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Whatever happened to Al Stewart?

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Terry Siederer

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Nov 10, 1993, 3:29:47 AM11/10/93
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I was a big fan but he seems to have disappeared after "24 Parrots" and "Russians
and Americans" (were they any good?) and a compilation album.

He disowned everything before Past, Present and Future which was a brilliant album but so was much of his early stuff as well. Anyone know what happened to him?

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Regards/Hälsningar/Groetjes

Terry Siederer

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Mark Charlton

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Nov 10, 1993, 4:22:08 AM11/10/93
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In article <1993Nov10....@ericsson.se>,

etx...@mega.ericsson.se writes:
>I was a big fan but he seems to have disappeared after "24 Parrots" and
>"Russians and Americans" (were they any good?) and a compilation album.
>He disowned everything before Past, Present and Future which was a brilliant
>album but so was much of his early stuff as well. Anyone know what happened
to him?
>Terry Siederer

A year or so ago he released "Rhymes in Rooms" - an acoustic album with just
him and Peter White (on accordion, additional guitar, etc.) This was recorded
live in the US. He also toured, and I saw him (solo) in the UK. He was a bit
chubbier, but in fine voice, and playing extremely well. He seemed to be
relaxed and really enjoying himself, bantering with the audience, asking for
requests... He was supported by Iain Matthews (also very good).

According to the current Folk Roots, he has a new album coming out soon (if
it isn't already). More details as I read them.

I liked 24 P/Carrots _and_ Russians and Americans, (Don't forget "Last days
of the Century"). I would recommend them if you see them. Anyone who hates
lawyers ("Licence to Steal") can't be all bad! :-)

Mark

--
Mark Charlton, Computing Services, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
INET: cu...@warwick.ac.uk JANET: cu...@uk.ac.warwick _ _ _ _ /
--------------------------------------------------------- / / /(// /<
When faced with complete disaster, TOTAL defiance is the only recourse.

Larry A. Clifford

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Nov 10, 1993, 10:47:26 AM11/10/93
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The latest record I've heard by Al Stewart came out less than
2 years ago, and was titled "Rhymes in Rooms." It consists
mostly of covers of older songs, performed by Al singing and
playing on acoustic guitar, and a guy named Peter White
playing guitar.

The above description may not sound very appetizing, but in
fact the record is brilliant. The sound is lush, and the
guitar playing is spirited and complex, far more than a
mere bland "arrangement" of the songs for 2 guitars. If
you love Al, you will probably love this album.

Larry


Ruth Cross

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Nov 10, 1993, 11:21:46 AM11/10/93
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In article <2bqbs0$3...@crocus.csv.warwick.ac.uk>, cu...@csv.warwick.ac.uk (Mark Charlton) writes:
|> In article <1993Nov10....@ericsson.se>,
|> etx...@mega.ericsson.se writes:
|> >I was a big fan but he seems to have disappeared after "24 Parrots" and
|> >"Russians and Americans" (were they any good?) and a compilation album.
|> >He disowned everything before Past, Present and Future which was a brilliant
|> >album but so was much of his early stuff as well. Anyone know what happened
|> to him?
|> >Terry Siederer
|>
|> A year or so ago he released "Rhymes in Rooms" - an acoustic album with just
|> him and Peter White (on accordion, additional guitar, etc.) This was recorded
|> live in the US. He also toured, and I saw him (solo) in the UK. He was a bit
|> chubbier, but in fine voice, and playing extremely well. He seemed to be
|> relaxed and really enjoying himself, bantering with the audience, asking for
|> requests... He was supported by Iain Matthews (also very good).
|>
|> According to the current Folk Roots, he has a new album coming out soon (if
|> it isn't already). More details as I read them.

He was here in Houston 2 weeks ago performing at Rockefeller's, but
I was unable to go :-(

I usually don't go to concerts, not liking the crowds and the
background noise, but when he came to New Orleans about the time
"Russians and Americans" came out, I dragged about 10 co-workers
to the concert. Most of them had never heard of him, or had him
confused with Rod Stewart, but we had a great time. He had the
whole band with him.

--

Ruth Cross > Em rio que tem piranhas,
nor...@usht10.hou130.chevron.com > jacare nada de costas.
>


Ben Henwood

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Nov 10, 1993, 2:43:38 PM11/10/93
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etx...@mega.ericsson.se (Terry Siederer) writes:
>I was a big fan but he seems to have disappeared after "24 Parrots" and "Russians
>and Americans" (were they any good?) and a compilation album.

>He disowned everything before Past, Present and Future which was a brilliant album but so was much of his early stuff as well. Anyone know what happened to him?

>Terry Siederer


He is a alive and well! As a few readers already pointed out, he released
"Rhymes in Rooms" about two years ago, an all acoustic, live recording with
Peter White. I think it's a must for any Al Stewart fan. It includes
a 6/8 time version of Time Passages (spices it up nicely) and a song
from his pre-Past, Present, and Future days called "Clifton in the Rain/
Small Fruit Song."

About two years before that, he released "Last Days of the Century," which
I think was his best recording in a several years. I especially liked
"Josephine Baker," among others.

But the recent news is this: he's just released a new studio recording called
"Famous Last Words." He's got a band backing him up (including Peter White),
and I think this is his best recording since Year of the Cat. It's more
acoustic than many of recent memory, and even includes a song featuring
a tuba ("Hipposong"). There's a new epic on it called "Trains" that traces
the history of the train for a couple centuries. All in all, it's more
folk sounding than folk-rock (like 24 Carrots).

He's currently touring, mostly on a co-bill with Peter White. Last Saturday
(Nov. 6) they were in St. Louis. I have tickets to a show in Seattle at the
Backstage for Thursday, Dec. 9th.

I know I've heard that "disowned" his early stuff and all, but he just
released a compilation of his first few recordings in the UK on a double
CD package called "To Whom it May Concern" (i.e. the recording is being
released in the UK).

By the way, here are some other tour dates, taken from a kind soul on the
Al Stewart mailing list (to subscribe, send a message "subscribe al-stewart"
to the e-mail address majo...@death.corp.sun.com):

Thurs. 11/11 -- Birchmere -- Washington DC
Fri. 11/12 -- Chestnut Cabaret -- Philadelphia PA
Sat. 11/13 -- Bottom Line -- New York City NY
Sun. 11/14 -- Club Bene -- Sayerville (where is this, PA??? Steve doesn't say
and I'm too lazy to look it up in my atlas!)
Thurs. 11/18 -- South Station -- Boston MA (this is listed as a DUO)
Fri 11-19 -- Tarrytown NY -- Irvington Town Hall (this is listed as a DUO)

11-20 Cohes (Albany) NY -- Dudek's (DUO)
12-3 San Juan Capistrano CA -- Coachouse
12-5 Fresno CA -- Wild Blue
12-8 Vancouver BC CANADA -- Richard's on Richards (co-bill)
12-9 Seattle WA -- Backstage (co-bill)
12-10 Portland OR -- Roseland Ballroom (co-bill)
There is also a Eugene OR gig (co-bill) listed for 12-11, but I have no
further info than that...

--

Ben Henwood

Applied Physics Laboratory / University of Washington
Seattle, WA

ben...@u.washington.edu
b...@apl.washington.edu


Bob Hofkin

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Nov 11, 1993, 10:26:18 AM11/11/93
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Al is still around. In fact he is touring right now to support a
new album called Famous Last Words. (He's in the DC area tonight;
I can't put my hands on the schedule but I think he played the
Bay area within the last few weeks.)

There is an active Al Stewart mailing list, with all the current
events (including how to get the first 4 albums on CD). We even
have a very handsome ASML T-shirt titled "Year of the @". Write to
al-stewar...@death.corp.sun.com

--Bob

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