Steven Demetre Georgiou (July 21, 1948 - July 04, 1978), Yusuf Islam (July 04, 1978 - present). British singer/songwriter, born Steven Demetre Georgiou in London on July 21, 1948. His musical career was interrupted in 1969 when he contracted tuberculosis. Stevens converted to Islam in 1977, adopting the name Yusuf Islam the following year. He returned to making secular music in 2006. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
Cat Stevens grew from being a teen idol of the 1960s into one of the most influential singer-songwriters of all time. In addition to his vast musical achievements, his lifelong spiritual quest has added intrigue and depth to a groundbreaking career. Cat achieved early success in the mid 60s with ‘I Love My Dog’ and ‘Matthew and Son’. He was a prolific songwriter writing songs such as ‘Here Comes My Baby’ and ‘The First Cut Is The Deepest’ for other artists; the latter, in particular, would go on to become an international hit on multiple occasions for a variety of artists.
The period of 1970 to 1974 would see Cat Stevens ascend into the upper echelons of musical superstardom. His 1970 album Tea for the Tillerman, which went gold in the U.S, contained the classics ‘Wild World’, ‘Hard Headed Woman’, ‘Where Do the Children Play?’, and ‘Father & Son’. However, it was unquestionably 1971’s Teaser and the Firecat that made Cat a true megastar. Songs such as ‘Morning Has Broken’, ‘Peace Train’ and ‘Moonshadow’ resonated with audiences worldwide and were embraced by a generation as anthems of peace and unity. The songs of this era would also go on to be appreciated by future generations, their timeless quality was shown when a cover of ‘Father & Son’ became a huge hit for the Irish pop band Boyzone in the 1990s.
Cat Stevens Box Set – 2001 (4-CD album Box Set compiling the ultimate collection of the work of a man who last released a new pop record in 1978 and comprises 79 digitally remastered tracks from his first demo in 1965 through to a 1997 collaboration recorded under his Muslim name, Yusuf Islam including 11 tracks previously unavailable plus rarities including Demos, Outtakes, Soundtrack Contributions, B-Sides and more…, presented in deluxe packaging complete with 96-page picture booklet containing extensive sleevenotes written by Yusuf himself, photographs & more…).
(On the Road to Find Out is the first multi-volume package to comprehensively examine the artistry of singer/songwriter Cat Stevens (aka Yusuf Islam). In addition to the obligatory hits, this collection also includes key album tracks, as well as 17 sides that make their digital debut here. The set is broken into four segments/discs with straightforward subtitles, each of which uncovers a specific era in the development of not only the artist, but of the person. The journey begins in The City and consists mostly of material from the first two Cat Stevens albums: Matthew & Son and New Masters. Notable inclusions are the debut album's title track as well as "The First Cut Is the Deepest" and "I Love My Dog." One very welcome addition is "Honey Man", a collaborative effort featuring Elton John, which is being issued here for the very first time. Cat Stevens' stint with Island/A&M Records commences on The Search.
The real breakthrough albums, Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat, are represented by tracks such as "Sad Lisa" and the achingly tender "How Can I Tell You," as well as the anticipated hits "Wild World" and "Peace Train." Of note to collectors will be "If You Want to Sing out Sing Out" and "Don't Be Shy" from the motion picture Harold and Maude, as well as previously unreleased demos for "The Joke," "Time/Fill My Eyes," "Love Lives in the Sky," and "The Day They Make Me Czar.
" The Hurt includes tracks from Catch Bull at Four, Foreigner, and Buddha and the Chocolate Box. Among the rarities from this era are "Crab Dance", a 45 B-side to "Sitting", as well as "Bad Penny" and "Lady D'arbanville" from the Japan-only live release Saturnight (Live in Tokyo).
The final entry, aptly titled The Last, recalls a few significant contributions from Numbers, Izitso, and Back to Earth, as well three rare live tracks: "Hard Headed Woman," "Tuesday's Dead," and "Ruins" from a live show February 22, 1976, at William and Mary College on the Majikat Earth Tour. This version of "Father and Son" has added significance, as it would be the final live performance that Yusuf Islam would make as Cat Stevens. Ironically, the final song on the album is the title track from Islam's 1997 release, God Is the Light. The packaging is lavish and includes a 96-page liner notes booklet abounding with rare photos as well as essays and a track-by-track analysis from Islam himself. The discs are packaged in separate cardboard digi-packs. The sound is spectacular throughout, with the most noticeable improvement on the Matthew & Son and New Masters sides.
By Lindsay Planer)
Cat Stevens – Cat Stevens (4 CD Box-Set) (2001)