Your last listen

[Fretless]

Call me a soppy old bugger ("You're a soppy old bugger!") but some albums just simply deserve the description of Timeless Classic.



Al Stewart 'Year of the Cat' is one of those. Elegantly crafted songs coupled with a pristine production from the master Alan Parsons.

It's still gorgeous.

[slinger]

I'm a huge Al Stewart fan, and his 3 albums between 1973 and 1976 - Past, Present and Future, Modern Times, and Year of the Cat - are pretty much perfect in my opinion; due in no small part to the presence of Tim Renwick on guitar.

[Fretless]

'Time Passages' is excellent as well.

[slinger]

This is worth getting hold of if you enjoy live albums

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live/Indian_Summer

[Fretless]

This is worth getting hold of if you enjoy live albums

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live/Indian_Summer

Thanks for the tip, I'll check it out.

In the last few years I have become more and more interested in live albums, a warts n' all snapshot of the artist at that moment.

[slinger]

[slinger]

Sunday morning starts with a recommendation from the estimable Mr. Slinger of this parish:

Al Stewart - Indian Summer Live'



Double-LP, managed to find a pristine copy for only €8. A lovely clear recording with an ensemble of excellent musicians.

My tastes continue to shift more in favour of live albums these days. The energy and spontaneity of a concert really allows you to have more 'contact' with the performers, despite any technical shortcomings that a studio production would correct.

Anyway, nice album! Thanks Slinger.

[Fretless]

I wasn't a fan of Dire Straits back then. Their first 2 albums I found just too mellow and, well, boring.

40+ years later and I myself appear to have become mellow and, well, boring - as I finally get to grips with these LP's and can appreciate them as masterpieces of understatement, immaculately played and recorded.

[slinger]

Colosseum Live and Harry Chapin's "Geates Stories, Live" have to be my two favourite live albums. The Colosseum album gives me a sense of "being there" at a rock gig, while Harry Chapin manages to turn tracks recorded at auditoriums in California over three nights into what is almost an intimate gig, such is the magic he weaves. It's full of story songs about characters and situations both mundane and bizarre. The track "Mr Tanner" still brings a tear to my eye.

[CN211276]

Jethro Tull - Rok Flote