1976 Timeless Classic, Inspired by One of the ‘Best Movies' of All Time, Became a Soft Rock Anthem
In 1976, Al Stewart released a song that would become the defining hit of his career and one of the most enduring soft rock classics of the decade.
"Year of the Cat" captivated listeners with its mysterious lyrics, cinematic storytelling and unforgettable melody, eventually becoming a staple of classic rock and soft rock radio.
What many fans may not realize is that the song was inspired by one of the most celebrated films ever made.
Stewart's idea for "Year of the Cat" originated after watching Casablanca, the legendary 1942 romantic drama starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. The singer imagined what might happen if a traveler encountered a mysterious woman in a foreign city, creating a story that captured the same sense of romance, intrigue and uncertainty that made Casablanca famous.
"One night the Casablanca movie comes on and I'm thinking 'In a morning of a Bogart movie. In a country where they turn back time.' sounds like a good start," Stewart told The Strange Brew. "But I need a line for the title. I had a girlfriend who had a book on Vietnamese astrology. Although it was the year of the rabbit in Chinese astrology, in Vietnamese astrology it was the year of the cat. I don't know a lot, but I do know a good song title when I see one and that was it."
The result was one of the most evocative songs of the 1970s.
Built around lush piano, soaring saxophone and richly detailed lyrics, "Year of the Cat" unfolds like a movie, following an enigmatic encounter through vivid scenes and imagery.
The track appeared on Stewart's album of the same name and became his biggest commercial success, helping introduce him to a wider audience beyond the folk circuit where he had built his reputation.
Part of the song's lasting appeal comes from the fact that Stewart never fully explained every lyric, allowing listeners to develop their own interpretations.
"I thought A, I want to write something completely different, something that hasn't existed in pop music before, and B, I just wanted to use language that hadn't been there before," Stewart told Goldmine. "If I can write about original concepts with original language, that rings the bell for me. That's what I wanted to do. I didn't want to regurgitate things that have been done before."
That mystery has fueled decades of discussion among fans, who continue to debate exactly what the song means and who the woman in the story represents.
Musically, the track also stands out for its ambitious arrangement, highlighted by a memorable saxophone solo from Phil Kenzie and elegant piano work that helped give the song its cinematic feel.
Over the years, "Year of the Cat" has remained one of the defining songs of the soft rock era, regularly appearing on classic rock playlists and radio stations around the world.
Nearly 50 years after its release, the song continues to transport listeners into a world of mystery and romance, proof that inspiration from one of cinema's greatest films can sometimes lead to a timeless musical classic of its own.
Related: Legendary '70s Rocker and Founding Member of Iconic Band Turns 79
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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 5:27 PM.