by Nomad
Scottish singer-songwriter and folk-rock musician Al Stewart will always hold a special place for me. He is best known for one song which topped the charts in the late 1970s, "Year of the Cat."
Released in 1976 in the album of the same name, the song tells the story of a Western tourist who loses his soul in the bazaar.
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
Don't bother asking for explanations
She'll just tell you that she came
In the Year of the Cat.
Except for that one song, his music never quite reached the wider audience in the US. That's a pity on two counts. Firstly, Stewart had an earlier career in the 1960s as a folk singer that deserved more attention.
But also, Stewart's music is intelligent and evocative. There are plenty of somewhat obscure historical references, great poetry in the lyrics and a touch of mysticism.
But also, Stewart's music is intelligent and evocative. There are plenty of somewhat obscure historical references, great poetry in the lyrics and a touch of mysticism.
Today's Sanity Sunday playlist will highlight other songs by Stewart. Tell me what you think.
The playlist consists of:
- Laughing into 1939
- Lord Grenville
- Midas Shadow
- Sand In Your Shoes
- On The Border
- Flying Sorcery
- Time Passages
- End of the day
- Rocks In The Ocean
- One Stage Before
Rejoice, Nomads, we have somehow survived another week of Trump madness.
