Song:Time Passages
Album:Greatest Hits
Though he has been around for over fifty years, British singer songwriter Al Stewart is mainly known for his mid-70s hit singles Time Passages and Year of the Cat. He was born Sept. 5, 1945 in Glasgow, Scotland. His father was a lieutenant in the RAF and died in a plane crash before Stewart's birth. His mom moved the family to Wimborne, England. Lonnie Donegan inspired Stewart to play guitar and he was in a couple of early 60s bands. He was influenced by Bob Dylan's success to try folk music and he played London folk clubs. He even lived with Paul Simon when Simon lived briefly in England. Then he got into session work and recorded the single The Elf for Decca in 1966. Jimmy Page played guitar on it. it was unsuccessful but it got Stewart a record deal with CBS. He recorded six albums for CBS that were critically acclaimed but flops. Only one of those six albums was released in the US on Janus Records. Things seemed to turn around for Stewart when he started working with producer Alan Parsons in 1975. He signed a new record deal with RCA and when Year of the Cat reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, Stewart signed with Arista in the US. Time Passages was his first album on Arista and the single reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. Stewart wrote it with his guitarist Peter White who also plays the guitar solo. He is now a jazz musician. The sax solo is by session musician Phil Kenzie. You can get both hits on this Rhino comp. Stewart left RCA and Arista in 1980. And though he has never scored another hit single, he has recorded for EMI in England for years and for various labels in the US. His most recent CD was released in 2009. Stewart has lived in Los Angeles since Year of the Cat and he still performs regularly. Here's Al Stewart with Dave Camp on sax and Peter White on guitar performing Time Passages Antwerp, Belgium 1988.
Thank-you again Frank for the information. I love Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat". I also really like his song "ON the Border". I like his live versions of these songs a great deal. I am not surprised he now jazz Musician. I could here the influence of Jazz in his songs.
ReplyDeleteI think you are confusing Stewart with his long time guitarist Peter White. They split up in the 90s and White became a jazz musician.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds right Frank. I know heard the influence of Jazz in his music. And if it was from Peter White then it makes sense. Sorry to hear they split up. But it happens in the music world. Glad to hear Mr. White is doing Jazz. I just hope both of them are doing well. Yours Defshepard.
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