In 1989, during the heat and height of the Satanic Verses controversy, I was silly enough to accept appearing on . . . Hypotheticals, which posed imaginary scenarios by a well-versed (what if . . . ?) barrister, Geoffrey Robertson. . . . I foolishly made light of certain provocative questions.
There is no getting around this and I’m not his attorney and see no reason to try. I see no proof he gave money to terrorist groups but I certainly wouldn’t be the slightest surprised that if Cat wanted Rushdie dead for writing a novel, Cat is also capable of being an Islamic Extremist and sponsoring Extremist groups like Hamas
Heaven/where True Love Goes – Yusuf/Cat Stevens – Cat claimed he reclaimed “The First Cut Is The Deepest” at last Thursday’s gig but, indeed, this track off An Other Cup is the true act of reclamation: fitting snuggly very next to his beloved “Foreigner Suite” , it is a beauty with a wiseness as timeless as it is true – A-
With a full band behind him, Cat commanded the stage with an off handed self-confidence which had the audience jumping up and down like izitsos and a seriously great set list, the show highlighted everything we loved and a couple of things we don’t love about him
I saw Cat Stevens/Yusef at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction earlier this year. He only played three song and they were all great and at the time I was furious the E Street Band received over an hour and Stevens just 20 minutes. Well, it will take a trip to Philadelphia’s Tower on Thursday but we will get to see a full Stevens gig for the first time in decades.
I asked around and discovered the Wang Theatre was in the middle of nowhere, a big problem for a guy without a car and also, a four hour drive from New York, as opposed to a 90 minute ride to Philly so, I guess i saw no choice. I’d actually caught Stevens 20 minute set at Barclay Center earlier this year and had been very very impressed; it really is a must see.
“Unfortunately I will not be performing in NYC this time around but I am looking forward to playing for fans in Philadelphia on December 4 and hope to return to NYC at a future date. My fans will understand and I thank them for informing me about the extortionate tickets prices already being listed on some websites”
Cat Stevens touring the States, and not much of it but it will do, and he will be at the Beacon Theatre on December 7 th and though it is a Sunday we will just have to suck it up. Plus there is a presale but you will have to buy his new album from Amazon to get the presale code. I did!
Harold And Maude” puts a seminal set of Cat Stevens songs (circa Tea For The Tillerman) to the story of love and freedom between a 75 year old woman and a 21 year old man. Helen Bach considers it her favorite album of all time and Helen Bach has an emotional compass worth listening to.
Three songs? That’s it? I sat through knocking on five hours of Jann Wenner’s pomp and circumstance and for what? To see Cat Stevens perform three songs? Enough already Yusef, get off your ass and play the Beacon Theater. Meanwhile., I ended up on Stubhub for Lily Allen’s May 15th gig at Highline Ballroom
In tribute to Imans ability to see Cat live at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, I spent an entire day listening to his catalog. I then went on to provide you a nice consumer guide to most of the discography. No muss, no fuss, just the facts.
I walked on the beach at Waikiki (it was a decent beach back then) and sang “Moonshadow,” literally leaping and hopping. It’s a deceptively simple tune, with instant appeal to a child
But like Jett spit out on “Smells Like Teen Spirit” rock is a denial and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is all about an admittance. It really is a squalid rabid horrible dingy thing. It really adds up to something that is nothing.
Walking In The Rain – Anika Larsen And Jarrod Spector – I’ve been outspoken in my indifference to the Broadway Musical “Beautiful”. But even so, the piano only first verse and chorus here is a perfect adjunct to Phil’s wall of sound version – A
I know you wanna read about KISS getting inducted into the Jann Wenner album and I’ll tell you about it I promise … Tomorrow I”ll give you all the action from the Barclay Center.
His showing on Jimmy Fallon nearly sent me into cardiac arrest. Older and behind dark shades he performed a medley of “First Cut Is The Deepest” and “Wild World” accompanied by The Roots. First off The Roots need to chill, between this and their hanging out with Elvis Costello I’m getting a bit jealous
New York State Of Mind – Leon Russell – The horns sound like they escaped from a Sinatra Swinging Lovers album but it soon darkens down and Leon does exactly what you thought he would and does it for a long time – C+
I may not be a fan of Rolling Stone or the Hall of Fame but when someone I actually admire is being recognized, I cant help but feel a bit of excitement. Songs that shaped my youth and adolescence and to this day inspire my actions
Holy mother of Peace Train I take that all back, hands up for Jimmy Fallon who comes in with the one and only Yusef Islam on the 8th, showing up 2 days before his day at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Tuesday’s not dead.
First, I couldn’t care less about the “Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame” and even if I did I would have my doubts here: Peter Gabriel, Cat Stevens, Linda Ronstadt, Hall & Oates, Nirvana, the E Street Band, Brian Epstein and Andrew Loog Oldham. Particularly since Kurt is dead and Linda is ill. And I don’t really consider Cat Stevens rock and roll by any stretch of the lexicon. But the chance to see Cat perform? I couldn’t be more excited. Thursday at Barclay Center.
His ode to Duke ellington is not jazz, it is pop, and it might have a groove but it isn’t taken from Ellington but this ebullient, bouncy, and very tuneful dance number needs none of that to echo a Black Excellence that deserves the term. “You can feel it all over” is as hooky as an advertising jingle and memorable as your own middle name.
There is somebody I really wanna see. Cat Stevens. And it is because of Stevens I went out of my way to score a ticket. But before we discuss him, let’s talk about everybody else.
You get the feeling it is going to be wretchedly terrible self congratulations for four hours seen from miles away, Just the thought of Dave Grohl’s acceptance speech for Nirvana terrifies me. And yet, yes, for the chance to see Cat Stevens in person I just don’t feel like I have any choice in the matter
“Anything in the music business that’s not actually music is something else. It’s a competition, a great big competition. And that’s fine. It’s just not the reason I got into music.”
Chuck D wants a national holiday for MLK and will win this one: “Talking MLK, gonna find a way Make the state pay, I’m looking for the day” from 2002 and still an accurate reminder why Hip Hops golden age is over because that should be enough for any song except PE were going after the anti-immigrant Arizona bill as well – A-
I’m not saying South America doesn’t deserve a tour.. I suppose there are many similar stories there. I just am a selfish stubborn girl who would love 90 minutes in a room with you if only to share a moment with the man who may very well saved my life.
This is a different set from the one we posted, though it has similarities. What stands out is “All You Need Is Love” and “The Foreigner Suite (I doubt he performed the full version). The 16th is better than the 17th. The first three songs on the Saturday gig are essentially devastating. Even the third, “Midday” is his best Yusuf track.
The thing is this: like social security, the young are paying for the old and because of that, Obama had to repeal lame ass policies. He should have said “you can keep your policy if it isn’t a dog with fleas.
Don’t Be Shy – Cat Stevens – “Love is better than a song”? Debatable, very debatable, but if anybody can sell the concept in song it is this guy: like the cult classic movie it comes from, “Harold And Maude” it is a primer on dealing with life – A
“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 well represented; memorable and uncomplicated, they fit well with the repertoire of phase Cat.”
Sutphin Boulevard – Blood Orange – Devonté Hynes poppiest moment from two years ago sounds as fresh today as we eagerly await Cupid Deluxe which maybe I should have made my sneak peak of the week elsewhere – A-
Still Into You – Paramore – Perhaps their finest song, an astounding, very addictive piece of power pop that held their pretty damn good anyway current album together – A
