Hot Sax Top Ten: Song on the Radio (#9)

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As I mentioned, this was a tough countdown. It’s not so much how much I love the song but the saxophone work in the song. And, as you’ll see as I progress through the countdown, the sax work is different, each contributing something completely unique to the song. Here’s today’s song. #9: Song on the Radio - Al Stewart You talk about tough??? There are three “big Al Stewart hits” that could fit on this countdown: “Year of the Cat,” Time Passages,” and this one. So pick one! All of the sax work on those songs is courtesy of the same person: Phil Kenzie. And this isn’t the only time you’ve heard Kenzie’s work, either. Among his other contributions to rock and roll sax: “Heart of the Night” by Poco, “Hot Patootie, Bless My Soul” in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and others as diverse as Black Sabbath and Debbie Gibson. I don’t know what his personal favorite might be of all the great sax solos he’s done, but this one might rank close to the top. As for the song itself, Al Stewart said he wrote this as a tongue-in-cheek poke at his record company that wanted a “mid-tempo song with a saxophone for a hit.” He was kidding, the record label wasn’t. As a result, we got a great song. With a great sax solo. Song on the Radio Written by Al Stewart Recorded by Al Stewart From Time Passages, 1978 Saxophonist: Phil Kenzie With my mind on you: