly seen as folk-rock star Stewart's sell out album, it is true that the Year of the Cat single killed his credibility, mainly because it got radio play and before that Stewart was a cult secret. Did he do any work at all after this album?
Yet, except for a bit too much presence on the recording (not untypical in the mid-70s - and it was produced by Alan Parsons) this is a Stewart record in the traditional mould of carefully crafted stories set to acoustic music with session musicians of extraordinary talent: Tim Renwick (electric guitar) and Stuart Elliot (drums) providing the backdrop. It's worth buying any record where their names are in the credits!
Stewart was one of England's best troubadours. If this was his swansong, it's good he went out on commercial success but a shame his long serving fans thought it commercialism gone too far.
It's a fine record (except for the title track - which is too commercial and for sure shows signs of going Californian)
Lord GrenvilleOn The BorderMidas ShadowSand In Your ShoesIf It Doesn't Come Naturally, Leave ItFlying SorceryBroadway HotelOne Stage BeforeYear Of The Cat
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