Cat Stevens, Yusuf Islam back in studio.

Posted by: Roy T on 31 March 2003

A blast from the past, according to the BBC Cat Stevens aka Yusuf Islam is back in harness.

With the help of allmusic I can just about recall some of Mathew & Son, Tea For The Tillerman & Teaser The Firecat.

What albums or songs of his from the dim and distant past do others recall?
Posted on: 31 March 2003 by Markus
I own, and enjoy, Tea for the Tillerman, Catch Bull at Four and Teaser and the Firecat.

Markus

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Posted on: 01 April 2003 by the other nickc
My dad gave me 'catch bull at four' years ago on vinyl and i've loved it ever since. Been meaning to check out some of his other stuff...
Posted on: 01 April 2003 by Mekon
The three Markus mentioned, plus Mona Bona Jakon, are worth having if my childhood memories serve me well. Also, any fans of Harold and Maude would want to pick up the 'Remember' compilation for 'If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out'. It has a good spread of the well known tunes.

My old dear just picked up the box set he release, which is pretty lush.
Posted on: 01 April 2003 by Mat Bon 0013
Which album is Lady D'Arbanville on?
Cheers
Mat
Posted on: 01 April 2003 by Jaitch
Lady D'Arbanville

You can find her on Mona Bone Jakon (1970)
Track 1 (side 1 - on vinyl LP)

Joe
Posted on: 01 April 2003 by throbnorth
I used to have a real thing for Cat Stevens - I bought the 'I Love My Dog' single when it came out, then got the 'Matthew & Son' & 'New Masters' albums. At that time, everything on Deram seemed worth investigating [any Virgin Sleep fans on the board?]. Early Caravan, East of Eden, Touch [Don Gallucci, Fun House producer] and a few others.

In that pathetic teenage way that seems universal, when one had invested hard earned pocket money, one became a Stout Defender of the artist concerned, and defended any foibles to all comers [step forward Doubting Nick Lees]. With hindsight, at that period he was really pretty much a Tin Pan Alley Boy, in the same mould as Barry Ryan, and to a lesser degree Scott Walker.

In those Deram days, there was one fantastic single, called [I think] 'A Bad Night', which was a seven minute epic with wildly over the top orchestration, multiple time changes etc - very much in the mould of McArthur Park, Eloise etc. A classic, for devotees of excess, and still I think, his finest moment.

When he moved to Island, I naturally lapped up Mona Bone Jakon & Tea For The Tillerman, but both were wildly overplayed in my circle and I think are a bit on the naff side when listened to now. Good tunes, but maudlin.

After the conversion to Islam and all the crap he came out with then & recently, I lost all respect for the guy, and frankly doubt if any new offerings will be worth our time. I might be wrong, but doubt it.

throb
Posted on: 01 April 2003 by Roy T
Yes, dream days indeed.

I remember at the time almost every party would have Carole King & Tapestry playing on the Woollies stereo (for the ladies) while the lads would be wrestling with many a red and gold Party 7’s in the other room.

Ah. . such simple pleasures.
Posted on: 02 April 2003 by David Stewart
Trouble was with Party 7s, once you'd finished wrestling with it and ended up stabbing 4 or 5 holes in the top with a hammer and screwdriver just to get at the contents, the beer was so unutterably ghastly it really wasn't worth all the effort.

Somebody recently gave me a near mint copy of Teaser & the Firecat and its an amazingly good sounding album - excellent example of early 70s recording technology.

David