24 Carrots is the ninth studio album by Al Stewart, released in 1980. It was Stewart's first album with his new band Shot in the Dark. Tracks 1–4 are co-written with Peter White. The single "Midnight Rocks" reached #24 on the Billboard chart in 1980. Two other singles were released from the album: "Mondo Sinistro" and "Paint By Numbers". The album has been re-released in 2007 with bonus tracks and in 2020 for its 40th anniversary.
Three music videos were created for the singles, with them featuring Stewart and backing band Shot in the Dark playing in a typical band set-up, although the "Mondo Sinistro" video also featured Stewart in some quirky restaurant scenes hitting on a young waitress (played by Cassandra Peterson, prior to her fame as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark).
Reception
Allmusics retrospective review assessed 24 Carrots as being the last album in Al Stewart's classic period. They felt that unlike the other three albums from this period, some songs did not quite work, but that the numerous brilliant moments (mentioning particularly "Running Man", "Midnight Rocks", and "Mondo Sinistro") and the consistently elegant production make the drop in quality from those three albums small enough to group 24 Carrots in with them.
Track listing All tracks composed by Al Stewart except where noted.
1980 original LP
1994 Razor & Tie edition bonus tracks
2007 Collector's Choice Music edition bonus tracks
2020 Esoteric Recordings (Cherry Red UK) 40th Anniversary 3CD set
Personnel Al Stewart – lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, synthesizer Shot in the Dark Peter White – keyboards, acoustic and electric guitars Adam Yurman – electric guitar, backing vocals Robin Lamble – bass, acoustic guitar, percussion, backing vocals Krysia Kristianne – backing vocals Bryan Savage – alto saxophone, flute Additional musicians Harry Stinson – backing vocals Ken Nicol – backing vocals Bob Marlette – keyboards Russ Kunkel – drums Mark Sanders – drums Jeff Porcaro – drums Steve Chapman – drums Beau Segal – drums Lenny Castro – congas Robin Williamson – mandocello on "Rocks in the Ocean" Sylvia Woods – Celtic harp on "Rocks in the Ocean" Jerry McMillan – violin on "Rocks in the Ocean"
Charts Chart (1980)PositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)51Canada (RPM 100 Albums)49United States (Billboard 200)37
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