"She comes of the sun in a silk dress running like a watercolor in the rain..."
Another wasn't-supposed-to-be-a-hit six-and-a-half-minute masterpieces.
One of those songs you wish would just keep playing.
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"I like a good story, well told. That is the reason I am sometimes forced to tell them myself." - Mark Twain
17 comments:
Al Stewart had a lot of great songs. Alan Parsons was in the same genre about that time, as I recall.
And ELO. Lots of good groups that people poo-pooed.
While listening to Al Stewart "on the radio" is enjoyable, attending one of his small concerts is amazing. Storyteller extraordinaire beyond lyrics and brilliant improv. An encapsulated history lesson series by a wonderful raconteur. History, prose and poetry in motion.
That whole album is just stunning.
Roads to Moscow, On the Border....Al Stewart sang songs of history and has been seriously over-looked.
hey Aesop;
Very good song, it hearkens back to a different time when things kinda made sense...
Stewart's got some good, catchy songs, and his historical songs are generally accurate. I catch mild hell from my buddies for being an Al Stewart fan: big, long-haired, tattooed bikers apparently aren't supposed to like semi-intellectual pop music.
"Semi-intellectual pop music" sounds like an internal contradiction, but there it is. Screw 'em anyway.
Sure is a lot of that around.... not supposed to like Journey, ABBA, or Carly SImon, either, in spite of the superlative song-writing and exceptional craft. That level of musicianship apparently doesn't exist anymore, at least in the mainstream.
Guess I'll listen to my RUSH albums in private, never let anyone catch me singing along to Year of the Cat, and make damn sure my mild addiction to Level 42 remains a secret.
Stewart teamed up with an extraordinary guitarist named Dave Nachmanoff - pretty much the only way his music can sound any better than it already was. There is a great u-tubez of a live performance of "Road To Moscow" featuring Nachmanoff and his wife together wise a pickup chorus. Must listen.
Boat Guy
Stewart's music is fantastic. Thank you for the reminder.
I spent a little time at our VFW last night. I got off on a mellow 60's-70's music spell on the jukebox.
We were commenting on the selections I made. The consensus was there is not a lot of good music today. The thought that came into my mind was most of what's on the radio now is "manufactured". No soul and heart.
Bought the album when it came out, never got any crap from anyone in the dorm for playing it. (We were pretty eclectic. About the only music that would get you crap would be playing disco)
"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"
I wonder how many today under the age of 50 even recognize the reference, let alone understand the scene he's setting
He has a real knack for double entendre, too:
Hello old friend, what a strange coincidence to find you
It's been fifteen years since we last met, but I still recognised you
So call the barman over here, and let us fill our glasses
And drink a toast to olden times where all our memories lie
Where all our memories lie
Boat Guy, I've seen it, and that is a great one!
Halfdar, Rush was always appreciated around my area. Maybe it's a regional thing.
--Tennessee Budd
Bought the album recently (vinyl). Paid a buck. Pristine condition.
Ahhh,
but ON THE BORDER is, by far, another true masterpiece (MIDAS SHADOW; FLYING SORCERY--B-side of ON THE BORDER on 45).
Of course ANYTHING Al Stewart writes and records is solid gold. "Songs for the cerebral" I once heard in reference to his songs.
For sure! Love MIDNIGHT ROCKS, an early-80s single hit of his.
Loved his long instrumental bridges like that one and "Time Passages". I remember back in the '70s when "Year Of The Cat" was popular, when I was listening one afternoon, one of the local disc jockeys played a spoken commercial, with no music in it, during the instrumental bridge. Nice touch, but I'm sure he got in trouble for doing it.
Tractorguy
Man I love Al Stewart. I just realized how remiss I've been not having him playing on my Pandora shuffle.
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