FIRST TIME Hearing Al Stewart - Year Of The Cat || This Is Musical Genius Level 1,000!!

[@setonhillstudios]

*You can support the channel with KZbin Channel Memberships or through Buy Me a Coffee. Never expected, but always appreciated.❤Links in Description!* This BLEW ME AWAY!! The production on this is insane and the fact that Alan Parsons had his hand in it is even more wild!!

[@lotusladylotus6159]

😆😊Your reaction to this reminded me of the first time I heard it upon it's release! And almost 50 years later, it sure as heck holds up, doesn't it?!

[@setonhillstudios]

That’s wild that it is that old but still sounds so amazing! Definitely timeless! 🔥🔥

[@DonnaKubiski]

This is my number one all-time favorite song. I could listen to it every day and not get tired of hearing it.

[@jeffstevens4262]

"She comes out of the sun in a silk dress running like a watercolour in the rain..." what an incredible line. The entire song and lyrics are just crazy good. 🙋‍♂

[@justjack0715]

The imagery is pure perfection and quite possibly the greatest line in top 40 history!

[@RalphSpoiledsport]

My favorite line

[@paulweiss3818]

Yep, this is the line that slays me. Pure poetry.

[@keithbrown7685]

@@justjack0715 Imo, maybe one of the best lines to use in a poem. This is the magic of good lyrics. Extract them from the song for a moment, and ponder them as stanzas, with all the metaphors that can make for an unforgettable poem.

[@kallsop2]

Stewart does an excellent job of painting a picture with his lyrics. IIRC he loosely based it on the movie Casablanca.

[@jeffwallace916]

Time Passages and On The Border are two more absolute classics from a very underrated artist. His songwriting is outstanding and the arrangement plus production make this simply a masterpiece.

[@arthurclarke905]

Alan Parsons engineered the 1976 album Year of the Cat by Scottish singer-songwriter Al Stewart. It was recorded in Abbey Road studios in 1976, where producer Alan Parsons had first worked at 19, as an assistant engineer under George Martin on two Beatles albums.

[@setonhillstudios]

Someone else was telling me that!!! Mindblown!! 😳🤯

[@flash1660]

You hitthe nail on the head Alen Parsons did this record you will LOVE his Silence and I and Time

[@danbenedict8375]

Another album that was produced by Alan Parsons was Ambrosia’s debut album. You should check out their song “Holding On to Yesterday”. It’s my favorite song of theirs and its lyrics hit different the older that you get.

[@ericwagner1824]

@@danbenedict8375 I am drawn to (The System of) Dr Tarr & Professor Fether!

[@TheRokjok]

So cool to watch your expressions and hearing your comments for the first time on hearing a song that I have played 100"s of times at many radio stations. Steven you're spot on with production techniques, yes Alan Parson produced this at Abbey Roads Studios UK. I believe the cat meowing sound is a distorted guitar thread through a synthesizer.

[@setonhillstudios]

So glad you enjoyed it and this is one of those songs that as a musician and audio engineer I can learn so much from! Just genius in every way! Thanks for hanging out! 😁

[@scottjones758]

So glad to have been a teen in the 70's!

[@roccaclassico9028]

Another Al Stewart favorite is "On the Border" -- beautiful acoustic finger-picking. 🔥🎶

[@billkant849]

Another good acoustic guitar piece is "Morgan the pirate" by Ian Matthews, Tim Renwick did the playing on that I think.

[@krkhns]

@@billkant849 Renwick played electric on both songs. The acoustic for On the Border is Peter White and Morgan the Pirate is Andy Roberts.

[@lamusiclover2264]

It's produced by Alan Parsons who has the cleanest recording sound of almost anyone. His own recordings are flawless and he also produced Pink Floyd "The Dark Side of the Moon".

[@GinMae]

YES - Alan Parsons.. what a genius!

[@RonnieAcheson]

TIME PASSAGES, IS THE NEXT AL SONG TO LISTEN TO

[@mikegpa]

Love this song - great reaction! It was indeed produced by...wait for it...Alan Parsons!

[@jamesbondbond8388]

Yes , Alan Parsons !!

[@tjrivers]

One of my favorites…all time! ❤ So glad you are hearing this great one! A mystical sound, cool lyrics that transport you, and yes, great production…all the little additions…just beautiful! And surprise…that sax! 😎 In fifty years, never tire of this song!

[@scotto.4832]

This was on the radio ALL THE TIME when I was a kid. I took it for granted. I assumed all music would be that great forever & ever.

[@rachidalmadani8303]

You should listen to 'On the border' is a masterpiece too.

[@patrickwilder6492]

I have been calling this a “Masterpiece” since the first time I heard it in the 70’s. I’ve always used it to set up my stereo systems for room audio quality. ❤❤❤

[@kallsop2]

When this was being recorded Alan Parsons didn't want two guitar solos so he suggested to Al Stewart that they have a sax solo. Stewart said "I'm a folk singer, folk songs don't have saxaphones." Parsons convinced him to try it so he called up a sax player he knew that lived near Abbey Road Studios and the sax player said he was busy watching a movie. Parsons convinced him to come in and play it and he did. Two takes and he left. Stewart didn't like it so Parsons told him to sleep on it. Stewart came in the next day and agreed to keep it. It became Stewarts biggest hit and the sax player Phil Kenzie became part of Stewarts group and played on his next album Time Passages and the rest is history.

[@SharilynBratton]

One of the best songs ever, a masterpiece of musical art.

[@MichaelBrusa]

A great Al Stewart song is On The Border, great visual with his song writing and awesome guitar instrumental

[@alanjhand]

good ear my man, Alan Parsons was indeed involved, layer upon layer of instrumental mastery. we were spoiled by the masters of our generation

[@zimjun7]

I'm not surprised that Alan Parsons had a hand in this!!! 💕

[@pattymckitrick7436]

Yes !!!! One of my favorite songs ! ❤❤❤❤

[@stevegauthier9838]

Nailed the comment about Alan Parsons who produced this track. Lush string arrangements and superb sound production are Parsons signature stylistic ideas. Also adding the sax solo was Parson's suggestion which Stewart initially resisted. I don't want to take anything away from Stewart who wrote this great song with such evocative lyrics. As others have already mentioned Time Passages and On the Border would be great next steps.

[@lizmarch4000]

this is the anthem of the true audiophile. And the poets too!!!

[@carefreescot]

There's a video somewhere on here of Al Stewart telling how he was partly inspired by the film Casablanca - A morning from a Bogart movie/ strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre, both Casablanca references. You really must react to Al Stewart's On The Border, inspired I believe by the Spanish Civil War and full of more amazing lyrics, with references to other conflicts like Rhodesia.

[@jamesbarrie2458]

Steven I have to agree, it has everything, musical perfection.

[@bigdaddymosh1964]

This song is a masterpiece… Gotta do “TIME PASSAGES” next!

[@JohnPaul-hm2ys]

Glad you found this classic. I saw Al Stewart this past August for my sisters birthday, and Al is still great at 79. Time Passages is my favorite from him, and he didn't disappoint.

[@erics5847]

Nice song selection, you've got a good ear. Other great songs from Al Stewart, 'Song on the Radio', 'Time Passages' , 'On the Border'

[@denniswarren]

We had some of the most beautiful music in the 70s ❤

[@setonhillstudios]

Absolutely!! 💯

[@TheToscanaMan]

Yes this is a stunning piece of work. Few have nailed it like Al does. Great production, perfect lyrics and music that is crazy good. Every time i listen to it i get pulled into his metaphor laden world and am swept away. Great reaction. 🤗

[@rognroll2786]

Love me some Al Stewart... The turnaround at the end of the riff is SO awesome!

[@rognroll2786]

Also, I would recommend reacting to Valentina Way or Song on the Radio. However, the Al Stewart tree is heavy with ripened fruit...

[@user-pl7jg2sc8f]

So fun anticipating and watching your reactions to this masterpiece. Thank you! You are correct - it was produced by Alan Parsons. His song, ‘Time Passages’ will be another treat.

[@brucecronin6396]

The whole album was FIRE !!

[@bhumanishaya]

It's a masterpiece of production! Recorded in Abbey Road Studio, engineered and produced by Alan Parsons in studio 3 which upgraded to an EMI Neve 1086 at the time of recording. All the music was finished with overdubs later in LA, before the lyrics were written. Alan Parsons came up with the idea for the sax solo, which Al resisted initially, but came to love later!

[@gregj1295]

"Time Passages" is another good one by Al.

[@AuthorLaurieAnnSmith]

This is pure perfection to my ears and my heart. I grew up listening to Al Stewart and I was 11 when this song dropped! This song is one of my most fav songs of all time!! Be sure and check out a live version of Al Stewart and the band playing this song from his younger days!! Then check out his most recent shows! Al still has it!! He was and is a phenomenal singer/songwriter and I just love him so much!! Thanks Steven!

[@steveburrows3263]

I get emotional when I hear this Al Stuart track. It was my late father's favourite..

[@robertlear2712]

Pretty much a perfect song.

[@brewstergallery]

The whole album is great. One of the best production ever.

[@Madminute1968]

Outstanding session studio musicians, true professionals, reading and playing there dedicated musical arrangement to perfection.

[@2Cambourne]

This is a musical masterpiece. One of the greatest compositions ever! Is considered one of the greatest songs on Billboards Top 500 in music history. Brilliant!

[@barrywood3561]

His songs are not random lyrics rather a story behind each one

[@smffeb58]

Al Stewart is a master lyrical historian.. his career which started in the 60s English Folk era, that morphed into the British Invasion era. His niche was to write songs with historical backing, or painting vivid images in the listeners mind. You should dive into his catalog, do some research prior to get the gist of the story being told, you’ll not be sorry. He has so many great songs, BUT my favorite, is The Roads to Moscow .. if Year of the Cat is production gold, consider that song production diamond 💎

[@Rosedach]

Also mine.

[@elvwood]

And mine!

[@dougieyou]

Steve, the whole album is a masterpiece from the lyrics to the playing and not to mention the album art is awesome.

[@kallsop2]

Agreed. There's not a bad song on the entire album and I always listen to it in it's entirety.

[@rickde40]

one of the best songs of all time

[@kierstenridgway4634]

Insence and patchouli. ❤ Two scents that I'm very familiar with. ❤❤❤✌️ I love this song.

[@ronbrown912]

The arrangement is incredible. Top 10 hit in '77 and still playing today...

[@robchehowski4281]

Love Al Stewart. Time Passages is also amazing. I actually saw him in concert in 1989 at The Diamond in Toronto when he toured for The Last Days of the Century album. It was incredible, 2nd best performer I've seen live (after Rush). Later, in the 2000s, I saw him again, but he only had another acoustic guitarist in support.

[@danielschartzer1396]

Awesome reaction 👏🏼👍🏼💪🏼 The 1970s hit again , just shows once again the 1970s music you can't beat it in recordings analog instead of digital and the producers and their imagination and The placements in the mix and all the musicianship it's just off the chains good , in my opinion AND WHO DON'T LOVE A GOOD FADE OUT LOL But anyway keep up the good work 👍🏼💯🎯

[@izorion6443]

Awesome song. Almost puts you in a trance. Shout out to the musicians.

[@setonhillstudios]

Absolutely!! 💯

[@aprilstewart5929]

I have such vivid memories of this song, and the time of my life in which it was a huge hit. Always on the FM radio, en route to a club, or club-hopping....a masterpiece. And the string-section: sheer magic. And then, when you think you've reached the apex of this song, the sax says "Hold my beer". and you're so right about his voice: wonderful whispy quality, so tasteful! Yeah....welcome to my 20's!!

[@CharCanuck14]

From the first time I had heard this - almost 50 years ago (yikes!) - I was mesmerized by the music, words & Al's voice.......incredible!! Thanks Steven!

[@bobdelp2023]

His Other Huge Hit Was : Time Passages 👍🙂

[@setonhillstudios]

Thanks so much! 😁

[@bobdelp2023]

You Bet, Any Time I Can Help! 🙂

[@mikematusek4233]

Think Casablanca, with the mentions of Peter Lorie, and market stalls. I was in high school when this came out. We thought that what we listened to from the 60's to mid 80's, that was how it would always be for music.

[@yonatan62]

I like how as the strings start the bridge section they build a chord one note at a time with four or five strings, one each note until the form the chord. Also just as the bridge starts he fades out singing cat... and his voice perfectly blends with the strings. I recall this was kind of a one-hit wonder.

[@FairHaven-h8s]

Soundtrack to many make-out sessions during my junior year in college. So many memories... That's a synth making the cat noises at the end, btw.

[@Gira21Gramos]

I saw him in California just 2 or 3 years ago!! He puts on a great show, with stories between the songs. He said he learned to write songs by listening through the wall as his neighbor wrote songs. Oh, the neighbor was Paul Simon.

[@RonnieAcheson]

As close to a perfect song as you can hear, just amazing

[@justjack0715]

I was waiting to see the expression on your face when that break comes, especially when the sax hits! 😆It takes me back to the 1st time I heard it on it's release in 1976. Thanks for the ride!

[@setonhillstudios]

Thanks for watching! Absolutely amazing!! 😁

[@BabsR]

If I had to pick a favourite song of all time it would be this one. What a great line, she comes out of the sun in a silk dress running like a watercolor in the rain

[@ellenbakker-w8x]

I knew in advance that you were going to enjoy this song.

[@glenjunk5100]

I remember as a kid in the 70's this song all over the radio.

[@donna8993]

Your reaction did the song right.👍. Love to see you appreciating good songs.

[@rustycamaro]

First time I heard this , was on the school bus after Christmas vacation in 76. Still sounds as amazing now.

[@sagitt1856]

Perfect example of a composition whose simple melodic line is sublimated by an exceptional orchestration.

[@setonhillstudios]

Absolutely! 💯

[@ruth2141]

Al Stewart was part of the British folk / folk rock scene in the 1960's & 70's and just kept going. He put out an album every 3-5 years from 1967 to 2009 and has toured continually. He just announced his farewell tour for 2025, when he will be 80.

[@elvwood]

We'll see - I saw him about a quarter century ago, and he said he was thinking of quitting touring then!

[@hackermusic3355]

Yes, masterpiece is the word.

[@ruth2141]

This is his best known song, but all the songs on this album are great. He loves history and tends to write songs about historical events that are so long and complex they don't get played much on the radio, but he has an avid fan base that follow his tours. I saw him in New Orleans in the 80's on a riverboat concert venue and a couple of times in Houston after that.

[@Jude_196]

STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL SONG, TO ME!! THANKS, STEVEN!!!

[@MrDeadstu]

"Roads to Moscow" is an epic song from Al Stewart. (with a built-in history lesson) I would also suggest "On the Border" - some great guitar work.

[@lacerda77]

I love this song and I love your reactions. Regards from Brazil.

[@richardingles2011]

Check out a live version of this "Al Stewart - Year Of The Cat (HD)" recorded at "The Old Grey Whistle Test". Really great also.

[@negrin-yehuda]

One of the best song ever

[@GinMae]

Thanks, Steven.. one of the most beautiful songs evah! produced by genius Alan Parsons...(I'm impressed that you recognized his hand in this!) but Al Stewart is also an amazing artist with quite a few hits... and a beautiful voice.. hope you get around to more from him... appreciate your reaction! (p.s. another great Scot musician.. thinking also of Gerry Rafferty.. maybe you've heard "Baker Street"?)

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

Ahhhh memories of those days in the 70s in my room listening to my HiFi AM/FM stereo/record player/8 track rack system with the headphones on groovin' to this tune just getting lost in thoughts & dreams ✌💖☮

[@FINEFELINE333]

He came and performed a concert at our secondary school in the early 70s before he became famous in the UK.

[@j.k.stevens7568]

Remember that Stewart is a guitarist. He ran into this piano player when Al landed on these shores and he had his intro for this song. Epic.

[@clifton8929]

This is a true classic. Thanks for all the fantastic music. Your commentary is always insightful, heartfelt, and enlightening.

[@setonhillstudios]

Really appreciate that! 😁

[@sourisvoleur4854]

AL takes inspiration from history and from movies, and his knowledge about both is encyclopaedic. His song based partly on Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's Gulag Archipelago, called "Roads to Moscow," is masterful. It was the song that made me a lifelong fan 50 years ago.

[@DrJ4712]

Oh, my! That piano goes right to my soul! Yes, you got it! Produced by Alan Parsons, a genius! As everyone else says, "Time Passages" MUST be next! You'll also love "On the Border". This is absolutely my favorite reaction of yours! I thought you were going to cry😊❤ There are Over 2,000 views😮! I'm so lucky to have grown up in the 60s and 70s😁. You're not the first reactor I've heard wish they had been around in the 70s to experience life. You have no idea, but this music should give you a small window to the past! This was our life, all day, every day. It was just normal to us but, now, looking back, I can see how lucky we were😊. Sorry to babble❤

[@setonhillstudios]

You’re not babbling! I love it! Thanks for watching and I’m so glad you enjoyed it! It truly is a masterpiece! ❤️

[@DavidTrippi-fp9yg]

The production is magical

[@debjorgo]

Yes, this is a top 10 all-time great song. But Al has some more songs that are up there pretty high. Time Passages and Song on the Radio for starters.

[@ronaldofernandesmartins335]

This is certainly one of the most beautiful songs ever played.... just fantastic

[@antoniocastro6345]

Great song!

[@user-pl7jg2sc8f]

Thanks!

[@setonhillstudios]

Wow!! You’re awesome! Thank you so much for your generosity! It is truly appreciated! 🙏🏻

[@Lakeshore14]

This was a big hit back in the late 70s. And you’re right, he had a very unique voice. Another big song for him was Time Passages. Love everything about this song….the lyrics, the instrumentation, his voice. Thank you so much for reacting to this and bringing back good memories for me. 👏👏👏🥰

[@MarkmanOTW]

One of my all-time favourite songs with amazing lyrics, instrumentation, and production - the title track from a fabulous album 'Year of The Cat'. Ironically, this was better received in the USA than the UK at the time it was released in 1976 - it went Platinum in the USA in 1977. Although Al Stewart is from Scotland (via Bournemouth in Southern England), he recorded this in Abbey Road studios, London and in Hollywood, California - he was appreciated more Stateside. 'On The Border' from the same album is the next track to listen to - (then listen to the whole album with headphones on in your own time).

[@erickvermeulen9734]

Some of the musicians on this recording played at the time in Cockney Rebel (the band of Steve Harley that was also produced by Alan Parsons at the time, listen to songs such as Make Me Smile, Judy Teen or Sebastian)

[@gregfagan199]

This is a novel set to music. It's a brilliant achievement in storytelling, musicianship, and production.

[@mikeziegler4785]

I saw him live in 4 different decades in 4 different venues with 4 different friends.

[@petacarney9848]

What a treat, one of my all time favourites 😀

[@jeffkontnick8733]

What a great song! You should also check out “song on the radio” and “time passages”

[@gailjohnson5950]

Funny you should mention Alan Parsons, he engineered this entire album!

[@DavidSingerSongwtr]

That sound at the end I believe is a keyboard sound.

[@richtensail]

yeah sugest u put it into top gear as vis is another classic frm v 70s. lets go!. yeah we wnt!. wonderful imagery of a memarable short interlude in life.............

[@rogerdaly6326]

Stephen , it's funny you mentioned that the last time you heard production that good was with Alan Parson. He was the sound engineer for the Year Of The Cat album in 1976 at Abbey Road Studios ! ! You nailed it ! !

[@tracithomas6543]

Good ear!! Alan Parsons is a total legend when it comes to audio engineering and production and, much like Trevor Horne during the Eighties, it becomes glaringly apparent when he’s been involved in any song or album’s recording and production.

[@ernestinegerberich6710]

I still have the original release of this album on vinyl. There is not a bad song on it.❤

[@billg763]

Great reaction. Perfect chilling music. Light some incense, pour a cup of tea, look through your window on a winter's day, and just sit back and enjoy the music.

[@PhillyGirl64]

You really have to appreciate this song, it's one of his best! The guitar in the middle is so iconic!

[@Earcandy73]

Yes. This is the standard by which other productions are measured. I always close my eyes and disappear somewhere when I hear this. For a similar experience, review “Hello It’s Me” by Todd Rungren.