Al “Year of the Cat” Stewart visits Penthouse in Central West End
Al “Year of the Cat” Stewart visits Penthouse in Central West End, is interviewed for Prime Video documentary and plays piano overlooking the Chase Park Plaza
Recently, musician Al Stewart (“Year of the Cat,” “Time Passages,” “On the Border”) played a gig at The City Winery at the Foundry. There, in the audience, was a film crew that recorded his performance as B-roll for part of his interview in a forthcoming Amazon Prime Video documentary. Altar of the FM Gods is a 10-part docu-series on the oldest rock station in the United States, which just happens to be KSHE-95 in St. Louis.
The next day, Stewart was driven to the venerable St. Regis Co-op on Lindell Boulevard, where he was interviewed in the Library of the East Penthouse, with the busy Central West End spread out below him. Mr. Stewart remarked that it reminded him of certain parts of London, where he lived for many years.
In fact, it sparked a tale of when he shared a flat with Paul Simon, back when the two musicians were just starting out. “I was managing a folk club at the tender age of 17, and Paul Simon decided to move (back) to London, as he was anxious about his new record coming out in the states and there had been some friction about its production,” said Al. “Paul said he wanted to keep the record ‘clean’ with just him and Garfunkel playing on it while the Producer and the record company wanted to bring in a bass, drums and an arrangement.”Al continued, “So we’re sitting there one day and there’s a knock at the door and it’s a special delivery package from the States.He opens it up and it’s a test-pressing of Sound of Silence – no label identifying it, but he knows it’s the new single. We put it on and he just gets madder and madder as we listen. Unbeknownst to him, the record company went ahead and re-cut all those new parts that Paul did not want included and had released it anyway. He was furious. He called back to the United States to yell at whoever he could but they cut him off quickly, and told him it was gaining airplay rapidly and could be a Number One hit soon. He backed down, and sure enough – it was their first big hit, even though it wasn’t his arrangement!”
This story will be included in the final cut of Al Stewart interview for Altar of the FM Gods. Mr. Stewart spent approximately 2.5 hours at the Saint Regis, regaling the interviewer with grand tales of a musical history full of stories mingled with celebrities from Alan Parsons to Paul Simon to Gary Wright. Then, during a lively and stimulating conversation about classical music, the interviewer noticed Al had, during the soundcheck for his St. Louis concert, played a few bars of “In the Hall of the Mountain King” by Edvard Grieg, and commented that when he had heard the Electric Light Orchestra's version of that, it had introduced him to classical music. Al became so excited that he jumped up and headed into the front music room of the Saint Regis Penthouse and began playing it on the piano that sits overlooking Lindell Boulevard. You can watch the video performance here.
Regarding his time in the Central West End, Al said he loved it. “This type of area makes me much more at home than a typical hotel. I love that everyone’s walking, and the history the architecture conveys.” He wined (Al is quite the wine enthusiast) and dined at several local establishments, including an Indian restaurant, where he broke bread with his old friend Joe “Mama” Mason (former KSHE DJ).
The rest of Mr. Stewart’s interview is as equally fascinating and as a raconteur, he is in rare form. The series has a planned release date of Q2 2025. Mr. Stewart has played the St. Louis area many times, including recently at the Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville IL. He will return next year to the Pageant for what is billed as his final show.
The musical penthouse at the Saint Regis Co-op on Lindell Boulevard where Mr. Stewart played and was interviewed has also been host to a bevy of other musicians, including Rusty Young from Poco, Head East, REO Speedwagon, Guns ‘n’ Roses, David Sanborn and many more.
The East Penthouse at the St. Regis is currently listed for sale on the real estate market, and includes the Baby Grand Piano played by Al Stewart (and others) in the front music room.
Listing below:
St Regis East Court Penthouse Real Estate Listing
More photos of the Penthouse
The formal Dining Room is Louis XIV, with red walls with crisp white moulding and trim. A 24-kt. gold leaf table invites the hungry to be seated, while a $15,000 crystal chandelier illuminates from above.
The East Court Penthouse East (this Unit) has unimpeded city skyline views from ALL of its east-facing windows, including panoramic vistas that include the Gateway Arch from the Master Suite and Secondary Suite.
Front Passenger Elevators Project Completed
On Friday August 23, 2019, the third and final new St. Regis passenger elevators took its inaugural ride, marking the completion of the St. Regis' 6-month elevator replacement project.