Year of the Cat (1977) 4/8/20

Most of us are aware of the Chinese zodiac (The Year of the Rabbit, etc.) but did you know there is a Vietnamese zodiac?

There is...and today's “Great Song of the '70s” was written and recorded in January of 1976: the “Year of the Cat.”

Singer/songwriter Al Stewart's album and single by that name were mixed at Abbey Road Studios in London with studio engineer Alan Parsons (of the Alan Parsons Project) at the controls. It was released in the UK in July...and the US in October.

By March of 1977, (The Year of the Snake), the single had slithered its way into the Top 15 in 7 countries.

In the US, it peaked at #8 on both the Adult Contemporary Chart and the Hot 100. In Canada, it went to #6 and #3 on the equivalent charts, respectively.

TRIVIA: The song was originally going to be an instrumental called “Foot of the Stage” after Stewart was impressed by a stand-up routine by comedian Tony Hancock. Obviously, things changed when Stewart came up with the scenario depicted in the lyrics.

TRIVIA: #2: Pianist Peter Wood was given a co-writing credit after Parsons heard him playing a particular chord progression during a soundcheck before a Linda Ronstadt concert. He asked Wood if he could use the progression in “Year of the Cat,” and Wood said no. Parsons used it anyway!

Released in The Year of the Snake, here's today's “Great Song from the “Year of the Cat!”