THE CHINESE CALENDAR?! | Al Stewart "Year Of The Cat" - REACTION

[@lharrill7229]

"She comes out in the sun in a silk dress running like a water color in the rain" One of the best lines ever written.

[@hlawrencepowell]

agreed

[@rogerdaly6326]

Absolutely , the whole song is poetry.

[@notanotherenigma7759]

I like "Two broken tigers on fire in the night, flicker their souls to the wind". Different song, but still Al.

[@zex7689]

@@notanotherenigma7759great song

[@buckinjb]

Yeah, I like it, too. But...the Bellamey Brother's - "If I Said You Have a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me"

[@jamesanthony5257]

Year of the Cat began on January 22, 2023, and concluded a few days ago on February 9, 2024, and it is part of the Vietnamese Calendar. Thank You, Alan Parsons (who produced and engineered the album) for convincing Al Stewart the song needed a Saxophone solo.

[@skygazer858]

You can't hardly go wrong with a sax solo.

[@s.kenthamilton8745]

Note that the song was recorded in the previous Vietnamese "Year of the Cat" , 11 February 1975 to 30 January 1976 but wasn't released until July '76.

[@roberthunter4884]

He's reminiscing to someone about the time he had in the Year of the Cat, it's about a memory, not a current event.

[@roberthunter4884]

You know I've been following you for a long time now and have commented on almost every video and I've rarely if ever made a negative comment, but, it seems you've forgotten to kick it back a couple of seconds after pausing to state your comments. It would be greatly appreciated because it helps us get back into the flow a little easier instead of the abrupt on and off. Thank you for your time, you are still my Nubian Princess. Anyway, loved the review, love you, take care and stay safe ❤️

[@lchris33]

Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese calendar. But Year of the Cat sounds more poetic.

[@dadmateryn8092]

"Year of the Cat" is a narrative song written in the second person whose protagonist, a tourist, is visiting an exotic market when a mysterious silk-clad woman appears and takes him away for a gauzy romantic adventure. On waking the next day beside her, the tourist notes that his tour bus has left without him, and decides to stay where he is for the time being.

[@rickpat-x9u]

this is about his LONG-TIME GIRLFRIEND that ended up marrying someone else a few years after this song came out (kinda like "Sherrie" from _Oh, Sherrie_ song by by Steve Perry dumped him while that song was still in Top 100 list).t

[@jsprite123]

That is the best explanation for what this song means (or makes you feel)!

[@kingbeauregard]

The literal take works very nicely. Though personally I take it just a little less literally: he's swept up in a relationship that takes him out of his normal life for a time. I lean that way mostly to make sense of what "the year of the cat" could be: it's the very memorable part of his life spent in this relationship. Also, the hidden door she leads you to, again maybe not a literal door so much as making the choice to give in to her.

[@peterlansdowne5367]

The song was released in 1976. It’s one of the greatest song arrangements ever written . It’s about 1975 (Year Of The Cat in the Vietnamese calendar ) Al Stewart is a Scottish singer . Hence his accent . In 1978 he Released his other gem called Time Passages. Now you have to listen to it

[@r.plante2916]

Arranging, a lost art.

[@mikeking5175]

its chinese not vietnamese

[@peterlansdowne5367]

@@mikeking5175 1975 was the year of the rabbit in Chinese , Cat in Vietnamese . Check your facts as Stewart in interviews has stated it was written set in 1975

[@MichaelCRush]

And "Where Are They Now?" is better than both of them.

[@VicEclectica]

lol They weren't on the bus. The lyric is: "The morning comes and you're still with her, and the bus and the tourists are gone." One of my favorites and always hits the perfect 70s vibe for me.

[@runninginharran]

I absolutely love this song. It's one of my fav '70s songs. I grew up in the 1970s and have probably heard this song hundreds of times and have never grown tired of it.

[@drdr76]

still have the cd; one of my "never getting rid ofs"

[@greg2976]

👍👍💯💯

[@s.kenthamilton8745]

@@drdr76 Wait CD? I think I still have the record somewhere in a box. 🙂

[@alexdrummer2175]

Yup! Takes me right back to that time.. I miss it dearly

[@justabaker5609]

One of my favorite lines (not song)ever, "you go strolling through the crowd like Peter Lorre contemplating a crime" .

[@sylvanaire]

I don’t know if Britt knows who Peter Lorre was, but he was a famous movie actor known for being some kind of villain, often obsequious & incompetent, lol, but definitely on the wrong side of the law. 2 movies that he was in that come immediately to mind are Casablanca & the Maltese Falcon, although he was in many, many other films. He died in 1964 but was still well known by the time this song came out in ‘76. Glad you liked the song!

[@drdr76]

He made the perfect criminal/evil character in many performances. He had an interesting life too; grew up in Russia, lived in France and Germany also where Gobels, a fan of his, told him to leave Germany for his own safety because he was Jewish..ended up in the US where he became a movie star.@@sylvanaire

[@NattyBumppo48]

I doubt if most of the "youngsters" watching this even know who Peter Lorre is/was.....

[@justabaker5609]

I think you're right

[@anitaaviles7203]

I agree. My favorite Peter Lorre performance is as the serial killer in Fritz Lang's movie M (1931).

[@lbd-po7cl]

One of the most perfect songs written - lyrically, musically and exquisite production.

[@ronaldobrien6870]

Apparently, his then girlfriend was into astrology and left her astrology book lying open on the page called 'The Year Of The Cat' and Al thought that would make a great song title.

[@artmanjohn2]

In the song he says "going through the crowd like Peter Lorre" he's referring to a 1940's character actor who was kind of known in movies as a man who could sneak around and be sly and undetectable at times. He played this kind of character in probably one of the most famous classic movies ever made "Casablanca Blanca" with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in 1942. He's the one in the movie who originally had the exit visas to escape the Germans in Casablanca.

[@88wildcat]

Except in that movie he gets detected pretty quickly.

[@brigid4815]

Water color in the rain…painting the picture of her dress beautifully

[@gregstilwell7760]

He wasn't on the bus with her. He arrived as part of a bus load of tourists. He met this mysterious woman, spent the night with her, and in the morning the bus and the tourists were gone. Plus, he'd lost his ticket, so he'd have to stay on (in her town).

[@moonlight01011]

Year of the Cat is probably my all time favorite song. It takes me back to growing up on military bases in 1970's Japan. Al Stewart's "End of the Day" is a gem, too.

[@scottindestin]

You just experienced the master engineering of Alan Parsons.

[@rapidfirerob4]

Al writes beautiful songs with intelligent lyrics. He knows history very well and incorporates it in his songs, as well as time as his theme. I've met him a few times. Very nice guy, down to earth. His fans always love him and listen to his albums that continue to be released. He's fantastic.

[@TheJohnnywbred]

Well said ❤

[@RandoReport]

Al is largely referencing the 1942 Humphrey Bogart movie Casablanca here. His music is filled with literary, cultural, and historical references that many younger people might not immediately catch.

[@marlew6629]

This song is going right over her head and she doesn't even know it.

[@samolevski1119]

Yes it's almost her trademark to try and sing along but not grasp meanings, as if somehow the meaning behind the lyrics doesn't really matter providing you can sing a few of the words

[@88wildcat]

It goes over a lot of people's heads, especially if they have not seen a plethora of Humphrey Bogart movies.

[@ernestoglez6725]

"Likes to sing along, but, she..."

[@pekestyxx6674]

I could loop this song all day and never grow tired of the story telling and instrumental progressions. If you've ever experienced this story in real life...

[@harryjames7774]

The Old Grey Whistle Test. Great memories of Whispering Bob Harris.

[@richardrodriguez2120]

This song and Time Passages are so instrumentally satisfying

[@timstewart9026]

If you watch the first scene of the classic film "Casablanca" the beginning of this song brings it home.

[@dagmar.6954]

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

[@karenmandeville7116]

and don't forget Past, Present and Future!! saw him do that live in 1973.

[@nonMuggle]

And "On the Border"! Such movement in that song.

[@dreamweaver8913]

He's also Rod Stewart's cousin

[@laurabrevitz3944]

I had both those albums....

[@Joe-ey7fg]

It's a mixture of Humphrey bogart movies like Casablanca and to have and have not, and the year of the cat calender thing.

[@williamschubele2542]

This song puts me right back in the 70's....this level of musicianship and musical composition does not exist anymore in popular music; on top of that Al Stewart is a charming gent full of humor and class.

[@nashkita77]

I envision him meeting a girl at the market in Thailand. Was smitten by her and it side tracked his vacation plans. "By the blue tiled walls near the market stalls, there's a Hidden door she leads you to".

[@robertfindley921]

I call this the song with a dozen solos. Great classic tune with ambiance, rhythm and orchestration. Lots of references to actors of the past, metaphors, etc. Back when great lyrics were common.

[@jsprite123]

To truly appreciate this song I'd suggest using headphones and closing your eyes. It takes you to another time and another place.

[@marshallmcdonald7309]

I put this song on what I would call my "AM" days. It reminds me of turning on my Blue Max radio (look it up) at night and tuning in an AM rocker to listen to as I drifted to dreamland (usually 790 WAKY out of Louisville or 890 WLS out of Chicago). Memories that will last a lifetime. I'll let others address the misheard lyrics. Speaking of, I thought I had missed something until realizing you're listening to the radio shortened version. Just before the bridge: "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" Thus explaining why he's with her in the morning. One of my all time favorites from my youth.

[@armadillotoe]

Poetry as lyrics, great piano, voice, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, strings, and sax. . . . what more could you want?

[@NoNameNoFace-rr7li]

this is the most visual song ever recorded.. you see it not just hear it. it is beautifully done...

[@charlesmarkley220]

It was the worst of time, for me. A father returned from the Vietnam war. Came back physically in tact, mentally irretrievable. The absolute beauty of the music of this time was a help to me that can not properly explain. Very happy you are listening.

[@skygazer858]

I also love Al's Road to Moscow.

[@sourisvoleur4854]

My favorite of his songs. Started my fanhood (fanship?) back in 1976 when I heard it on some music show, maybe King Biscuit Flour Hour. Been a fan ever since, seen him multiple times in concert, have all his albums. And it started with Roads to Moscow.

[@daviddittman]

Roads to Moscow is probably the most tragic song ever written. It leaves me with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye

[@SteveJuszczak-dx3gz]

To understand him , you must understand history

[@samir061000]

c est la plus belle chanson jamais ecrite que de souvenirs ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ les solos sont exceptionnel surtout le saxophone demander la vie dans ces années la une merveille ❤❤❤❤❤❤ ecoute aussi time passages on the border ❤❤❤❤

[@willfromyadkinville]

he is just fantastic! great storyteller!

[@michaelobaugh6223]

Alan Parsons produced this song. Ageless sound.

[@jimmcget98]

You definitely need to check out Time passages!

[@jimshorts6751]

Al Stewart, Leo Sayer,and Christopher Cross were always good for cleaning house with the widows open Sunday afternoon... not too bad for waterbed antics the previous Saturday night either.😊

[@sourisvoleur4854]

🤭

[@thesolitaryadventurer]

Nothing screams more 70s than this comment! 😂

[@robertdalemccollom6250]

Its one of my favorites, I've got fond memories as a kid in the 70s listening to this song. NOSTALGIC!!!

[@crunchyhippo8957]

This is some kind of shortened version that I've never heard and didn't even know existed. The studio version is longer and IMHO far better than this chopped up version. I don't know why reactors always go for the live version first. More often than not, they're either shorter or longer than what the radio stations played.

[@gemanscombe4985]

Yes, this is the AM radio/45 single version dubbed over an edited live performance. Not a cello or violin in sight. Reactors would do well to listen to the studio version before a live one. Exceptions, to my mind: Karen Carpenter, Jimi Hendrix, Olivia Newton-John. Others, too, but studio cuts best show what the artists and engineers intended.

[@yuppers54]

The first line says You come strolling through the crowd like Peter Laury. He was an actor who normally played a bad guy. If you ever watch The Maltese Falcon with Humphrey Bogart he is the smaller bad guy.

[@fiddiehacked]

M fűr Műrder is among the best films ever.

[@poop_knife]

Peter Lorre. Yeah he usually played gangsters.

[@roneichstaedt8853]

Many of the lyrics are meant to evoke Casablanca, which had Peter Lorre as a small time hood. Many movies of the period had Peter Lorre and Sidney Greenstreet as the heavies.

[@MrPanther1986]

Wow I love the diversity of what you react to this is something that I grew up to I am 56 so a lot of these songs I am aware of but it's nice to see someone else in the younger generation appreciate it!

[@tomcollens4621]

Clue: watch the movie Casablanca. It’s a clue. The song assumes you are educated.

[@GinMae]

Thanks, Britt - such a beautiful song.. (in addition to Al's vocals and lyric, the instrumentation is amazing.. I believe produced by Alan Parsons.. if you don't know him, look him up.. he was a great musician in his own right.. ).. Love this song .. you may also enjoy some of his others... "on the Border".. or "time passages".. (also, you've heard another great Scotsman - Gerry Rafferty... "Baker Street".. that similar sax feel, right?)

[@P.J.Stark.]

This song was a top 10 hit in Australia in 1977. I was only a kid at the time, but I remember it like it was yesterday. A great song that has become a true classic.

[@tjrivers]

Up there with the best compositions and deep arrangements of all time, IMO. So, so pretty! And, I am always anticipating that sax coming in. ❤️

[@buckshots4800]

This is just one of those songs you like but I doubt anyone back in the day, my generation, had any idea what it was about. I didn't then and I don't know. Yet I still like it. A lot.

[@mandandanmandamayor3511]

Funny, I always thought this was as straight forward as can be. It is hook a up in a foreign city with a woman he just met. My dream, if it isn't everyone's. This song doesn't even try to disguise the meaning, it is right out there and is obvious. If you want to be confounded by lyrics try Steely Dan.

[@heylad]

I had been in a different band and we used to cover this song, starting about 25 years ago. I'd never heard it before, prior to learning it, and I really didn't care for it but I quickly grew to absolutely love it and we covered it for many years. I agree with you, Britt, it's just such a smooth, groovy and chill tune. The strings, guitar and sax solos are just brilliant. We also covered his song "Time Passages", which has a very similar feel. Glad you enjoyed it, Britt!

[@rogerdaly6326]

There are two guitars and one bass , pretty standard for many bands. The song did however have a keyboard solo , 2 guitar solos and a sax solo. You don't hear that often. Brilliant song.

[@debbiewilliams9154]

And don't forget the violins!

[@rogerdaly6326]

@@debbiewilliams9154 I mentioned the two guitars & bass cause Britt acted like there was an army of guitars on stage and it was only the two & a bass

[@debbiewilliams9154]

@@rogerdaly6326 Ok, understood 🙂

[@ChrisOmo]

This is one of my favorites. The backing Instrumental is legendary

[@rick5440]

An elegant song about a chance liaison.

[@psongman9536]

True, but she ruined the effect of the song, don't know why she jumped in so much!

[@rick5440]

@@psongman9536 Thats kind of the idea of reaction videos. If you want the uncut versions, I suggest the non reaction videos.

[@psongman9536]

@@rick5440 Well, I watch a lot of reaction videos. However, if you know this song, it is not the kind that you interrupt the flow, she usually is quite good at her jumping in, but this time, it did not work, but had to chime in, so she learned a when to come in lesson!

[@sourisvoleur4854]

@@psongman9536 What's far worse is talking over the lyrics. Especially the reactors who don't look up or read along with the lyrics. Do they not realize that songs from the 60s/70s put a great deal of emphasis on the lyrics? You'd think young kids raised on rap would realize lyrics matter.

[@guitarman8462]

Whenever reacting to real good music , headphones is the way to go.

[@pbrucpaul]

I like the way the drums and Bass just pick up the movement and keep it all going. The other instruments ( guitars, Alto Saxophone and Strings ) are really good!

[@christianm7220]

This track is pure poetry! Fire! The instrumentation is fantastic! There is definitely something going on here!

[@hlawrencepowell]

The Year of the Cat is just a lyrical vehicle he uses. It approximates the feeling of a bit of a time warp that happens to the narrator as he's drawn into a situation that seems to be out of the normal time stream. Things don't need to be literal. There are lots of hints that he's entered something that is almost surreal. Read the lyrics. And listen to the original studio version.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Haha, I was one of those early on yelling at you about that, laugh. I couldn't help it but it's the musician and recording guy in me, but you got better so rapidly, it's really impressive.

[@jimmcget98]

This song came out just before I was getting married... LOL it was an awesome song. And still is I haven't heard in a very long time thank you for your reaction!

[@socalpaul487]

"In the Vietnamese zodiac, the Cat is one of the twelve signs. At the time of the song's release, the most recent Year of the Cat had been 11 February 1975 to 30 January 1976; thus, the song was written and recorded in the Vietnamese Year of the Cat.[7]"

[@judylee9022]

Finally thank you so much, next from Al should be time passages, thanks

[@TheJohnnywbred]

This is the perfect song.

[@DavidSingerSongwtr]

Time Passages is another great song by him.

[@ydqpljn]

Lunar New Year traditions evolve in the Asian diaspora. While almost everyone will ring in the Year of the Rabbit in 2023, Vietnam is welcoming the Year of the Cat.

[@robperry5293]

In most of today's music headphones aren't as big a deal. I was in a little pool bar and the juke box was playing pablum, when the music ran out, I punched in some 60s-70s music. Within about 10 seconds I could tell half of the stereo was out in the juke box. You couldn't even tell when "todays music was playing (No panning, no separation of instruments, vocals).

[@tomwinkler8597]

The year of the Cat is the name of the club, obscurely located by the blue tile walls near the market stalls. There's a hidden door she leads you to. The verse, in the morning, he wakes up and (notes) that the buss and the tourist are gone. This was a real place Al visited while traveling but the club and the woman is imagined. He did leave the tour and stayed a while for inspiration while writing this song. I'm a gigging musician. this song is a favorite for patrons at jazz bars, Dining establishments that provide entertainment and weekend outside venues.

[@DennisGayhart-s3t]

This performance is a shortened version of the studio version which is much better.

[@markcastellanos9678]

This song was written about the Nuance of the Movie Casablanca. It's a Haunting Dreamy song that is Timeless The Pride of Scotland, Al Stewart. Try Time Passages too.

[@memorylane7068]

Strolling through the crowd like Peter Laurie (old time actor) contemplating a crime.

[@richardmarston6704]

Another great song by Al Stewart is "Roads to Moscow*

[@georgejfunderburk7645]

When shopping for high end audio amps and especially speakers in late 70's and 80's I used this song and Time Passages along with Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon & The Wall albums. Was and still is easy to differentiate the really good equipment from the average.

[@rickpat-x9u]

Song is about Al Stewart's LONG-TIME GIRLFRIEND that ended up marrying someone else a few years after this song came out. *SHE WAS 'EURASION' FRENCH-VIETNAMESE (meaning she looked more white-European w/ Vietnamese subtleties)... The met while both were in Algeria & Tunisia on vacation exploring the old relecs*

[@DeadBird-wp9of]

In the 70's they really managed to produce stereo sound - 60's stereo is often a mixed bag. Generally bass is in the middle (harder to locate overall) - voice is mostly is centered - with Panorama knobs you distribute a mono channel to Left/Right-channel to create an illusion.

[@markharris1125]

I discovered Al Stewart when I was at university in the late 70s. I'm happy to say I've seen him in concert about a half dozen times, the latest just a couple of years ago in London. He's still going strong at 78, the voice hasn't changed, and he's such an engaging personality on stage with his band. He has lost quite a bit of hair! He has almost endless great songs but it's always a magical moment when the piano player starts those opening notes of 'Year Of the Cat'. This song refers back to the film 'Casablanca', which starred Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre, mentioned in the opening lyrics. If you've never seen it, take a look at an all-time classic. The girl wasn't on the bus, he was: he spent the 'drum beat strains of the night' with her and never got back on the bus. For what it's worth, my Al Stewart Top 10: Year Of the Cat The Palace of Versailles Apple Cider Re-Constitution A Man For All Seasons Merlin's Time Fields Of France Murmansk Run/Ellis Island Trains Antarctica Helen and Cassandra Really nice reaction to one of my favourite songs and artists.

[@kallsop2]

It's a metaphorical reference. People used to say that a woman has cat like moves. If you watch they way a cat moves when it walks its similar to the way a woman walks.

[@coyotej4895]

Al Stewart and Gerry Rafferty and Alin Parsons worked together a lot, with Alin parsons also doing a lot of in studio work for the Beatles and Pink Floyed. If you like this try Alin Parsons. But if you do Old and wise have tissue on hand just in case.

[@mikehoward2340]

Never heard a true explanation, but here is what I always envisioned when I heard the song: The Year of the Cat is a bar/club in some exotic place like Marrakesh or Morocco with markets and bizarres. This fellow is a tourist walking the streets, envisioning himself in a Humphrey Bogart movie, when this lovely lady comes out of nowhere and takes him on an adventure ending in her place where she lives above The Year of the Cat. The next day, he realizes the tour bus has left, but he'd rather stay with her in this exotic, wonderful place.

[@ed.z.]

a tourist in Vietnam is visiting an exotic market when a mysterious silk-clad woman appears and takes him away for a gauzy romantic adventure. On waking the next day beside her, the tourist notes that his tour bus has left without him, and decides to stay where he is for the time being. The song was written during the Vietnamese year of the cat.

[@kalanos4660]

The Old Grey Whistle Test; man, those were the days.

[@thomastimlin1724]

There is another Al Stewart hit I like called Time Passages from 1978....reminds me of senior year I college. Al is Scottish.

[@docsavage8640]

Great song. I vividly recall the first time I heard it on the radio while driving after midnight after a blizzard. It was perfect.

[@pattanner8122]

You should review Time Passages. I always think of my wife when I hear it. I lost her to cancer in 2015.

[@51Dss]

this song is about a mystic experience. an exotic woman, a reference to the mystic Chinese calendar, the ethereal experience itself is felt in the music composition and playing...guitar, piano, saxophone, haunting echoes from the background vocals...this song creates an image in the brain of the listener. If you don't have a romantic soul you won't get it...but I think you get it

[@michaelbenge2388]

Brilliant song. Al’s voice is unique and beautiful. Love the piano. The elements I love most, though, are the sax solos, strings, and the acoustic guitar leading into the electric guitar is magical.

[@Joe-ey7fg]

The main chords are major 7th chords. That's what makes it sound beautiful.

[@artkinwa9142]

Finally reacting to an Al Stewart song hooray! He is in my top 5 list of artists of all time. You need to listen to many more of his songs. He is still touring the country and is great to see live. Thanks for this reaction. Song suggestions Time Passages, On the Border, Lord Grenville, and Roads to Moscow. FYI they were not on the bus. They were in her room for the night and he missed the bus.

[@mikeyosten603]

This song to me has a summer time vibe ❤

[@C.Brooks2007]

I absolutely loved this song in jr. high. It was the late 70's. My dad had the album and I was mesmerized by the cover. I spent a lot of time studying it.

[@billbrosey5909]

The song was about a man who traveled to Africa and fell in love with a woman and missed his boat and had to wait twelve years until the next boat arrived.... Hence the Chinese calendar which each year is represented by 12 years.

[@williammckay9229]

Another song from this album, "On the Border", was really good.

[@williamharvey3860]

No one writes lyrics like that anymore…” she comes out of the sun in a silk dress running like a watercolor in the rain”. You can visualize the flowing fabric accentuating her movements!!! Pictures in words!!!!

[@SuperKevin57]

Alan Parsons is a genius.

[@mikeyosten603]

Love this song 🎵 ❤️

[@mulatacatachufla]

He's a tourist who went to Vietnam (in the Vietnamese calendar is "The Year of the cat" which the Chinese one doesn't have it. He fall for that Vietnamese girl and decide to stay with her which, by the way, was 1976 the year of the cat in th Vietnamese calendar and she also was born in a year of the cat... About the first verses, he talks of a far away and exotic land and compares with Marrocco inthe film Casablanca with Huumphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman at the end of that movie.

[@RMForbes505]

Actually, the year of the cat is in the Vietnamese calendar.

[@dizastro5437]

This tune is so smoothed out. Love it.

[@notanotherenigma7759]

So, basically, he is in a market in Casablanca, Morrocco on a tour, in a tour group, when a lady who does for a living what most girls do for free (wink, wink) takes him to her room. The next morning.. "Well morning comes and your still with her, and the bus and the tourists are gone, you've thrown away you choice, you've lost your ticket, so you have to stay on". Great lyrics. Al (Alistair Ian Stewart) is Scottish born, but moved to London when he was 19. He now lives in California. He is known for writing many songs about history and people from history, as well as other songs. And he is quite well off, with an estimated worth of $99m!!!

[@frankbudge2500]

Incidentally, this session comes from a truly great show called "The Old Grey Whistle Test". There isn't a program even close to it these days. The catalogue of artists that performed on this show is legendary so if you want to see top talent playing live then this should be your first stop. The show was also notable for the presenter - whispering Bob Harris - a one of a kind himself. Just everything about the show could not be repeated today, that's what makes it worth a look.

[@WizardofOwls]

When I hear this song, I picture a black and white movie done in the style of Casablanca (probably because the lyrics reference both Boggart and Peter Lorre). A dark smoky bar with lots of wicker and ferns, brass and mirrors. A large ceiling fan slowly turning with large leaf-like blades. The smoke from clove cigarettes and patchouli incense filling the room. The guitar and sax solos remind me of a fat cat casually strolling along a roof top, stopping for a moment to lick a stray bit of unruly fur back into place, then continuing on his leisurely moonlit journey to some mystical, mysterious place only cats can see and visit... The music at times has a vaguely Arabian feel that only adds to the mystery and magic of the song. The masterpiece he paints with his words is impeccable, and the musical canvas he paints upon is stunning. This is one of my top 10 faves of all time Also - a couple of lyric corrections. "Like a watercolor in the rain." The colors on a watercolor painting would run in the rain, like looking at something through a window while it's raining, water droplets slowly race down the glass, smudging and smearing the view. "When the morning comes and you're still with her, And the bus and the tourists are gone."

[@dalecalabrese3352]

Produced and arranged by the legendary Alan Parsons

[@albertjflores8950]

I was 19 years old then now 65 & still jammin to Al Stewart

[@jbird40jc]

This is one of the best songs ever! The long version is 100% better.

[@pancentricism]

I always understood it to be about the time when Al Stewart was living in London with Paul Simon, Bert Jansch, Roy Harper and the "Cat" in question, none other than Cat Stevens. This was about 1965 when Al Stewart first came to prominence on the London folk scene.