Al Stewart's third album wasn't much different from the territory he had claimed, with reasonable success, on his prior effort, Love Chronicles. Narrative tales of romance and experience, sometimes third-person and sometimes autobiographical, set the mood, complemented by mild folk-rock arrangements and Stewart's warm yet bemused voice. A few placid folk guitar instrumentals break up the involved, lengthy vocal tracks. The best cut is "Electric Los Angeles Sunset," which puts Stewart's eye for locale-based storytelling to more forceful use than it had ever been previously heard, detailing the grim side of the city rather than its glamorous one. "Manuscript" was also an important work in its focus upon past history and its effects on various characters, an approach that would within a few years become prevalent in Stewart's work. Trevor Lucas and Gerry Conway of Fotheringay were among the backup players. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
Zero She Flies is the third album by folk artist Al Stewart, released in 1970. It is notable for being the first of his albums to include a song with historical references, namely "Manuscript" which refers to the events which led to the outbreak of World War I, including the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria.
The album is commercially available as part of a CD boxsetTo Whom It May Concern, which contains his first three albums as well as a single and its B side and a couple of tracks added to the rerelease of Bedsitter Images in 1970. The 2007 re-release includes bonus tracks.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Al Stewart; except where indicated
Original LP release
"My Enemies Have Sweet Voices" (Stewart, Peter Morgan)
