Al Stewart (GB)

About

Also known as: Al Steward, Alastair Ian Stewart

Al Stewart built his reputation by doing something most singer songwriters never attempt: weaving folk rock melodies around vivid portraits of historical figures and events. That distinctive approach runs through his whole catalogue, nowhere more sharply than on Past, Present and Future from 1973, an album many fans still consider his finest even though it never came close to matching his commercial peaks. Those peaks arrived with Year of the Cat in 1976 and Time Passages in 1978, both platinum records that gave him a worldwide audience. Long before those hits, Stewart was embedded in the London folk scene of the mid 1960s, hosting nights at the Les Cousins club alongside Cat Stevens, Bert Jansch, and Van Morrison, and sharing a flat with Paul Simon. His early single The Elf featured Jimmy Page on guitar, and the two musicians actually traded techniques with each other. His 1969 album Love Chronicles, an 18 minute confessional title track and all, was voted Folk Album of the Year by Melody Maker. He has kept recording and performing ever since, with a live album alongside The Empty Pockets appearing in 2024.