Yusuf has the right to reimagine his songs from today’s perspective, and some of the results are interesting, but the original album is his masterpiece. It’s a lot easier to sound like an old man when you’re young, than it is to sound like a young man when you’re old. Update: (September 2020) For the 50-year anniversary of Tea for the Tillerman, Yusuf “Cat” Stevens has re-recorded the album with new arrangements and updated artwork.įor the song “Father And Son”, Yusuf (which is the only name he uses for the album) recorded the father’s part in his current voice, but used an old recording of him singing the son’s part. The songs he selected to perform at the ceremony were…”Father and Son”, “Wild World” and “Peace Train”. In 2014 he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. Slowly, about 10 years ago, Yusuf began recording and performing again, sometimes using the name Yusuf Stevens.
Then in 1978 he quit music completely, and for approximately 30-years simply lived life with his wife and son, rarely singing and playing music. In 1977 Cat Stevens converted from his Catholic faith to the Islamic faith, and changed his name to Yusuf Islam. Since we were young at that time, it was easy to identify with the son, and now we know that the father wasn’t all wrong. Now there’s a way, and I know that I have to go away, I know I have to go. Son: If they were right, I’d agree, but it’s them they know not me. The son sees thing differently than his father’s generation. The father is trying to convince his son to live by the dreams of the father’s generation, and the son knows he must live life in his own way.įather: Take your time, think a lot, why, think of everything you’ve got…įor you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not. “Guardians” featured “Father And Son”.Ĭat Stevens sings “Father and Son” using a low calm voice for the father, and a higher more excited voice for the son. “This Is Us” featured “Where Do The Children Play”, “The Wind” and “Moonshadow” (in 2022 they played “Father And Son”). In fact, 47 years later, his songs have been used in dozens of television shows like “This Is Us”, and in many movies like “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. But the main aspect of his songs is that they were well written, and hold up after all these years. I also bought his other albums in the 1970’s, but these two albums represent the best of his career.Ĭat Stevens developed a unique style, sometimes punctuating his songs with staccato singing, and dramatic dynamics. Teaser and the Firecat (with another album cover featuring a drawing by Cat Stevens) gave us “Moonshadow”, “Morning Has Broken”, “The Wind” and “Peace Train”. It also sold over 3-million copies in the U.S. His 1971 follow-up album Teaser and the Firecat was another high quality album, and gave him back-to-back albums that few careers could match. Many of its songs have become well-known over the years. It’s the kind of album you could drop the needle on and enjoy the whole thing. Tea for the Tillerman went on to sell over 3-million copies in the United States. By the time he recorded his 4th album, Tea for the Tillerman in mid 1970, he had a less-produced, more acoustic style that fit in well with the singer-songwriter movement that had just emerged. Not only did he nearly die, but the months of recovery in a hospital made him reflect on his life, and what type of music he wanted to write and perform. In 1969, prior to his success in America, Stevens contracted Tuberculosis. He didn’t think his Greek name Georgiou would be very memorable, so he chose the stage name Cat Stevens…partly because a girlfriend said he had cat-like eyes. He also wrote the hit by The Tremeloes, “Here Comes My Baby”, and “The First Cut Is The Deepest”, which many artists have recorded. His debut album Matthew and Son did well in England, and the title track hit #2 there. Cat Stevens (who was born Steven Georgiou in London in 1948) actually started his career in 1967. The album was released in November of 1970, and “Wild World” hit #11 in 1971. It was the first hit from his album Tea for the Tillerman. Most of us first heard of Cat Stevens with his break-through single “Wild World”.