As Yusuf Islam, aka Cat Stevens, aka call him whatever you choose to, works his way on his peace train through South America, we in the North eagerly await dates over here. The worry is that he will ignore the US after having problems with Customs a couple of years back and then, adding insult to injury, being denied a visa and simply being unable to perform in the States.
Well, that ain’t gonna happen and if Stevens doesn’t play the States it will be solely his choice but I can’t see him missing out on the Great Satan, myself.
I read a Portuguese language review of Saturday’s Sao Paulo’s gig and this list (from a 2011 Wembley Stadium set) isn’t exactly the same, for one thing Cat has written a new song “The Beautiful Game” and for another, “Lilywhite” doesn’t open the Brazil 100 minute set.
But enough stuff, the Cat Stevens as professional songwriter “I Love My Dog/Here Comes My Baby/The First Cut Is The Deepest” is still there, is around for this to be a pretty clear representation of the show he will probably be playing if and when he shows.
Personally, I can’t wait. Islam was the religion of both my parents and while I am not a believer (Nothing personal, I am not a Christian or a Jew either), I have no problems with the peace loving sheik representing it for my family. According to G1globo.com: “The set of nearly 30 songs is quite varied. There are songs from the 60s, such as “I love my dog” and “The first cut is the deepest.” The two phase Yusuf albums are represented by “Roadsinger”, “Thinking bout you”, “Midday”, “Maybe there’s a world”, “Everytime I Dream” and “All kinds of roses.” Memorable and uncomplicated, they fit well with the repertoire of phase Cat.” The translation is by google and me!
Stevens seems to be short changing his late period stuff, nothing from The Foreigner for instance, little from Catch Bull At Four. Still, I’d love to see it. I’d like to do something I’ve never ever done, dedicate the post to my fellow Cat Stevens fanatic, Helen Bach!!!
1. Lilywhite – From his first solo album, this is fully formed Stevens going from acoustic guitar to orchestra – B+
2. The Wind – Serenely beautiful meditation on the creative process – A-
3. Where Do The Children Play – How can you perform such a huge song third in your set, nicely modulated to the condemnation chorus – A
4. Thinkin’ About You – From his last album, all his powers still in tact but the melody misses a touch – B+
5. Maybe There’s A World – Again, Yusuf, this time his first solo album, is pretty but he doesn’t entirely nail. The lyric is a touch prosaic – B+
6. Oh Very Young – Very old time medieval arrangement – B
7. Sitting – Masterful song and again it is what it says it is about, “I feel a power growing in my hair” is a great lyric and Stevens sounds tougher than on his earlier albums – A-
8. This Glass World – A striking, beautiful image – B+
9. Bad Brakes – Ho hum rocker – C+
10. Miles From Nowhere – One of his great “Harold And Maude” songs… makes you wonder why he isn’t performing “If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out” – A
11. Fill My Eyes – I wonder why this early deep album track made the cut – B
12. Roadsinger – Lovely guitar picking, lyriclly a little silly – B-
13. Morning Has Broken – One of the greatest hymns and Stevens version is the standard bearer – A
14.Midday – His greatest song of the 21st century has the sweetness and the warning that folds his faith into a world view, “I like to take a walk out in the midday, avoid the city after dark” – A
15. I Think I See The Light – ???? Lousy blues – C-
16. Don’t Be Shy – Another terrific “H&M” – A
17. Wild World – The wild world will remember Stevens first and foremost for this masterpiece and words of wisdom… sounds a little sexist but otherwise hasn’t aged – A+
18. Peace Train – A song of peace and hope, easy to sing blue – A
19. All Kind Of Roses – Best track off his last album – A-
20. Moonshadow – Sounds like 16th century wisdom – A+
21. I Love My Dog – English version of Tin Pan Alley, I’d have gone with Matthew And Son – B
22. Here Comes My Baby – The Tremelos and Yo La Tengo have killed this one dead, a terrific pop song – A
23. The First Cut Is The Deepest -“But I’ll trrrryyyyy to love again…” – A
24. Tuesday’s Dead – Another folk pop masterstroke – A
25. Father And Son – May I dissent from this one? Maybe I’ve heard it too often – A-
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