Year of the Cat (song)

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“Year of the Cat”

Single by Al Stewart from the album Year of the Cat
Released	July 1976 (UK), October 1976 (US)
Recorded	Abbey Road Studios, London, January 1976
Genre	Rock
Length	4:32 (single) 6:37 (album)
Label	RCA (UK), Janus (US)
Writer(s)	Al Stewart/Peter Wood
Producer	Alan Parsons

Year of the Cat is a song by British singer-songwriter Al Stewart. It is the title track of the album Year of the Cat, which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London in January 1976 by engineer Alan Parsons, and released in July of that year. It remains one of Stewart's most popular songs and receives regular airplay on both classic rock and folk rock stations. It is noted for its lengthy instrumental sections, including a long solo that encompasses violin, piano, acoustic guitar, distorted electric guitar, and saxophone. The song was co-written by Peter Wood. It was also Stewart's first Top 10 US single, peaking at #8 on the US singles chart.

Parsons added the saxophone part of the song and transformed the original folk concept into the jazz-influenced ballad that put Al Stewart onto the charts.