Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

STEWART, Al

(b 5 September 1945, Glasgow, Scotland) Folk-rock singer-songwriter. His father, an RAF pilot, was killed in action in March 1945. He grew up in Bournemouth and began in rock bands there; influenced by Bob Dylan (wasn't everyone?), he signed to EMI Columbia for Bedsitter Images '67 and Love Chronicles '69 (with Jimmy Page and members of Fairport Convention): the latter was voted folk LP of the year by UK critics, issued on Epic in USA; the title track was an epic 18-minute confessional, also notable for first use of the word 'fucking' on a commercial release. Zero She Flies '70 was better, many thought, with historic 'Manuscript', rocking 'Electric Los Angeles Sunset'. After Orange '72 he emphasized historical sagas in Past, Present And Future '74 (on Janus label in USA), with Queen's Roger Taylor, Rick Wakeman; standout was ten- minute 'Nostradamus'. Modern Times '75 was on Janus USA; Year Of The Cat '76 was on RCA in UK, Janus in USA, then Arista after a lawsuit caused by the label switch; the title single went top ten and the album top five in USA. Both LP and title single Time Passages '78 were top ten; 24 Carrots '80 still top 40. The two-disc Live/Indian Summer '81 had three live sides, one of new material; the live material was reissued on CD '97 as Live (At The Roxy Los Angeles 1981). Russians And Americans '84 included 'Accident On 3rd Street', and was followed by Last Days of the Century '88. 

Stewart was accumulating a wine cellar in California and said he would issue limited editions on his own label. Rhymes In Rooms '92, Famous Last Words '93 and Between The Wars '95 were all on Mesa CDs in the USA, later on Collector's Choice or Appleseed. Further albums have been Down In The Cellar 2000,  A Beach Full Of Shells 2005 and Sparks of Ancient Light 2008.  Sparks is one of Stewart's most successful collections of allusive story-songs, on subjects ranging from Lord Salisbury (three times Prime Minister of Great Britain in the early 19th century) to '(A Child's View Of) The Eisenhower Years'; Arthur Wood on FolkWax.com wrote that 'the fluent mix...works like a dream.'

Several of the most recent CDs were produced by Wings guitarist Laurence Jubar. Compilations and other sets: To Whom It May Concern '93 was a 2-CD compilation of 1967, 1969, and 1970 albums plus a rare 1966 Decca single. Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time '96 was an official fan club release. Time Passages Live 2002 was a CD reissue of a 1979 USA-only promotional release, enhanced by one track. Just Yesterday 2005 is a five-disc retrospective box set issued in the UK.