When I first moved back to London after University and lived in Chalk Farm I used to drink with/be friends with a conductor and composer called Alexander Faris (who wrote the music for Upstairs Downstairs amongst other things) who did the orchestral arrangements for Bedsitter Images and can remember listening to it then. He was a sweet man with a penchant for Bells Whisky and a fascinating circle of friends.

He played at Pocklington Arts Centre nr York (which is a sweet little venue in an old cinema with about 200 seats) last October and he is touring in the UK this autumn.

I have been tempted to try and play Year of the Cat a couple of times, perhaps I'll give it another go. Of the British singer/songwriters of about that era I probably listened more to Roy Harper and Bert Jansch. I seem to remember seeing Al Stewart on Tops of the Pops (UK chart TV programme) when Year of the Cat was out.