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Year of the Cat (album)

{{About||the cat in the Vietnamese zodiac|Cat (zodiac)|the song|Year of the Cat (song)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Year of the Cat

| type = Album

| artist = Al Stewart

| cover = Al Stewart-Year of the Cat (album cover).jpg

| border = yes

| alt =

| released = 22 October 1976 (UK){{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/8374-3688-2|title=BPI}}

| recorded = 1976

| venue =

| studio = Abbey Road Studios, London; Davlen Sound Studios, North Hollywood, California

| genre = Rock, soft rock, progressive pop

| length = 38:55

| label = RCA, Parlophone (2014), Janus, Arista

| producer = Alan Parsons

| prev_title = Modern Times

| prev_year = 1975

| next_title = Time Passages

| next_year = 1978

}}

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",{{Cite book | last = Bogdanov| first = Vladimir | author-link = Vladimir Bogdanov (editor) |author-link3=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |author2=Chris Woodstra |author3=Stephen Thomas Erlewine | title = All music guide: the definitive guide to popular music | publisher = Hal Leonard Corporation | year = 2001 | page = 391 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Z6TpuVW6QA4C&pg=PT372 | isbn = 978-0-87930-627-4}} 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).{{cite web| url = http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=18412 | title = Lord Grenville | work = Songfacts.com | access-date = 2010-03-09}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.ciut.fm/index.php/shows-2/interview-with-al-stewart/ |title=| Ciut Fm |access-date=2011-08-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927191244/http://www.ciut.fm/index.php/shows-2/interview-with-al-stewart/ |archive-date=2011-09-27 }} CIUT’s Barry Livingston’s interview with legendary UK singer/songwriter Al Stewart, Thursday June 16th, 2011 at 7 a.m. 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 died by suicide two years later.Dave Thompson, 1000 Songs that Rock Your World, Krause Publications, Iola, WI (2011). {{ISBN|978-1-4402-1422-6}} p. 142. When Stewart discovered that Hancock was not well known in the United States, he went back to his original title "Year of the Cat".{{cite book |last=Davies |first=John |title=Lyrics and limericks |year=2009 |publisher=Pneuma Springs Pub. |location=Dartford |isbn=978-1-905809-59-2 |oclc=751047053 |page=35}}

Cover art

The cover design, by Hipgnosis and illustrator Colin Elgie, depicts a woman who has an apparent obsession with cats. She can be seen in the mirror dressing up as a cat for a costume party, and all of the items on her dresser have feline motifs. Stewart used the same concept for the cover of his 2004 Greatest Hits album, but with most of the cat items replaced with references to his other singles.

Reception

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r19054|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine}}

| rev2 = American Songwriter

| rev2Score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Zimmerman |first=Lee |date=2021-03-26 |title=A Year to Remember Courtesy of One Cool Cat, Al Stewart |url=https://americansongwriter.com/review-a-year-to-remember-courtesy-of-one-cool-cat-al-stewart/ |website=American Songwriter}}

| rev3 = Christgau's Record Guide

| rev3Score = B−{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|publisher=Ticknor & Fields|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: S|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=S&bk=70|access-date=March 13, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}

| rev4 = Encyclopedia of Popular Music

| rev4Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite book |first=Colin |last=Larkin |author-link=Colin Larkin |chapter=Stewart, Al |title=Encyclopedia of Popular Music |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_NNmFiUnSmUC&q=al+stewart |publisher=Omnibus Press |year=2011 |isbn=9780857125958|via= Google Books}}

| rev5 = The Great Rock Discography

| rev5Score = 8/10{{cite book |last=Strong |first=Martin C. |author-link=Martin C. Strong |title= The Great Rock Discography|chapter=Al Stewart |date=2004|edition=7|publisher=Canongate Books |page=[https://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr0000stro_r9o1/page/1459/mode/1up 1459]|isbn=1-84195-615-5}}

| rev6 = MusicHound

| rev6Score = 2.5/5{{cite book |editor1-last=Graff |editor1-first=Gary |editor2-last=Durchholz |editor2-first=Daniel |title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide |publisher=Visible Ink Press |year=1999 |isbn=1-57859-061-2 |chapter=Al Stewart|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781578590612/page/1088/mode/2up 1088–1089]}}

| rev7 = Record Collector

| rev7score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |last=Heatley |first=Michael |date=2014-08-02 |title=Year Of The Cat |url=https://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/album/year-cat |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Record Collector |language=en}}

| rev8 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev8Score = {{rating|2.5|5}}{{cite book |chapter=Al Stewart|last=Considine |first=J. D.|author-link=J. D. Considine|title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=DeCurtis |editor1-first=Anthony |editor1-link=Anthony DeCurtis |editor2-last=Henke |editor2-first=James |editor3-last=George-Warren |editor3-first=Holly |publisher=Random House |edition=3rd |year=1992 |isbn=0-679-73729-4 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/rollingstonealbu0000unse/page/672/mode/1up 672]}}

}}

In the United States, Year of the Cat was certified platinum in March 1977, indicating sales of more than one million copies.[https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=al+stewart#search_section Gold & Platinum: "Al Stewart".] RIAA. Accessed 3 October 2020.

Contemporary reviews were mixed but generally positive. Billboard praised the album featuring "Stewart's cool vocals and exceptionally well-arranged songs that are progressive without being pretentious", whereas Robert Christgau thought Stewart's move from historical themes to the tone of "spy-novels" was an improvement. Peter Reilly, writing for Stereo Review, found Stewart's "hissing sibilant 's's" unintentionally hilarious, especially when combined with the "gloweringly melodramatic" "On the Border". Reilly nonetheless praised the songwriting, "warm, easy atmosphere", and Stewart's guitar skills.[https://www.superseventies.com/spstewartal.html Year of the Cat (Al Stewart)]. SuperSeventies Rocksite. Accessed 3 October 2020.

Alan Parsons' production and rich arrangements were widely praised. By 1987, Year of the Cat had become a popular record used for hi-fi demonstration.

Chris Woodstra called Year of the Cat Al Stewart's masterpiece.{{Cite book | last = Woodstra | first = Chris |author2=John Bush | title = All Music Guide Required Listening: Classic Rock | publisher = Hal Leonard | year = 2008 | page = 208 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=YZ2bT1mu97kC&dq=%22Year+of+the+Cat%22&pg=RA4-PA1974-IA4 | isbn = 978-0-87930-917-6}} Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic agreed, calling it the perfection of Stewart's sound and style.Erlewine, Stephen Thomas: [https://www.allmusic.com/album/year-of-the-cat-mw0000650826 Al Stewart: Year of the Cat]. AllMusic. Accessed 3 October 2020.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Al Stewart, except where indicated.

=1976 Original LP edition=

Side 1

  1. "Lord Grenville" – 5:00
  2. "On the Border" – 3:22
  3. "Midas Shadow" – 3:08
  4. "Sand in Your Shoes" – 3:02
  5. "If It Doesn't Come Naturally, Leave It" – 4:28

Side 2

  1. "Flying Sorcery" – 4:20
  2. "Broadway Hotel" – 3:55
  3. "One Stage Before" – 4:39
  4. "Year of the Cat" (Stewart, Peter Wood) – 6:40

=2001 Remaster bonus tracks=

  1. "On the Border" [live] - 3:48
  2. "Belsize Blues" - 3:30
  3. "Story of the Songs" - 9:42

=2021 45th Anniversary Deluxe Edition<ref name="Anniversary">{{cite web| url = https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/al-stewart-year-of-the-cat-box-set/ | title = Al Stewart / Year of the Cat box set | work = superdeluxeedition.com | date = 23 December 2020 | access-date = 2022-02-19}}</ref>=

  1. "Lord Grenville" - 5:04
  2. "On the Border" - 3:23
  3. "Midas Shadow" - 3:13
  4. "Sand in Your Shoes" - 3:05
  5. "If It Doesn't Come Naturally, Leave It" - 4:30
  6. "Flying Sorcery" - 4:22
  7. "Broadway Hotel" - 3:59
  8. "One Stage Before" - 4:42
  9. "Year of the Cat" - 6:43
  10. "Belsize Blues" - 3:28
  11. "Apple Cider Re-Constitution" [Live in Seattle 1976] - 5:23
  12. "The Dark and the Rolling Sea" [Live in Seattle 1976] - 4:58
  13. "One Stage Before" [Live in Seattle 1976] - 5:00
  14. "Soho (Needless to Say)" [Live in Seattle 1976] - 3:56
  15. "Not the One" [Live in Seattle 1976] - 5:22
  16. "On the Border" [Live in Seattle 1976] - 4:05
  17. "Broadway Hotel" [Live in Seattle 1976] - 4:59
  18. "Roads to Moscow " [Live in Seattle 1976] - 8:14
  19. "Nostradamus " [Live in Seattle 1976] - 9:13
  20. "Sirens of Titan" [Live in Seattle 1976] - 3:13
  21. "The Post World War Two Blues" [Live in Seattle 1976] - 5:07
  22. "Year of the Cat" [Live in Seattle 1976] - 8:36
  23. "Sand in Your Shoes" [Live in Seattle 1976] - 3:02
  24. "Carol" [Live in Seattle 1976] - 5:09
  25. "If It Doesn’t Come Naturally, Leave It" [Live in Seattle 1976] - 5:21
  26. "Lord Grenville" [5.1 Surround] - 5:04
  27. "On the Border" [5.1 Surround] - 3:23
  28. "Midas Shadow" [5.1 Surround] - 3:13
  29. "Sand in Your Shoes" [5.1 Surround] - 3:05
  30. "If It Doesn’t Come Naturally, Leave It" [5.1 Surround] - 4:30
  31. "Flying Sorcery" [5.1 Surround] - 4:22
  32. "Broadway Hotel" [5.1 Surround] - 3:59
  33. "One Stage Before" [5.1 Surround] - 4:42
  34. "Year of the Cat" [5.1 Surround] - 6:43

Personnel

  • Al Stewart - vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Peter White - spanish guitar ("On the Border")
  • Tim Renwick - guitar
  • Peter Wood - keyboards
  • Don Lobster - keyboards
  • George Ford - bass
  • Stuart Elliott - drums, percussion
  • Andrew Powell - string arrangements
  • Bobby Bruce - violin
  • Marion Driscoll - triangle
  • Phil Kenzie - alto saxophone
  • David Pack - backing vocals
  • John Perry - backing vocals
  • Tony Rivers - backing vocals
  • Stuart Calver - backing vocals
  • Graham Smith - harmonica

;Technical

  • Hipgnosis, Colin Elgie - cover design
  • Rob Brimson - back cover photography

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col" | Chart (1977–78)

! scope="col" | Peak
position

scope="row" | Australian Albums (Kent Music Report){{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=294}}

| 10

{{album chart|Canada|13|chartid=5166a|rowheader=true|access-date=November 9, 2021}}
{{album chart|Netherlands|2|artist=Al Stewart|album=Year of the Cat|rowheader=true|access-date=November 9, 2021}}
{{album chart|Germany4|42|artist=Al Stewart|album=Year of the Cat|id=20074|rowheader=true|access-date=August 14, 2024}}
{{album chart|New Zealand|4|artist=Al Stewart|album=Year of the Cat|rowheader=true|access-date=November 9, 2021}}
{{album chart|Scotland|43|date=20210409|rowheader=true|access-date=August 14, 2024}}
{{album chart|UK2|38|date=19770130|rowheader=true|access-date=November 9, 2021}}
{{album chart|Billboard200|5|artist=Al Stewart|rowheader=true|access-date=November 9, 2021}}

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="col" | Chart (1977)

! scope="col" | Position

scope="row" | Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM){{cite magazine |date=December 31, 1977 |title=The Top 100 Albums of '77 |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.5558&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5558.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5558 |magazine=RPM |language=en |volume=28 |issue=14 |page=15 |issn=0315-5994 |via=Library and Archives Canada |access-date=November 9, 2021}}

| 75

scope="row" | Dutch Albums (Album Top 100){{cite web |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1977&cat=a |title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 1977 |publisher=Dutch Charts |access-date=November 9, 2021 }}

| 3

scope="row" | New Zealand Albums (RMNZ){{cite web |url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/1977-12-31 |title=Top Selling Albums of 1977 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart |publisher=Recorded Music New Zealand |access-date=November 9, 2021 }}

| 19

scope="row" | US Billboard 200{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1977/top-billboard-200-albums |title=Billboard 200 Albums - Year-End |magazine=Billboard |access-date=November 9, 2021 }}

| 18

{{col-end}}

Sales and certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Year of the Cat}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Al Stewart|title=Year of the Cat|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1976|certyear=1977|access-date=July 22, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Al Stewart|title=Year of the Cat|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=1976|certyear=1989|access-date=July 22, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Al Stewart|title=Year of the Cat|award=Gold|id=8374-3688-2|type=album|relyear=1976|certyear=1981|access-date=July 22, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Al Stewart|title=Year of the Cat|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1976|certyear=1977|access-date=July 22, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

References

{{reflist}}

{{Al Stewart}}

{{Alan Parsons}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Al Stewart albums

Category:1976 albums

Category:Albums with cover art by Hipgnosis

Category:Albums produced by Alan Parsons

Category:Janus Records albums

Category:RCA Records albums

Category:EMI Records albums

Category:Arista Records albums

Category:Rhino Entertainment albums

Category:Parlophone albums