Credits:

Al Stewart

Description:

Debut album by Al Stewart, one of the UK's leading SSWs! Al Stewart (real name Alestair Ian Stewart) was born in Glasgow, Scotland on September 5, 1945, the year World War II ended. Her origins as a musician were also skiffle, and she was influenced by Lonnie Donegan, whom she heard on Radio Luxembourg. While boarding at a local public school, she became passionate about guitar with Robert Fripp (later King Crimson) and other musical friends. Eventually, influenced by the folk boom sparked by Bob Dylan, he entered the London folk club scene in February 1965 at the age of 19. His record debut was the single "Elf/Turn Into Earth" (Decca) in August 1966. He signed with CBS in early 1967, and his first album, "Bedsitter Images" (M-1 to M-12), was released in October. Producer Roy Guest (March 13, 1934-September 23, 1996) was born in Izmir, western Turkey.After Judy Collins' British recording "In My Life" (November 1966/46th in the U.S., February 1967/Elektra in the U.K.), the concept of "folk singer meets orchestra" became a trend in the British record industry. Here, too, a dramatic arrangement backed by a full 35-piece orchestra conducted by Alexander Farris, who is active in the fields of opera and musicals, is employed, seemingly mismatched with folk music. ~From the commentary by Masaru Konishi

Tracklisting:

01. BED-SITTER IMAGES
02. SWISS COTTAGE MANOEUVRES
03. THE CARMICHAELS
04. SCANDINAVIAN GIRL
05. PRETTY GOLDEN HAIR
06. DENISE AT 16
07. SAMUEL. OH HOW YOU'VE CHANGED!
08. CLEAVE TO ME
09. A LONG WAY DOWN FROM STEPHANIE
10. IVICH
11. BELEEKA DOODLE DAY

BONUS TRACKS
12. THE ELF
13. TURN INTO EARTH