Decoding this Cerebral 1977 Classic is LIKE Putting Together a 5000 piece PUZZLE!-Professor of Rock
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- Опубліковано 22 тра 2024
- Coming up next, the story of a song that was written 4 times! Al Stewart and his 70s chart classic Year of the Cat - that ranked from late 1976 into 1977… and was produced by legend Alan Parsons who engineered Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon was a bit of a question mark for a while. With this 70s classic Al showed a very different side of his music. He wrote 4 different sets of lyrics for the song, that’s how badly he wanted to get it right! He put this 70s classic together like a 5000-piece puzzle. Up next We try to piece it together to figure out what Year of the Cat actually means, with interviews with singer/songwriter Al Stewart and iconic producer Alan Parsons. NEXT on Professor of Rock.
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Hey music junkies Professor of Rock always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If YOU ever heard a song for the first time on the radio and were so BLOWN AWAY you immediately went OUT AT BOUGHT THE ALBUM YOU’LL dig this channel of musical nostalgia.. make sure to Subscribe below right now because here you get the inside story of your favorite songs, most of the time straight from the artist. Hit the bell so you never miss out. And help support our mission of curating rock and pop history by clicking on our Patreon link below.
I’ve talked about it before on here but I always love a great song that is like a puzzle. A song that you have to really listen to carefully, almost like you’re decoding it. Al Stewart's classic 1976 song Year of the Cat is definitely one of those compositions. It was released in 1976 and peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977, it also went to the top 10 in Australia.
The film Casablanca was a major inspiration for the song, which name-checks actors Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre. In fact, its the biggest hit about Casablanca in history, even more successful than Casabalanca’s own popular standard, As Time Goes By, It’s interesting how a lot of pop artists at that time were inspired by Humphrey Bogart, as Rupert Holmes was very close to using the actor as the main part of the lyric to Escape the Pina Colada song, changing the lyric at the last second of if You like Pina Coladas instead and then, of course, Bertie Higgins name-checked Bogie in his 1981 Yacht Rock classic Key Largo.
Al toured with a band called the Sutherland Brothers and their keyboardist was a guy named Peter Wood. Well, Peter played this really haunting piano part at soundcheck all the time… after about 14 times hearing it, Al Stewart approached him and told him it was wonderful and that he’d like to try and put lyrics to it. Peter told him he could so Al did it. He said writing the lyrics was a huge challenge. First, he came up with a set of lyrics about an English comedian named Tony Hancock, and the song was called 'Foot of the Stage.’ this comedian had committed suicide in Australia and Al Stewart saw him right before he went there and he could tell something was horribly wrote. so he wrote the chorus as your tears fell down like rain At the foot of the stage
The American record company told Al they’d never heard of Tony Hancock. So, Al said and I quote 'Well, that's annoying so I'll take the piss out of them.' - Розваги
Poll: What Song from the 70s or 80s has the GREATEST lyrics?
Vincent
Thriller, Sweet Dreams Are Made of This and of course Alimony.
Bob Seger "Against the Wind"
I Can't Drive 55 Sammy Hagar and I spent my money on women and wine, but I couldn't tell you where I spent last night Poison. Those two come to mind.
"Beat On The Brat"
Ramones
Pretty much says it all...
But seriously, "Blinded By The Light" by Manfred Mann's Earth Band, 😊, and the mysterious cast of characters it describes, is a tough one to beat...
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress, running like a watercolor in the rain". Poetry.
Pure. ❤
I love that line.
That was always my favorite line.
I love that one. Also: "Then she looks at you so coolly. And her eyes shine, like the moon on the sea."
YES
The Cat and Baker Street are 2 of the best Sax songs ever ❤❤❤❤❤
"Year Of The Cat" is an all-time classic with memorable lyrics.
I had no idea Alan Parsons was involved, but now it makes perfect sense. The song was so beautifully orchestrated and engineered. The piano always sounds incredibly rich.
You know how Alan Parsons is with music!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 And when he suggests adding a sax, you should really consider adding the sax. I think that was a shocking innovation on Dark Side of the Moon. I know Parsons didn't choose to add that sax, but maybe he learned what sax could add to contemporary rock.
Grade for his project? A+
Best bridge ever! Keyboard solo, followed by acoustic guitar solo, electric guitar solo, then a saxophone solo. Songwriting perfection from start to finish.
I never put that together, but yeah, 4 separate solos in a row, every one of them a true work of artistry. But wasn't that a string section before the acoustic solo? Was there a piano between the strings and the acoustic solo? It's been a while. I gotta listen to it again now. I absolutely love that song, and I loved it when I first heard it.
I came here to write the same thing, but Paul has beaten me to it. I'm a very involved musician and sound engineer, quite elderly now, and I've heard a LOT of music, from all styles around the world. This instrumental break IS the best ever. And I'm quite surprised the Professor didn't give it any mention.
@beenaplumber, I always thought it was a string section solo too until I saw the video for the song and it was played on a keyboard.
This song contains some of the most beautiful, evocative, and memorable lyrics ever, wedded to a flawless, haunting melody with phenomenal arrangement and orchestration... This is easily among the greatest popular songs ever written. I've seen Al in concert 3-4 times and every one has been a great experience. Long life and good health to this legendary artist!
It’s just expertly made all around.
I was fortunate to have my brother call me and invite me to see Al playing across the Detroit River in Canada 1988 . We get there and it’s little bar possibly a restaurant with a postage stamp size stage and a table open in front of it, so we sat there. Unbelievable Al Stewart in our face, after the show he invited us up stairs into his tiny dressing room and autographed his new release I had on cassette. What an unforgettable evening.
I saw him at our local library years ago. He and a friend on guitar being folk singers. He put on a great show. Great audience repore and very funny.
God I’m so jealous! I bought Year of the Cat when I was a senior in high school and I loved that album. Moved me to my core.
First cassette I ever bought in 6th grade. For my birthday last week, my husband bought me an old cassette deck and receiver. Time to bring out these old classics.
@@hoopiedoo I still have all mine, and record concerts on a cassette recorder.
Al Stewart is a master lyricist, historian, wine connoisseur, composer.. and has gifted us with some wonderful music. The whole Year Of The Cat album is brilliant. His word pictures are splendid.
It's really good to see both Al Stewart and Alan Parsons both alive and well. We've lost so many lately. If you've never seen Al Stewart live, he just instantly makes the audience comfortable and... I don't know... joyful? I've seen him twice, and both times walked away feeling happier than I did before the show. That sounds sort of corny, but I don't think anyone else in those audiences would say differently.
This makes me want to see him!
Oh yes 😊 I remember he had more than a dozen Guitars on stage, all arranged in a row. After every song he said "I'm gonna play a better guitar for you now" and took the next one. It became a running gag.
not corny at all - myself and some friends attended several small venue concerts in Houston back in the mid-to-late 90's
Al is a great entertainer - has a lot of fun on stage and gets his audience involved - specially when he plays "Roads to Moscow"
@@jonniiinferno9098 Memorizing the whole song "Roads To Moscow" is one of the most underrated feats in music. I don't care if it is his song, it's like 8 minutes storytelling, and he doesn't miss a beat.
@@RockPolitics - no doubt !!
With songs like this and Time Passages, Stewart definitely made his mark as a laid back type of a performer who could make you think.
Great comment! Have you ever seen him live?
@@ProfessorofRock Never had the pleasure.
I agree. Genius.
On The Border and Roads to Moscow are awesome too
I looooooved this song when I was six years old. Had no idea what it meant, didn't know any of the lyrics, just thought it was a good-sounding song about a cat.
A few years ago, for some reason, I was curious and decided to give it a listen.
Dear Lord.
This song was BRILLIANT. I didn't get the meaning behind every lyrics, but the lyrics WORKED. They worked beautifully. Aaaaand then the sax solo hits. Yeah, this is one of the all-time great songs.
A buddy of mine was a music major in college when this song came out....he was a very accomplished pianist He and I crashed a party late one evening....I will never forget him sitting down at the piano and playing this song. The whole place went silent and enjoyed listening to him play. Fantastic!
Thank you for the music,
Dickey Betts,
The Rambling Man.
☮️
😢
"...Now people down in Georgia come from near and far
To hear Richard Betts pickin' on that red guitar!"
~Charlie Daniels~
I had to listen to that song when I heard that great picker died. I was surprised that C.D. sings RICHARD Betts, because my mind always heard "Dickie Betts"!
I know that song isn't as well-liked nowadays, singing about "rebels" and the South, but it meant something different to us back in the 70s who loved the music. My family were hillbillies who all played and sang bluegrass, hymns, and Appalachian music. The murder ballads were my favorites.
The song has absolutely _nothing_ to do with wanting to bring back a horrible time when people could be bought and sold, it's about loving the music of our region. This was "outlaw country" before that was a genre.
RIP Dickie, thanks for the wonderful 🎶🎸
@LazyIRanch, I thought about that song when I read that he had passed. At 70 years old, I'm firmly convinced that my generation has the best music ever. PoR, thank you for your channel. I'm keeping a special space in memory for your Dad, he sounds like one of the coolest parents to walk the earth.
When I was around 15 my cousin was in a band that was opening for the Allman Bros and I got to meet Dickey. Not surprisingly (and like almost everyone else in Southern Rock), was as down to Earth as you could be. RIP.
Forrest Richard Betts - 12th December 1943 - 18th April 2024. Thanks for the great music Dickey. Ramble on In Peace sir.
Al Stewart told me that in 1978 that his record company wanted his follow up album to be disco oriented and he refused!
Thank God for that! I love the way he phrases his words
You mean we could have had a song from Al Stewart called "Disco Cat"?
I wouldn't be surprised if Clive Davis wanted a more disco oriented album.
Disco had its excesses but many disco songs are some of the best of the ‘70s and ‘80s (just dance music as ‘disco’ was exterminated) - the list is lengthy - Blondie both made their career and alienated dedicated rock fans with their mega hit ‘Heart of Glass’ and ‘Rapture’ some years later - proving it is the quality of the song and production not the genre - many disco haters are homophobic or racist in my opinion
@@bright93 What is to cause alienation from "Heart of Glass"? I would hardly call it a disco song. One of my favorite songs, and she is so Hot!!! Just that most all of disco songs and music SUCK the big time except for a handful or several good ones. Has nothing to do with being racist, Disco just SUCKS!!
Most brilliant song of all time. Everytime i hear this song i always think 'man how did the come up with this!' Classic music. No one writes music like that anymore😢
Purrrrfect 🐾
I'm 68 and music was the way, the truth and the light. Better then than now I'm afraid ...in my humble opinion.
🎶🎵
I was Freshman in college when this was released and what stood out was the incredible production values. Parsons knew how to obtain incredible sound.
When I first heard "Year of the Cat", I was about 15 or 16 and just beginning to fall in love with Impressionism. When Al sang "like a watercolor in the rain", I could see Monet's "Water Lilies" with my mind's eye. So almost 50 years later, I still see the water lilies. Great video, Adam! 😁
I connected with year of the cat during the winter of 1977, while living for the first time in the country and out of the big city. The song is burned into my memory sweeter than honey, and always brings me back to that cold winter ,my attic and discovering the. Joys of music!
… Al’s writing lyrics right in the middle of that interview, “ it comes at you like out of mist …”
He has a gift of shaking metaphors out of his sleeve.
I was initially very dismissive of Al Stewart, but a friend of mine was something of a fan and kept playing his records and at one point he'd gone to see him in concert. He came back and was talking about his performance of Roads to Moscow, with film or slides playing on a screen behind him. There was a part with the lyrics, "Two broken Tigers on fire in the night, flicker their souls to the wind," and on the screen was two Tiger tanks burning. That hooked me. I was never a major fan, but certainly the songs of Al's that I heard after that I was much more appreciative of - and ALWAYS my favorite has been Roads to Moscow. The closing lyric and the crying strings still gets me every time I hear it.
That back to back guitar/sax solo is the best.!! Roads to Moscow is excellent also.
I agree.
Year Of The Cat and Baker Street, two iconic classics with this format. Can't say that one is better than the other, as they are both great. Perhaps one day they will end up being found by some far-off alien archaeologist long after we have vanished into the ether. This gives me hope for the universe.
As well as Al Stewart getting Peter Wood on keyboards from The Sutherland Bros., Al also recruited their guitarist Tim Renwick who played the lead solo on “Year Of The Cat”. Oh, and Gavin Sutherland wrote “Sailing” made famous by Rod Stewart.
Absolutely agree. Everything about this song is fantastic, including those back-to-back solos. ❤❤❤❤❤
Yes I love the solos!
My HS class graduated in 1977. Our team mascot was the Cougars. Year of the Cat was plastered all over the school.
Al Stewart is a great guy. I heard him host an hour on SiriusXM and his hour was a joy to listen to.
Heard it for the first time on the AM radio in my 65 Mustang. It was a warm late summer night driving home from the lake after my girl friend broke up with me. The lyrics had nothing to do with my story but the melancholy nature of the melodies, my own grief, and hormones must have imprinted it on my soul. I still get that feeling when I hear the song. Had to have been about the time the song came out.
WOW!! Left it for the end of the album because he wasn't sure?? Did he not have a friend to say "DUDE! This is a freaking HIT"!! Crazy! Thanks Professor!! 🕊️☮️
Totally agree!!!
Definitely one of my favorite songs of the '70s (and all time), it's got one of the great lyrics in music: "She comes out of the sun in a silk dress running like a watercolor in the rain". Also, just great piano and orchestration between the acoustic, electric and sax. I've seen Al live a couple of times in NYC (and met him once!), and he likes to change up the Peter Lorre line, which is fun. I saw him in 2002, right around the time of the Enron scandal, and he sang "You go strolling through the crowd like Kenneth Lay (disgraced Enron CEO), contemplating a crime". Great artist, and the trio of albums from '75-'78 (Modern Times, Year of the Cat and Time Passages) are all brilliant. Have a great weekend! - Dave
Great line!
Yes! I was going to quote the same line! One of my all time favorites. It always evokes such a strong visual in my head. Simply beautiful lyric!!! ❤
The imagery in that one line makes me swoon!
The lyrics are al painting images in your ears, the music winds and weaves itself like a fine tapestry, the rythym leads you into a lucid daydream where you experience the stories. And then there's year of the cat. Al Stewart's masterpiece. The man is a Rembrandt or da Vinci of music. I've been a fan since I was 7 years old and list him as one of my favorite artists. And sadly, too many people dont even know who he is, but should really give him a try.
You're a poet!
Al Stewart is a great Scottish singer-songwriter & folk-rock musician. I had his album "Year Of The Cat" & "Time Passages". All the songs on both are great. "Year Of The Cat" is one of my favorites songs. Love the sax solo.
That sax solo is amazing!
During the “Time Passages” era, when he was living in L.A. and Marin County, he toured the west coast often. Portland was one of his favorite cities because we always gave him a great reception. I still remember getting chills during “Roads to Moscow” with the video of the Nazi invasion of Russia playing behind him. Excellent showman
he sounded english.
@@jameshudson169because he stayed in England for a while ,same as Ian Anderson
@@John-du6ec wikipedia says al stewart grew up in dorset.
This song has probably THE BEST solo instrument transitions in the bridge. It is absolutely perfect!!! Begins with string sounds then the acoustic guitar takes over, followed by the electric guitar, followed by the fantastic saxophone. Each one flows seamlessly from the previous instrument. I can't think of another song where the solo transitional change from one to another is monumental, like Year of the Cat. It's just another absolute classic from THE decade of GREAT music . . . the 1970's. None better.
Hey Professor, cover Roads to Moscow. Another classic.
❤🎉
Al Stewart!!
Year of the Cat!
Absolutely great song.
Along with Time Passages. Great sing-along songs.
Songs like a puzzle? Kansas comes to mind. Possibly Rush too.
Thanks Professor!
Great shirt!
Have a great weekend.
Thanks Roger!
Two amazing songs.
"Paul Through the Wall" should be the name of an album. Also, I've never heard of Al Stewart, but he was seriously ahead of his time. Learn something new every day. Alan Parsons is a legend, and a genius.
I'm 67 years old, and a music lover. So I've heard a ton of songs during my life. "Year of the Cat" is one of my Top 10 all time favorite songs. I'd have to sit down and write them out, but this song might even be in my top 5. It's just an incredible song, haunting, ethereal and sublime at the same time. When this song was a hit on the radio, I'd never heard a musical arrangement like this one. There are even parts of the music that sound cat-like. Alan Parsons really is a genius.
Perfectly timed episode. I am finally getting to see Al Stewart next Thursday. So happy he is still on tour.
Feels like a hundred years ago I heard the line in a song, "She comes out of the sun in a silk dress running, like a water color, in the rain." The artist grabbed me by the cerebrum in a rush and I was hooked! Peace!
Learning the guitar solo as a young player was SO satisfying…incredibly musical and memorable. The whole song is a masterpiece.
The first time I heard this song, I thought, "What a refreshing sound in the midst of so much noise!" It's on my playlist in my car, in the house, and in my home studio.
This song I can't hear without thinking of my brother! HE fit this sooo much! RIP Joshua! He would have loved your video on this song!
Al Stewart truly is a poet! From his lyrics to the description of the sound of the saxophone rolling down like an avalanche,....I have to say I truly loved this interview and to see how Alan PArsons, who I also really like was involved! This was an epic interview!!
This song is magical. Visionary and mystical, and Al’s voice suits it perfectly. The intro is so beautiful, I loved any radio station that didn’t cut it!❤️🐈⬛
For anyone who is a fan of old movies the verse with Peter Lorre immediately transports you to where the artist wants you to go. Most artists can never do this no matter how many words they use. Brilliant!
It’s more mesmerizing every time I hear it. My favorite song.
“The Year of the Cat” grabbed me the very first time I heard it. Quite possibly my all-time favorite song. It has everything! Every time I hear it, it runs like a movie in my mind.
I didn’t know about Alan Parsons’ involvement until today. “Turn of a Friendly Card” by the Alan Parsons Project is my favorite album of all times, hands down. It all makes sense now.
Truly one of my favorite songs of all time, thank you, Professor! It never cease to amaze me that no matter how many times I've listened to this incredible piece of musical poetry and storytelling, I frequently hear something new and develop an ever deeper appreciation for it. I'm sorry, but today's music and songwriting pales in comparison!
There are a few good one out there but you have to look for them
Thanx so much for this great look at Year Of The Cat. I was very lucky to see both Al Stewart and Alan Parsons perform and meet them on the On The Blue Cruise in 2019. Both of them put such great shows and were so gracious with their time and such nice people to chat which came across so well in your interviews.
Year Of The Cat was just one of those tracks that grabbed hold of you and did not let go of you. It is still one of my all time favourite tracks and made that much more special after seeing Al live and chatting with him.
I loved Al Stewart. I used to turn off all the lights and listen to Year of the Cat with no distractions. The sax was perfect for that song.
One of my favorite all time songs. Al is such a class act and nice guy!
Always loved "Year of the Cat". This song was also "younger kid friendly". I was only about 8 years old when it came out, but I loved singing along to this song about a cat. LOL - as I grew older, it only became even more dear to me. Good stuff! :)
Absolutely! Same here. My parents always had a very eclectic music library from classical to current. This album was one of them, and I loved listening to it over and over. So many nuanced details I missed as a child!
I was a young boy when I first this song. It fascinated me. There was something mystical about it. It still has that feel.
Exactly!! I was 8 when TYOTC came out also. It’s still a favorite now at 55 . Same with Time Passages. I was 10. I still love it today ❤😊
Once I learned about the Chinese New Year it all came together.
The albums "Year of the Cat" and "Time Passages" are exceptional to listen to.
The influence of Alan Parsons is key to their quality and success.
I love Al Stewart! One of my friends has two sons who have a UA-cam reaction channel and they reviewed Year of the Cat and Time Passages and Al himself greeted them on Facebook when they posted the video there. Very cool moment.
Al's musical arrangements and lyrical content are true art.
Al Stewart is one of those artists that everyone knows about, but many can't remember by those of us from that time period. I remember "Year of the Cat" as being a song that made you want to "Loose your ticket (and) stay on". A kind of little story that stays with you for a long time.
For some reason I always associate this song with Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver". They are so much alike in feel. It would be very cool to have some music, like this, to come along again. It would relieve a lot of stress. Back then, we would roll one up and sit back and just let the music take us away. "Give me the beat boys and free my sole, I want to get lost in your rock and roll. and dream away". "Year of the Cat" is one of those tunes that do just that, allow us to dream away. ;-)
Honestly my favorite song of all time. It's incredible.
Today, I can't improve on the comments already mad about what has always been a favorite of mine.
I've listened to his first two albums, and had I followed down the historical stories he sang about, I would have left high school with a very unusual body of knowledge. Keep in mind that Year of the Cat was released during my freshman year.
This was pure class. Thanks for bringing the story about this song to life.
Oh man. The production and layers on this is perfect. One of my favorite tunes to decompress with. Love Al Stewart's voice and how the Pet Shop Boys co-opted his vocal stylings.
About a year ago I had the opportunity to see Al in concert in a small local venue. Had a lot of stories to tell and a great personality. Thanks for this Prof.
my favorite concert in my life, Al Stewart opened for Fairport Convention at the American Theater in St. Louis. Back around 73. Al sat on a stool and played the entire Past, Present and Future album (which was out in England but not yet released in America). he was so good. been a fan ever since.
Lucky you
Sandy Denny was THE best get a lump I'm my throat listening to who knows where the time goes can't listen to it these days
I have loved this song from the first time I heard it on the radio, which would have been back in 1976-77. It has always intrigued me; the music, the lyrics, everything about it.
What has always gotten me about the lyrics is how evocative they are. Every time I hear this song, I can SEE it in my mind. Even though there is no description of her, I can see her too. There are so many good lines in the song that I think it's hard to pick just one. The ones mentioned below are good, but so is, "You've thrown away your choice, you've lost your ticket/So you have to stay on." I've always felt there was something sinister in that, as if she had done something to make him forget (other than the obvious, of course).
I also love how the music works with the lyrics. It was funny to hear that at first Stewart didn't want the saxophone solo. To me, it has always had the mystic, out of the mist feel he spoke of. When he said that, I caught myself going, "Yes, YES." In some ways, hearing how prosaic the songwriting process was is almost sort of disappointing. Maybe I expected something more mystical, like it came to him in a dream or something.
Thanks so much for another fantastic video. I hope you also spoke with him about some of his other songs, like "Road to Moscow," "On the Border," or "Lord Grenville." I would like to hear about his research for the historically based songs.
I KNEW I was going to love this one just from the description! I was right, this is one of my favorite songs of all time. I can't think of another song that mentions Bogart, Peter Lorre, or patchouli. 😃
I thought of another song that features both Bogart and Peter Lorre, and would be a fascinating episode. It doesn't mention Bogart by name (I don't think) but it uses an imitation of his voice throughout the song, and also features a Peter Lorre impression. It's another favorite of mine, "The Friends of Mr. Cairo" by Vangelis and Jon Anderson of Yes.
Love all of Alan Parson’s work. I remember this song from an 8 track my dad had in the family car. And I would listen to this over and over. The haunting piano at the beginning just makes me smile.
It’s really a phenomenal melody.
I love this song! As a teen in the '70s I would put 4 Al Stewart albums on the automatic record drop on the stereo and listen front to back then flip the stack over and listen to the other sides. In the dark. I always felt a surreal consciousness shift. "Alone in your room you hide while the night goes by in the street outside and you feel over the words he said til they turn to rain all around your head".
Back in the 70's & 80's my folks owned a bar in Whitehall Wisconsin, we had a fairly decent stereo behind the bar. It was a place where you could hear Black Sabbath, Jim Croce, Pink Floyd or Ozark Mt. Daredevils depending on the make up of the patrons. One afternoon a friend named Ron brought in his new LP of Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat," it was magical! I often played it during the afternoon hours while there was a mix of clientele, ages 18 to probably 65. The music was a true fit for that moment, it had a fresh style, a unique sound and an easy rhythm, it became a regularly played album. It sounded great over our large Advent speakers. Some of the female bartenders often started their shifts with this album, and it always set the mood for a great time!
Awesome that you picked Year of the Cat today. A feral cat had kittens in my bedroom yesterday/two days ago. 😻😸
I loved the album "Year of the Cat" so much, it was the beginning of a lifelong OBSESSION with all things Al Stewart. I own practically every piece of music he's ever made, seen him live (coming up again in NYC in May), and even met him in 2010. There is no one else like him, he's such a poet, his music is intellectual, but haunting, especially his historical treatises. Even the "happy" songs like "Valentina Way" or "Mondo Sinistro" or "Sand in Your Shoes" or "Warren Harding" haunt you like no one else can
No idea what it means beyond Al having fun being poetic and I don't care because I LOVE IT! I'll add that I was a mere age 8 in 1976 and I've seen Al perform 3 times in the last ten years- love his stuff immensely! All small and intimate shows too, beautiful evenings. Met him once as well, great chap. Love listening to Year Of The Cat and Time Passages when I'm in the garage working on my 1970s sports car!
If you want to go to somewhere out of this world put on some headsets,put on Year of the Cat and close your eyes. Fantastic almost like meditation. I knew Al Stewart would be an open and deep thinking interview you can hear it in his songs, one of my all time favorite artists and pair him with Mr. Parson's you have absolute gold! Fantastic interviews and episode, great editing and questions, definitely one of my favorite episodes!
Wow! Thanks My Name.. big compliment coming from you!
Great interview and you and I love the sax, but I never been a huge fan of this song. Though better than most of today's music.
I agree. This song is meant to be listened to with headphones! And what a nice man to boot!
Excellent interview professor! Love this classic hit since childhood! Nice to see Al Stewart in this interview!
This is one of my all time favorite songs. Haunting brilliant arrangement the lyrics just make impression after impression like a Monet. Absolutely grateful to hear Al and Alan talk about this all time classic.
Thank YOU.
"Year of the Cat" - First discovered this song in 2017 when I was going through some difficulties in my marriage - God, it's a beautiful song in terms of its lyrics and especially the musical arrangement! Al Stewart's follow up, "Time Passages" is equally lovely.
Love Al Stewart. After hearing him speak, I want to be his friend so I can call him up every day to hear that voice!
and yes, "She comes out of the sun in a silk dress, running like a watercolor in the rain" is THE BEST LYRIC OF ALL TIME in my opinion
Mr. Stewart is, to me, a genius. SO many musical pieces, vastly different moods, and all of them brilliant. Thank you for this wonderful glimpse into a creation from him, that became deeply woven into my soul.
Year of the Cat is one of the most beautifully arranged masterpieces. It elicits memories of the era. It is soothing to listen to. It is background music to those times of deep reflection and thinking. It is the perfect background rhythm for the complex mind engaged in discovery, research, engineering, paperwork, and simple relaxation. The keys and the electric axe solos composed with masterful lyrics in perfect harmony & tempo is the pièce de résistance, but the sax, is truly the secret ingredient.
I remember listening to The Year of the Cat on my little transistor radio I got for Christmas. A magical song for a magical memory. Thank you for covering this one in particular.
Wow, I haven't heard or even thought of this song in decades! Thank you Prof, for highlighting it and all the nostalgia it brings back!
This is absolutely a great song! Its mysterious lyrics and atmospheric vibe always intrigued me greatly. Every time I hear it, I stop whatever I'm doing, turn it up, and then drift into a deeply contemplative mood. The Year of the Cat truly transcends space and time!
I loved Year of the cat so much my cousin & I were in 8th grade we had to know what year of the cat was. We went to the public library & we found out we were born in the year of the cat 1963. Thanks to Al Stewart I’ve been into astrology ever since. It is one of my all time favorite songs. The piano at the beginning draws you in. Definitely one of the best to come out of the 70’s.
"Year Of The Cat",....great song, great sax. Classic. Always memorable.
This song always gave me an Alan Parsons Project vibe. I love the fact there actually is a connection. Keep up the great work Professor.
Alan Parsons is an absolute genius. I love his music and his influence in the music industry. And I got to see Al Stewart in concert at a very small, intimate venue in Oregon several years ago. He was wonderful. Just him and his acoustic on a barstool chatting with us and of course singing all his wonderful music. His voice is magic. Thanks for this great interview!
"You go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre contemplating a crime" has to be one of the best song lyrics ever.
Looks like POR is on the brink of 1 million subscribers. I gotta get my interview with him done hopefully today. (Update: it’s Saturday night and it’s uploaded now) 🙂👍
Best luck with that interview, MusicFanMan!
@@shiroibasketshoes Thank you. It’s uploaded now.
Al's songwriting process is fascinating and unique! Great interview POR!
Thanks for listening!
I know the song. His only song I know. But after watching the interview with him I thought what a great easy going personality he has I'd love to have a beer with him and talk about music. So calm for a Scot. Thank heavens.
Year of the Cat is one of those magical, mystical, moments that are destined to happen.
The year it was released my sister was a senior and I a freshmen in high school. Schools mascot was a Wildcat. Football team went undefeated and went to the state championship. We all thought it was definitely the Year of the Cat. Lost 10-0. The next two years the team was also undefeated but stumbled in the playoffs. Finally, my senior year went undefeated again and won state. For me I have a deep connection with Al Stewart, Year of the Cat and Time Passages.
Al Stewart is such a unique talent he just made music in his own unique way and totally out of the box and defying categorization my personal favorite is time passages and that's it it's timeless music
He really made us think. Time Passages is brilliant.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 he was one of the very few songwriters who used historical figures as song titles and he managed to incorporate history into rather catchy folk pop tunes that whole time passages album is wonderful and when you have Alan Parsons producing you than you know you've got a great album
@@georgemathie8123 I love the Bogey reference. And Alan Parsons really knows what’s up!
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 another good al Stewart album is underrated 1988 release last days of the century which is a really good late 80s rock album and it also has a young Tori Amos singing background vocals it's not as folky as his classic 70s period but I like it
Musical puzzles and mysteries are always things I enjoy.
What are you favorites?
Adam, you've hit the big time with this episode. FABULOUS.
I've been an Al Stewart fan since the first time I heard "Year of the Cat" in1976.
I saw Al Stewart's band twice in the early 1980's in some club in Orange County CA...and a girl I had met there was invited back to meet the band and Al Stewart in between sets..AND SHE TOOK ME WITH HER.!
Unfortunately, I was too star struck to say anything and its all just a blurr in my memory. But I remember Al Stewart and everybody back stage were very nice people.
What a class act, classy person, Al Stewart is. Hope I can one day meet him im person again.
I hadn't heard of Al until "Year of the Cat". In the '70's I heard it one night on the radio, when I was driving coming home late from work. That weekend I bought the LP, and I wore it out and had to buy another one, then the CD. It's one of my favorite albums.!
One of my favorite songs of all time. Perfect from start to finish!
I love AL Stewart's music! I saw him in 2019 in Montclair, CA. It was awesome! I had great seats on the table square front of the stage. I sang every word of every song. I believe the saxophonist saw that and he came into the audience up to me! It was awesome!
I remember this when it first hit the airwaves. One of my favorite songs of the late seventies. I loved the dreamy, somewhat wistful vibe. I still love it to this day but, NGL, it's hard for me to listen to it now. It evokes fond memories of days gone by - days I'll sadly never know or see again. "And now, when the shades of evening begin to steal over my life..." - Ivan Turgenev
in 1975, I was mesmerized the first time I heard YOTC and went right out and bought the 45 single. still have it to this day......
Such a great song! The interviews were awesome as always! Great memories from ‘76!🤘🔥
Thanks Brent! Rock on!
You have a way of getting me to be curious about artists and topics that I would normally not pay any attention to. Thank you for filling in the blank spots that we don't even know are there.
Hi Professor, I just love your channel! I was 15 when this album came out and it blew me away! I remember laying in my bed with my headphones on and listening to it over and over again! Year of the Cat and On the Border are my favorites of the album. I can remember looking at the cover and thinking it was so cool! 🤣 Thank you for all you do!
Gods, I loved this somg from the first time I heard it on the radio in '76, when I was 9yrs old. Such amazing storytelling, and gorgeous, haunting orchestration.
And the rest of the album has just as much thought & wonder throughout. The opening track 'Lord Grenville' and 'On the Border' are lovely stories, as well.
Thanks for another wonderful video & interviews, Professor!
It's a true classic.
Always thought was a cool song as a kid. Did not find out Alan Parsons involvement until I watched this!
I loved both Alan Parsons and Al Stewart in the 70s. The first time I heard Al Stewart was Roads to Moscow. I was blown away. Fiist time I heard Alan Parsons Project was tales of Mystery and Imagination and was also blown away. A collaboration between had to be epic.
One was one of my favoutites songs/albums when I first heard it in 1982. Filled up my my romantic memories of Greece, in thelate '70's. It was nostalgic, the first time i heard it.
Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
When this song was released it was the Chinese new year of the cat 🐈 🌈🌈🌈🌠 The More You Know!
Love this album. Every song is good. Used to put the record on while playing sports games with friends
It’s great background music.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Had to play it this weekend. The extra songs included on the anniversary album are very good too
I saw Al Stewart twice at the Golden Bear Saloon in Huntington Beach, CA. In one concert he was playing a song, I forgot which, but they were going along when he went one direction and the band went in another. He had let himself get distracted by a waitress with coffee, or a "cup of tea" as he put it. We all had a good laugh, and so did Al. Good times.