Al Stewart - On the Border (live)

[BLUESMANRONCHICAGO]

Great song, great lyrics, great voice and absolutely fantastic accoustic lead by Peter White!!!

[ebuhenley]

Thanks Al

[mambo4269]

I still remember we walked into a bar in Santa Fe in 1984 and apparently there was a concert of a certain Al Stewart. We thought that it could never be THE Al Stewart..........but it was. It turned out to be an amazing concert in a small club, people sitting on the floor, incredible musicians, probably the best concert I have ever been to. What I saw and heard there I have never heard again in my life. Listening to this brings me back to the concert, I can see them on that small stage again ! 

[SuperTalentedTeens]

Probably the most underrated song of the century. Profoundly metaphorical lyrics, electrifyingly hypnotic music, and smooth-as-silk vocals combine to give me chills down my spine and tears in my eyes. This jewel puts me in a different place, time, and dimension, a positive place devoid of unhappiness and suffering. Al Stewart is a musical genius. This song definitively proves that he was not in it for the money and did his own unconventional thing. Think of Al Stewart as the anti-Justin Bieber.

[567wolfen]

surely would like to meet him an awesome performer - been listnting his music esp when I was in Korea when his song "the year of the cat". 1977 I was there when it came out - takens me bk to those villages of 6000 or mre cramped into a village

bk2bk

[scmarquees]

Saw him a couple of times at Basingstoke Anvil on 2nd occassion he strayed from playing his set & invited the audience (his fans) to shout out requests, saying after all we knew him better than most. How many artists do you know would do that - a fantastic singer & songwriter long may he continue.

[ohrofax]

diese sendung habe ich zur original sendezeit im ard gesehen u.jeder der das stück gut kennt hört die vielen fehler die live passiert sind.

[JarnBjorn72]

I still remember listening to my mom's copy of Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat" record back when I was in Kindergarten in the 70s. And now, thirty+ years later, I still love his music!

[zqzqpj]

I would like to know the date of this video....Al is awesome!

[Scubadave852000]

I am an active duty, Regular Army service member, stationed over here in Germany; and I remember hearing this song for the first time early one morning, a few weeks ago. Right before I went to the field was when I heard it.. I remember thinking to myself; "This is one of the smoothest songs i've ever heard".

[jeishein]

3 chords and a lisp.

[rac717]

@jeishein You REALLY have no idea what you are saying. I challenge you to listen to any Al CD, past or present, and hold onto your opinion.

[ricadia]

IrisMG - Don't know what you were on when you wrote that crap about Al. Roger Whitaker? Are you joking? Al Stewart is the second best songwriter ever and the best male exponent. Only Joni is better, but then she is to contemporary music what Mozart is to classical

[wouldntyoulike2know]

Cool performance. :)

[unstabledavid]

wow great performance great artrst....

[quincannon40]

Al Stewart's sense of words and music is unparalleled. He can play with them seemingly effortlessly. He us a very underrated musician and writer.

[rac717]

@quincannon40 IMO, Al is THE most underrated songwriting talent anywhere. Luckily, he's still performing!

[GibsonHummingbird]

Ovation guitars ... ugh ... just upside down wok's. Fine song though.

[1ricky77333]

9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

[bway1ner]

Along with, "The Year of The Cat," this is my favorite Al Stewart song!

Peter White is GREAT!

[zakomark]

Al Stewart has always impressed me because his stuff is so complex musically and lyrically, yet his performances come across so effortlessly. Peter White is simply one of the best guitarists in any genre. God, I love this stuff.

[mirv10]

@zakomark This Peter White cat is smoking hot on the Acoustic. Yeah those Ovations sound pretty cheesy...they were all the rage during that time period.

[john111257]

love it ..takes me back..bought the single cheap..liked his stuff since

[alsisam]

Uhhhhh...que cosa que siento cuando le escucho ....me fascina...no se cual me gusta mas.....

[kajan24]

Hans Guderian

[dr613]

Thats a very young Peter White

[intrepidsinger]

GREAT post - my favorite Al Stewart song as well! Question: Is that Tim Renwick on the lead guitar? He performed on the studio version - was wondering if this is him. Thanks again for sharing this gem!

[IrisMG]

Now THIS is the Al Stewart I remember! He's an older man now, wears his hair short, and it's grey, but the voice remains. Once you get over the shock of how he looks today, it's wonderful. Didn't even know he was still performing! He has found for himself a unique niche writing historical story-songs that almost remind one of Roger Whitaker. And I have to say, too, that NOBODY plays the guitar part on this song better than the great Peter White, in my opinion. Thank you Al!

[gikong]

Yes, Peter White is great here, and this was his zen moment, he became musician. He did so well.

[madeinamsterdam2028]

@IrisMG I didn't know Roger Rabbit played the guitar

[IrisMG]

@madeinamsterdam2028 I'm not in the habit of feeding trolls, but is this in response to something I wrote some time ago?

[madeinamsterdam2028]

@madeinamsterdam2028 Roger Whitaker , something. . . .

[youvebeenthunderstru]

As to the question of whether or not he's "gay", his early songwriting career consisted of a lot of love songs to girls. So I think he's very far from being gay. There, stupid and irrelevant question out of the way.

Also, I'd bet the number of people who know him for Year of the Cat vs the number of people who actually listened to Sparks of Ancient Light is an overwhelming ratio, which is a great shame.

[Roghman]

Utter garbage. He wrote 'love songs to girls'? That doesn't prove anything - Elton John, Pet Shop Boys, George Michael and hundreds of others have always written songs about straight relationships and we are in no doubts about their sexuality. There. Silly observation dismissed.

[youvebeenthunderstru]

Well, if you go on about speculation about artists being gay you're not really worth the time. Why bother? It's a stupid question anyway so my answer isn't that far off.

[Roghman]

I didn't start this speculation. Just admit that you were wrong.

[youvebeenthunderstru]

I'm not saying you specifically did, I'm talking about people in general. And I'm not wrong. Don't put words in my mouth.

[AnnaKarina2]

thanks dxakis for this Awesome share!

[anitasalvaje21]

Lindo!!!

Bjs..............Anita

[viudanegraaa]

Amazing !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dohertykaki]

Amazingly great!!

[JarnBjorn72]

Yes, dohertykaki, this has always been one of my favorite Al Stewart songs of all time!

[34cosmo]

"The dark and the rolling sea" is even better

[smokiebird06]

Is it any surprise that Peter White became famous and successful in his own right?

[Frankiarmz]

He gave both an amazing performance and guitar lesson. What a talent!

[ConservativeAnthem]

Peter tells how Al introduced him to the Spanish Guitar for this song. Stewart must be a very nice guy.

[datdlt]

al stewert fucking rocks

[ConservativeAnthem]

One of the truly great songwriters of the rock era.

[jhr459]

The songs he writes become these dark compelling stories that you can just almost feel like you are there.

[ConservativeAnthem]

This is one of the greatest pop songs ever composed.

[jhr459]

I also love Roads to Moscow and it is harder to find on here. I love the line about General Zatarian (sp)

[WillInNewHaven]

Guederian

[Jose81695]

Al Stewart is a one of a kind.

[dns7655]

drummer is harry stinson

you can see the musicians names at the end of the video

[pafemo]

Incredible song! What a nice spanish guitar from Peter White!

[DirtyHarryDeux]

2 flapp99:jeff porcaro is the drummers name i think.

good song..real classic

[fourkneekate]

got this on single forgot i even posessed it,great song,great memories,thanx for posting.

[Flap999]

Anyone know the name of the drummer? He looks just like an old friend/bandmate of mine who ended up playing for the Hudson Brothers TV show. Named Billy Thomas.

By the way...killer live performance, I love Al's music. Nobody currently of his caliber seems to be active....shame really. The kids now are missing out.

[Flap999]

Never mind, caught the ending credits.... :-/

[shanzezar]

haha i'm a freshman in high school

i love this song! this and wild world by cat stevens are like, two of the best songs EVER :)

[CZERCHIE46]

Hey 27Rock..what do YOU look like??? You're probably as ugly as your comment..JERK !!

[FOKKEMA62]

27rock does have a point but that doesn't take away from the great music, besides he doesn't have to look at the video, just listen to the song.

[27ROCK27STAR27]

THIS GUY IS FUCKIN UGLY RITE HERE!!!!

[wkndsquire]

LOL...Have you taken a good look at Flava flav lately? Sheesh.

[bobinfiler]

Al Stewart

[ZentisHN]

Good Song

[oldwight]

Er, John Hawaii, who cares? How is a gay man supposed to act according your text book anyway?

Gay or straight, this song rocks. Stills sounds t'riffic after all these years.

[teenonator]

Al Stewart's a storyteller. They're not real common nowadays. Not alot of draw for those who wear their Raiders caps sideways & think a big woofer constitutes a good sound system

[GardnerGoldsmith]

This is a really powerful song. Hauntingly beautiful, smart, fast. Truly remarkable.

[JonHawaii2003]

He is not gay in any way.

[KarlDaggerfield]

He's an artist who doesn't worry about any bogus macho posturing.

[gibblerfan83]

he gay

[drumbot23]

you gay

[drumbot23]

al stewart is the best

[BonelessSausage]

I thoght he was wonderful and sweet in a George Harrison way. Ed

[BonelessSausage]

Poor kid just gets laughed at today. He had his moments. Ed

[thtrakas]

why he gets laughed at? what happened? can u please give some info. thanks

[BonelessSausage]

Some guy called a radio station saying he was from Georgia. The station he called was from my hometown,Pittsbugh. The DJ let this guy go on and on about how they don't play good music 'down there'.The DJ was was agreeing with him,then said "What is it you want to here?" The caller said Power Of Gold. Click. My point really was today's DJ's play what they want to play and throw good artists like Al Stewart under the bus. Ed

[vanillapie]

great song

[Kgv1]

What a genius Al Stewart is/was/will always be!

[Hanz780]

roads to moscow is his best song, but this is awesome too

roads to moscow has some sick acoustic geetar in there

[PaleFolklore92]

such a great musician

[jolandasterbloem]

good strong oldie...lovely voice

[othelo45]

Gotta dig Al's pants.

[DrinClick]

great stuff. Saw him in Philadelphia's Tower Theater a couple of times.

[tradfan]

Al's best song, bar none. I've been trying to get this one right for over a year. Peter White is vastly underappreciated as a guitarist.

[oldprogrocker]

thanks for the post. ranks up there with roads to moscow. great stuff

[saintjug7]

yes pure Genius. Up with the scots!!!

[bartolemeo]

Agreed!

[spiro2200]

Scottish, Glasgow born, but in fairness raised in the Land of our English Cousins, Genius our Al! Great Britian, Great lyrics. Totally brilliant.

[DenAnsiktslose]

I cannot believe you consider the english to be cousins of the Scots! They are not! And though Stewart is great, he's a lowlander, and to me that's just not Scottish.

[samson98]

Thank you for a terrific post. This song has a special place in my youth and life. Peace!

[martin1rx]

Peter White's on the acoustic...Good oldies 5/5

[ttronc]

the guy is a pure genius of combining music and history

[dijit345]

just perfect.

[Mephistoforever]

In French for this time, sorry.

Quel plaisir, que de souvenirs, merci pour ça.

[spiro2200]

Well Done Al, remembering my youth with this one, absolutely Brilliant,! Thanks for posting Mitzy.

[mikashutup]

how did you get this and pass it on in such good sound/video quality! great job. thanks!

[marmin74]

Music of this era had so much peace, relaxation, goodness. I love this, it touches me.

[pattycakeyumyum]

thanks for posting this. Saw him do it a month or so ago at the corn exchange in Cambridge (UK) and he is still just as good, if not better

[dcalava]

Al Stewart-just another artist lost in the disco hatred of the 70s. As we open up the vault of that time period again, some artists are beginning to get the recognition they deserve. Hope more focus put on Al.

[HarryHyena]

al stewart the greatest one man act in the history of music

[pattycakeyumyum]

couldn't agree more. The man is a genius

[Priyesh0804]

Oops the artists sitting down playing the fill is Peter White

[Priyesh0804]

Isn't that Peter White on the accoustic? Man has he switched musical direction with now being a cool jazz icon... Peter now tours with Dave Koz I believe

[michaelp3138]

good stuff - always a favorite song of mine and what a treat to see it performed live

[ricogarion]

That Spanish guitar work is awesome and Al and the boys are in tight form sounding so good.Listen to his work and you to will become a fan.

[alansquash2003]

I agree, he has written some amazing songs - superb lyrics and fantastic arrangements. The word 'underrated' is overused these days but in Al's case it definitely applies. A musical gem!

[phillipaj]

rare footage of Al in his popular heyday- but his music has aged beautifully- like good wine!

[maluna1]

Great song