Music share Monday!! Showing Alex this amazing song, he had to hear it and many of you were asking us to cover it! Cheers all make sure to comment Deep Cut picks on our Insta posts! 🙌🏻🔥
In the 70s we had hard rock and soft rock, which were on different radio stations. This was a soft rock standard. Soft rock is what your friends' parents play in the car.
I love the previous line: "In a morning from a Bogart movie, in a country where they turn back time. You go walking through the crowd like Peter Lorre, contemplating a crime..." Fantastic imagery!!
@@tracyzimmerman7912 He definitely is! His resume as a sound engineer isn’t too shabby! He worked on both Abbey Road and Dark Side of the Moon. He’s a genius-level engineer and producer, as well as brilliant musician and songwriter. 💙
In later interviews, Al Stewart mentioned he was not happy with the saxophone in the song and really wished it had not been involved. Sorry, Al. This song's success is forever married to the great saxophone solos.
The Year of the Cat - Smoke on the Water - Stairway to Heaven - More than a Feeling....in other words - High School. I never realized how lucky I was to be living in that era.
Sandman, this was my go-to at night and cat Stevens the izzo album. It's red with a yellow yo-yo. Same type of music instrumental. It just puts chills through my body over and over the album would play one side in the next night. It would be the other side. I miss those days... By myself, some albums again start a new collection. They're everywhere and they're better sounding than CDAI computer system. It's all mono. There's no algorithms cuz they're not instruments
Hello...I was lucky enough to run a record shop in the late eighties in the north of England. Manchester to be specific. The Hacienda was the place to go..the early start of the Madchester scene. I was given a demo tape of the Stone Roses to listen to and my world shifted slightly out of balance. In the ten years of running this amazing shop and the thousands of people who brought whatever music that gave them pleasure fills me with a gentle happiness. Over thirty years have passed now...and all the weird..and strange..and magical..and emotive..and very special sounds..still resonate not only in my ears but in my soul. I was lucky enough to hear and meet a young Al Stewart when I was sixteen...I am 65 now ( it's more impressive in expressed numbers!)...How wonderful to listen to Year of the Cat and remember the first time you ever heard it! Life at the end of the day aint that bad.
Someone may have mentioned this before but one of the reasons the production quality is so high on this song is that it was engineered by Alan Parsons, who also engineered Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.
I think its the line re the blue tiled walls and a hidden door which always has brought a Samarkand image to me. I've always loved this song but then I was born in the year of the cat!
Best produced song ever recorded. The instrumentation alone..piano intro, string interlude, guitar solo, sax break, it’s got everything. Great sounding record. AS was never a great vocalist but it’s hard to imagine anyone else on this one. It all just fits into a majestic masterpiece of a song. The lyrics tell a great story as well. I remember when it was released and was on the radio a lot. Sounded great on AM radio in a single speaker car unit. It’s one of those songs that just hits me in the heart every time I hear it. Awesome piece of work.
Absolutely disagree about him not being a good vocalist He knew his range and what to bring to the table. That's why it worked Wasn't trying to sing. Carmen, just like the instruments you mentioned, he was another one of them and perfect flow
When this was released in 1976 it was already a deeply nostalgic song. Now, it is doubly so, because it is itself nostalgic as a record, and a memory. Probably the most lovely pop hit of the decade. Impeccable.
I'm 65 and I was always so stoned, I had trouble even remembering the decade I was in. Straight as these days, but it still holds that place inside me.
This song is hot-wired into my college years. In January of 1977, Bethany College Male Chorus was going on tour through St. Louis. We were a tiny school from West Virginia. When we gathered after Christmas for a few days of practice, my buddy called me over to the piano and said, "You have got to hear this song." He played the intro riff, and I was hooked. Our bus was crawling slowly across the pains in a blizzard for twelve hours, and we played Spades the entire time. It went by in a flash. We also had five guys that could hoop, and when we got to St. Louis, we trudged through the snow to a YMCA and beat every team that we faced that afternoon. When I hear this song, all of these memories come flooding back to me; as clear as the day that they occurred. We were young, alive and every day was an adventure. The best of times.
What a gorgeous song. The production is just insane. I never fully appreciated that bridge before - just impeccable. I love the detailed storytelling aspect of it too. That's so lost in most music today.
I graduated high school in 1977- this song perfectly captures that moment in time when I was young, healthy and beautiful; free. Great memories!!!❤️. Will be 62 this Wednesday, March 10th. Life has been a long and strange journey...🤷
@@micheleparker8123 ...I graduated in 77 as well!....Time of Bob Seeger, Eagles, Poco, Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood MAC, Linda R...Stones...Guess Who...Steely Dan...etc. Did it really just happen seemingly a moment ago?...Love that these kids dig it though!
"Strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre, contemplating a crime." Love that line. If you have seen any movie with Peter Lorre in it you get an instant moving visual picture.
The very epitome of "skulking"... And speaking of Peter Lorre, a filk artist wrote a song called, "I Want To Be Peter Lorre" that's absolutely hilarious, I highly recommend looking it up. Tom Smith is the artist.
When you put the brilliance of Al Stewart's lyrics together with the genius of Alan Parson's production, you have something so unique, it's incomparable and timeless. They will play this in 100 years and it will still be loved and enjoyed.
Al Stewart is one of the best lyricists ever, I was disappointed that you didn't read the words. Time passages is his other big hit. Roads to Moscow, while not a rocker is a beautiful historical song from the view of a Russian soldier who defended Russia from a Nazi attack. The ending of it is unexpected and chilling - definitely worth a listen.
Excellent historical lyricist, great music but like Alex said, not really rocking. As much as I love his music it's not really what this channel is about. Road to Moscow is amazing I agree.
@@danimal833 A&A rated this song an A and asked what other songs of his they should listen to next. I am answering that request. I don't think that the Alan Parsons Project nor Gordon Lightfoot produce particularly rocking music, but they have enjoyed them too.
Smooth song. Excellent vocal, lyric and instrumentals. I cannot think of anything that would make this a better song. It feels like an afternoon nap under a cool shady tree with someone you adore, somewhere in Southern California. Thanks for this reaction.
The song is about a love affair taking place in North Africa and the movie Casablanca inspired him to write the song. He calls it an updated North African love song that is set in 1975, which happens to be the year of the cat in Vietnamese astrology
I heard this song a zillion times on the radio back in the day. I didn’t appreciate how good it was! The production and arrangement are superb. Good to hear it again.
If your turntable has a very good diamond needle then a vinyl album will never wear out...A vinyl album can only wear out if the diamond needle is damaged!
@@j.j.upright4010 You forget the drunken college parties with the needle being literally scraped across the vinyl. Just saying. And I had the album since it first came out. It has pops and other unwanted noises, but I love it nonetheless. And indeed, my turntable has a very nice diamond cartridge.
@@kendavis8046 I never let anybody straight or drunk near my turntable as I have over 6,000 vinyl albums in near perfect condition and they'll stay that way!
@@j.j.upright4010 Uh, college. It was a crappy turntable, and we had parties. No worries, I have a much better turntable now, but to be honest, I consume most of the music of my youth online. Except for Steelie Dan, where I must go back to the vinyl.
Though it does have a historical cotext to it, it's not so readily evident as some of Al's other works and, gaining some chart success, I do group it in with his more "pop" body of work, where it lives as my personal favorite of his pop releases.
Happy y'all finally listened to this! The Year Of The Cat is part of the Vietnamese zodiac. His girlfriend had a book opened to the year of the cat on the table and he went from there. It's set in Morocco and references the movie Casablanca (on a morning from a Bogart movie, in a country where they turn back time).
One of my favorite story songs. Hard for a 6 minute song to feel like an entire movie, but this one does it! And, you definitely should check out the lyrics.
This gem came out in 1976 and to me it never loses it's appeal. You guys are always surprising me with your diversity in music selections. Al Stewart is a British singer- songwriter that recorded the title track from the album " Year of the Cat" at Abbey Road Studios in London by engineer Alan Parsons. The song peaked at #5 on Billboards Chart on February 19, 1977., and his next song "Time Passages" went to #10 on December 16, 1978. Nice pick guys.
Roads to Moscow is SO good. Not a banger, of course, but such an emotional voyage through a brutal time for this soldier. I've heard it's loosely based on Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn...? Anyone know?
@@bonniealbo3324 Based on the book The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Also read that AS researched over 40 books for this, what I consider his magnum opus. AS likes his historical, aeronautical and naval songs, for example, , Hanno the Navigator, Flying Sorcery, Lord Grenville, Warren Gameliel Harding, Immelmann Turn - the list goes on. Go for Roads to Moscow next please - though as noted above more a folk-type song and not a banger.
Billy Joel and Elton John also. I prefer Steely Dan: One needs a shower, a drug test and a medical examination after listening to Steely Dan's depraved gutter poetry and filthy jazz licks they deliver
I don't believe Gerry Rafferty had anything to do with Year of the Cat, the saxophonist was Phil Kenzie and if anyone orchestrated it, that would have been Alan Parsons.
@Vincent Schmitt Buddha and the Chocolate Box was the first Cat Stevens album l bought, so after a couple of listens l bought all of his others! 😏 King of Trees is a great song, my favourites are Oh Very Young and C79, but the whole album is fantastic.
Guys! I pray you read this post. Let me try to help you with some history. First of all, I saw his band perform this whole album LIVE at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia back in 1976. Unfortunately Al Stewart was never really well received in America and FM radio at the time, did not give him a lot of air time either. There is a story that he briefly shared an apartment with Paul Simon in New York and Paul helped Al with chord structures and helped him develop his songwriting. This album is, and always has been an underrated piece of poetic story-telling at its finest. Stewart's own background as a History Major helped him launch his musical songwriting clearly evident on his previous album; "Past, Present, and Future" which I STRONGLY recommend you listen to. Please replay this track! If you listen closely, and dissect it, you will notice that this song features no less than 4 solo's: an acoustic guitar, an electric lead-guitar, and two sax solo's. Guys! Find me ANY song or artist today: Who DOES THAT? Andy, I know that you are a guitar freak and by your own expressions, you got it on this one. Alex....it's not a BANGER.....it's a frickin CLASSIC! Give this another chance, Buddy. They don't make music like this anymore and 45 years later, every time I still hear this song, it STILL speaks to me, It's STILL a CLASSIC. Thanks for featuring it. Be Blessed.
Al Stewart is one of the few songwriters who writes about history. His greatest achievement in that category is arguably "Roads to Moscow", a description of the Nazi/Soviet front during World War II, all from the point of view of one Soviet soldier. For a "pop tune", it's epic. And it's the only song I know that calls out German General Heinz Guderian. If you know any folks who play war games, this song is part of their normal rotation.
It's my fav AS song! It gave me something to talk about with my Russian nurse. She was thrilled to hear the towns I knew about from AS, Smolensk and Viasma.
Roads to Moscow - Al Stewart, one of the great storytellers in popular music. Roads to Moscow, you shoule know something of WWll, between Germans and USSR. great music, great songwriting, almost like a novel in a few minutes
This song will live on through eternity. It’s just that good. When that lead guitar comes in it bring such an epic triumphant feeling…. then it Crescendos into that sax solo… holy cow. Pierces your very soul.
“Roads To Moscow” is an epic Al Stewart song about the attempted German invasion of Russia during WW2. If you do a search the full lyrics are online. If someone has no knowledge of what this song is about, or about the vast cold Russian landscape, this song will not make any sense. However, many others will want to know more and do some reading. I heard this song when I was 10, and it piqued my curiosity so I read about WW2.
@@Mike-rk8px Was invited to a wine tasting with Al Stewart prior to his Year of the Cat performance. Someone asked about the Roads to Moscow. He said it was a story of four different people. A German soldier, a Russian soldier and two Partisans. The one consigned to Siberia was a German soldier who surrendered and became a partisan and was deemed untrustworthy. Who knew, right?
If you like "Road to Moscow," check out the Waterboys' "Red Army Blues." It's the same subject matter, and I would say an even better song, though I like both. Coincidentally, both Al Stewart and Mike Scott (who essentially is the Waterboys, though the group has had more than 70 members over the years) are Scots.
I hated this song when it came out, but it popped up on a playlist a few months ago, and when I listened to it again, I loved it. I played it multiple times recently, and I find something else I like about it each time. It's one of those songs that gets better each time.
I feel that way about a lot of songs from that era, but I can appreciate them now that I'm 52. It turns out that many of them remind me of traumatic times in my childhood.
Well, it has the same rock and roll back-beat timing. We used to call this kind of stuff soft rock. I never thought I liked this song but it grew on me. It's been stuck in my head for many years.
So clooooose to 100k! So happy for you two. I've been hanging out here since the days of 20k and drunk reactions, and it's been fun to see you grow musically and make the channel even better. Stay with us, guys - there are many more musical rabbit holes to fall into!
I love Al Stewart's story telling. It's a very cool tune. Great instrumentation. Smooth silky vocals. I dig it. Almost at 100k, looking forward to the livestream.❤😊
This is one song that has stood the test of time. So glad a new group of people are discovering this stuff. Not all the 70's sucked! In addition to the absolutely gorgeous riffs, Al Stewart is also a sublime wordsmith. This song is so smart. One of my favorites for a long long time
My first thought was "why are they doing this song?" as it doesn't seem to fit the channel. Then when I listened again, with my Beats, I heard it in a whole new way! Thanks guys! Mesmerizing! And 99.9!!! Woo Hoo!! Almost there!
Pretty sure Al Stewart, who was struggling as a musician at the time, credits watching Casablanca for this entire song. There's a whole video on youtube about it. Al Stewart is such a dork, it's AWESOME! (coming from another dork, of course)
Anybody remember a radio version of this song with a talk-up by Al Stewart? Might have been local to NYC. Andy, if you want another keyboard riff song, check out Bruce Hornsby, "The Way It Is."
Al Stewart is a master storyteller and Year of the Cat is a masterpiece.His songs have so much mood and atmosphere and his musicianship is brilliant.Plus his voice is unique and calming.
Boz Scaggs fits in the Style of Gerry Rafferty & Al Stewart. From His (Boz Scaggs) Album Silk Degrees "Lowdown" & "Lido Shuffle" R a Couple Of Favorites.
I'm so glad to see you hit this song. In 40 years of listening and owning copies of it, it's one of those, at least personally to me, that even still shine''s like jewels. Thanks!
This was one of those songs that, when we first heard it on the radio in college we INSTANTLY loved it and had to buy it. It then became one of my favorite songs of all time.
ANDY - THE TEE SHIRT is quite spot on for this track... Engineer/Producer of Dark Side of the Moon was the Producer of this album...!!! You know the name - Alan Parsons. As for the next song..... NOSTRADAMUS is the must track next.
What a story Al tells and the way he tells it. I was in High School when this came out and its been a fav ever since. Just a few decades, I am into my 6th decade of this.
@@KlingonPrincess all along the watch tower jimi hendrix... W. O. L. D harry chapin, souvenir omd, tangled up in blue Bob Dylan... Be something else next week no doubt
@@Husselbu1 all great songs. I "collect" versions of All Along the Watchtower. I was wondering because there are so many great songs. For years Hotel California was my fav and, if pressed, it still is. Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin are my favorite bands.
You haven't heard Al Stewart until you listen to his "Past, Present, and Future" album. His finest, I think. Listen to: "Roads to Moscow" and "Nostradamus" from that album. Those two songs are epic.
As a rocker who was graduating from high school when this song was released, I've always loved the tranquil mood of this song. I'm proud to say it's still in my "Stranded on a Desert Island" playlist even after all these years. It's pure musical poetry, and it can still carry me away in like few other songs can. Al did some great songs without him, but Al Stewart and Alan Parsons made a great team. I also recommend "On the Border" and "Lord Grenville" from this album. You should also check out "Time Passages", and "Man for all Seasons" from the album "Time Passages" which is another Stewart-Parsons team up.
There were we, aged 17 in 1976 trying to expand our music tastes into the wild stuff. Then songs like this came along, and we had to realise our feet had to remain in more than one camp. How could you disregard quality such as this?
Neil Tennant himself has denied copying his voice and insists any similarity is unplanned. I don't believe it. If you look at the lyrics to west end girls it's Electric Los Angeles sunset to my mind...
This has always been one of my favorite songs. Came out when I was a senior in high school getting ready to go to college. I thought it was musically evocative and lyrically romantic.
one of the best produced and engineered and mixed songs in history with a bunch of seriously talented musicians, about time you guys took a listen you out to follow this with his song Time passages
Music share Monday!! Showing Alex this amazing song, he had to hear it and many of you were asking us to cover it! Cheers all make sure to comment Deep Cut picks on our Insta posts! 🙌🏻🔥
So close to 100K
Great job guys
99.9 subscribers. Time for the silver award from TH-cam. Well done
In the 70s we had hard rock and soft rock, which were on different radio stations. This was a soft rock standard. Soft rock is what your friends' parents play in the car.
Awesome Choice! Similar in style, try “ It’s Just The Way it Is” by Bruce Hornsby and The Range. Great piano work.
Give a Listen to Al Stewart’s “On the Border.” Great emotion.
“She comes out of the sun in a silk dress running like a watercolour in the rain.” Poetry from Al Stewart!
A great line no matter how you spell it ;)
this
Or mascara in the rain ... Jk
I love the previous line: "In a morning from a Bogart movie, in a country where they turn back time. You go walking through the crowd like Peter Lorre, contemplating a crime..." Fantastic imagery!!
Just love the lyrics! He paints such a picture!
Great song! The reason for the voluptuous production: Alan Parsons.
Didn't know that. Thanks.
Thanks for the info. No wonder the song sounds so great.😉
Alan Parsons is so awesome
@@tracyzimmerman7912 He definitely is! His resume as a sound engineer isn’t too shabby! He worked on both Abbey Road and Dark Side of the Moon. He’s a genius-level engineer and producer, as well as brilliant musician and songwriter. 💙
In later interviews, Al Stewart mentioned he was not happy with the saxophone in the song and really wished it had not been involved. Sorry, Al. This song's success is forever married to the great saxophone solos.
The Year of the Cat - Smoke on the Water - Stairway to Heaven - More than a Feeling....in other words - High School. I never realized how lucky I was to be living in that era.
You are so right! Grew up in the 60's and my teen years in the 70's, such wonderful music!
I couldn't agree more 68 years
Absolutely. Graduated in 1978, so damn lucky.
Right there with you 63 next month
Graduated in 1973. Amazing era for music. The sheer volume of talent/great bands is mesmerizing.
the hard rocker in me doesn't want to admit that this song is sublime, but I'll be damned if it aint.
You know you're right
Sandman, this was my go-to at night and cat Stevens the izzo album. It's red with a yellow yo-yo. Same type of music instrumental. It just puts chills through my body over and over the album would play one side in the next night. It would be the other side. I miss those days... By myself, some albums again start a new collection. They're everywhere and they're better sounding than CDAI computer system. It's all mono. There's no algorithms cuz they're not instruments
Hello...I was lucky enough to run a record shop in the late eighties in the north of England. Manchester to be specific. The Hacienda was the place to go..the early start of the Madchester scene. I was given a demo tape of the Stone Roses to listen to and my world shifted slightly out of balance. In the ten years of running this amazing shop and the thousands of people who brought whatever music that gave them pleasure fills me with a gentle happiness. Over thirty years have passed now...and all the weird..and strange..and magical..and emotive..and very special sounds..still resonate not only in my ears but in my soul. I was lucky enough to hear and meet a young Al Stewart when I was sixteen...I am 65 now ( it's more impressive in expressed numbers!)...How wonderful to listen to Year of the Cat and remember the first time you ever heard it! Life at the end of the day aint that bad.
Someone may have mentioned this before but one of the reasons the production quality is so high on this song is that it was engineered by Alan Parsons, who also engineered Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.
Wow, thanks for that tidbit of lore, it makes perfect sense.....
The sax in this song was his idea.
And cut his teeth as a youngster learning on The Beatles ABBEY ROAD
Didn’t know that. Makes perfect sense now.
@@tvgator1 Actually, he was on Let It Be first. Abbey Road came afterwards.
"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress, running like a watercolor in the rain -"
So beautiful!
Or: "He goes strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre, contemplating a crime . . . " Poetry.
I think its the line re the blue tiled walls and a hidden door which always has brought a Samarkand image to me. I've always loved this song but then I was born in the year of the cat!
One of the best lyrics of all time...
@@steveandme63 - I think Al has said it was Casablanca. But I've always been fascinated with Samarkand and Timur the Lame.
@@sourisvoleur4854 Me too but with the political climate in that region who knows when it will be a foreign tourist destination again.
The phrase "they don't make em like they used to" has never been more true. Pure nostalgia classic.
“Time Passages” definitely the next song to check out by Al Stewart.
One of my favorite songs
For sure. Al is a poet.
As good as" Year of the Cat."
Agreed!
@@katylied24 Better in my opinion.
I never tire of this song. Another 70's masterpiece
The best song of all time
This song is nothing short of a musical miracle in my opinion.
Well Said Lila...
I agree
Yes! Thanks Lila.
Amen to that
Perfect description! Musical miracle!
A five-course meal of a song! In the same feel as Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street": loads of atmosphere and great arrangements!
Both Scottish of course - you’re welcome.
Those two songs always transport me back to the 70s. Very unique songs but in a similar vein. The production on this song is exquisite.
The 1970’s music studios were magical. They transformed songs into the stuff of dreams.
So very true
Usually painstaking too to get those perfect analog sounds.
Best produced song ever recorded. The instrumentation alone..piano intro, string interlude, guitar solo, sax break, it’s got everything. Great sounding record. AS was never a great vocalist but it’s hard to imagine anyone else on this one. It all just fits into a majestic masterpiece of a song. The lyrics tell a great story as well. I remember when it was released and was on the radio a lot. Sounded great on AM radio in a single speaker car unit. It’s one of those songs that just hits me in the heart every time I hear it. Awesome piece of work.
Thank Alan Parsons
Gus Dudgeon (Elton John) was another gifted producer.
This song is an example of the best of this era of all time. I agree with you
Absolutely disagree about him not being a good vocalist
He knew his range and what to bring to the table. That's why it worked
Wasn't trying to sing. Carmen, just like the instruments you mentioned, he was another one of them and perfect flow
The most sophisticated song ever written and recorded!!!!
When this was released in 1976 it was already a deeply nostalgic song. Now, it is doubly so, because it is itself nostalgic as a record, and a memory. Probably the most lovely pop hit of the decade. Impeccable.
I'm 64 years old and I love watching you guys enjoy and appreciate the great rock I grew up with
I’m 63 and I dig they way they get into the great music we had the privilege of growing up with
I am 63 also, and was in college AND worked in radio when this was on. A great time to be alive.
I'm 65 and I was always so stoned, I had trouble even remembering the decade I was in.
Straight as these days, but it still holds that place inside me.
Me too, it tickles me to see young people enjoy the music that is the soundtrack of our lives!
Still have the album. Love this song.
This tune should have won a Grammy.
This song is hot-wired into my college years. In January of 1977, Bethany College Male Chorus was going on tour through St. Louis. We were a tiny school from West Virginia. When we gathered after Christmas for a few days of practice, my buddy called me over to the piano and said, "You have got to hear this song." He played the intro riff, and I was hooked. Our bus was crawling slowly across the pains in a blizzard for twelve hours, and we played Spades the entire time. It went by in a flash. We also had five guys that could hoop, and when we got to St. Louis, we trudged through the snow to a YMCA and beat every team that we faced that afternoon. When I hear this song, all of these memories come flooding back to me; as clear as the day that they occurred. We were young, alive and every day was an adventure. The best of times.
What a gorgeous song. The production is just insane. I never fully appreciated that bridge before - just impeccable. I love the detailed storytelling aspect of it too. That's so lost in most music today.
One of THE coolest songs ever made, hands down.
The coolest. It gives us everything; yet, we crave more.
@@rigelmoon9030 true that x
Thisssss is a Magical Song🎶🎶🎶😸😸 dreamy childhood memories 1977🎶
For sure...👨
I graduated high school in 1977- this song perfectly captures that moment in time when I was young, healthy and beautiful; free. Great memories!!!❤️. Will be 62 this Wednesday, March 10th. Life has been a long and strange journey...🤷
@@micheleparker8123 ...I graduated in 77 as well!....Time of Bob Seeger, Eagles, Poco, Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood MAC, Linda R...Stones...Guess Who...Steely Dan...etc. Did it really just happen seemingly a moment ago?...Love that these kids dig it though!
Oh yes. I miss those carefree days 😓
I agree, memories in every note.
"Strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre, contemplating a crime." Love that line. If you have seen any movie with Peter Lorre in it you get an instant moving visual picture.
The very epitome of "skulking"...
And speaking of Peter Lorre, a filk artist wrote a song called, "I Want To Be Peter Lorre" that's absolutely hilarious, I highly recommend looking it up. Tom Smith is the artist.
Makes me think of Lorre in Fritz Lang's film, M. The German version.
exactly..
The whole song is reminiscent of an adventure movie of the 40s set in Marrakesh...
Its like a tastefully colorized version of a black and white film where everyone dresses like it matters how you dress.
One of the most beautifully written and arranged songs in the history of music.
So true!
So true!
When you put the brilliance of Al Stewart's lyrics together with the genius of Alan Parson's production, you have something so unique, it's incomparable and timeless. They will play this in 100 years and it will still be loved and enjoyed.
This song paints a picture so clearly.
Look at the album art work
Not to these two.
Al Stewart is one of the best lyricists ever, I was disappointed that you didn't read the words. Time passages is his other big hit. Roads to Moscow, while not a rocker is a beautiful historical song from the view of a Russian soldier who defended Russia from a Nazi attack. The ending of it is unexpected and chilling - definitely worth a listen.
I love Time Passages. Great song.
Excellent historical lyricist, great music but like Alex said, not really rocking. As much as I love his music it's not really what this channel is about. Road to Moscow is amazing I agree.
Saw Al at the Roxy sing Roads to Moscow ..
.. two broken tigers .. flicker their souls to the wind ..
@@danimal833 A&A rated this song an A and asked what other songs of his they should listen to next. I am answering that request. I don't think that the Alan Parsons Project nor Gordon Lightfoot produce particularly rocking music, but they have enjoyed them too.
I just recently found that gem! Historically accurate and hauntingly beautiful.
Smooth song. Excellent vocal, lyric and instrumentals. I cannot think of anything that would make this a better song. It feels like an afternoon nap under a cool shady tree with someone you adore, somewhere in Southern California. Thanks for this reaction.
Southern California is oddly specific, yet strikingly on point.
The song is about a love affair taking place in North Africa and the movie Casablanca inspired him to write the song. He calls it an updated North African love song that is set in 1975, which happens to be the year of the cat in Vietnamese astrology
I heard this song a zillion times on the radio back in the day. I didn’t appreciate how good it was! The production and arrangement are superb. Good to hear it again.
“I feel like I’ve heard, like, 18% of this song.” The most Alex thing Alex has ever Alexed.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
😂
😝😝😝😂😂😂
LOL! So true!
Yes a very Alex statement
I love the smile on Andy's face as he is listening and knows what is coming up.
Yep- He almost looks like a Cheshire Cat with that grin of his...
Wore this album out back in the day when you could wear albums out.
I still have the crackly, poppy vinyl version of this myself! Yeah, it got played the heck out of.
If your turntable has a very good diamond needle then a vinyl album will never wear out...A vinyl album can only wear out if the diamond needle is damaged!
@@j.j.upright4010 You forget the drunken college parties with the needle being literally scraped across the vinyl. Just saying. And I had the album since it first came out. It has pops and other unwanted noises, but I love it nonetheless. And indeed, my turntable has a very nice diamond cartridge.
@@kendavis8046
I never let anybody straight or drunk near my turntable as I have over 6,000 vinyl albums in near perfect condition and they'll stay that way!
@@j.j.upright4010 Uh, college. It was a crappy turntable, and we had parties. No worries, I have a much better turntable now, but to be honest, I consume most of the music of my youth online. Except for Steelie Dan, where I must go back to the vinyl.
Beautiful song! The 70’s were full of beautifully done Rock songs.
"Strolling through the crowd,like Peter Lorre"Wow,what a lyric.
. . . contemplating a crime.
Peter Lorre contemplating a crime🤣🤣
Try “On the Border” by Al Stewart another lush song in the same vein
Was checking to make sure "On the Border" got mentioned here!
Though it does have a historical cotext to it, it's not so readily evident as some of Al's other works and, gaining some chart success, I do group it in with his more "pop" body of work, where it lives as my personal favorite of his pop releases.
Yes, On the Border is a great tune!
Agreed, the whole album is excellent.
Awesome song! It may not have been a Top 40 hit, but it is one of his best deep cuts!
My ears cannot get enough of this song and you can definitely get lost in this song. Loved it for 40 years!!!
The transitions in the instrumental verse are so drop-dead perfect it's scary.
Happy y'all finally listened to this! The Year Of The Cat is part of the Vietnamese zodiac. His girlfriend had a book opened to the year of the cat on the table and he went from there. It's set in Morocco and references the movie Casablanca (on a morning from a Bogart movie, in a country where they turn back time).
Thanks for that, the Casablanca reference makes it all much better!
@@emilyflotilla931 and Peter Lorre who played Ugarte
Finally someone who gets it!
This song holds special meaning for those who have found someone special while travelling.
One of my favorite story songs. Hard for a 6 minute song to feel like an entire movie, but this one does it! And, you definitely should check out the lyrics.
This gem came out in 1976 and to me it never loses it's appeal. You guys are always surprising me with your diversity in music selections. Al Stewart is a British singer- songwriter that recorded the title track from the album " Year of the Cat" at Abbey Road Studios in London by engineer Alan Parsons. The song peaked at #5 on Billboards Chart on February 19, 1977., and his next song "Time Passages" went to #10 on December 16, 1978. Nice pick guys.
One of my top 5 Al Stewart songs (Top is "Roads To Moscow"). Such a terribly underrated singer/songwriter.
And such an awesome dorky guy! I love his interviews! As a dork myself, I love that a guy like him made it in music.
Roads to Moscow is SO good. Not a banger, of course, but such an emotional voyage through a brutal time for this soldier. I've heard it's loosely based on Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn...? Anyone know?
That is a great song, I agree. Past, Present & Future is an amazing album.
@@bonniealbo3324 Based on the book The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Also read that AS researched over 40 books for this, what I consider his magnum opus. AS likes his historical, aeronautical and naval songs, for example, , Hanno the Navigator, Flying Sorcery, Lord Grenville, Warren Gameliel Harding, Immelmann Turn - the list goes on. Go for Roads to Moscow next please - though as noted above more a folk-type song and not a banger.
@@normski0457 Ahhh Thank you! I may do some more AS listening today!
These were the Steely Dan years, so this was very radio-friendly.
Real good years too...
Billy Joel and Elton John also. I prefer Steely Dan: One needs a shower, a drug test and a medical examination after listening to Steely Dan's depraved gutter poetry and filthy jazz licks they deliver
One of the greatest songs ever made. An all time classic with the best of the 1970s there
Year of the Cat and Time Passages are two virtually flawless albums. They have been two of my favorites for 40+ years and still haven't gone stale.
Something about this song is just so damned soothing and mesmerizing. Doesn't hurt that Gerry Rafferty orchestrated the sax.
thats crazy. Never knew that. Thx for that, Rafferty is a genius. Baker street and year of the cat show him as a master at music.
@@Joshuadgog I never hear that either but it totally sounds like it.
Gerry rafferty is a guitar player. Seems ridiculous.
I don't believe Gerry Rafferty had anything to do with Year of the Cat, the saxophonist was Phil Kenzie and if anyone orchestrated it, that would have been Alan Parsons.
That's not True, do your research. ☹️
Speaking of cat...CAT STEVENS!!
Moon shadow.
Morning Has Broken..beautiful.
One of the best solo artists ever, his early albums are wonderful!
I like I Think I See the Light as it was used in Harold and Maude. The evil look on Bud Cort's face...
@Vincent Schmitt Buddha and the Chocolate Box was the first Cat Stevens album l bought, so after a couple of listens l bought all of his others! 😏 King of Trees is a great song, my favourites are Oh Very Young and C79, but the whole album is fantastic.
Guys! I pray you read this post. Let me try to help you with some history. First of all, I saw his band perform this whole album LIVE at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia back in 1976. Unfortunately Al Stewart was never really well received in America and FM radio at the time, did not give him a lot of air time either. There is a story that he briefly shared an apartment with Paul Simon in New York and Paul helped Al with chord structures and helped him develop his songwriting. This album is, and always has been an underrated piece of poetic story-telling at its finest. Stewart's own background as a History Major helped him launch his musical songwriting clearly evident on his previous album; "Past, Present, and Future" which I STRONGLY recommend you listen to. Please replay this track! If you listen closely, and dissect it, you will notice that this song features no less than 4 solo's: an acoustic guitar, an electric lead-guitar, and two sax solo's. Guys! Find me ANY song or artist today: Who DOES THAT? Andy, I know that you are a guitar freak and by your own expressions, you got it on this one. Alex....it's not a BANGER.....it's a frickin CLASSIC! Give this another chance, Buddy. They don't make music like this anymore and 45 years later, every time I still hear this song, it STILL speaks to me, It's STILL a CLASSIC. Thanks for featuring it. Be Blessed.
This song was all over the rock stations in NY in 77...
❤❤❤❤
Al Stewart is one of the few songwriters who writes about history. His greatest achievement in that category is arguably "Roads to Moscow", a description of the Nazi/Soviet front during World War II, all from the point of view of one Soviet soldier. For a "pop tune", it's epic. And it's the only song I know that calls out German General Heinz Guderian. If you know any folks who play war games, this song is part of their normal rotation.
It's my fav AS song! It gave me something to talk about with my Russian nurse. She was thrilled to hear the towns I knew about from AS, Smolensk and Viasma.
The single finest bit of word smithing I have ever heard…. Lyrically perfect.
And the steely Russian skies go on forever....
This song takes you to a different place
What an amazing arrangement. They don't do it like that anymore.
Roads to Moscow - Al Stewart, one of the great storytellers in popular music. Roads to Moscow, you shoule know something of WWll, between Germans and USSR. great music, great songwriting, almost like a novel in a few minutes
Nostradamus.
Roads to Moscow. Absolutely. My first and still favorite introduction to Al Stewart. Still gives me chills after all these years.
@ Jeff Morris - absolutely!
@@jpmnewyork I still get chills every time I listen to it, no other song does that to me.
This song will live on through eternity. It’s just that good. When that lead guitar comes in it bring such an epic triumphant feeling…. then it Crescendos into that sax solo… holy cow. Pierces your very soul.
This song has such a groove. It's eternally cool.
Operator by Jim Croce!
Jim was definitely not, a 'one hit wonder'. Working at the Car Wash Blues, is my favorite of his, among several.
One less set of footsteps, Have to say I love you in a song.
He had a great sense of humour, as in Roller Derby Queen.
Such a beautiful song. Thanks guys. Happy Monday everyone.
"You know some time you're bound to leave her, but for now you're gonna stay..."
That is way too relatable for a lot of people.
The lyrics of most Al Stewart songs are literate. They are filled with historical references than may not mean much to the average person.
“Roads To Moscow” is an epic Al Stewart song about the attempted German invasion of Russia during WW2. If you do a search the full lyrics are online. If someone has no knowledge of what this song is about, or about the vast cold Russian landscape, this song will not make any sense. However, many others will want to know more and do some reading. I heard this song when I was 10, and it piqued my curiosity so I read about WW2.
Absolutely, and to fully appreciate this a person must dig deeper into his catalog and not just listen to his few most popular songs.
I know that the reference to Peter Lorie went 20 feet over these boy's heads.
@@Mike-rk8px Was invited to a wine tasting with Al Stewart prior to his Year of the Cat performance. Someone asked about the Roads to Moscow. He said it was a story of four different people. A German soldier, a Russian soldier and two Partisans. The one consigned to Siberia was a German soldier who surrendered and became a partisan and was deemed untrustworthy. Who knew, right?
@@bobriedel3277 And yet, I picture him every time I hear this song...
I love this song!!! The whole album "Year of the Cat" is wonderful.
Oh my! I lived by that album in 7879 all night long on my turntable one side and then that came in cat Stevens the izzo album, the red with a yo-yo
"Roads to Moscow", "Nostradamus", "Time Passages", all worth a listen. In that order.
I might quibble with your One and Two, but Time Passages and Year of the Cat were always second tier Al Stewart for me. That's still pretty good.
I'm down for some Nostradamus.
I think "Roads to Moscow" would qualify as a Deep Cut (it's not one I've ever heard on the radio, or anywhere other than my fellow nerds)
If you like "Road to Moscow," check out the Waterboys' "Red Army Blues." It's the same subject matter, and I would say an even better song, though I like both. Coincidentally, both Al Stewart and Mike Scott (who essentially is the Waterboys, though the group has had more than 70 members over the years) are Scots.
Roads to Moscow is epic - particularly for us history majors.
I get chills when the guitar and sax come in. Such a great tune!
I hated this song when it came out, but it popped up on a playlist a few months ago, and when I listened to it again, I loved it. I played it multiple times recently, and I find something else I like about it each time. It's one of those songs that gets better each time.
I feel that way about a lot of songs from that era, but I can appreciate them now that I'm 52. It turns out that many of them remind me of traumatic times in my childhood.
"Not a rock song". Does anyone really know what a rock song is? The Rock and roll Hall of Fame sure as hell doesn't.
Well, it has the same rock and roll back-beat timing. We used to call this kind of stuff soft rock. I never thought I liked this song but it grew on me. It's been stuck in my head for many years.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame couldn't find its sewer connection with both security guards and a flashlight
@@LadyIarConnacht - We called it Soft Rock also.
Call a pop song if you want, but not the type of pop act that has screaming teenage fans there to see Al Stewart
Right on brother Chris! BOOM!!!!!!
So clooooose to 100k! So happy for you two. I've been hanging out here since the days of 20k and drunk reactions, and it's been fun to see you grow musically and make the channel even better. Stay with us, guys - there are many more musical rabbit holes to fall into!
I love Al Stewart's story telling. It's a very cool tune. Great instrumentation. Smooth silky vocals. I dig it. Almost at 100k, looking forward to the livestream.❤😊
"Time Passages" is the other song of his that's a must-listen.
This is one song that has stood the test of time. So glad a new group of people are discovering this stuff. Not all the 70's sucked! In addition to the absolutely gorgeous riffs, Al Stewart is also a sublime wordsmith. This song is so smart. One of my favorites for a long long time
"Roads to Moscow" - Epic, haunting history lesson about World War 2 - DO NOT miss this song.
It should be better known. I haven't listened to it often, but it is haunting.
My first thought was "why are they doing this song?" as it doesn't seem to fit the channel. Then when I listened again, with my Beats, I heard it in a whole new way! Thanks guys! Mesmerizing! And 99.9!!! Woo Hoo!! Almost there!
Several lyric references to the movie “Casablanca”.
I wonder if Peter Lorre had liked this song if he were around at the time?
Yes, Casablanca. Peter Lorre was the little fellow with the eyes!!?? Great great actor,, great voice, although before my time, my Dad loved him.
Lorre died in 1964 - 12 years before this song came out, but I'd bet he would have loved it.
@@CharCanuck14 Yes, thanks. I meant at the time the song came out
Pretty sure Al Stewart, who was struggling as a musician at the time, credits watching Casablanca for this entire song. There's a whole video on youtube about it. Al Stewart is such a dork, it's AWESOME! (coming from another dork, of course)
Anybody remember a radio version of this song with a talk-up by Al Stewart? Might have been local to NYC. Andy, if you want another keyboard riff song, check out Bruce Hornsby, "The Way It Is."
Best song for me and my Dad's favorite - the build up of the instrumentation is just impeccable and this song defines the meaning of melodious.
The 70s were a great time to be alive and "coming of age", and for many of us, this captures a big slice of it perfectly!
Al Stewart is a master storyteller and Year of the Cat is a masterpiece.His songs have so much mood and atmosphere and his musicianship is brilliant.Plus his voice is unique and calming.
I prefer “Time Passages”, but this is a cool song too.
Both are great songs!
Agreed, and "Baker Street" too.
oops! that was gerry rafferty - my 'part-timers' kicking in.
No! Great song but YotC is much better. Though my personal Al Stewart favourites are Roads to Moscow and Nostradamus.
Boz Scaggs fits in the Style of Gerry Rafferty & Al Stewart. From His (Boz Scaggs) Album Silk Degrees "Lowdown" & "Lido Shuffle" R a Couple Of Favorites.
Loan Me A Dime!
don't forget about Jojo
I'm so glad to see you hit this song. In 40 years of listening and owning copies of it, it's one of those, at least personally to me, that even still shine''s like jewels. Thanks!
This was one of those songs that, when we first heard it on the radio in college we INSTANTLY loved it and had to buy it. It then became one of my favorite songs of all time.
ANDY - THE TEE SHIRT is quite spot on for this track... Engineer/Producer of Dark Side of the Moon was the Producer of this album...!!! You know the name - Alan Parsons.
As for the next song..... NOSTRADAMUS is the must track next.
What a story Al tells and the way he tells it. I was in High School when this came out and its been a fav ever since. Just a few decades, I am into my 6th decade of this.
In my top 5 ever songs.... Just amazing....
Curious to know the other four. 🖖
@@KlingonPrincess all along the watch tower jimi hendrix... W. O. L. D harry chapin, souvenir omd, tangled up in blue Bob Dylan... Be something else next week no doubt
@@Husselbu1 That's quite a diverse list but I like all of those.
@@Husselbu1 all great songs. I "collect" versions of All Along the Watchtower. I was wondering because there are so many great songs. For years Hotel California was my fav and, if pressed, it still is. Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin are my favorite bands.
You haven't heard Al Stewart until you listen to his "Past, Present, and Future" album. His finest, I think. Listen to: "Roads to Moscow" and "Nostradamus" from that album. Those two songs are epic.
The Indian Summer Double Live album is pretty good!!!!
I forgot how much is going on in this song. Man. Thanks for playing it guys, it really is a great piece of production.
My favorite by Al Stewart is "Roads to Moscow."
An Absolute Masterpiece of a song!
That was my first Al Stewart song. It might be too ... moody? for them to do. I'm not sure what I'm saying.
Maybe I'm just afraid they won't like it. Would break my heart.
This song gives me goosebumps every time
Echo “Roads to Moscow”-haunting historical epic. Terrific atmospheric, cinematic piece.
As a rocker who was graduating from high school when this song was released, I've always loved the tranquil mood of this song. I'm proud to say it's still in my "Stranded on a Desert Island" playlist even after all these years. It's pure musical poetry, and it can still carry me away in like few other songs can. Al did some great songs without him, but Al Stewart and Alan Parsons made a great team. I also recommend "On the Border" and "Lord Grenville" from this album. You should also check out "Time Passages", and "Man for all Seasons" from the album "Time Passages" which is another Stewart-Parsons team up.
Lyrics
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 'till 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 cooly
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 you've lost your ticket
So you have to stay on
But the drum-beat 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 going to stay
In the year of the cat
Year of the cat
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Alistair Ian Stewart / Peter John Wood
Year of the Cat lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Carlin America Inc
"DRIVER'S SEAT " by Sniff n' the Tears....... a banger you'll enjoy
Yes! Most definitely!
Excellent! Once ya hear it, you're hooked.
That IS the best driving down the highway song ever!
Excellent suggestion.
FROM 1978 What a great year for music DRIVERS SEAT
There were we, aged 17 in 1976 trying to expand our music tastes into the wild stuff. Then songs like this came along, and we had to realise our feet had to remain in more than one camp. How could you disregard quality such as this?
I saw Al Stewart at the Paramount 1978. ;-)
It's great seeing young guys like you listening to and appreciating great artists from the 70's like Al Stewart.
I'd describe this as a "full" composition.
good description
Next Al Stewart song: Time Passages
On the border
@@vitchr Oops- I forgot that one. Yes 👍🏼
Am I the only person who thinks this guys voice sounds like Neil Tennant of Pet Shop Boys?
Neil Tennant himself has denied copying his voice and insists any similarity is unplanned. I don't believe it. If you look at the lyrics to west end girls it's Electric Los Angeles sunset to my mind...
@@karlsinclair9918 I don't assume plagiarism. Some people's voices sound alike.
@@tristramcoffin926 no neither do I, I'm saying that the similarities are surprising for someone who denies even liking or hearing Al Stewart.
@@karlsinclair9918 To me they aren't surprising, just notable. It was the first thing that occurred to me hearing the song for the first time.
@@karlsinclair9918 but hey, maybe this will lead the boys to react to Pet Shop Boys.
This has always been one of my favorite songs. Came out when I was a senior in high school getting ready to go to college. I thought it was musically evocative and lyrically romantic.
one of the best produced and engineered and mixed songs in history with a bunch of seriously talented musicians, about time you guys took a listen you out to follow this with his song Time passages
Such a great song! The lyrics alone are amazing! Great reaction!