About The Song
“Year of the Cat” is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Al Stewart, released as a single in July 1976 in the UK and October 1976 in the US. The song is the title track of his 1976 album of the same name, which was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, in January 1976. The song is inspired by the film “Casablanca” and refers to the year found in the Vietnamese zodiac. The song reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
“Year of the Cat” by Al Stewart is not just a song; it’s a musical journey that combines storytelling, historical references, and a unique blend of folk, rock, and jazz elements. The song tells the story of a small-time crime fighter living in a alley in Casablanca during World War II. Along with the crime, the song has references to film noir and espionage crime. The year of the cat is also called the year of the rabbit which is the year right before the year of the dragon. The year of the cat is a reference to “chasing the dragon” which is slang for being addicted to Heroin.