Al Stewart
On The Border
Year Of The Cat
(1978)

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135 comments:lyrics:add your comment
SanFranGayMan
Feb 10, 2013 - 23:28
Echoing all the sentiments here. This was a fine example of a 70s, sexy, trippy mashup.


solrac
Jan 10, 2013 - 15:13
aaaahhhhhh!!! the seventies were the best...


seaGal
Jan 10, 2013 - 15:12
Always reminds me of making out with my first boyfriend ....


EdmoJoe
Jan 10, 2013 - 15:11
Man, does that song take me somewhere far away, deep into the 70s!


TJS
Oct 08, 2012 - 12:40
leafmold wrote:
Whatever happened to him, anyway?


He still tours and stuff. Amazing musician and just a nice guy.

http://www.alstewart.com/




leafmold
Oct 08, 2012 - 12:29
Whatever happened to him, anyway?


kingart
May 03, 2012 - 11:51
I haven't listened to Stewart on some time, although I do have Past Present and Future. His preoccupations made him quite the unusual popular music artist.


smackiepipe
May 03, 2012 - 11:50
bindi wrote:
Alan Parsons engineering this if I recall correctly. He helped make some classic albums in this period.

Not only engineered, but produced it as well.


oufason
May 03, 2012 - 11:49
I don't know why, but I really only like to listen to Al Stewart during the winter...


clwguy
Oct 26, 2011 - 07:40
30+ years... 9 > 9.5


johnjconn
Oct 26, 2011 - 07:39
Fun song, fun times


Cynaera
Sep 24, 2011 - 15:24
I heard the first chords of this song and managed to crank it up before I was riveted, eyes closed, shivers up and down my spine... I have GOT to get this on CD, as well as "Time Passages." I'm in the Al Stewart season now...


ajlept
Jun 22, 2011 - 08:25
Come on Bill! I've got work to do and this music won't let me leave the house. Now I'm busy looking through my CD collection for Year of the Cat (my vinyl won't play in the car *S*). Stop it, please!


kurtster
May 21, 2011 - 16:24
Giselle62 wrote:
I've been wanting to know something for a long time...
Is there a "year of the Cat?" or is he using it as a metaphor for an invisible netherworld? If there is no "Year of the Cat" (I mean, I've never seen one of the Chinese restaurant menu) then that song is similar to the Television song "Venus de Milo"
"I fell into the aaaarms of Venus de Milo.." Tom Verlaine singing.

IIRC, the Year of the Cat does refer to the alternate calendar mentioned below. Stewart came into town and did a live radio show on WMMS back when this was still kinda new and explained that the song refers to him being marooned in North Africa somewhere, during the actual Year of the Cat. The song is a lament about being waylayed in a strange place far from home and enduring the wait.

Could be totally wrong, too lazy to wiki.




fredriley
Apr 20, 2011 - 02:38
I'd not realised that Al Stewart is in fact Scottish - Alasdair Stewart ( Wikipedia ) - which adds to my liking of him. I remember liking this song when it came out but not really understanding it. Only in later years when I researched the Spanish Civil War / Spanish Revolution and re-heard it on RP did I realise what it's about. Many thanks, again, to RP for re-exposing me to this guy's work, which will result in a couple of CD purchases for sure. Intelligent songwriters are at a bit of a premium in these days of McMusic and the X Factor and should be supported.


Dave_Mack
Mar 19, 2011 - 14:14
Nice less-played track. I should get this album.



bluedot
Jan 15, 2011 - 23:31
nice


SmileOnADog
Dec 15, 2010 - 13:22
I used to love this album back when it came out. He has a really fluid singing style and the very atmospheric production still sounds fresh.


Cynaera
Dec 15, 2010 - 13:22
I love how Al Stewart's delicate vocals can still deliver such powerful words with impact. I listened to this album until it wouldn't play anymore. Time to get it on CD. It's classic. {#Music}


DoctorHooey
Dec 15, 2010 - 13:18
dang, killer segue from A Perfect Circle!


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