Al Stewart: Year of the Cat (1976) --- PLUS BONUS INTERVIEW (from 2018)

[NurseJackie]

Year of the Cat is the seventh studio album by Al Stewart, released in 1976. It was produced and engineered by Alan Parsons. Its sales helped by the hit single "Year of the Cat", co-written by Peter Wood and described by Allmusic as "one of those 'mysterious woman' songs,"[1] the album was a top five hit in the United States. The other single from the album was "On the Border". Stewart wrote "Lord Grenville" about the Elizabethan sailor and explorer Sir Richard Grenville (1542–1591).[2]

Stewart had all of the music and orchestration written and completely recorded before he even had a title for any of the songs. In a Canadian radio interview he stated that he has done this for six of his albums, and he often writes four different sets of lyrics for each song.[3] The title track derives from a song Stewart wrote in 1966 called "Foot of the Stage" with prescient lyrics about Tony Hancock, one of Britain's favourite comedians who tragically committed suicide two years later.[4] When Stewart discovered that Hancock was not well known in the United States, he went back to his original title "Year of the Cat".[5]

[50 Shades Of Blue]

1. Thank you! I had the pleasure of seeing him perform at a local club last year and he is still great!

[NurseJackie]

2. Wow! You're very fortunate!

I like the more intimate settings of clubs and small venues rather than stadiums and arenas.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

3. It was like an out of body experience! It was my second time seeing him...

First time was in 1977 at a larger venue (concert hall).