Al Stewart: 24 Carrots - 40th Anniversary Edition, 3CD

Esoteric Recordings is proud to announce the release of a newly re-mastered and expanded 3 CD 40^th Anniversary edition of the classic album 24 CARROTS by AL STEWART. Released in 1980, the album came on the heels of a series of highly successful albums YEAR OF THE CAT and TIME PASSAGES, which saw the legendary folk-rock musician reach a wider audience and, after adopting a more rock orientated approach, gain top ten success in the USA where he had relocated.

For the album 24 CARROTS he worked with the musicians in the band SHOT IN THE DARK featuring his musical collaborator PETER WHITE (keyboards, guitar), ADAM YURMAN (electric guitar), ROBIN LAMBLE (bass, guitar), KRYSIA KRISTIANNE (backing vocals), BRIAN SAVAGE (saxophone, flute), ROBIN MARLETTE (keyboards) and various drummers including Steve Chapman and Jeff Porcaro. It also featured a guest appearance by ROBIN WILLIAMSON (Incredible String Band). Sessions for the album began at Davlen studios in Los Angeles in August 1979 where Al worked with Shot in the Dark on a series of demos of some compositions that would make up the album, and others which would remain consigned to the vaults. When completed in May 1980 the album would feature classic tracks such as ‘Running Man’, ‘Merlin’s Time’, ‘Murmansk Run – Ellis Island’ and the US top thirty hit single ‘Midnight Rocks’. Upon its release in August 1980, 24 CARROTS would be another American Top Forty hit and would also be a success in other European countries.

This 40^th anniversary edition of 24 CARROTS has been newly expanded from the original first-generation master tapes and includes two rare single mixes previously unreleased on CD and two additional CDs featuring the August 1979 Davlen studios demo sessions (including an early studio version of The World Goes to Riyadh) and a CD of live recordings made at Hammersmith Odeon in London in December 1980 on the 24 CARROTS tour. The release also includes an illustrated booklet with an exclusive new interview with Al Stewart. This 40^th anniversary edition serves as a fine tribute to a fine album and a consummate songwriter and performer.

TRACKLIST:

DISC ONE: 24 CARROTS
THE ORIGINAL ALBUM REMASTERED
1 RUNNING MAN
2 MIDNIGHT ROCKS
3 CONSTANTINOPLE
4 MERLIN’S TIME
5 MONDO SINISTRO
6 MURMANSK RUN / ELLIS ISLAND
7 ROCKS IN THE OCEAN
8 PAINT BY NUMBERS
9 OPTICAL ILLUSION
BONUS TRACKS
10 RUNNING MAN (SINGLE VERSION) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ON CD)
11 PAINT BY NUMBERS (SINGLE VERSION) (PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ON CD)

DISC TWO: 24 CARROTS
THE DEMO SESSIONS
RECORDED AT DAVLEN STUDIOS,  LOS ANGELES IN AUGUST 1979
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
1 MIDNIGHT ROCKS (1979 STUDIO DEMO)
2 MURMANSK RUN / ELLIS ISLAND (1979 STUDIO DEMO)
3 RUNNING MAN (1979 INSTRUMENTAL DEMO)
4 PAINT BY NUMBERS (1979 STUDIO DEMO)
5 JACKDAW
6 THE WORLD GOES TO RIYADH
7 MERLIN’S TIME (1979 INSTRUMENTAL DEMO)
8 RINGING OF BELLS

DISC THREE:
LIVE AT HAMMERSMITH ODEON, LONDON – 10th DECEMBER 1980
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
1 RUNNING MAN (LIVE 1980 – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
2 TIME PASSAGES (LIVE 1980 – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
3 BROADWAY HOTEL (LIVE 1980 – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
4 MONDO SINISTRO (LIVE 1980 – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
5 ROADS TO MOSCOW (LIVE 1980 – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
6 ON THE BORDER (LIVE 1980 – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
7 YEAR OF THE CAT (LIVE 1980 – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)
8 IF IT DOESN’T COME NATURALLY, LEAVE IT (LIVE 1980 – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED)