As I write, I'm listening to the wildly entertaining concert portion of the Year of the Cat box set. First things first: while Tim Renwick was featured on the studio recording, he was not a member of the tour band. For 45 freaking years I've been under the impression that the great leads I heard that night in Hartford in 1976 were courtesy of TR. Stewart no doubt introduced the band, and yet... Memory is a weird thing. Deep, I know, feel free to use that line.
The packaging is pretty good, no big deal. Not a box, actually, but a slipcase. Considering the rather hefty price, I expected an actual book, with a hard cover. The notes are good, but I might have expected input from Alan Parsons or participating musicians. But I'm picking nits. Glad to own it. The thing that surprised me is the 4 postcards. Who cares about postcards, right? Well, they're details from the cover art, and they're really very nice. Who knew?
The remastering (by Parsons) is a joy to hear. A noticeable difference. I'm not an audiophile, so I can't speak to the 5.1 surround sound mix on the DVD. I'd read online that the quality of the concert discs is awful. Not so. But again, I'm no expert.
It's funny how sometimes you (I don't think it's just me), buy a few albums by someone, much enjoy them, and then just drift away from the artist. That's the story with me and Al Stewart. I liked Past Present and Future, and loved Modern Times and Year of the Cat. Shortly after YotC was released in the US, I saw him play a great show in Hartford CT. His band featured Tim Renwick, a great guitarist who many years later toured with Pink Floyd. The friend I went with still mentions that show on occasion. And then I stopped bothering with Stewart's records. I didn't really like what I heard from Time Passages, and just didn't reconnect after that.
But now I see there's a Year of the Cat box forthcoming, including a live concert recorded within a few weeks of the show I saw. Hmmm...
Surprised you didn't like Time Passages but it's all down to personal taste. I've seen Al live a few times and he always puts on a great show with witty interludes. I'm definitely in for this Year Of The Cat box set.
As I write, I'm listening to the wildly entertaining concert portion of the Year of the Cat box set. First things first: while Tim Renwick was featured on the studio recording, he was not a member of the tour band. For 45 freaking years I've been under the impression that the great leads I heard that night in Hartford in 1976 were courtesy of TR. Stewart no doubt introduced the band, and yet... Memory is a weird thing. Deep, I know, feel free to use that line.
The packaging is pretty good, no big deal. Not a box, actually, but a slipcase. Considering the rather hefty price, I expected an actual book, with a hard cover. The notes are good, but I might have expected input from Alan Parsons or participating musicians. But I'm picking nits. Glad to own it. The thing that surprised me is the 4 postcards. Who cares about postcards, right? Well, they're details from the cover art, and they're really very nice. Who knew?
The remastering (by Parsons) is a joy to hear. A noticeable difference. I'm not an audiophile, so I can't speak to the 5.1 surround sound mix on the DVD. I'd read online that the quality of the concert discs is awful. Not so. But again, I'm no expert.
Any of you get a copy yet?
Missed this post. Rectified the situation just now. Love Al Stewart.
It's funny how sometimes you (I don't think it's just me), buy a few albums by someone, much enjoy them, and then just drift away from the artist. That's the story with me and Al Stewart. I liked Past Present and Future, and loved Modern Times and Year of the Cat. Shortly after YotC was released in the US, I saw him play a great show in Hartford CT. His band featured Tim Renwick, a great guitarist who many years later toured with Pink Floyd. The friend I went with still mentions that show on occasion. And then I stopped bothering with Stewart's records. I didn't really like what I heard from Time Passages, and just didn't reconnect after that.
But now I see there's a Year of the Cat box forthcoming, including a live concert recorded within a few weeks of the show I saw. Hmmm...
Amazing. The 40th anniversary version is cheaper on iTunes than the original album... Here in SA, at least!
It sounds great and good value too.
https://atthebarrier.com/2020/11/23/al-stewart-24-carrots-40th-anniversary-edition-album-review/