Throughout the month, be sure to return regularly and check out continuing coverage of Blogcritics' Featured artist for April, Al Stewart.
April 5: A review of Stewart's latest CD release, A Beach Full of Shells.
In defiance of economic theory, A Beach Full of Shells offers increasing returns with each listen. ... [I]f you have yet to discover the talents of Al Stewart, whatever your age or genre of choice, [here is] a perfect opportunity.
It is clear from page one that [the author] is passionate about music and about singer-songwriter Al Stewart in particular. Thank goodness for the novice writer's enthusiasm: His passion is what carries the reader through 312 densely packed pages of often-amusing anecdotes, free-flowing factoids, and the occasional surprise from the life story of the only artist from the '60s British folk-roots scene to score two LPs in the US Top Thirty.
April 12: Backstage with Al Stewart, New York City, 1998: A peek at the gifted singer-songwriter before the resurgence of his popularity - self-doubting and unaware of how appreciated he is.
"...[Y]ou were fine out there tonight."
"Be honest. I was better Tuesday." It must be noted that he didn't look or sound petulant - he wasn't seeking stroking or fishing for compliments. He was genuinely angry with himself — happens when an artist holds standards that exceed his or her admirers'. Al looked up from his dark thoughts and, remembering why we were there, gestured toward the dressing room. "Please come in. Have a seat."
April 17: Interview with Al Stewart, Sept. 2005
Part One: Thoughtful, intelligent and funny as hell: Singer-songwriter Al Stewart talks about his latest LP and word games.
Part Two: Folk-rock legend Al Stewart waxes nostalgic about rock and roll (but not about Doris Day) while reminding us that size matters, talks sense about nonsense poetry, and delightfully bends words to his will.
April 24: Al Stewart Discography
Part One: From 1966 to 1982, folk-club emcee, musician and songwriter Al Stewart travels from a lonely London bedsit to full-blown American pop stardom.
Part Two: From 1982 to the present,
Stewart deals with life changes, lawyers and continuing a path toward artistic growth, a career resurgence and a widening audience of appreciative, devoted listeners.
April 29: Al Stewart on the 'Net
Thank technology for Al Stewart's resurgence as an appreciated singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Using the Internet as a pathway, increasing numbers of people have been able to rediscover his literate, melodic works or to hear and fall in love with them for the first time. And if top honors are to be awarded for pushing the renewed interest in Stewart's work — beyond the primary credit of course due to the artist himself — the most deserving would be two individuals: webmaster and newsletter editor Kim Dyer and Stewart biographer Neville Judd.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Connie Phillips
This is a wonderful lead in article to your coverage of Al Stewart. I learned a lot about a man whose music I have really enjoyed over the years.
I can't wait to read the rest of your coverage.
2 - NR Davis
Thanks.
3 - Glen Boyd
Al Stewart. Now there's a name I haven't heard in a while.
I loved Al Stewart's music in the seventies...in particular the album's "Past Present & Future", "Modern Times", and the overlooked "Love Chronicles" which features Jimmy Page and Rick Wakeman among others making contributions.
One thing your article missed though...a lot of that beautiful guitar playing was actually done by Stewart's longtime cohort Tim Renwick, a great guitarist in his own right.
What I used to love about Stewart was the way his lyrics intertwined the romantic, the historical, and the literate. I do have a true story about Stewart though that soured me on his music for many years.
I took a date to a concert of his in 1976 back when I worked at a record store and had backstage passes...a sure fire way to impress your date right?
Think again.
My date actually decided to go back to Al Stewart's hotel with him rather than home with me. Stewart even had the gall to ask me if he could have the "Jimmy Carter for President" button I wore that night.
I was like "geez buddy, you've already got my date...isn't that enough"?
His music just never sounded quite the same to me after that night.
I do still own "Modern Times" though...
Nothing, not even the fact that Stewart was pretty much your basic prick the night I met him, can dilute the beauty (and literacy) of tracks like "The Dark and Rolling Sea" and "Modern Times".
I guess I'll have to give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he has grown up since the days when he was a rock star of sorts and acted every bit the loutish role of same.
I'll definitely look into what he's up to these days based on Natalie's recommendation.
4 - NR Davis
Oh, Mr. Boyd, I have heard things like that before, with Al and tons of other artists. Witnessed some of it myself, though not with Al. Yes, he has admitted to bad behavior in the past, and this probably comes from those wicked days of about 30 years ago. (What's the use of being a rock star if you can't be an asshole on occasion?) But as far as I have experienced, he's grown up quite a lot. Quite a lot. Sure, he has his moments (don't we all?), but most times I've seen him in action offstage (sometimes professionally, sometimes not), he has been a total peach. Polite, thoughtful, empathetic (he shows lots of concern for the feelings of others), very warm and engrossing conversationalist, and a wee bit mischievous, that's Al. I happen to like the person a great deal, but again, I met him only eight years ago.
As far as women, he has a longstanding spouse to whom he is devoted and two young daughters. I bet that if you sat down with him over a decent bottle of wine, you would get along splendidly.
As for Tim Renwick, no, I didn't miss him. I chose not to mention him. Renwick (whose work I adore), Peter White and Laurence Juber, among others, will get their mentions later this month. I mentioned Al's guitar because his playing is impressive too and it was Mr. Stewart who was mentioned to me as being an influence, not the certainly inspirational Tim Renwick. Have you seen Al work up close? He's flippin' amazing. He won't accept that praise, but too bad.
5 - Jet in Columbus
Natalie, that was truly a work of art. I have one complaint though, you didn't mention who guided him, produced him and nurtured him through the early and most successful years of his career.
Alan Parsons! A true legend and great musician in his own right! He was also the one who guided the Beatles, and did The Dark Side of The Moon with Pink Floyd.
Please don't neglect that in your follow up!
I'm ashamed of you.
6 - NR Davis
Mr. Jet, I will try to do better in future.
Seriously, we get to projectmeister Alan Parsons later in the month.
7 - Jet in Columbus
Great, with luck, by then I'll be one of you, as I've just started my URL/ blog/ or whatever you call it going, and I'd love to help. I'm a big fan of both Alan Parsons and Al Stewart. In fact I only had my blog going for 3 hours and Chantal responded because I made a vague mention in passing in my side profile that I liked Alan Parson!!!
8 - Glen Boyd
Natalie,
I'm sure if Al and I ever do meet again, we will get on like old chums over that bottle of wine...right after I give him the punch in the nose he's been owed for the past thirty years that is. LOL...
Just kidding of course.
For one thing I am grateful for sure. That experience did give me a great story that I never tire of telling. To this day, I get the "hey Glen, tell the story about the time Al Stewart stole your girlfriend" over beers with my pals.
It's a guaranteed crack up every single time.
Glen
9 - Jewels
Great article, Ms. Davis! Thank you for rekindling an interest in a musician of profound interest in years past. Here is a site with
lyrics that some readers of your story may want to review.
Looking forward to more of your coverage on Stewart.
10 - NR Davis
Thanks, Ms. Richardson.
Mr. Boyd, seems to me that, over the long haul, Al did you a favor. :)
11 - Michael J. West
Ms. Davis, would you believe that I grew up on Al Stewart? My mother was/is a diehard fan of the highest order, and in fact before I could talk I could sing the melody of "The Running Man" from 24 Carrots.
I know, intellectually, that Al is a criminally arcane and overlooked musician, but I've been hearing Past, Present and Future and Modern Times and Russians and Americans over and over again for my entire life, so in my gut it's hard to imagine him as anything but a ubiquitous force.
But that doesn't really matter. I genuinely look forward to reading your explorations of him, Ms. Davis. I hope it inspires people to look into his music!
12 - NR Davis
Sure, I would believe that, Mr. West. I discovered his music while perusing record shops in London in the early '70s and loved his stuff at once. Since then, though my musical knowledge and tastes have expanded and deepened, his music has been ubiquitous - fortuitously for me - for decades.
13 - NR Davis
Mr. Boyd, I just heard that folks on the Al Stewart mailing list enjoyed reading about your, um, adventure with Al.
14 - Jet in Columbus
"Life in Dark Water" is one of the songs that I love secretly, but don't tell my friends.
Now every time I see this post it gets stuck in my head!
15 - Mark Saleski
you know, i grew up right in the middle of the Year Of The Cat era...but can't recall a single tune beyond that and "Time Passages".
hmmm, maybe i should check out something else. anything, actually...since i own nothing by him.
16 - Jet in Columbus
Now how on earth did you miss "You're on my mind like a song on the radio??????
17 - NR Davis
Let me help: "They'll never know, never, no, never, how strange life in dark water can be..."
Love that song! It's uncanny how it actually makes one feel trapped underwater.
18 - Jet in Columbus
Oh thanks a lot!
19 - NR Davis
Again, just because something isn't here doesn't mean I missed it. In the case of "Song on the Radio," I specifically and purposely avoided employing it.
20 - Jet in Columbus
NR, I was answering the first paragraph of comment 15, Not critisizeing you.
I'm a big fan!
21 - NR Davis
My bad! Thanks.
22 - Jet in Columbus
You're welcome, just don't forget the contributions that Alan Parson made to his success in your article.
I did love our article, it brought back some good memories
23 - NR Davis
THIS JUST IN:
Al Stewart's music will be featured TONIGHT - 17 April - on Brunswick, NJ's WRSU-FM, which will be livestreamed over the 'Net.
Details:
Scott Einhorn Radio Show
Monday, 4/17, 8-10 p.m. (ET)
WRSU, 88.7FM
New Brunswick, NJ
24 - Somvipis
what is the real meaning of
"Year of the Cat" in this song
-Year of the Cat of Al Stewart?
Who can explain?
25 - Evan
cool i would like to get it