A beautifully remastered 4 LP retrospective of the career of Yusuf/ Cat Stevens…
Yusuf/Cat Stevens – On The Road to Find Out – 4 LPs (140 gm vinyl) – Island Records/ Cat-O-Log Records/ Universal #00602478281914
The career of musician extraordinaire, known by most as Cat Stevens, has had a wide ranging six decade ride, with half of that time out of the public’s primary view.
Born in 1948 in London, named Steven Demetre Georgiou, he changed his name to Cat Stevens, in the mid-60s. His first single, “I Love My Dog,” was recorded in 1966. Blessed with matinee idol looks, and a voice that could melt hearts, Stevens had a string of early 1970s albums that found honored places in million of homes both in Europe and the United States. Mona Bone Jakon, Tea for the Tillerman, Teaser and the Firecat, and Catch Bull at Four would alone make for a successful career. He continued to record until late in 1978, when he became disillusioned with the recording industry and converted to Islam, taking on the name, Yusuf Islam. He did not record secular music again until 2006. Between 2006 and 2023, an additional six albums have found a return to more commercial fare.
A much needed career retrospective of Yusuf/Cat Stevens has been needed to appreciate his talents. Recently a 4 LP boxed set, On the Road to Find Out, made up of 47 tracks (32 from 1967-1978, and an additional 15 tracks from 2006-2023), is a must-have for his fans. There is also a 2 CD version, but for vinyl fans, the deluxe treatment makes vinyl the way to go. The lacquers were cut by Geoff Pesche at Abbey Studios in London. Mastering duties were handled by Mazel Murad at Katara Studios. The set has custom outside cardboard sleeves and plastic lined inner sleeves. The large booklet features song lyrics and notes by Cat. For hard core fans, also released is a separate biography with the same title. Both would make a fine gift.
Most all of the 1970s hits are included on the first two plus albums, including “Wide World,” “Morning Has Broken,” “Father and Son,” and “Peace Train,” to name just a few. There are winning covers of “Here Comes My Baby,” “The First Cut is the Deepest,” Sam Cooke’s “Another Saturday Night,” and an acoustic version of George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun.”
What also stands out is that more current material over the last fifteen to twenty years, that show that Yusuf/Cat has retained the rich, soothing voice that captivated us over a half century ago. On the more recent album, An Other Cup , he channels John Lennon’s “Imagine,” with “Maybe There’s a World,” on a plea for a border less world. There is also a gritty, “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” that would be a good companion to the version of Eric Burdon with The Animals. His “rock” creds stand out on “Gold Digger,” and there is a moving rendition of Edgar Winter’s “Dying to Live.”
Stevens induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, re-introduced the general public to this musical chameleon, and its about time for a renewed appreciation of Mr. Yusuf/Cat Stevens. This remastered box set can only help the process…
Review by: Jeff Krow
Yusuf/Cat Stevens – On The Road to Find Out
Tracklist:
Side One:
I Love My Dog, Matthew and Son, Here Comes My Baby, The First Cut is the Deepest, Lady D’Arbanville, Trouble
Side Two:
Where Do the Children Play?, Wide World, Father and Son, Tea For the Tillerman, Don’t Be Shy, If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out
Side Three:
The Wind, How Can I Tell You, Morning Has Broken, Moonshadow, Peace Train, I Want to Live in a Wigwam
Side Four:
Sitting, Can’t Keep It In, Foreigner Suite (Excerpt), The Hurt, Ready, Oh Very Young
Side Five:
Another Saturday Night, Majik of Majiks, Banapple Gas, (Remember the Days of the) Old Schoolyard, (I Never Wanted) to be a Star
Side Six:
Just Another Night, Last Love Song, Butterfly, Heaven/Where True Love Goes, Maybe There’s a World, Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
Side Seven:
Thinking ‘Bout You, Roadsinger, Gold Digger, Dying to Live, Blackness of the Night, Grandsons
Side Eight:
Miles From Nowhere, On the Road to Find Out, Father and Son, Here Comes the Sun (acoustic), All Nights All Days, Take the World Apart
