According to his website, these 11 new songs are in classic "Cat Stevens" style. I went to the site and listened to the tracks they have playing there.
Wow, just hearing his voice again makes me feel good. I spent so many hours of my youth with Tea for the Tillerman, Buddah and the Chocolate Box, Mona Bone Jakon, Teaser and the Firecat, and Catch Bull at Four.
I can't wait to hear all of his new music. I didn't get offered an advance copy to review - bummer!
12 comments:
Barbara,
I have loved Cat's music in the past but he was a different person then. As far as I know he has never apologized for his comments about Salman Rushdie although he says he was "misunderstood". There is other good music out there, I think I'll pass on Yusuf's latest.
Tim
Hi Tim,
I like to believe that he really was misunderstood. He says that he has "consistently denounced the acts of terrorists as being directly contradictory to the peaceful teachings of Islam". I like to think the best until proven otherwise.
I know Yusuf/Cat was misquoted because in 2003 he was awarded damages from two UK newspapers that falsely claimed he supported terrorism.
He's founded at least one charity that I know of to help famine victims. He has publicly said he is against war or violence of any kind.
Here's a quote from him that sums it up:
"It is important for me to be able to help bridge the cultural gaps others are sometimes frightened to cross."
Oooh, I gotta check that out.
Was never a huge fan. Enjoyed his stuff, but did not need his stuff.
Couldn't agree more, Barbara. Cat is my muse. Been that way my whole life. I thought the tracks on the player sounded nice. Don't know if it's essential or not, but I'll buy it to find out. My partner, The Pope, reviewed his last album, An Other Cup, on the Ripple. He loved that album.
Barbara,
Maybe he was just a victim of a media hack job. I will try to keep an open mind about Yusuf but don't think I'll be buying any pop music with lyrics praising Allah anytime soon. I don't think I could dig that.
Tim
Didn't he sing Cats in the Cradle? That's the only song I can think of when I hear his name. The song always made me cry.
Liggy,
No, that was Harry Chapin that wrote and sang that song. It makes me cry too. Unfortunately he died years ago, I took this off my other blog, GBNF:
Harry Chapin, 12/7/42 – 7/16/81. Born in Greenwich Village, New York, Harry was a much loved singer, songwriter and humanitarian. He has two number one hits, Cats In the Cradle and Taxi. Harry died in a car accident but his cause of death was a heart attack, its believed that the heart attack caused him to wreck his car. Harry was 38.
Hmmm, this is a surprise to me. He looks good though.
Oh yeah, that's right-Harry Chapin, thanks for the correction...I thought I might've been mistaken. I'm not that great at identifying singers from that time, although I can easily identify the songs. (I do the same with books sometimes...I know the book but can't think of the author). Oh well.
Liggy, I do the same thing. For me its movies...I can tell you the name of half the movies I've seen but I know I've seen them!
So, what's up with the name change? I'm also curious about the meaning of Yusaf
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