Cat Stevens ~ Was Dog a Doughnut 1977 Disco Purrfection Version
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- Опубліковано 29 вер 2024
- This one just jumped out at me last week, a lighting bolt from my past. It came out in the November of 1977 and was played on the radio on my school mornings from DJ Dick Purtan on WXYZ radio Detroit. This tune is especially startling for the artist who recorded it, 60's singer songwriter Cat Stevens. I can't forget "Peace Train", "Moon Shadow", "Wild World" and the sterling "Morning Has Broken", (like the first morning..oh god there I go singing it again. Such positive music that made you proud to be who you were, and his message was his music. My all time favorite tune of his is "Oh Very Young", followed closely by "Father & Son" on his Tea For The Tillerman album. His popularity was on the wane when he put out "Izitso" in 1977, and it turned out be his foray into electronic music, with a moderately successful single of "(Remember The Days Of The) Old Schoolyard" that peaked at #33, and this prescient and jazz funky take on the electronic pop experiments of Kraftwerk and Donna Summer called "Was Dog A Doughnut". The title alone is an intriguing play on words that I have yet to comprehend. Maybe the choice of alliterative and non sequitarian words makes this tune whimsical, I mean who isn't envisioning a dog wearing the doughnut like a halo, eyes looking up to see if its OK if they can swallow it whole...I should probably collect clips and put the best of them together and put it out there, someday I suppose. Steven Demetre Georgiou was born on July 21, 1948 of Cypriot and Greek heraldry in London, England. His parents were running a restaurant when Steven became enraptured with The Beatles in his mid teens and began writing songs and learning guitar. A little renegade throughout his elementary school years he tried his hand at being a cartoonist, and ended up using his work on his LP covers. His next big step was getting a UK record deal and scored with UK #2 pop hit "Matthew And Son". I'll bet you did not know Cat wrote "The First Cut Is The Deepest" for his 1967 UK LP "New Masters" that saw major chart action with Rod Stewart's cover. Spirituality fascinated Cat after a bout with tuberculosis in 1969 and he had a burst of creativity writing almost 50 songs during his convalescence. He adopted a folk rock sound that served him well, a singer songwriter in the first degree when he put out "Tillerman". In 1976 Stevens nearly drowned in the ocean off Malibu, the brush with death led him further down the path to his spiritual awakening. He mentions that he yelled out to God to save him and that he would work for him and at that moment a wave carried him back to shore. He obtained a copy of the Qur'an and began his transition to the Muslim religion, changing his name to Yusuf Islam in 1978 and abandoning his pop career. It's too bad he stopped, he had an amazing way with a word and an appealing emotional voice that lent his music poignancy and positive energy. The sprightly funk of "Was Dog A Doughnut" gets you involved with its syncopation, I dare you to sit still..I either tap/snap my fingers or do the office chair boogie every time I hear this. I've played this one at least 200 times in the last week and I never got tired of it.
Here in ny when this came out and through 1979 the hip hop dj's in my neighborhood was killing this joint on the turntables me and my brothers and cousins use to be at our cousin house downstairs listening to all the hip hop break beats and all waited for this song to come on and learned how to breakdance battling each other to this joint in our hood til this day from when the song first came out we call it til this day dog the doughnut
Man this is in old school steppin cut chi town bring back good memories
They played this In Minneapolis MN 1984 and still do .
Crazy funky electronic and way ahead of its time!
yes it was, a real stepper classic right here
M brother was a DJ and this will always rock what a jam,
We used to roller skate off this song in Chicago. Loop Roller Disco 😎
At Crane high? Maybe I was there with you. 1977 plus. What do you know about Studio 13?
Yessir!!!
YOOOOO, They used to rock this at the RENNY (Harlem) Anybody remember the RENNY on 138 & 7th Ave.... CLASSIC FLY SHYT!!!!
Renny!...👍🕺💃
OMG Still Bumping This Jam
Listen to this beat! U got the snythisizer goin, percussion n bass, organ smashin all n one time! Perfect beat! When u first heard this jam it was back in 78! I was like wow! Cat Stevens threw down on this jam!
Electro before electro was invented. Truly ahead of its time. Man Parrish must have been listening to this when they made hip hop be bop.
I have looked everywhere for this song bro, this is a cold joint from back in the day, thank you so much
Hell yeah it is... this song use to be in my head and now I finally fucking found it. Mission Accomplished..
@@octaviousmotley7653 yes
I never knew this was Cat Stevens. And I was a fan!
This song is on 🔥!
Julia Richman High School, The Rennie, and the Paradise Garage - Yeah We rocked the HOUSE!
Wow this is very interesting for Cat Stevens. Please keep these unique tunes coming. Great job on the mixing.
Have not heard this, and I know Cat Stevens, this is quite the departure for him, I am digging the beats, and with you at the helm, DiscoCat, you have managed to knock yet another brilliant remix, thank you so much for this creation and for sharing it with us...
good evening Miss Dyana, and thank you, I hope you are doing well
Good afternoon to you as well, sweetie. I am well, thank you for asking, and I do hope you and your loved ones are safe and well. Again, thank you so much for another stellar remix...
The keyboard work of Chick Corea cannot be discounted here. He added much to the flavor of this album.
I am still in shock that this is a Cat Stevens' song. This is nothing like the Cat Stevens that we listened to in high school between 1970 - 74. Wow! This is a jam right here.
Disco was hitting
Man got range!
Surprise Surprise 😊
This was a full the dance floor delight whatever year that was between 74-78
This was my little introduction to Cat Stevens at the time growing up, didn't fully get into him much at the time since I done my research at the time. I still have this album Izitso to this day on LP.
09
Classic for sure!
In Chicago we used to step off this song
Boy, do I remember the dance for this one. It's on the money!
When I was a shorty I use to rhyme to this song. They played it at jams all the time
This was bumping in the bx had blk ppl rocking out to this one get it CAT
Grew up in Harlem and listened to this while breakdancers and emcees lost their minds! Good times.
Interesting mix-and "Oh Very Young" is a favorite here-Thanks for posting!! E
You'd definitely hear this at What's Poppin Steppers Club on 79th and Halsted back in the day
buena musica gtacias pintando la casa y bailando ....saludos Feliz Navidad .....!
If you were from Chi town,when this was. Played all the players and steppers took the floor!!! That was when REAL STEPPERS was doing it!!!!!
this is awesome !!
Bronx N.Y. yes this was played at the hip-hop jams. Instrumentals are very integrated into hip-hop. Where you think the samples came from????
Doughnut =Universe
DOG = GOD
GZA from the Wu-Tang Clan brought me here. He said it was the first album he ever purchased because it was a breaking beat.
I thought real electronic stuff came out in 1975 with Captain and Tenille, Love Will Keep Us Together, followed by Dream Weaver, Gary Wright.
Waw
B R E A K B E A T
Who started Stepping? What's it's origin?
70s South Bronx
Your are out of this world your got it make your dance and shake your ass ok your know that now smile and again Casanova
He was ahead of the times with this one.
I love the occasional dog barks.
YES HE WAS! THIS STILL ROCKS GOING INTO 2019. I WAS 13 IN '77 AND THIS WAS ROCKED IN CO-OP CITY IN T HE BRONX!!!
I still can't believe "cat" put this 2-gether...WOW..it came out of nowhere...
& the title...wuts the history behind the title..how did he cum up with it..
I luv the bark...the instruments r stupid crazy....
in between the original mix and jellybean's reboot
WOW!! Where are you Chicago Steppers!! If you were alive in the late 70s in Chicago, you know this song!!
I went to Crane High and Westinghouse during my freshman sophomore years 1978-79
I had the Lord Jesus waves laying on my shoulder, the tweed coat , fedora hat with the red Earl Flynn feather. Old man baggy suits and wingtip shoes. Sometimes, the Cowboy hats.
Back then, I was learning about pimping.
Still showed up every weekend Steppin
Keep Steppin alive.
Right here my friend
Yessss!!! Southside Chi we stepped to this
Chi-Town Represent
Doughnut =Universe
DOG = GOD
Chi-Town Steppers classic Calumet High 77-81 went you could go to Rainbow beach and jam till the sun came up
I was "fenger hi" ..u rite.."stepping" was the "bomb" 2 this song...
@@molet8010 Markham Roller Rink all day baby!!!!
those days were the shit man .. what happened to them??
I was there from 01-03
We were Steppin our ass off in 1978, 9th grade at Crane High School, Studio 13, and Westinghouse in Westside Chicago to this jam.
I had Lord Jesus waves laying on my shoulders, Fedora hat with the red feather, Earl Flynn style, Tweed coats, baggy suits, and wingtip shoes. I was pimpin' back then.
At last, I survived and can enjoy this song and many more from back then.
How many more of my folks are from Chicago? Give me a thumbs 👍
In chicago we use too step on this cut. It was the shizz
WBMX!
Stepper!!!🔥🔥🔥 1975 - 79 Sam Chatman/Keymen’s Club
Chi town Shizznit
@@househeadhoward
Chi-town
Original Steppers!!!
Low end
Butter whipped
Tailor made
Snake skin boots
Trench coats 💯
This was Chi Town classic stepping music when I was growing up on the South Side🤗
Yess!!!!!
Southside Represent
This song reminds me of Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love."
A club classic around 85-86 in the UK, fit right in with the mid-80s sound. People were shocked to find out that
1. It's Cat Stevens, and
2. He made it in 1977!
Great memories with this tune.
Cool. Kraftwerk meets early Detroit techno here, before Detroit techno had strted. Well done!
Harlem 1977. I remember the dustheads "creatively" dancing.
Haaaa, that leaky leaky ! Wooof! 😂
I heard this in 84, when I was 13...searched hi and low for it, just left Chipotle and by the music Gods they were playing it; I let Shazam hear it and now my night has meaning ♥️
Lol.i feel you.😂
God Bless ❤
I’ve heard this song when it came out around 1976-77. This sounds like it should have come out in the 80’s, because that’s when all that electronic music came out. This is some 1980’s funk right here.
This beat is sick
Sean Mxles word
4/4 pretty boring. For sick beats check out jazz.
This was a huge track in the very very underground NYC club scenes. It was played at the time and in the right spaces. Just imagine this playing while 😮on Angel Dust or Mesc at the FUN HOUSE or at THE LOFT! Dave Mancuso would play this track for like 12 to 15 minutes, the trip was good, if you know what I mean!
THE FUNHOUSE, BENTLEYS, THE ROXY" THE PALLADIUM ALL ROCKED THIS.
We made this song popular in Chicago by dancing at Mendel love The Doctors 1975-1978
Agree, it’s a classic and still just as relevant
It’s a skating hit too
well I don't know but nyc the freak was out and grandmasterrified flash stay cutting this at the parks in the summer jamming this and frankie crocker chief rocker on wbls stay rocking this.
grandmaster flash I meant.
I agree I remember Mendel well I was in a dance group call Passion reppin WILD 100'S went Fenger h.s.
My older cousins use to play this and practice skating in the driveway! Crazy legging and doing the big wheel! Memories!🔥💯👍🏿
I haven't heard this song in about 20 years! It would pop into my head from time to time, but could not remember the name of it!!! THANK YOU!!!
It was a stepper cut
Okay this song so underrated when stepping first came out this was the song they use too dance too
I always liked this song, grew up with Cat Stevens music during the 70's, but this was cool and different, first heard it on CKLW Windsor/Detroit in fall 1977.
Just heard this now after last hearing it 45 years ago....incredible still
Cat stevens no joke!!!
I love the dog bark
I'm floored at this one, one that got away as I'd a good friend who was a deep fan. You're right about the obscurity level, but I have to give him respect on a musical to take the chance at being different from the unique place he'd carved for himself. more over, I respect that he made a deal with his god to serve devoutly if he saved him from impending death, and committed to it. this is the character of this honorable man. Hope your holidays are fully charged with all the smiles and energies your shared mixes bring to your fans and subscribers alike!
I am with you on both the music,and most of all, his commitment to keeping his promise to serve Allah ( God ), after his near death. That was a wake up call, and I have a lot of respect for him.
This was the steppers song in chi town y'all don't sleep on this we ran to the dance floor when it came on .sterppet for life ,57 th st carpenter Chicago 😂😂😂😂😂😂
This one was a tune that played in my head over and over for a zillion years. Could never find the title to it which drove me nuts. And out of a whim of fate I found it in one of the user comments on a steppers video. I finally found it after all this time. Never grows tired of replaying this one over and over.....Thanks for the post.
I used to ask people what's the name of that song with the dog Barking
Cat Stevens (Yusef) went out of "his box" on this song ☺. I remember we (my family ) had this song on a 45 record.
Loved this song as a kid in '77.
My DJ Grandmaster Flash used to cut this joint to pieces at our jams back in the late 70’s
Jellybean Benitez's version is 🔥too!!! Early 80's electro memories in NW London Freshbeat Sounds system!!
Changed his name to Yusef Islam the following year...real name: Steven Georgiou.
Timeless!
Okay......what had happened was my friend Greg is a music buff and when we were in high school he bought the album and we were grooving listening to every song as usual and when this came on I may have jumped up out of my seat because I was in a dance//social club The Doctors of Mendel Catholic High School out of Chicago South Side and I was thrilled because it was a perfect instrumental. That was more like 1975-1976 though......we kept the title a secret because that was like your weaponry as a dancer/group the music was the key. Anyway this DJ whose name escapes me......was hounding me for weeks on end about the origin of this fantastic song but we never told. I do believe that album was discontinued. Then I was walking to school and I heard it on the radio. On a R&B Soul music station and then that very DJ.....whose name escapes me was playing it at our school parties and then I go into Montgomery Wards in Evergreen Plaza and the album was re-released. I was like oh well I guess they know about it now!! Ha!! I always wondered about Cat Stevens reaction to the rebirth of this album because it was somewhat HUGE in Chicago and those royalty checks must have caught him off guard when they starting rushing in! From out of nowhere is how he probably felt because like I said it was discontinued and then re-released most likely out of necessity. Enjoy!! check out The True Story of The Mendel Doctors here on UA-cam for more. Dr. Gannon
I heard it 1978 and again 1984 when house music was popping off . Don't forget Jeffrey made a come back love going last . Lenny you know I love you. It was at ever house parang skating joint.
salsa smurf sounds like this
That's because Salsa Smurf sampled (stole) this and Kraftwerk's Trans Europe Express without even paying any royalties or even a credit! =O
I remember hearing the Jellybean remake with Madonna back in 1983-84. Glad 2 hear the original is from Cat Stevens in 1977. Thx
A true classic of all time
OMG, I've been trying to get this back since I left home (DETROIT) in 1980 and everyone I asked had never heard of it....Thx a mint, I mean it!!!
if you ever skated when this was playing you came off floor sweating and swearing that is the jam shout out to Markham and Harvey skating rinks
Markham Baby!!!!!
I gotta brag,,loved this record so much when young that I own 11- lp copies 3 - 45 copies and 2- 12"single copies. I'm an old school crate digger.Everytime I come across this record(in any form or condition)I buy it.
Still the best thing that Mr. Yusuf Islam ever did. Peace.
Different !!
Sounds like acoutic drums, but a short loop. It makes it sound like a drum machine.
Jazz grandmaster chick corea on moog and Rhodes keyboards. This song is still the bomb 💣.
even the Cat did DISCO!!
Salsa Smurf
Ain't he got Chick Corea on this
'77 I was 20 and used to drive to Detroit on my one Friday off a month to see a beautiful girl, we stayed at the Red Roof for $13 and loved Harpo's, went there for 3 yrs and another bar I can't remember...good times and memz
1977 ... BLACKOUT BE DAMNED >>>>
along with BRA by CYMANDE This Was What I MOVED TO... CAN YOU SAY " DANCE !!!!!!!!!!!!!"
They don't make old school classics like this anymore. Great instrumental sound.
A Classic Hip Hop Jam
Block parties in 205th street in hollis Queens with Cain M.c.’ing on the mike with an echo box in his hand. “ Yep i remember this song .
... NO.. Dog was a Dognut.. yes, Willie Dee WBLK Buffalo...hahaha.. funky harmony and yes we used to rap jingles to this
Funky classic jazz like jam! "Was the dog a donut"? When I first heard this cut it was in.77!
One of the jams played by ny dj’s in the early days of hip hop .... uh huh !!!...oooooo the block party’s
💥💥💥💥💥💥
New York City early hip hop dj's cut this up , this was very popular
Been looking for this song for AGES! Now I can practice my freestyle raps!
Special Request sampled this track for their song Salsa Smurf 1983
Yes
I know I’m late but RIP BIG-L corleone ....,DITC 4 life
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥💯🎤💯🎤💯🎼💯🎼
+DJDiscoCatV2, the title is actually a mangled form of "Was God an astronaut", which was the 2nd title of a very popular book about extraterrestrials back then (but not on all editions of the book).
Dang.
I was SURE that I wouldn't ever find this song, a favorite of mine from waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
back in the pre-children days.
T🤩TALLY C😎😎L.
Steppin my ass off right now Julian in the house class of 1985 loop skating rink on 95th st
How can this classic get 8 dislikes
This was Evolution of city b boy Techno .
Master piece ❤
I was 17 and mojo played this on wgpr in Detroit.
Richard Lee: God bless "The Electrifying Mojo !".
Yes I remember MOJO and this song blasting everywhere. Detroit rocked 😎👊👍
jellybeans version was good but this for me is the best by far.
a well-known german singer, the beautiful Su Kramer, did some kind of cover version of this round 1978. it's slightly different but also outstanding. search vor 'magic dance', thank me later