Listen to Al Stewart performing his cover of the Yardbirds’ ‘Turn Into Earth’:
Born in Scotland but brought up in Dorset, Al Stewart started his career in local bands, buying his first guitar from Andy Summers (Zoot Money, the Police) and taking guitar lessons from Robert Fripp (King Crimson). Inspired by Bob Dylan, he moved down to London in 1965 at the age of 19, sharing a flat with American singer/songwriter Paul Simon, and quickly became a stalwart of the British folk revival, regularly appearing in clubs such as Bunjie’s Coffee House & Folk Cellar in Litchfield Street (off Charing Cross Road) and Les Cousins in Greek Street, as well as the Wednesday Folk Nights at the Marquee. He later reflected that era in songs such as ‘Old Compton Street Blues’ and ‘Soho (Needless To Say)’.
Stewart’s first 1966 single, ‘The Elf’, backed by a cover of the Yardbirds’ ‘Turn Into Earth’, featured Jimmy Page on guitar, but was a flop. Page also played on 1969’s ‘Love Chronicles’, which was voted ‘Folk Album Of The Year’ by ‘Melody Maker’ and became notorious as the first mainstream album to contain the ‘f’ word. However, Stewart’s big break came with his 1976 album, ‘Year Of The Cat’, with its iconic title track which became a huge international hit. He continues to record and tour and in his spare time, adds to his considerable collection of fine wines.