Featured Artist: Backstage with Al Stewart, New York City, 1998 - Page 4

Complimenting him on the fact that unlike comedy sketches, people worldwide still find his music satisfying, even after more than 30 years, I asked Al when we would get to hear him again. He said he would be playing a few dates with smooth-jazz guitar star and longtime collaborator Peter White in the fairly near future. "We haven't performed together in a couple of years — I wonder how that will go," he said. "But we've played together for so long. We'll probably just pick up, practice a little, and it'll be much like always; we'll just fall into it."

Al mentioned a tentative plan for him to perform in a Renaissance Fair-type of setting with other folk-inspired artists including rock legend Ritchie Blackmore. A decades-long admirer of Blackmore, Stewart recalled that the onetime Deep Purple leader started his career in a band called the Outlaws. Suddenly, he cackled with delight like a naughty schoolboy. Apparently, an evil plot just occurred to him, a practical joke he should try: He could have a mutual friend phone Blackmore up, and Al would get on the line and run a tape of the B-side of the Outlaws' obscure and perhaps embarrassing first record.

"I'd have to do that five days into the tour or so," he said, reconsidering his potential prank. "I wouldn't want to do that without knowing him first. And I'd have to think how I'd feel if I answered my telephone and heard the flip side of 'The Elf' (his first UK single, released in 1966)."

"What was the flip side of 'The Elf'?"

"Something by Paul Samwell-Smith called 'Turn to Earth.' Trust me, you don't want to know," Al said, nodding and smiling. "Just something to fill the time." [Note: I have since heard it. Al's right.]

"I was told to ask if you have any plans to record anything new soon — I know you hate to record, but..."

"I've made 15 albums, and have found each experience totally dismal," he said, wringing his hands. "I can't stand the notion that everything I do in the studio is on tape for posterity and can be used against me 20 years from now. I can't sing..."

"Oh, come on..."

"Live I do fine, but in the studio, the minute they start recording, I'm lost," he said. "My brain leaves me; my fingers don't go where I want them. You saw me out there."

Article Author: Natalie Davis

Natalie Davis is an award-winning journalist, progressive- and GLBT-issues activist, musician and broadcaster. Davis' All Facts and Opinions - The Armchair Activist has existed since 1996. She is general manager and program/music director of Grateful …

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