Al Stewart Artistfacts

Al Stewart song list

Al Stewart Artistfacts

September 5, 1945
Alastair Ian Stewart was born in Glasgow, the only child of Joan Stewart, a Northamptonshire-born widow, and daughter of a professional trumpet player. Al's father was tragically killed when his plane exploded in March 1945; he was not quite 25 years old. Al's pregnant mother went first to live with her father-in-law at Greenock, and later moved to the South-West of England and sent her son to boarding school. Many of Al's earlier songs were inspired by his boyhood and youth.
After leaving school, Stewart moved to London, where he became a well known figure on the folk circuit before eventually relocating to California.
During his teens, Al played in a group called The Sabres along with Tony Blackburn, who would go on to become a BBC DJ; later he traded his electric guitar for an acoustic one, and single-handedly invented historical folk-rock.
His first album, Bedsitter Images, was rather strangely orchestrated; his second album Love Chronicles featured an epic song, the title track, about his life and loves to date, and was named Folk Album Of The Year by Melody Maker in January 1970. Over the next 30 and more years Al performed solo, with a full band and with other guitarists such as Laurence Juber, producing a steady stream of memorable songs with beautiful melodies and dazzling or simply hilarious lyrics on subject as diverse as Nazi war criminals, mystics, politicians, prostitutes and people who wear red toupees.
His devoted fan base believes he has never achieved the commercial success he deserves; by far his biggest hit was his 1976 single "Year Of The Cat."
The authorized biography of Al Stewart, Al Stewart: The True Life Adventures of a Folk Rock Troubadour, was written by longtime fan Neville Judd; it was published in 2002 with an expanded paperback edition in 2005. >>
Suggestion credit:
Alexander Baron - London, England, for all above
When Stewart was in The Sabres, Tony Blackburn complained he played too loud. The young guitarist wasn't bothered. "I was 17 and I was thrilled I was being paid 10 shillings a night to back Tony," Stewart told the BBC. "And he wore a gold lamé jacket."
Al Stewart's first rock and roll concert was watching Duane Eddie at the Colston Hall in Bristol. "Within about 20 seconds of him coming on stage," he recalled to Uncut magazine. "I leaned over to my mother and yelled in her ear, 'I want to do that!'"

Comments: 3

Michael B from Lacey, WashingtonI became enchanted by Al Stewarts work in the early 70s. The combination of historical insight put to poetry and chillingly beautiful music made him my all time favorite. Saw him in 1976 and not again until a month ago, 2023. It was in a small hall with maybe 80 people and it was magical for an old fan like me. He unexpectedly ( I'd kept an eye on his play list all summer) played Modern Times and brought me to silent tears as it was always my favorite. Thanks for the music and the memories Mr Stewart, you're a treasure.
Pete Dudley from San Leon, Texas, UsaRoad to Moscow, in my humble opinion is one of the better songs EVER written. Thank you, Al Stewart.
Libby E Berman from Louisville, KyThis is a very sweet memory of Al's. Combining his memories of going to the beach with his grandparents as a child(?) , combined with his grandmother 's teenage memories.

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