Q: How long has the ASML been around?
A: The ASML started in 1992 when a small group of Al Stewart fans met via the internet. What started out as address files of other similarly strange people became a mailing list courtesy of our great and glorious leader, Dan Farmer. The list is now run by his ex-partner, Muffy Barkocy.
Q: Does Al read this list?
A: Al's never posted anything publicly to the list, so there is no way of knowing. He is aware of us, and sees at least some of the messages. Wouldn't you rather he spend his time writing/performing rather than reading this stuff anyway?
Q: How do I find out about concerts?
A: Call the Al Stewart Concert Hotline at (310) 281-8447 or stay tuned to this station. Concert dates will be posted to the ASML as soon as anyone gets them, and someone generally has them on file if you ask at any time.
Q: Is there a book about Al?
A: No, but the progressive biography contributed by Neville Judd in the Chronicles is the next best thing. Al Stewart, the man and his music, is given a few pages in the following: - "Electric Children" by Jacques Vassal
Q: Do you have a capsule biography of Al?
A: Alastair Ian Stewart was born in Glasgow, Scotland on September 5, 1945. He was raised near Bournemouth, in the south of England. Although he retains UK citizenship, he now lives in the Los Angeles area with his wife Kristine and daughter Violet Katrin.
Q: Has the ASML ever conducted a listener's poll on Al's music?
A: Actually, we've conducted several. Full results are on the Web page. Or, you can see them by sending E-mail to nstraguzzi@aol.com.
Q: I've been trying to read postings here, and it looks like alphabet soup.
What do all the abbreviations mean?
A: The abbreviations are usually album or song titles. Song titles are usually spelled out completely the first time they are used in a post, with an obvious abbreviation on subsequent references. A notable exception to this is "Post World War II Blues", which is abbreviated PWWIIB.
The following codes are used for the albums.
|
24C or 24PxC |
24 Carrots (EMI) |
|
BOAS |
Best Of Al Stewart (Arista) |
|
BTW |
Between the Wars (Mesa; Permanent) |
|
CHRON |
Chronicles (EMI) |
|
FLW |
Famous Last Words (Mesa; Permanent) |
|
LDOTC |
Last Days Of The Century (Enigma) |
|
MT |
Modern Times (BGO) |
|
ORANG or O |
Orange (BGO) |
|
PPF |
Past, Present & Future (Rhino; BGO) |
|
R |
A Russians & Americans (EMI) |
|
RIR |
Rhymes In Rooms (Mesa) |
|
TP |
Time Passages (Arista, EMI) |
|
TWIMC |
To Whom It May Concern (EMI) |
|
YOTC |
Year Of The Cat (Arista; EMI) |
Q: What about those abbreviations near people's .sigs that are NOT albums?
A: NP means "now playing" -- what disc/program we're listening to at the moment.
NR means "now reading" -- often either a book recommendation or a mild complaint about boring, work related reading.
Q: Is there a Web site where I can find information about Al Stewart?
A: Yes. http://www.things.org/music/al_stewart.html There you will find short explanations of some of the historical references in Al's songs, images of album covers, a detailed discography and more.
Q: Which album is that song on?
A: A full and detailed discography is on the WWW page, but here is a shortened version.
Title: Bedsitter Images Tracks: Bedsitter Images, Swiss Cottage Manoeuvres, The Carmichaels, Scandinavian Girl, Pretty Golden Hair, Denise At 16, Samuel, Oh How You've Changed!, Cleave To Me, A Long Way Down From Stephanie, Ivich, Beleeka Doodle Day The First Album (Bedsitter Images) -- (aka Bedsitter II) Tracks: Lover Man, Swiss Cottage Manoeuvres, The Carmichaels, Clifton In The Rain, Bedsitter Images, Denise At 16, Samuel, Oh How You've Changed!, A Long Way Down From Stephanie, Ivich, Beleeka Doodle Day Title: Love Chronicles Tracks: In Brooklyn, Old Compton Street Blues, The Ballad of Mary Foster, Life and Life Only, You Should Have Listened to Al, Love Chronicles Title: Zero She Flies Tracks: My Enemies Have Sweet Voices, A Small Fruit Song, Gethsemane, Again, Burbling, Electric Los Angeles Sunset, Manuscript, Black Hill, Anna, Room Of Roots, Zero She Flies Title: Orange Tracks: You Don't Even Know Me, Amsterdam, Songs Out Of Clay, The News From Spain, I Don't Believe You, Once An Orange, Always An, Night Of The 4th Of May Title: Past, Present and Future Tracks: Old Admirals, Warren Harding, Soho (Needless To Say), The Last Day Of June 1934, Post World War Two Blues, Roads To Moscow, Terminal Eyes, Nostradamus Title: Modern Times Tracks: Carol, Sirens Of Titan, What's Going On?, Not The One, Next Time, Apple Cider Re-constitution, The Dark And The Rolling Sea, Modern Times The 1993 BGO re-release includes three bonus tracks: News From Spain, Elvaston Place, Swallow Wind Title: Year of the Cat Tracks: Lord Grenville, On The Border, Midas Shadow, Sand In Your Shoes, If It Doesn't Come Naturally, Leave It, Flying Sorcery, Broadway Hotel, One Stage Before, Year Of The Cat Title: The Early Years Tracks: (1) Double album format: Disk 1: Bedsitter Images, You Don't Even Know Me, I'm Falling, A Small Fruit Song, The News From Spain, Electric Los Angeles Sunset, Denise at 16, Manuscript, Clifton in the Rain, Night of the 4th of May Disk 2: In Brooklyn, Old Compton Street Blues, The Ballad of Mary Foster, Life and Life Only, You Should Have Listened to Al, Love Chronicles (2) Single album format: Tracks: Bedsitter Images, In Brooklyn, Electric Los Angeles Sunset, Clifton in the Rain, You Should Have Listened to Al, Manuscript, Small Fruit Song, Life And Life Only, Love Chronicles Title: Time Passages Tracks: Time Passages, Valentina Way, Life in Dark Water, A Man For All Seasons, Almost Lucy, The Palace Of Versailles, Timeless Skies, Song On The Radio, End Of The Day Title: 24 Carrots Tracks: Running Man, Midnight Rocks, Constantinople, Merlin's Time, Mondo Sinistro, Murmansk Run/Ellis Island, Rocks In The Ocean, Paint By Numbers, Optical Illusion The 1992 EMI re-release included five bonus tracks taken from the studio portion of "Indian Summer": Here In Angola, Indian Summer, Pandora, Delia's Gone, Princess Olivia The 1993 re-release on Razor & Tie Records included three "Indian Summer" Indian Summer, Pandora, Here In Angola Title: Indian Summer/Live Tracks: Here In Angola, Pandora [Al Stewart & Peter White], Indian Summer, Delia's Gone, Princess Olivia, Running Man, Time Passages, Merlin's Time, If It Doesn't Come Naturally, Leave It, Roads To Moscow , Nostradamus 1/World Goes To Riyadh/Nostradamus 2, Soho (Needless To Say), On The Border, Valentina Way, Clarence Frogman Henry, Year Of The Cat Title: Russians and Americans Tracks: The One That Got Away, Rumors of War, Night Meeting, Accident on 3rd Street, Strange Girl, Russians and Americans, Cafe Society, One, two, three (1-2-3) , The Candidate The UK version eliminated The One That Got Away and Night Meeting, Substituting Lori Don't Go Right Now and The Gypsy and Rose In 1993 EMI (UK) released a compilation which included all of the tracks >from both versions, plus three live tracks from side two of "The Blue Album". Tracks: Valentina Way, Intro/Year of the Cat, Pink Panther/Song on the Radio In 1994 Mesa released a compilation which included all of the tracks >from the original UK and US versions, but had no other "bonus" tracks. Title: The Best of Al Stewart [RCA version] Tracks: Year Of The Cat , On The Border, If It Doesn't Come Naturally, Leave It, Time Passages , Almost Lucy, Merlin's Time , Valentina Way, Running Man Here In Angola, Roads To Moscow, Rumours Of War Title: The Best of Al Stewart [Arista version] Tracks: Time Passages , Running Man , Delia's Gone, Roads To Moscow, Song On The Radio, Midnight Rocks, Lord Grenville, Merlin's Time , Nostradamus 1/World Goes To Riyadh/Nostradamus 2, On The Border, Year Of The Cat Title: Last Days of the Century Tracks: Last Days Of The Century , Real And Unreal, King Of Portugal , Red Toupee , Where Are They Now , Bad Reputation [Al Stewart & Peter White], Josephine Baker , License To Steal, Fields Of France, Antarctica , Ghostly Horses Of The Plain , Helen And Cassandra Notes: "Helen And Cassandra" is only on the CD Title: Chronicles Tracks: Year of the Cat , On The Border, If It Doesn't Come Naturally, Leave It, Time Passages , Almost Lucy, Song On the Radio, Running Man , Merlin's Time , In Brooklyn, Soho (Needless to Say), Small Fruit Song, Manuscript, Roads To Moscow, Nostradamus 1/World Goes To Riyadh/Nostradamus 2 Title: Rhymes in Rooms (live) Tracks: Flying Sorcery, Soho (Needless To Say), Time Passages, Josephine Baker, On The Border, Fields Of France, Clifton In The Rain/Small Fruit Song, Broadway Hotel, Leave It, Year Of The Cat Title: Famous Last Words Tracks: Feels Like, Angel of Mercy, Don't Forget Me, Peter on the White Sea , Genie on a Table Top, Trespasser, Trains, Necromancer, Charlotte Corday, Hipposong, Night Rolls In Title: Al Stewart 1966-1970: To Whom It May Concern Tracks: CD No.1:The Elf, Turn Into Earth, Bedsitter Images, Swiss Cottage Manoeuvres, The Carmichaels, Scandinavian Girl, Pretty Golden Hair, Denise At 16, Samuel, Oh How You've Changed!, Cleave To Me, A Long Way Down From Stephanie, Ivich, Beleeka Doodle Day, Lover Man [Mike Heron], Clifton In The Rain, In Brooklyn, Old Compton Street Blues, The Ballad of Mary Foster, Life and Life Only CD No.2: You Should Have Listened to Al, Love Chronicles, My Enemies Have Sweet Voices, A Small Fruit Song, Gethsemane Again, Burbling, Electric Los Angeles Sunset, Manuscript, Black Hill, Anna, Room Of Roots, Zero She Flies PROMOTIONAL RECORDINGS Title: Modern Music Tracks: Lord Grenville, On The Border, Midas Shadow, Sand In Your Shoes, If It Doesn't Come Naturally, Leave It, Flying Sorcery, Broadway Hotel, One Stage Before, Year Of The Cat Title: "Recorded in Chicago for WKQX Studio Jam" ["The Blue Album"] Tracks: On The Border, Time Passages, Life In Dark Water, Roads To Moscow, Valentina Way, Year Of The Cat , Pink Panther Theme , Song On The Radio
Q: How can I get all those wonderful UK only releases?
A: Any importer should be able to get them for you. Check to see if your local record store deals in foreign disks, or look for the ads in Goldmine. Several ASML members have had good luck with Compact Disk Services, Dundee Scotland, 011-44-1382-776595. They take Visa and Mastercard, ship promptly, and are just plain nice folks to talk to. NOT 24/7 available, so you are going to have to try to figure out what time it is in Scotland when you call.
Q: I've got all the commercially released recordings, but I just can't get
enough. What about *ahem* "rare live recordings"? How does Al feel about
them?
A: We have very good reason to believe that Al is not opposed to tape trading of live recordings among the fans. The ASML maintains a sort of "archive", a central site, for tapes. Trading among individuals is, of course, not a problem. However, our central site allows us to have a good idea of what is out there and how to get hold of it easily if not quickly. Everything is available on an equal trade/cost basis ... but the individuals doing the duping have REAL LIVES too, so it may take a little while to get your tape. Be patient. Good things come to those who wait. Contact DonStJohn@aol.com for more information.
Q: Are tabs/chords available for Al's songs?
A: A couple of song books were published, but they may be out of print now. Check your local music store first, and put the dimes in Al's pocket. However, a number of guitarists on the ASML have come up with versions. These are now available on the Web page. If the song you want isn't there, ask the mailing list for a specific song and you may receive.
Q: You people keep mentioning something called "Chronicles". What is that?
A: It's the Al Stewart newsletter put out by David Dasch. A vital source of information on Al, and a must have for any hard core fan. Subscriptions run for 4 issues, which are published when there is information. The most recent issue lists cost as $8 in the US, $8.45 in Canada (US funds) and $11 overseas (US funds). But send an extra $1 if you can. Postage rates have gone up, and $8 probably cut it real close to begin with. Kim should not loose money providing us this service. Send your money to:
Kim Dyer, 4656 Wilcox Rd., Holt, MI 48842. USA.
Q: What are all these black shirts I see at the shows?
A: The black shirts help ASMLers identify eachother at shows. (There are a very few out there in other colors.) They are printed up when the demand arises, and sold at cost to list members. If there *is* any profit, it is donated to some charity in Al's honor. For example, we surprised Rx for Reading in Los Angeles with a donation after the last run, in honor of Violet Stewart's birthday. They money was used towards a computer based literacy lab in south central LA. No backstock is kept, so you can't just order one at any time. However, there will be occasional inquiries and the shirts will be reprinted if demand warrants. Contact Kimbis@aol.com or look for postings with QUARTERMASTER as the subject line for more information.
Q: What is "Churchill's hiccup" mentioned in "League of Notions"
A: Legend has it that Churchill, etc. were working on drawing the borders between countries in the middle east after a particularly good meal. While drawing the border of Jordan, Churchill hiccuped and either jerked the pen himself or bumped the elbow of the cartographer, and they just left the resulting blip as it was.
Q: So much history, so little time! Who were Amy Johnson, Josephine Baker,
etc.?
A: We have articles on many of the historical references in Al's songs on the web site, with more to be added. If you have a question about a particular song, contact Kimbis@aol.com and you will be sent the individual article if there is one. Feel free to send information to the list yourself, too.
Q: OK. I know they are not historical references. But who ARE some of
the other people you all keep talking about?
A: Chapman, Steve: Currently Al's manager, Steve was a drummer in a previous life. In addition to various session appearances, he worked with Poco from 1978-1984, and plays on 24PxC, IS, and R&A.
Dyer, Kim: Publisher of Al Stewart Chronicles, a must have publication for Al fans. The printing schedule can best be described as "when there's news, there is an issue", so while it's hardly regular it's worthwhile. (See elsewhere in this FAQ for ordering information.)
Juber, Laurence: A talented musican with two solo guitar albums in his own right, he is Al's current cohort in crime. He can also be heard on various movie soundtracks and the television program "Home Improvement". He worked with Paul McCartney and Wings for a time.
Judd, Neville: Neville's biography of Al has been a running feature in Chronicles from almost the start. He also runs the UK Al Stewart Fan Club and publishes 'Jackdaw' - the European Al Stewart magazine. (4 issue subscription 12 pounds.)
Contact Neville at:
1 Whitenap Close, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 5RT, England.
Kenzie, Phil: The person responsible for that amazing sax break on "Year of the Cat".
Page, Jimmy: A guitarist that appeared on LC. We hear he's had a reasonably successful career since then on his own.
Parsons, Alan: Producer for MT, YotC and TP. Worked with other well known artists in the 1970s, and released a few albums of his own work (Alan Parsons Project).
White, Peter: Peter joined up with Al in 1975, and worked closely with him for the next few (19) years. He plays accordian, keyboards, and guitar. He's released 4 disks of his own work and has more session credits than I care to think about.
Q: Is Al touring now?
A: Stay tuned to this station. The ASML is probably the best way to find out if and when Al will be performing anywhere. You can also find fellow ASMLers who will be attending the show by reading the list.