Cat Stevens/Yusuf

Where do I start?  I suppose with the release of Mathew & Son, a favourite single of my whole family at the time.  However, apart from liking his early singles I never really followed his progress, preferring heavier rock, R&B, etc.  Then Lady D'Arbanville was released and I was hooked, immediately purchasing the great Mona Bone Jakon. An album I still play regularly.

This was followed up by the 2 great Cat Stevens albums Teaser & The Firecat and Tea For The Tillerman (which he re-recorded as TFTTM2 a few years ago and which is really good).  By this time I am totally hooked and bought all the remaining Cat Stevens albums as they were released.  While I don't think any came quite up to the standard of the 3 previously mentioned, I have not been disappointed by any of them (perhaps a bit by Back To Earth, but what the hey) and they still get played from time to time.  All the business after he became Yusuf Islam and the media attacks on him followed by years of mainstream musical inactivity only served to strengthen him mentally and finally to allow him to re-emerge onto the music scene with some very 'listenable' albums.  My favourites are Tea For The Tillerman 2 and The Laughing Apple but Tell 'em I'm Gone and Yusuf are really good.

I had the great pleasure to see his guest performance with Fairport Convention a few years back and he showed what a true songsmith and performer he always was and still is.

So, this is my own personal 'Wecome back Yusuf' and long may he last.