Al Stewart -

Al Stewart is a Scottish singer/songwriter who emerged from the British folk boom of the mid-1960s. He debuted with the 1967 orchestral-psych album Bed Sitter Images, his first of five albums on CBS, culminating with the lavish 1972/73 works Orange and Past, Present and Future. His 1975 release Modern Times marked his first collaboration with producer Alan Parsons, who also produced the 1976–78 RCA titles Year of the Cat and Time Passages. Further albums appeared at lengthier intervals over the following three decades.

Al was born Alastair Ian Stewart on Sept. 5, 1945, in Glasgow, Scotland. His father, a Royal Air Force volunteer, died in a plane crash during a training mission before Al was born. He was raised by his single mother, who moved them to Wimborne, Dorset, England, when Al was a small boy.

In 1965, Stewart secured his first weekly residency at Bunjies Coffee House in London’s Soho district, where he played a solo acoustic set. He then became master of ceremonies at the Greek St. folk club Les Cousins, where he played alongside fellow hopefuls Cat Stevens, Bert Jansch, Roy Harper, and Ralph McTell. He briefly roomed on Dellow St. with a then-unknown Paul Simon, who was scoping the UK market during a short split from Art Garfunkel.

In his earliest studio credit, Stewart did “guitar picking” on the song “Yellow Walls” from the Simon-produced eponymous album by American folkie Jackson C. Frank, recorded in London and released in 1965 on Columbia. Stewart himself debuted with the 1966 Decca single “The Elf,” backed by a cover of The Yardbirds‘ “Turn into Earth” with Jimmy Page on guitar. Soon thereafter, Stewart signed to Columbia/CBS.

Bed Sitter Images

Al Stewart released his debut album, Bed Sitter Images, on October 6, 1967, on CBS.

In 1970, CBS reissued the album as The First Album (Bed-Sitter Images) with a new cover and an altered track list.

In Japan, Epic issued The News From Spain (The First Album), a revised version with both sides of his 1970 single “The News from Spain” / “Elvaston Place”.

Love Chronicles

Al Stewart released his second album, Love Chronicles, in September 1969 on CBS.

In January 1970, Epic Records issued Love Chronicles in the US with a new cover.

Zero She Flies

Al Stewart released his third album, Zero She Flies, in April 1970 on CBS.

Orange

Al Stewart released his fourth album, Orange, in January 1972 on CBS.

Past, Present and Future

Al Stewart released his fifth album, Past, Present and Future, in October 1973 on CBS.

In the US, Past, Present and Future appeared in May 1974 on Janus.

Modern Times

Al Stewart released his sixth album, Modern Times, in January 1975 on CBS.

In March 1975, Janus issued Modern Times in the US with an alternate shot of the Stone House.

In 1977, CBS reissued Modern Times in the UK and Europe with a new cover that shows a close-up of Stewart.

Year of the Cat

Al Stewart released his seventh album, Year of the Cat, in July 1976 on RCA Victor.

October 1976 (US)

Time Passages

Al Stewart released his eighth album, Time Passages, in September 1978 on RCA Victor.

24 Carrots

Al Stewart released his ninth album, 24 Carrots, on August 20, 1980, on RCA Victor.

“Mondo Sinistro”

Live: Indian Summer

In October 1981, Al Stewart released the double-album Live: Indian Summer, which contains one side of new studio material and three sides of concert numbers from an April ’81 show at The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles.