Year of the Cat

: "For the cat in Vietnamese astrology, see Rabbit (zodiac). For the song, see Year of the Cat (song)." Infobox Album |
Name = Year of the Cat
Type = Album
Artist = Al Stewart


Released = July 1976 (UK), October 1976 (US)
Recorded = January 1976 Abbey Road Studios, London
Genre = Rock
Length = 38:55
Label = RCA (UK) Janus (US)
Producer = Alan Parsons
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:iiazeflkhgf3 link]
Last album = "Modern Times"
(1975)
This album = "Year of the Cat"
(1976)
Next album = "Time Passages"
(1978)

"Year of the Cat" is the seventh album by Al Stewart, released in 1976 and engineered by Alan Parsons. It features the hit single (and one of his best-known songs) also called "Year of the Cat", which runs for six and a half minutes and was co-written by Peter Wood. The other single from the album is "On the Border", which is another of Stewart's most well-known songs.

The title track was used in the film version of "Running with Scissors" in 2006.

Cover art

The cover design by Colin Elgie of Hipgnosis depicts a woman who has an apparent obsession with cats. She can be seen in the mirror dressing up as a cat for a costume party, and all of the items on her dresser have feline motifs. Among the items on view (which can be seen more clearly on the full-size LP sleeve or large reproductions in album cover art books) are Kitty milk chocolates, Tabby perfume, Cat's Whisker eau de toilette and Chat cigarettes. There is also a postcard from Katmandu, and even the banknotes in her purse are ducats. A cat's tail can be seen in the foreground at the bottom edge of the illustration.

Track listing

#"Lord Grenville" – 5:02
#"On the Border" – 3:23
#"Midas Shadow" – 3:16
#"Sand in Your Shoes" – 3:04
#"If it Doesn't Come Naturally, Leave It" – 4:30
#"Flying Sorcery" – 4:22
#"Broadway Hotel" – 3:58
#"One Stage Before" – 4:41
#"Year of the Cat" – 6:37

Charts

Album – Billboard (North America)

Singles – Billboard (North America)