Digitaly remastered edition of the most popular album of Stewart's long career. This special edition CD includes 3 tracks more than the original LP release: an extra live version of "On The Border", the studio track "Bel... more »size Blues" as well as 'Story Of The Songs', a narrative about the tracks on 'Year Of The Cat' recorded by Al with guitar & piano.« less
Digitaly remastered edition of the most popular album of Stewart's long career. This special edition CD includes 3 tracks more than the original LP release: an extra live version of "On The Border", the studio track "Belsize Blues" as well as 'Story Of The Songs', a narrative about the tracks on 'Year Of The Cat' recorded by Al with guitar & piano.
Evan M. (myrke) from WAKEFIELD, MA Reviewed on 1/17/2010...
Excellent record that is easy on the ears.
CD Reviews
Well...I think...
What are you talking about? | Marysville, WA United States | 11/15/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The last reviewer missed the boat on this one. Anniversary Editions should include a sparkling master of the original, and nothing more (imagine Pink Floyd's DSOTM with extras...). It's a remaster of what was originally released, and nothing more. Extra tracks are what boxed sets (and CD singles) are all about recently. The extras here are a real bonus. This one truly delivers.This is one of the best remasters I've EVER heard. Maybe it's time to upgrade your equipment? You'd be amazed at the difference. My system doesn't scream, but the difference is definately there from the original CD. Much worth the upgrade if you already have it on CD. This even beats the pants off the old MFSL LP, which I thought was superior to the original CD."
Some albums deserve six stars and this is definitely one of
Parrish A. Highley | Somewhere I've Never Travelled | 07/25/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Of the different versions of Al Stewart's magnum opus out there, this is the best sounding to my ear. The original compact disc, like so many others from the mid-eighties had that thin, tinny, almost transitor-like quality to the higher frequencies while the Rhino release of Year of the Cat suffered from a slight over-compression of the dynamic range. I've listened to all three on very good equipment, and I can whole-heartedly recommend this version over the others.
Of all the albums Alan Parsons produced outside of The Project, this is his favorite...and with good reason! Even the weakest song, a toss-up between Midas Shadow or Sand In Your Shoes, is a great composition, performance, and production. And as good as the depiction of Basque separatists is in the tersely engaging On The Border or how innovative the production and arrangement on Year Of The Cat, a song like Stewart's personal favorite Flying Sorcery almost steals the show. Stewart has always been a very strong lyricist, but the lyrics of this song would be timeless poetry even without a note of music to support them and, as such, are nothing short of transcendent!
I really have a difficult time imaging anyone who wouldn't enjoy YEAR OF THE CAT. I once knew someone who said she didn't like Stewart's voice, but even THAT was her only complaint. If you've never heard this album you're really missing out not only on a landmark artistic statement, but one heck of an enjoyable listening experience. You may even consider investing in an entry-level audiophile sound system to really take in Broadway Hotel, One Stage Before, and Year Of The Cat in all their stereophonic glory."
Al Stewart's most recognized album
Rykre | Carson City, Nevada | 09/19/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Al Stewart probably has about 30 albums, but you wouldn't know it because that album of "Year of the Cat" is, by far, his most recognized album. I love the title track, but my favorite songs are "On the Border" and "One Stage Before".
This is one of those albums that never sound outdated. In fact, it brings up warm feelings of being a teenager again when life was so much easier than what today's teen's have today. Today's kid's are immersed with so much technology (cell phones, I-pods, computers, computer games), that they wouldn't understand how simple and stress-free our lives were as teens back in the seventies.
....Oops, sorry, I drifted there. It's just that albums like this one brings up great memories. Anyway, this album from Al Stewart was produced by Alan Parsons even before the Alan Parsons Project was recognized. This Al Stewart album was released just before Alan Parson's "I Robot" which was his most famous album rivaled possibly by his 1982 album "Eye in the Sky". Alan Parsons even participated in producing the Beatles "Abbey Road" album, so you know that he's a major contributor to making classic albums even before his own album repertoire began. Just for fun, I'll also mention that Alan Parsons produced "Magic" by Pilot too.
"Time Passages" was a great follow-up to this album and, of course, Al's had other mild hits. And I'm sure that he has great songs on all his released albums. It's just a shame that they didn't get promoted as much as they should have been. On an earlier seventies album "Past, Present, and Future", his songs "Nostradamus", and "Roads to Moscow" were classic progressive folk rock staples. The man is an over-looked genius.
I've got the Rhino remastered version of "Year of the Cat" which sounds great compared to the limited edition Mobile Fidelity CD that I sold for about $150 a few years ago. I really wonder if that CD was worth $150. I also sold my limited edition Mobile Fidelity CD of Alan Parsons Project's "I Robot" for well over a hundred dollars too. The 2007 re-master of that CD sounds much better too."