AL STEWART : THE BEST OF MUSIKLADEN

1. On The Border
2. Soho (Needless To Say)
3. Time Passages (with Krysia Kristianne)
4. Palace Of Versailles
5. Valentina Way
6. Year Of The Cat
7. Song On The Radio (with Krysia Kristianne)

Label : Pioneer Artists

Release Year : 1999

Recording Date : 1979

Venue : Beat Club, Bremen, Germany

Running Time : 45 minutes

NTSC : 4:3

Review (AllMusic) : Al Stewart was never counted among the more exciting artists of his era. A folk-rock style singer/songwriter, whose lyrics were the focus of much of his best work, he just never seemed to be that essential to take in live, which is why this 45-minute concert for German television dating from 1979 is a modest surprise. Stewart and his band not only do a fairly lively show before a studio audience, but the camera work is so mobile that the visuals never get boring. Additionally, the sound is so clean that it puts to shame some of Stewart's older CDs for quality. The performances are fresh and spirited, on material ranging from "SoHo (Needless to Say)" to more recent songs like "Time Passages," "Year of the Cat," and "On the Border." If there is a flaw, it's the absence of "Roads to Moscow," but considering that this performance was aimed at a German audience, that song might've fallen on deaf (or at least unsympathetic) ears. The other drawback is that not all of Stewart's material here is that memorable - "Palace of Versailles," which runs more than five minutes, is rather tuneless, and "Valentina Way" isn't much better, but it does at least benefit from a nice tempo and a few decent hooks. Stewart plays a mix of acoustic and electric guitars backed by a septet that does a good job of recreating the songs' original sounds in a live context. The video transfer from SECAM to NTSC does reveal some artifacting - momentary, intermittent horizontal lines - but it is, otherwise, extremely sharp, bright, and pleasing.

Review (Discogs) : Recorded live in Bremen (Radio Bremen studios), West Germany for the NDR-TV show, MusikLaden, formerly called the "Beat Club". Originally broadcast in 1979

Review (RockPeaks) : The German Beat Club featured the top artists of the 60's, 70,s & 80's. Here are the rare and amazing performances as they where filmed - concert style with no time limit on song length etc (no top of the pops crap here !). This performance by Al Stewart is a 'full band' set - the band more or less being 'shot in the dark' and including Peter White. Although this recording was origionally broadcast in 1979, I believe it was actually filmed in 1978, and has the feel of the earlier 'year of the cat' shows.

Review (YouTube) : Al Stewart's live performance at Musikladen in Bremen, West Germany in 1979 was an important moment in his career. The concert was recorded for the NDR-TV show, MusikLaden, and provides a snapshot of Stewart's musical abilities during a key period in his development as a singer-songwriter. The performance features Stewart along with several talented musicians, including Peter White on guitar, Robert Alpert on keyboards, Adam Yurman on violin, and Krysia Christianne on backing vocals. During this time, Al Stewart was touring to promote his album "Time Passages," which was released in 1978 and marked a departure from his earlier folk-based sound towards a more pop-oriented style. The Musikladen performance showcases his versatility as a performer and his ability to adapt to different musical styles, blending elements of folk, rock, and jazz into his unique and distinctive sound. The recording of the Musikladen performance offers fans an opportunity to experience Al Stewart's music in a live setting, and provides an insight into the dynamic and energetic nature of his live shows. It remains a highly sought after recording among fans of Al Stewart and provides a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of his musical career. Band members: Peter White, Robin Lamble, Robert Alpert, Adam Yurman, Harry Stinson, Bryan Savage, Krysia Kristianne.