Year Of The Cat is one of those \u201970s albums that manages to strike the perfect balance between folk, rock, pop and a sophisticated singer-songwriter aesthetic. Released in 1976, it was Al Stewart\u2019s big commercial breakthrough, but above all, the point where his unique songwriting acquired the sound that suited it perfectly.<\/p>\n
Alan Parsons played a decisive role in this, in production. His work is not limited to a clean and impressive sound; he creates an entire sonic world. Strings, keyboards, guitars, saxophone and finely crafted rhythm sections coexist without ever drowning out Stewart\u2019s voice and lyrics.<\/p>\n
Stewart is above all a storyteller. His lyrics travel to historical events, people, love stories and exotic images, creating the feeling that each song is a small film script. Lord Grenville, for example, draws on history, while Flying Sorcery refers to British aviator Amy Johnson.<\/p>\n
The album opens with \u201cLord Grenville,\u201d an atmospheric track that shows Stewart\u2019s love of history and storytelling from the start. \u201cOn the Border\u201d follows, with a strong Spanish color and a melody that makes the song instantly recognizable. The balance between acoustic guitar, rhythm and more elaborate orchestral elements is exemplary.<\/p>\n
\u201cMidas Shadow\u201d moves in a more jazzy and nocturnal climate, while \u201cSand in Your Shoes\u201d brings back Stewart\u2019s folk side. \u201cIf It Doesn\u2019t Come Naturally, Leave It\u201d shows a more dynamic rock mood, proving that Stewart is not trapped in the image of a sensitive folk songwriter.<\/p>\n
\u201cFlying Sorcery\u201d is of particular interest, combining acoustic guitar, harmonica and slide elements with an almost dreamlike character. \u201cBroadway Hotel\u201d is darker and more dramatic, while \u201cOne Stage Before\u201d is one of the album\u2019s most beautiful and emotional moments.<\/p>\n
And of course, there\u2019s \u201cYear Of The Cat.\u201d A song that would be enough to make an album a classic on its own. The piano intro, Stewart\u2019s narrative performance, the gradual development of the orchestration and, most importantly, Phil Kenzie\u2019s famous saxophone create one of the most characteristic soundscapes of the \u201970s. The instrumental part of the song evolves almost like a small suite, before returning to the central melody.<\/p>\n
Most importantly, however, Year Of The Cat is not just the album containing the hit of the same name. It includes songs with enough personality that work as a single work. Parsons\u2019 production gives coherence to different musical directions, while Stewart\u2019s narratives create a sense of journey from one song to the next.<\/p>\n
Year Of The Cat is an album that is best heard as a whole rather than as a collection of singles. It is clever without being pretentious, melodic without being banal, and rich in orchestration without losing the essence of the songs.<\/p>\n
For Al Stewart, it is probably the pinnacle of his career, and for Alan Parsons, a fine example of his ability to transform good songs into complete sonic experiences. Year Of The Cat, on which I select the title track, remains one of the most elegant and atmospheric albums of the \u201970s, an album that doesn\u2019t need to shout to grab our attention.<\/p>\n
Tracklist<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Lord Grenville 5:00 Year Of The Cat is one of those \u201970s albums that manages to strike the perfect balance between folk, rock, pop and a sophisticated singer-songwriter aesthetic. Released in 1976, it was Al Stewart\u2019s big commercial breakthrough, but above all, the point where his unique songwriting acquired the sound that suited ...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":36951,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[78],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36944","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-records-that-made-history"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n2. On The Border 3:22
\n3. Midas Shadow 3:08
\n4. Sand In Your Shoes 3:02
\n5. If It Doesn’t Come Naturally, Leave It 4:28
\n6. Flying Sorcery 4:20
\n7. Broadway Hotel 3:55
\n8. One Stage Before 4:39
\n9. Year Of The Cat 6:40<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"