Wow, such a great memory. I had joined Al’s band as a piano player in early 1975 and the song On the Border (the opening song here) was the first time I played guitar in his show, starting in late 1976.
Great to hear from you Peter; interesting to hear how the video represents a significant milestone in your own career. Thanks for calling by and commenting!
Wow. Mr. White, my dad saw you with Al in concert during the tour for YOTC at the University of Alabama. My parents saw you in concert as a solo artist in Washington in the 2010’s, You’re very talented. Stay safe.
Hi Peter - met you in Reading, PA with my daughter. Told you Time Passages was our father- daughter dance. Hope to see you at your Christmas concert if you are coming back to Reading.
Saw you for the first time rock it at The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam in 1978 on the “Time Passages” tour - and many times thereafter…. You are an essential part of Shot In The Dark and Al’s classic sound, Peter….! Have some good photos of you playing with Al-
Born in the year of the cat, 1963, I just melted when I heard this. Finally at age 60 a few months after the year of the cat I am going to see him March 29, 2024. Counting the days. At 13 or 14 I lost it hearing this.
For those of us who grew up in the 70's, can we achknowledge pure, unadulterated musicianship? No autotune necessary, just God given talent! These days, unfortuntely, are gone forever.
Man.. Peter White commented. We all are blown away by your guitar playing. Then you play the piano as well. So much talent. Love that classical guitar playing in On the border. Cheers✌️
First time I saw Al Stewart in concert was in St. Louis 1989. I was blown away by how many of his songs I had heard before. Started getting any album I could find, have 8 vinyl LPS and 12 cds of his music. To this day I am still discovering great gems of his catalog. Thanks to all that put this great music on here for everyone!!! ❤❤❤❤❤
Oh I love this song The Year of the Cat Al Stewart he is phenomenal 🐈🐱🐈🐱🐈🐱🎸🎶🎵🎶 great rhythm and also I love the lyrics as well memories of when I was when my life was simple and my body did not have a dimple!!!!!
My life is complete now...lol I just heard Al Stewart play "Road to Moscow" live on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert... Thank you so much for uploading this and keeping the flame lit...
Hearing YOTC hundreds of times, I'm amazed that it's 2022 and first time seeing this amazing performance. Live, no-gimmicks, just hard-working true talent all around!!!
I started listening to his recordings and purchasing albums in 1977. I saw him live for the first time in 1980. I love hearing these youthful renditions when those high notes were in his repertoire. Aren't we lucky that we've heard him singing old and new songs after all these years? All the high notes may not be there anymore, but we know where they were, and lower octaves are fine, too.
Really fine playing on that Ovation Peter! I adored Al Stewart in the '70s but your acoustic playing and Tim Renwick's electric leads facinated me. Thank you for such fine moments in music.
I was hired at the end of the 1974 TV taping season for the late night concert show Don Kirshner's Rock Concert, as their "audience consultant", primarily to distribute free concert tickets to get an audience for the program. In 1975, I lobbied the show producers Bonnie Burns & David Yarnell, to try to get Al Stewart on to the show. By 1976, Year of the Cat was a hit, and Al was on the show. Sadly, he performed at a 3pm time slot, before we let the audience into the Longhorn (aka Aquarius) Theater. I was one of the few staff folk to be there for this performance.
I saw it in the US in August of 77. I had previously heard YOTC on the radio that spring,then OTB, starting in June. It’s fair to say I was mesmerized. I’ve searched for this footage for several years now….and in over 44 years, I never again saw it, until today. It’s even better than I remember….Thank you!
I bought Past, Present and Future about a month before Year of the Cat. Modern times , Last Days of the Century, Time Passages, Indian Sunmer, Famous last words...
I love Al Stewart's distinctive voice. Orange is my favourite album probably because that's the one I bought first. Have it now on CD. Definitely part of my life's soundtrack.
My God, Peter White around here, what's a comentator of luxury about this video. A very special day today..!! Thanks a lot David for giving us, so so great moments..!!
Beautiful renditions of all these songs...and surprised at the quality of the audio!!! I love the interplay of all the instruments at the end of Year of the Cat, it was always there but just seems much more vital in this performance. And there will always be something so incredibly haunting by the last line of Roads to Moscow ....and unfortunately the tragic futility of a homeland invaded in that part of the world at the hands of a villainous despot is still relevant today. History never stays history for long, which is why I always respected Al for singing about it.
How wonderful to see this amazing video . Roads to Moscow is amazing. Love seeing it performed live. Outstanding bit of video! Keep rockin Mr. Stewart. Thank you.
This brings me back to my misspent youth so clearly, I absolutely remember sitting in the living room and watching this on the telly.I always watched this show on channel five out of N.Y.C. it was on on Saturday nights at eleven o'clock so you would always hope that the artist you wanted to see came on before S.N.L. started at 11:30. Such great memories, they don't make'em like this anymore.Oh yeah that Don Kirshner guy was such a hoot, Paul Shaefer on S.N.L. btw did an amazing job impersonating Don Kirshner on a few occasions, it was spot on.
I was lucky enough to see Al and the band in 78? In Minneapolis. A very intimate concert in a theater that had beautiful acoustics. The band sounded unbelievable and Al's voice was great. (The PA stacks looked like oversized home speakers,nothing bigger was needed. The building was that acousticlly transparent. A concert I will never forget. "Roads to Moscow" is still the most beautiful song written in the 70s , thank you Al and company.
Great spirited version of YOTC. Peter White, such a good musician. Think Don Kirschners other claim to fame was discovering The Monkees. They were just supposed to just be a TV "Band", but weren't actually all that bad.. "Pleasant Valley Sunday" good social commentary.
