Al Stewart "Year Of The Cat" REACTION Video | first time hearing this masterpiece song

Millennial reacts to old music. Al Stewart reaction video, Year of the Cat. First time hearing this song. Best reaction videos to music. Best reaction to 70s music.
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🔵ATTRIBUTION 🔵
Al Stewart - Year Of The Cat. • Al Stewart - Year Of T...
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[@michaelbaucom4019]

I've heard this song hundreds of times, and that sax kicking in STILL SLAYS ME. A masterpiece song

[@judylee9022]

Awesome sax, thanks to Alan Parsons, who engineered year of the cat and time passages, Al Stewart wasn't crazy about adding the sax but went along with Alan Parsons and boy oh boy so glad he did, just added more layers to this master piece, back then instruments that sounds like a person talking is just WOW! All these different instruments coming in but not drowning out the other instruments, so gently with Al Stewarts vocals is just WOW!

[@cajunsushi]

Year of the Cat and Time Passages will forever be synonymous with Mr. All Stewart.

[@tedharvick9010]

I had an app that I made a ringtone of this sax solo. Love this one. Had my band director not had too many saxophonists to start the year, I would have learned it. Had to take trumpet, instead.

[@stephenhanft1226]

"Year Of The Cat" has that easy-listening, mellow sound of the 70's. A terrific song. Another hit song from Al Stewart which you'll also enjoy is "Time Passages".

[@GinMae]

Yes! and also "On the Border"..

[@claudecampbell2637]

A timeless piece of music that will never, ever grow old. Is as fresh now as when it first came out. The music and lyrics capture the passing of time and also provide a wonderful escape.

[@OverandOutChief1]

Great choice. My favorite line in any song "she comes out of the sun in a silk dress running like a water color in the rain." Masterful.

[@justjack0715]

My sentiment EXACTLY!

[@88wildcat]

I think that is everyone's favorite line in the song. It's definitely mine and it is one of the best lyrics ever written.

[@taun856]

And he very nearly equals that with the two later lines "By the blue tiled walls near the market stalls" and "But the drum beat strains of the night remain". The man is a master word smith.

[@Isleofskye]

@@taun856 These days, she says, I feel my life Just like a river running through...........:)

[@80srocker67]

A Absolute Masterpiece!!

[@tomwinkler8597]

Al wrote this song while traveling. He left the tour he was on and stayed behind feeling writing inspiration. The Year of the Cat was the name of a secluded club, The place was real, but the woman and the club were imagined.

[@lbd-po7cl]

Year of the Cat is in the running for the Perfect Song. It has everything - amazing tune, outstanding arrangements and instrumentation, stellar performances, and lyrically evocative. Stewart is an amazing songwriter and a true poet - “in a silk dress running like a watercolor in the rain” is such beautiful imagery. I recommend Roads to Moscow, an epic piece about the ebb and flow of war, and the tragedy for even the victors. It’s a masterpiece of storytelling, and utterly compelling.

[@TheGreatGig73]

I agree!

[@theread59]

I'll second that.

[@ron88303]

@@theread59 Third.

[@birdpainter452]

I’m 70 yrs old and heard this song when it was first released. Truly it’s a timeless masterpiece. Love it to this day. Btw, the sax solo only took 2 takes.

[@Isleofskye]

9/10 for your reaction Ladies and when you review the LYRICS you will realize where the 10/10 would have come from as Al Stewart is, arguably, the GREATEST rock Poet/HistorianPoet of all time with my most memorable line I have ever listened to when, in this, he sang " She Comes Out Of The Sun In A Silk Dress Running Like A Watercolour In The Rain"You will get many interpretations of this but Al said 50 years ago, that it was a "North African Love Song" set in Morocco and it uses several early references from Humphrey Bogard's "Casablanca". Al is still performing wonderful songs like this and "On The Border" and "Time Passages" and his epic "Roads To Moscow" about World War 2... ENJOY..

[@NickBR57]

I love that line too. It's very evocative.

[@juliusdavies2005]

Nailed it, the lyrics are so evocative of love affair in a different era. I can just see that moment when Humphrey Bogart sees Ingrid Bergman in Ricks.

[@clhsocial]

My favorite line, too - the entire song is cinematic.

[@garyneilson3075]

Just the finest

[@colleenross8752]

​@@juliusdavies2005, of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine

[@winetrucker3949]

I'm 66 and this song is beautifully put together love it ty for bringing back great memories of my past.

[@WickedWaiata]

Women are so sensitive to music - its a joy to watch ... when that solo section kicks off, you see both swaying to the orchestral and guitar parts, affected by the changes in keys ... the daughter senses a shift in vibe with the electric guitar ... then the smile from Mum as the sax breaks out!

[@scottmorschhauser4421]

I've never heard a song whose lyrics paint such an explicit yet poetically beautiful picture. " 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". My brother loved this album. Miss you bro.

[@Eric-ms1ry]

Yes I love the music....and the lyrics,but alas,I recently moved to Arizona and so now I DO NOT......................" turn back time"

[@wpollock1]

It tells you something that my 20 something daughters and nieces are hooked on this song. Great musicianship. The song "Lord Grenville" from this album is special, also. it is a historical song that is beautifully written.

[@chadcrigger3101]

I love this song. Thank you for the reaction. I am really happy to see all the people giving this positive comments. I am glad i am not the only person who absolutely loves this song.

[@Vllencia]

It is just a magnificent song, and not one violin or cello, but many strings (violins and cellos) were playing beautifully. I love all the instruments in that song, and the arrangement was awesome, and the singer's voice was so nice, beautiful tone, and just perfect for the words of the song. Has been one of my very favorites for many many years.

[@kentmains7763]

Top 5 of my favorite songs, lyrical genius, produced by Alan Parsons, perfection.

[@Isleofskye]

I bought my first record in London in 1960 and this has been in my Top 10 for 50 years now..

[@scottindestin]

Keyboard synthesizer made that twinkling sound

[@hebber1961]

Can't believe how much I took good music for granted back in the day. Obviously a great song but there was so much back then you just assumed it would be around forever.

[@54nomore]

This to me is one of the greatest musically composed songs I have ever heard. Every instrument seems to have been used here in this masterpiece of a song. This is music to the ears and soul. Brilliant!

[@salmuscles]

one of the greatest songs in music history 👍

[@haroldsanteliz6153]

Al Stewart and the rest of the group are 100 British , look for the version where you can see them , Al Stewart plays the guitar and the piano and then this guy plays the Sax, ufff this song is so beautiful , it traps you in its beauty, this song is amazing . It’s A Master Piece , just Fabulous .❤

[@beeseewill2407]

"Year of the Cat"is a musical masterpiece.Check out Al Stewarts "Time Passages".

[@josecunha7483]

Viajo ouvindo esta música, não fico um dia sem ouvir.

[@chrislegner4816]

One of the most dramatic instrumental breaks in rock history. Excellent choice and commentary.

[@88wildcat]

One of the greatest troll jobs in music. I'm willing to bet everyone that hears this song for the first time assumes the song is going into the third verse after the electric guitar solo. No one ever expects that saxophone. There is absolutely nothing in the first two verses and choruses of the song that gives any indication there is going to be a saxophone in it.

[@salmuscles]

the 4 part solos... synthesizer..acoustic guitar...electric guitar...saxophone....amazing... heard this song first time in 1976 when the album was released..

[@TheGreatGig73]

Same here. My friend turned me on to this song before it hit the airwaves. Top of my play list since then.

[@janicetrimmell6897]

I love this song. It has such great imagery. He references characters from "Casablanca." Don't you love the sax? I read his idea for the title came from a book his girlfriend at the time had on Vietnamese astrology. There was a chapter on "The Year of the Cat." Coincidentally, this year is also The Year of the Cat. Nice Pick. Thank you.

[@flarrfan]

I read that he wrote it after a first viewing of Casablanca. There's a video on KZbin (w/ Spanish subtitles) that intersperses clips of a live performance with scenes from the movie.

[@stevenbond9201]

@@flarrfan The song's germination started when he opened for Linda Ronstadt the year before. It took a year to come to fruition and went through 15 revisions. Stewart quite often charts out the solos and let's his musicians work within his framework.

[@thecelt471]

I heard this when it was first released. I was deployed to the Caribbean in the Navy. Perfect song for that time in my life. Good memories.

[@jsbcody]

Similar but 1985 working Town Patrol at Clark AFB in the Philippines.

[@waltshields5483]

Remember this from when I was stationed in Germany. Brings back memories. The 60's and the 70's had the best music EVER.

[@hototowhistler]

I agree. I grew up listening to the great '60s and '70s tunes. I thought such music would last and keep being made for decades that followed. I was wrong : )

[@SuperSuperswan]

Same here, was stationed in West Berlin when this came out, whenever I hear it now it always takes me back.

[@BYanez2662]

My dad was stationed in Heidelberg at this time and my brother and I were in middle school , he got the record for my brother. His first album ever.

[@bearballin]

Year of the Cat is an example of master class song writing. The musical composition, orchestration is stellar. In fact the entire album is excellent. Each song transports you to another land, "On the Border", "Broadway Hotel", "Lord Grenville", "Flying Sorcery" are dreamy and magical. 😉

[@pzpete]

Al doesn't write lyrics, he writes poetry and stories.

[@frankaq3951]

What a feast of different instruments! You called it exactly; "This song has everything "

[@NickBR57]

Part of the soundtrack of my youth. I always thought he was underrated, personally. The acoustic guitar, piano, sax and vocal are all wonderful. Edit: I should add that the great Phil Kenzie is the saxophonist and often reminds me of another stellar band, Steely Dan. That era was the Golden Age and after Genesis went more "pop" than prog I felt there was a dearth of bands who dealt in really good meaningful songs with complex instrumentals be and arrangements, until of course in the mid/late 90s that was more than filled by Nightwish.

[@hlawrencepowell]

As many have commented, it's pretty much a perfect song in every way. Bob Dylan's Visions of Johanna, and The Band's The Weight are also in the same category.

[@elwise1966]

I can't tell if either of you are using earbuds, but I highly recommend you listen to this again using good earbuds or headphones. You'll get a different perspective, instrumentally at least, when you can distinguish left and right channels. For example, the piano intro is mono on the left channel only and throughout the song you'll hear it only on the left. It is the same with other instruments. This song really is a masterpiece and is one of my all time favorites.

[@sourisvoleur4854]

Loved Daughter's face as each new solo comes in. Al Stewart is the consummate storyteller, writing theatrical songs, especially about historical events. (This one is fictional but many of the descriptions are based on the movie Casablanca.) Confession: I'm a huge, lifelong fan (since 1975), have all his albums, seen him in concert double-digit times, etc.

[@carlgibbons5777]

Anybody ever notice that Al Stewart's voice sounds just like Neil Tennant's voice? Lead singer of the Pet Shop Boys. Just an observation that just hit me. Very similar! lol

[@froggy5935]

One of the most competently composed songs of the 70s. Right up there with some of the music Steely Dan was making at that time. Every note, every instrument is in the perfect place...thanks to Alan Parsons for the brilliant production!

[@SteveJonesHimself]

Closed-eye cinema floating on a bed of lush string arrangement punctuated by several romantic solo flourishes. The lyrics and story have an exotic modern noir effect. It can really take you along if you let it. Yes, he arose from the British folk revival. You should compare to Roy Harper (who's a little edgier)..

[@jonneyuk7486]

A crystal clear beautiful song and fantastic music from the masters of music, true genius. Al is a Scottish singer,song writer and Alan parsons is a musical genius. Very privileged to grow up with this music.

[@tvgator1]

I was waiting for this, and yet I knew you’d get to it eventually. This has got to be one of my most favorite songs of all time. I’ve heard it a million times and could hear it a million more and NEVER get tired of it. I look specifically for reactions to it, and I was one of the “many others” who suggested this after the Gerry Rafferty Baker Street reaction. It’s so good because of the craftsmanship in the sound quality; musicians, Stewart’s voice, and the engineering and production by a master of sound craft: Alan Parsons (who has a good catalog of his own material that charted to listen to as well). This song is a complete good; loved your reactions although I completely expected it.

[@jhschmidMD4]

Al has some truly beautiful songs and this is just one of them. Life in Dark Water, Lord Grenville, On the Border, Time Passages, So many great tunes from Al Stewart, he deserves much more attention than he gets.

[@dagmar.6954]

Al Stewart is a great Scottish-born singer-songwriter & folk-rock musician. He was big in the 70's. I had his albums "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.

[@MarkCucchiara]

Never infer a Scot is British, those are fighting words!

[@telstar4772]

@@MarkCucchiara Who told you that?, if you say the opposite in the certain parts of Scotland you will be fighting very soon as well. From Stewart`s background its very likely hes from the latter.

[@RogerM9]

@@MarkCucchiara - the crime would be to infer that a Scot was English. Anyone from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland is British. Only someone from England is English!

[@scifimonkey3]

Bohemian North Africa set to music. Brilliant stuff. Al is the consummate story teller. ‘Life in Dark water’, ‘Roads to Moscow’, ‘On the border’, ‘Time passages’, ‘Nostradamus’, ‘Soho needless to say’ there are just so many great songs, hope that you can fit in at least some of them.

[@Thundermuscle]

Ive always said this is my favourite Bohemian song.

[@ManicReactions]

The song has always appealed to me since its release nearly a half century ago. It develops into a complicated composition with a lot of layers but carries a playful, rhythmic simpicity at the same time. The mono piano in the beginning betrays old school sound engineering when stereo recording was closer to its infancy. Back then, it wasn’t uncommon to hear certain instruments in only one channel or the other. Its Vietnam lyric based theme was historically timely coming off years of US involvement in the two decade long conflict from 1962-73.

[@steve55sogood16]

Really is a timeless song, hard to believe it's been around for 47 years!

[@uwescholer8791]

Produced and arranged by Alan Parsons, musical genius and Al Stewart, Scot btw, composed a masterpiece, indeed

[@Mikex973]

THIS MAY BE THE MOST PERFECT SONG EVER WRITTEN.

[@drinnenber]

Year of the Cat will transcend time itself. Your reaction was awesome, especially when the sax came in. Such a beautiful, all encompassing song.

[@0Yemiserly1]

I was privileged to see Mr. Stewart in concert about 15 years ago. Just him and another fellow performing this and many other of his classics on acoustic guitars. Amazing. 🤪👍

[@notanotherenigma7759]

Lawrence Juber???

[@notanotherenigma7759]

This album was produced by Alan Parsons, who produced Dark Side Of The Moon for Pink Floyd and helped with the Beatles Abby Road as well as his own material. I find with Al, you either love him or hate him, I love his music. I hope you get back to Al, for something a little faster paced, check out On The Border.

[@0Yemiserly1]

@@notanotherenigma7759 No, the accompanist was an American fellow, much younger. I'm afraid I don't remember his name.

[@notanotherenigma7759]

Dave Nachmanoff???

[@0Yemiserly1]

@@notanotherenigma7759 Looking at his pictures, I do believe it was him! 🤪👍

[@davidwhitehead4985]

He was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1945.

[@scottyh8494]

The 70's was just a brilliant time in music. This is one of those brilliant times.

[@westhillswood51]

Alan Parsons is responsible for bringing in the sax solo.

[@shannonbennett987]

Everytime I see young people react to this I think how many of them wonder "who's Bogart and Peter Lorre?"

[@carlannerstedt6796]

A Bogart movie, Peter Lorre, "Casablanca" and "The Maltese Falcon".

[@matthewchance8835]

Check out "I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You" by Alan Parsons Project [He's the one who produced this song] It has a great bass line in it. You two work so well together.

[@charlieleonardo]

Al Stewart’s vocals are superb!

[@chazblitz]

In my many years I've seen an awful lot of concerts. I would rank Al Stewart as the third best concert I ever saw. I saw him in a tiny dinner theater in Fells Point Baltimore. Our table was right next to the stage so close I could see the time on his watch. This was in the mid 80's way after his commercial success. It was just him and another guitarist doing all his songs acoustically. He took time afterwards to talk to just about everyone. He kissed my wife's hand. Nice dude, nice concert and nice memories.

[@ron88303]

Was the other guitarist Lawrence Juber? They were fantastic together.

[@chazblitz]

@@ron88303 Not really sure it was so long ago. If that's who was with him in the mid 80's then yes.

[@ron88303]

@@chazblitz If you haven't already, you should check out KZbin video of Al and Lawrence playing Clifton in the Rain.

[@stevematthews641]

The piano in the beginning sounds like a cat running over the keys.

[@davehess1019]

the end part of the song was a synthesizer

[@davedalbini7670]

Time Passages is another one to listen also, I would suggest Naustrodamus but it's longer than most songs and never made it to the radio because of that. It's from his Past, Present, Future album.

[@pamelawertz498]

The thing about this song that impresses the most is that it takes you away to another place and time for a few minutes better than maybe any song you can think of. It paints a picture in your mind.40 years later, it still does that to people who haven't heard it. Sometimes there's just a little bit of magic in music.

[@jimlechuga3193]

Great reaction. Wow! 65 years! You gotta listen to the lyrics of all songs.

[@NondescriptMammal]

it has a cinematic feel to it, very nicely constructed song.... he actually has several good songs but this is one of the most pleasant for sure Roads to Moscow is an interesting song, sort of a dramatic historic ballad with some fine acoustic guitar on it, and pretty decent lyrically as well

[@glennsmusicchannel]

This song was all over the radio at the time. I associate it with long road trips. That instrument you mentioned at 12:30 is a synthesizer. They were still new around then. This was a big budget recording session. Enjoyed your reactions!

[@bumperu]

Goes well with a carafe of your favorite vino.

[@richardrodriguez2120]

This song is so musically satisfying. Remind me of my childhood and cool fall days in my hometown

[@PjRjHj]

THAT instrument was a Synthesizer

[@walterfechter8080]

"On The Border" and "Time Passages" (Al Stewart) "Don't Answer Me" (The Alan Parsons Project) -- 3 beautiful songs which you two ladies might consider reviewing. Thanks!

[@Isleofskye]

I bought my first record in London in 1960 and this has been in my Top 10 for 50 years now..

[@JimboUSAF007]

Thank God I was a teenager during the 70's. 🙂

[@benmobi]

Good points on musical cues, but I can't believe you both overlooked the genius of the lyrics. WOW!

[@j.k.1963]

1976 was such a fun year! Each week another classic appeared.

[@ronaldchu5189]

You should listen to "Time Passages" by Al Stewart

[@tomwinkler8597]

Al is Scottish.

[@mikefixx7177]

Another group you will love is Ambrosia, Holding on to yesterday !

[@JamieSmith-fz2mz]

A great part of this song - on top of everything else - is that it's LONG. >6 minutes. You can just swim in it for a long while. And Alan Parson produced it so that explains the complexity.

[@megaroli]

This is a masterpiece with such a great arrangement in my opinion. The song makes some references to an old classic movie called Casablanca in case you know of It. The title for the song comes from Vietnamese astrology as explained by Al Stewart on a some sort of interview or short video posted a while ago.

[@brucewatts8447]

Time Passages is just as good

[@tomloft2000]

It's really the year of the rabbit (2023), but I won't split hares.

[@deoppressoli-bear2600]

You’re missing the best part of the song, which is the story itself.

[@dwightfrye6944]

Do yourself a favor, listen to this "album" from start to finish.

[@peterniblett5923]

Al Stewart (Scottish) his masterpiece

[@joelliebler5690]

Unforgettable tune,and artist. This song takes you to a world of a sensual and magical imagination!Other fantastic tunes by Al are On The Border, Roads To Moscow, Time Passages, and Modern Times!

[@jonathansmith3742]

45 yrs of The Year of the Cat. Love it every time I hear it. Smooth as smooth gets.

[@mikefixx7177]

Great song, they have another one called ON the Border

[@norfolknchance657]

Al is the master of nostalgia

[@tradeladder146]

This is based on Vietnamese Astrology, Year of The Cat, like Chinese is the same thing.

[@thomasmain5986]

Great story telling from Al Stewart, with some pretty talented musicians.

[@jamesbondbond8388]

And Alan Parsons enginering !!!!

[@jeffstevens4262]

Ladies, you're quite right about Al coming from the UK and this remarkable song was written and produced by his close association at the time with the genius Alan Parsons. Actually, the year of the cat is Vietnamese (not sure if they also have one in Morocco) The lyrics are (allegedly) based on a true event.

[@peterhall2810]

Al Stewart has many great songs, as others have said, many including saxaphone. Another band you might find interesting with saxaphone solo is Urgent by Foreigner.

[@kentk2215]

A great mellow song from my childhood years. Happy Friday! In this year of the… rabbit. I hope you gals are going to give a reaction to the Nightwish video released today, of their first performance in more than 17 years of their version of Phantom of the Opera, with Floor and Henk. ❤️

[@MrPazzerz]

A beautiful lament of youthful adventure in strange places.

[@metasymplocos]

I love your moms reaction ❤

[@shimwooley]

Al Stewart is a genius !!

[@doobiedave9686]

There were so many great singer/songwriters in the late '60's and early '70's. Al Stewart, Jim Croce, Harry Chapin, Carole King, Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell, Cat Stevens, Gordon Lightfoot, Janis Ian, etc..

[@bintheredonethat]

Mood, Mood, Mood. Like a candle lit, multi-course diner at an elegant 5 star restaurant. Serves up the perfect experience.

[@keymack2477]

I really enjoyed your reaction, so thank you both!! Since Mama Gap mentioned she likes the horns I would like to suggest that one day you add "Spinning Wheel" by Blood Sweat and Tears to your list of songs to get to one day!! Looking forward to your next reaction!!

[@777petew]

You can listen to this a hundred times and you may still hear some hidden delight you may have previously missed. It is indeed magical. I was 17 in 1976 when it was out, and my reaction was just like yours.

[@DavidTateVA]

It's a rare song that gets better every time you listen to it. This is one of those.

[@garyneilson3075]

Oh yes!

[@garyneilson3075]

Coolest arrangement in music!

[@henningkallerhoff3967]

A real pleasure to see your anticipation and adiction to one of my "all-time" favorites. :-) Love your reactions!

[@generationgapreacts]

Wow, thank you!