Seems like almost a year since you reviewed Genesis/Firth of Fifth and noted that you hoped to review some of Peter Gabriel’s solo stuff. Don’t give up, guys!
Cat Stevens is one of the epic singer songwriters of the 70s. Do Father and Son, Sitting, Moonshadow, Peace Train, Sad Lisa, hell do everything off his greatest hits album. Nice rabbit hole to go down.
@@vincentschmitt7597 ALWAYS makes me cry. Don't know for sure but I imagine it was inspired by the film "David & Lisa" as it certainly seems to describe the Lisa character perfectly.
Where to go next with Cat Stevens: "Father and Son" is a masterpiece of songwriting and captures the generational gaps that had formed in the 1960s and '70s. "Moonshadow" and "Peace Train" are both excellent. "Morning Has Broken" has got to be one of the prettiest songs to come out of the classic rock era. So many great songs and it's hard to go wrong with any of them.
If y'all are intent on going down the 70s singer-songwriter rabbit hole then you absolutely have to hit Carole King before any of these others that you been hitting. You want someone whose record can stand up to Dylan's? Then this is your gal, not Cat Stevens. According to wikipedia she has written 118 songs that have hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart and her masterpiece album, Tapestry, was #1 for 15 weeks and remained on the album chart for more than six years. It's Too Late is my personal favorite hit of hers from Tapestry, but you could also go with You've Got a Friend or I Feel the Earth Move.
I’ve been suggesting Carole King - specifically Tapestry, for the longest!!! Hopefully they will get around to it soon - she is a wonderful artist & her music was the soundtrack to my youth!
I agree. Carole is one of the most prolific female artists in history. Tapestry was one of the most influential albums of that era. Amazing talent. She wrote "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" when she was 17 years old. I can't tell you what I was doing at 17, but it certainly wasn't writing a major hit and an all-time classic.
"Morning Has Broken" was not written by Cat Stevens. The words were written in 1931 by Eleanor Farjeon, and the melody is a much older Scottish folk song.
I remember singing Morning has Broken in our primary school assemblies as "just another hymn" so when Cat Stevens had his hit, the kids were wondering, "why's he singing that?" Given our age, the reaction was understandable!
Carole King would be an artist/singer/songwriter to deep delve into. One of the most prolific songwriters, she wrote so many hits for herself as well as many other top artists, collaborating with her ex and other all-star songwriters such as James Taylor...her album Tapestry is a masterpiece
Another woman singer-songwriter who deserves much respect is Rickie Lee Jones. She's created great music for four decades now, but a good place to start with her is her debut album. Chuck E's In Love, Danny's All-Star Joint, and Young Blood are good tracks for this channel. Please add her to your singer-songwriter list. You won't be disappointed.
I've been requesting Rickie Lee Jones on several channels. Wilburn Reacts did Danny's All-Star Joint recently. That's a great one to start with! When that album came out, I listened to it over and over again!
There’s an excellent mashup on UA-cam of concert footage of Yusuf singing the father part and Cat singing the son part. Well worth watching. Edit: here’s the link ua-cam.com/video/cWHhhknRkWA/v-deo.html
"Tea for the Tillerman" is a remarkable album, you can't really miss on there. "Miles from Nowhere" and "On the Road to Find Out" especially. Cat is a top tier songwriter and musician.
Cat Stevens wrote and performed "The First Cut is the Deepest" in 1967 and it's good but despite the fact that I'm a huge Cat Stevens fan, I have to admit that I believe Rod Stewart's cover is better. For Rod, it was a giant hit. Sheryl Crow did a nice cover too. Hey, back-to-back comparisons would be cool!
Yes! More Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam, please! “Morning Has Broken,” “Peace Train,” and “Father and Son” are all excellent choices. And please check out another amazing singer/songwriter from this era - Bill Withers. Talk about a deep dive...his songs “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Use Me,” “Lean On Me,” “Lovely Day,” and many others, are all worthy of an appearance on your channel!
If you do Lean On Me by Bill Withers, you should also check out the ArtistsCan version sung as a charity single by Canadian artists at the start of the pandemic. There are links to tell you who each singer is....and if you indeed watch this version, there is a small bit at the end after the music ends which you should also watch (about 20 secs)
The combination of his incredible range, uniquely distinctive sound, and his ability to convey emotion makes Cat Stevens one of the all time great singers. Father and Son is a great example of all of these vocal gifts. Incredible lyrics too.
"Father and Son" is a lot like this, but as a back-and-forth conversation between them -rather than here where it's the father singing to his daughter.- [edit: oops, my mistake. see below.] I'll second "Moonshadow" and "Peace Train" among the many songs already being mentioned in the comments just for Rule of Three. But really, this is another artist with whom you can't go wrong. Just pin his discography to a dart board and pick a song that way, you'll be good. Oh and BTW, as someone else noted, you need to see _Harold and Maude_ both because of its Cat Stevens-heavy soundtrack and because it's a charmingly strange and funny movie.
Hey, fwiw, this was not father-to-daughter, it was guy-to-former-lover. (I truly feel excited for you because you now get to listen to the song in a whole new way!) "Stevens developed a relationship with actress Patti D'Arbanville and the two were a pair throughout a period of roughly two years. During that time, he wrote several songs about her, including 'Wild World'. "The song is in the form of the singer's words to his departing lover, inspired by the end of their romance. Stevens later recalled to Mojo: 'It was one of those chord sequences that's very common in Spanish music. I turned it around and came up with that theme-which is a recurring theme in my work-which is to do with leaving, the sadness of leaving, and the anticipation of what lies beyond.'"
@@dwc1964 That is simply a reference to how young the ex-girlfriend is. Young, naive not ready for the wild world out there. He will always remember her as she is now, not the person she will be years down the road.
Wild World is not a song about a father, daughter relationship. It is a song written about the end of Cat Stevens relationship with Patti D'Arbanville. There was a lot of criticism from music critics about a specific line in this song warning a woman about the "big bad world" out there. As if a woman needed a man to survive. One of the points being "imagine a female warning an ex-lover that "he's too innocent" for the big bad world". Not sure how old you are, if you were around when this song was written then but this was in the early days of the Woman's Movement/feminism, and women were protesting, marching, lobbying, burning their bras for equal rights. So this didn't go over well with many people. At the time (1971) this song was written CS was 23 and Patti was 20. Not far into adulthood so it would not be unreasonable for him to warn the person he loved & was grieving for (read the lyrics) to be careful out there. And, that he would remember her as a child (not literally) but as the very "young" girl she was when he was with her & not the woman she would become in later years. He also wrote a prior song about Patti in 1970 which more or less ended their relationship. Patti was a model at the time and went on to become an actress. CS was more invested in the relationship & wanted more, CS wrote the song and heard it on the radio. Long story short it basically ended their relationship. Hence, Wild World was written. Hope you don't mind the clarification. :)
"18th Avenue" is a deeper track off his "Catch Bull At Four" album that is something to listen to. Makes me smile to think that back in the days of these songs being released we were a generation that could easily listen to Led Zeppelin and the next album placed on our turntables could be from Cat Stevens, good music was just that... good music!
Peace Train is next from Cat. But when do we finally get to hear Harry Nilsson's brilliant cover of Badfinger's Without You? It is a vocal masterpiece.
@@ashliestevenson6823 They have not, but I want them to discover that gem later, so that they have some surprising place to go, after they think they have come to know an artist.
These won't stand a chance in hell competing for recommendations of earlier albums, but Catch Bull at Four, and Foreigner are two fantastic albums. Foreigner (to me) is Cat Stevens' Dark Side of the Moon. It's a mood.
Lady D'Arbanville is such a beautiful song, Matthews and son is pure 60s, Morning has Broken is up there with My way and Hey Jude as a classic song. You really can't go wrong with Cat Stevens, any of the songs people are suggesting will blow you away.
Many great songs- try “Trouble”, he wrote it early in his career when he was battling tuberculosis and a collapsed lung, and thought he didn’t have much time left. Used in Harold and Maude and several other shows.
ESSENTIAL Cat Stevens - Father and Son, The Wind, Trouble. And you may as well just watch the stellar cult classic Harold and Maude whose entire soundtrack is Cat Stevens. Iconic!
This whole album is a gem, and perhaps the pinnacle of his work as a unit. The album "Teaser and the Firecat" is also wonderful. More of his albums are also full of great songs.
If it was not already mentioned, Carly Simon's hit "Anticipation" was supposedly written by her when she was waiting to go on a date with Cat Stevens. Morning Has Broken would be my next Cat Stevens song to hit.
"Killin' time" is a banger, too. Pretty scathing lyrics ... I wish I had "You missed the point, you really missed the point" as a jingle on fast dial in online discussions sometimes.
Yes on Cat!! And, yes to all the typical other Cat scratches commenters will recommend but really give Hard Headed Women a listen. In general, his lyrics have tremendous depth but not preachy. However, they will make you think…long after the song ends. If you dig Cat, give Tea for the tillerman a listen in its entirety.
Wow Jim Croce and then Cat Stevens! You guys are hitting' my early 70s sweet spots here. For The Cat, I'd say "Morning Has Broken" next, just because it's his biggest hit. You mentioned Elton John in the intro and I'll say it again - "Someone Saved My Life Tonight". Do it!
"Miles From Nowhere" is a gospel-tinged banger. "Sweet Scarlett" is a piano masterpiece he wrote about Carly Simon. "Trouble" is a lyrically profound plea for mercy.
@@bradsense7431 Rick has done more session work than anyone in the world. He's in the book of world records. He has hundreds of solo albums and recordings. I have about 50 of his solo albums and that doesn't even put a dent in what he has recorded. Rick is THE MASTER!
It might be down lower on everyone else's lists but my all time favorite Cat Stevens song was Morning Has Broken. It was an old, ancient song that was revived and I even remember them singing it in church after he made it so famous. All the other songs mentioned in the comments are great songs but for me, it will always be Morning Has Broken.
To me, the thing that really separates Cat Stevens is his arrangements. When you think “singer/songwriter”, you usually think lyricist. But Cat Stevens’ music is really well arranged. He is like Joni Mitchell in that regard.
This is the truth. I keep saying it about "Peace Train" - that the arrangement, the adding of instruments one by one, the backup singers entering for just one word until the chorus - but it's true of all his work.
Good example of that is this song. There was a cover of "Wild World" that hit the Top 40 in the late '80s, I think. It was all very... even. Bland. No dynamics. Certainly none of those brief pauses with Cat's growl as he sings "... And I'll always remember you like a child, girl."
All suggestions so far are excellent. One I haven't seen mentioned yet is Yusuf's version of the hymn Morning Has Broken. Rick Wakeman of Yes is a session musician on the track and wrote the piano intro, outro, and interlude for it when Yusuf's producer said the hymn with just guitar was too simplistic to put on the album.
yeah, I was waiting for the rating and wondering if they'd give it an S then again, as someone else said, this isn't even his all-time best tune - imho "Father and Son" is an even more powerful parent/offspring themed song as it's a conversation between the two [edit: I'm informed that I had this one wrong...] he's just an S-tier artist, is all
We’ve been thinking about not doing a rating unless we feel that it’ll help us describe our feelings toward a song, we’ll see, just want it to feel more natural 😁
1970 2nd time to try pot, 1st time didn't feel anything, next time was in a cabin by a lake it hit me fully with this album playing.....the music and lyrics were burned into my heart and soul...still to this day I remember everything about this album!!! Sad Lisa would be my next choice but any song off this album is a keeper!!
Loved Cat Stevens, growing up in the 70's to his music. But then, in 1989, he inserted himself into the whole Salman Rushdie controversy - and that spoiled CS and his music for a lot of people, myself included, for many many years. I only recently started listening to him again, and enjoy it once again - but still have that unfortunate pang of listening to his songs while knowing that he publicly called for the death of another artist. A very weird chapter of music history.
10,000 Maniacs had included a cover of "Peace Train" on an album in 1987. When the Rushdie thing happened, they stopped playing the song in concerts, and pulled it from future pressings of the album. Natalie Merchant was super pissed.
Totally unique vocal style. Inspired almost spiritual songwriting. His humble message of peace and devotion to something bigger than us was perfect for the era. It's no wonder he turned to religion and decided to devote his life to it... Although he still makes appearances from time to time. Sounds exactly the same. Check out "Moon Shadow", "Peace Train", "Morning Has Broken".
He was born Steven Georgiou, changed his stage name to Cat Stevens, then converted to Islam and became Yussuf Islam. He had a terrific hot period in the early seventies, but got really ill with TB. When he recovered he had a straight three of albums that should be on everyone's shelf. Catch Bull At Four, Tea For the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat. His peak of popularity was when the folk revival was at its height, so he was competing with the likes of Pentangle, Simon and Garfunkel and Stealer's Wheel. And Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Buffy Saint-Marie, Donovan, Carly Simon and Carol King. Stellar.
"How Can I Tell You", "The Wind", "Morning Has Broken", "The First Cut Is The Deepest", "Father and Son", "Trouble" are My Favourites of his. Some of the catchiest and best written tunes. Cat Stevens' and Jim Croce's music always lifts me up in time of trouble!
Wow, great choice!!! Definitely worthy of full album reaction! " Tea For The Tillerman" Circa 70! Great albums before and after, though this was the one that broke the US and at the time was huge!! Tracks!! Moonshadow Morning has Broken First Cut is the Deepest Love Jim Croce though Cat is the most spiritual Cat period. Art Garfunkle inducted him into the R&R Hall of Fame.
In the intro leading up to his induction, Yusuf says “You can argue with philosophy but you can’t argue with a good song, and I think I’ve got a few good songs!” Indeed, he does! ☺️
Also voting for "Oh Very Young," which is a great, great song. Also, a dark horse nod to his "The First Cut is the Deepest" (later covered by so many others), which would make for a quintessential "deep cut" choice! :-)
Moonshadow, Father and Son, Peace Train, Morning Has Broken... The man wrote and sang incredible music and lyrics. Another part of my 70's teenage years. Thnx so much!
'Morning has Broken' 'Father and Son' - also worth seeing the live version of Yusuf doing 'Wild World' with Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) joining in...it's incredible.
I always imagine this as a couple who is part of a commune. Her desire to step away from him and the community and into the wider world’ but her innocence and inexperience concerns him. Lovely song!.
70’s Rock Just Hits Different Singer Songwriter Glam Rock Classic Rock Wild World is Awesome So are many other Cat Stevens songs Moonshadow Peace Train Morning Has Broken 👍🏻
For a beautiful song, his cover of "Morning Has Broken" is difficult to top and features the piano talents of the incomparable Rick Wakeman!! Yeah...that caped dude of Yes fame!
Another 70s singer-songwriter you should hit is Tom Waits. He's created a lot of great music, but for this channel I'd suggest Step Right Up or The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) from his Small Change album. Some fun singer-songwriter stuff that doesn't take itself too seriously for a change (no pun intended). You could also check out (Looking for) The Heart of Saturday Night. That's a great tune too.
I second Tom Waits. As with a lot of artists, it can be tough to find the right introduction. "Step Right Up" is my top choice, too, with the warning that no one Tom Waits song is "representative" of his body of work.
We loveddd this track, what’s the next one we’ve got to hit from him we see there seems to be loads of good ones 🔥
He wrote "The First Cut Is The Deepest" as a boy pop star.
Oh Very Young
You heard The Wind in Almost Famous.
Seems like almost a year since you reviewed Genesis/Firth of Fifth and noted that you hoped to review some of Peter Gabriel’s solo stuff.
Don’t give up, guys!
In my opinion, "Hard headed woman" was his best song, followed by "Two Fine People." "Peace Train" is good, but sounded better in the early 1970's.
Cat Stevens is one of the epic singer songwriters of the 70s. Do Father and Son, Sitting, Moonshadow, Peace Train, Sad Lisa, hell do everything off his greatest hits album. Nice rabbit hole to go down.
Sad Lisa is gorgeous
@@vincentschmitt7597 It is great as is "Where Do The Children Play"
@@vincentschmitt7597 ALWAYS makes me cry. Don't know for sure but I imagine it was inspired by the film "David & Lisa" as it certainly seems to describe the Lisa character perfectly.
I don't think Cat Steven's ever wrote a bad song. "Peace Train" still gives me goosebumps after about 50years.
Yes, all those you mentioned and Morning Has Broken.
Surprised that nobody has mentioned “Oh Very Young,” another Cat Stevens classic.
Can't believe I forgot that one. I love it.
Also, 'The Wind'; such a good song, but too short!😊
Agree "Oh Very Young" great song!
My mom owns the original vinyl LP of Tea For The Tillerman....60's and 70's music really does span generations doesn't it?
Moon shadow ,in my opinion, is hands down his best song.
Peace train is a solid Cat Stevens song
My favorite!
Nice cover by 10,000 Maniacs as well, late 80s.
@@David-iv6je Oooh yeah
I feel this is advanced cat Steven's.
Cat Stevens was huge in my college years. Fun fact: Carly Simon wrote "Anticipation" while waiting for Cat Stevens to pick her up for date.
I thought it was while she was waiting for ketchup to pour. 😄
I came here to write this. Do some Carly!
Yum ❤
Where to go next with Cat Stevens: "Father and Son" is a masterpiece of songwriting and captures the generational gaps that had formed in the 1960s and '70s. "Moonshadow" and "Peace Train" are both excellent. "Morning Has Broken" has got to be one of the prettiest songs to come out of the classic rock era. So many great songs and it's hard to go wrong with any of them.
I was going to write almost the exact thing; only would add in Oh Very Young...it always hits me with all the feels that only the '70's can stir up.
Yes 'Morning Has Broken' with the amazing Rick Wakeman on piano.
Sad Lisa
Bingo!
Word
If y'all are intent on going down the 70s singer-songwriter rabbit hole then you absolutely have to hit Carole King before any of these others that you been hitting. You want someone whose record can stand up to Dylan's? Then this is your gal, not Cat Stevens. According to wikipedia she has written 118 songs that have hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart and her masterpiece album, Tapestry, was #1 for 15 weeks and remained on the album chart for more than six years. It's Too Late is my personal favorite hit of hers from Tapestry, but you could also go with You've Got a Friend or I Feel the Earth Move.
I’ve been suggesting Carole King - specifically Tapestry, for the longest!!! Hopefully they will get around to it soon - she is a wonderful artist & her music was the soundtrack to my youth!
"It's Too Late" is my favorite, too. I've suggested it a couple of times.
Do the whole album
@@justsandy4381 it's more than worthy of a full album reaction.
I agree. Carole is one of the most prolific female artists in history. Tapestry was one of the most influential albums of that era. Amazing talent. She wrote "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" when she was 17 years old. I can't tell you what I was doing at 17, but it certainly wasn't writing a major hit and an all-time classic.
Don't miss Harold and Maude. A brilliant comedy with a Cat Stevens soundtrack.
One of my favorite films of all time, and the Cat Stevens soundtrack is one of the reasons.
I came to the comments to say this.
That movie was Brilliant
"Trouble" !
Yes! This would be such a good movie choice.👍
"Morning Has Broken" is beautiful and features Rick Wakeman of Yes on the piano.
That's so interesting! Rick Wakeman on piano...wow, still learning great stuff about these albums even on the wrong side of my 60's! lol
They'd hate it. They found "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and of all things Toto's "Rosanna" too "churchy" and were turned off by that.
Father and Son is an essential Cat Stevens song to do.
Cat Stevens is one of the best singer/songwriters ever. So much emotion in his voice. Grew up listening to him and still do to this day.
I love the 70’s Singer Songwriters! Cat Stevens, Carole King, Harry Chapin, Jim Croce, Carly Simon, James Taylor….. LOVE!!!
You forgot John Prine!
and Neil Sedaka
Todd Rundgren
I’ve been asking for Chapin for sometime, like Lightfoot, another master songwriter.
Gordon Lightfoot
"Oh Very Young" always makes me tear up in a good way.
Another great one! The goodbye makes the journey harder still. Damn, prophetic.
Love C79 from the same album. An overlooked song in my opinion!
"Morning Has Broken" "Moonshadow," and "RubyLove" are three of the most beautiful songs ever... and all by Cat Stevens.
"Morning Has Broken" was not written by Cat Stevens. The words were written in 1931 by Eleanor Farjeon, and the melody is a much older Scottish folk song.
@@drossword i was surprised to see it in our Baptist Hymnal.
I remember singing Morning has Broken in our primary school assemblies as "just another hymn" so when Cat Stevens had his hit, the kids were wondering, "why's he singing that?" Given our age, the reaction was understandable!
Don’t forget Father and Son
Carole King would be an artist/singer/songwriter to deep delve into. One of the most prolific songwriters, she wrote so many hits for herself as well as many other top artists, collaborating with her ex and other all-star songwriters such as James Taylor...her album Tapestry is a masterpiece
Father and Son will leave you in a puddle of tears. Morning Has Broken is a soothing warm bowl of sauce.
Another woman singer-songwriter who deserves much respect is Rickie Lee Jones. She's created great music for four decades now, but a good place to start with her is her debut album. Chuck E's In Love, Danny's All-Star Joint, and Young Blood are good tracks for this channel. Please add her to your singer-songwriter list. You won't be disappointed.
I've been requesting Rickie Lee Jones on several channels. Wilburn Reacts did Danny's All-Star Joint recently. That's a great one to start with! When that album came out, I listened to it over and over again!
She has a very cool lyrical autobiography out w/ amazing inside stories.
(RIP Chuck E.)
YES!
@@lynne5322 I have it on my reading list. Heard her talk about it in interviews and it sounds like she has a great story to tell.
My vote is for Cat's Steven's "Father and Son". One of my favourite songs of all time.
There’s an excellent mashup on UA-cam of concert footage of Yusuf singing the father part and Cat singing the son part. Well worth watching.
Edit: here’s the link
ua-cam.com/video/cWHhhknRkWA/v-deo.html
"Tea for the Tillerman" is a remarkable album, you can't really miss on there. "Miles from Nowhere" and "On the Road to Find Out" especially. Cat is a top tier songwriter and musician.
I would say the same for "Teaser and the Firecat"
I always loved "Where do the children play".
That one doesn't get mentioned much. It's not quite up there with his best, but a good song with a message that's still relevant.
@@bodaciouscowboy I agree, the message but also I love the depth of his vocals in that song.
Love this song. Definitely in my top four. Depending on my mood, they rotate positions. lol.
I suggested too, before scrolling..sorry! Yes indeed. The song simply uniquely sticks out.And speaks volumes.
@@4keystone1 Great minds think alike. i listen to "Children" as much as any of his songs.
The beauty of his "Peace Train" is his commitment and emotion throughout the song. There's no doubt that he felt and believed the lyric he wrote.
And not even his best song. Such a magnificent songwriter.
Many of his best songs are his deep cuts, especially from Teaser and the Firecat and Tea For The Tillerman.
@@garymaidman625 Amen to that!! Never did a bad album, but those two are truly outstanding!
Cat Stevens wrote and performed "The First Cut is the Deepest" in 1967 and it's good but despite the fact that I'm a huge Cat Stevens fan, I have to admit that I believe Rod Stewart's cover is better. For Rod, it was a giant hit. Sheryl Crow did a nice cover too. Hey, back-to-back comparisons would be cool!
Yes! More Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam, please! “Morning Has Broken,” “Peace Train,” and “Father and Son” are all excellent choices. And please check out another amazing singer/songwriter from this era - Bill Withers. Talk about a deep dive...his songs “Ain’t No Sunshine,” “Use Me,” “Lean On Me,” “Lovely Day,” and many others, are all worthy of an appearance on your channel!
If you do Lean On Me by Bill Withers, you should also check out the ArtistsCan version sung as a charity single by Canadian artists at the start of the pandemic. There are links to tell you who each singer is....and if you indeed watch this version, there is a small bit at the end after the music ends which you should also watch (about 20 secs)
Lean On Me is one of the best songs EVER.
Oh yes, I will keep beating on the Bill Withers drum until they react to him.
I 2nd the Bill Withers suggestion, "Use Me" is my favorite!
@@garyschill7923 “Use Me” is my favorite, too! That percussion by James Gadson is 🔥🔥🔥!
The combination of his incredible range, uniquely distinctive sound, and his ability to convey emotion makes Cat Stevens one of the all time great singers.
Father and Son is a great example of all of these vocal gifts. Incredible lyrics too.
Tea for the Tillerman is probably deserving of at least an honorable mention for best albums of all time.
It's one of the best of the 1970s unquestionably.
For me Teaser and the Firecat beats Tea by a whisker!
This was one of the best produced and best pressed albums ever. The headroom was spectacular...the music just leapt off the vinyl.
"Father and Son" is a lot like this, but as a back-and-forth conversation between them -rather than here where it's the father singing to his daughter.- [edit: oops, my mistake. see below.]
I'll second "Moonshadow" and "Peace Train" among the many songs already being mentioned in the comments just for Rule of Three.
But really, this is another artist with whom you can't go wrong. Just pin his discography to a dart board and pick a song that way, you'll be good.
Oh and BTW, as someone else noted, you need to see _Harold and Maude_ both because of its Cat Stevens-heavy soundtrack and because it's a charmingly strange and funny movie.
Hey, fwiw, this was not father-to-daughter, it was guy-to-former-lover. (I truly feel excited for you because you now get to listen to the song in a whole new way!)
"Stevens developed a relationship with actress Patti D'Arbanville and the two were a pair throughout a period of roughly two years. During that time, he wrote several songs about her, including 'Wild World'.
"The song is in the form of the singer's words to his departing lover, inspired by the end of their romance. Stevens later recalled to Mojo: 'It was one of those chord sequences that's very common in Spanish music. I turned it around and came up with that theme-which is a recurring theme in my work-which is to do with leaving, the sadness of leaving, and the anticipation of what lies beyond.'"
@@jimreadey2743 oh, ooh, oops. The "I'll always remember you like a child, girl" line definitely hits differently.
@@dwc1964, when I was a pre-teen and teenager, I thought Jimi Hendrix was singing, "Scuse me, while I kiss this guy...".
@@dwc1964 That is simply a reference to how young the ex-girlfriend is. Young, naive not ready for the wild world out there. He will always remember her as she is now, not the person she will be years down the road.
Wild World is not a song about a father, daughter relationship. It is a song written about the end of Cat Stevens relationship with Patti D'Arbanville. There was a lot of criticism from music critics about a specific line in this song warning a woman about the "big bad world" out there. As if a woman needed a man to survive. One of the points being "imagine a female warning an ex-lover that "he's too innocent" for the big bad world". Not sure how old you are, if you were around when this song was written then but this was in the early days of the Woman's Movement/feminism, and women were protesting, marching, lobbying, burning their bras for equal rights. So this didn't go over well with many people. At the time (1971) this song was written CS was 23 and Patti was 20. Not far into adulthood so it would not be unreasonable for him to warn the person he loved & was grieving for (read the lyrics) to be careful out there. And, that he would remember her as a child (not literally) but as the very "young" girl she was when he was with her & not the woman she would become in later years. He also wrote a prior song about Patti in 1970 which more or less ended their relationship. Patti was a model at the time and went on to become an actress. CS was more invested in the relationship & wanted more, CS wrote the song and heard it on the radio. Long story short it basically ended their relationship. Hence, Wild World was written. Hope you don't mind the clarification. :)
"18th Avenue" is a deeper track off his "Catch Bull At Four" album that is something to listen to. Makes me smile to think that back in the days of these songs being released we were a generation that could easily listen to Led Zeppelin and the next album placed on our turntables could be from Cat Stevens, good music was just that... good music!
Peace Train is next from Cat. But when do we finally get to hear Harry Nilsson's brilliant cover of Badfinger's Without You? It is a vocal masterpiece.
How about "Everybody's Talkin'"?
Jump Into the Fire from Nilsson Schmilsson ( unless you've already done that.
@@ashliestevenson6823 They have not, but I want them to discover that gem later, so that they have some surprising place to go, after they think they have come to know an artist.
Morning Has Broken will forever give me chills every time.
Both of you are young men, I hope you listen "Father and Son" by Cat Stevens. I do believe it will hit your soul very much!
These won't stand a chance in hell competing for recommendations of earlier albums, but Catch Bull at Four, and Foreigner are two fantastic albums. Foreigner (to me) is Cat Stevens' Dark Side of the Moon. It's a mood.
Lady D'Arbanville is such a beautiful song, Matthews and son is pure 60s, Morning has Broken is up there with My way and Hey Jude as a classic song. You really can't go wrong with Cat Stevens, any of the songs people are suggesting will blow you away.
Great Cat choices
Many great songs- try “Trouble”, he wrote it early in his career when he was battling tuberculosis and a collapsed lung, and thought he didn’t have much time left. Used in Harold and Maude and several other shows.
I have always LOVED 'Trouble', and the scene in which this plays in 'Harold and Maude' is perfectly suited for the gutwrenching tone of the song.
ESSENTIAL Cat Stevens - Father and Son, The Wind, Trouble. And you may as well just watch the stellar cult classic Harold and Maude whose entire soundtrack is Cat Stevens. Iconic!
good picks!
This whole album is a gem, and perhaps the pinnacle of his work as a unit. The album "Teaser and the Firecat" is also wonderful. More of his albums are also full of great songs.
Cat always takes me back to high school when everyone I knew had the Tea for the Tillerman album. Peace Train, Moon Shadow would be great to try next.
Cat Stevens has an unmistakable voice, with that natural vibrato. I love Peace Train, but pretty much anything he touched, is awesome.
When I was in college everyone had his albums.The girls were especially crazy about him!
I mailed Cat a thank you note
No kidding! He was so damned cute! Especially when he grew the beard. I was in love!
Those brown eyes...
The lush hair... 😍
Yeah what’s not to drool over!
@@jennifermcdonald5432 The fact is that guys realised he was a great looking guy but weren't jealous about it.
If it was not already mentioned, Carly Simon's hit "Anticipation" was supposedly written by her when she was waiting to go on a date with Cat Stevens. Morning Has Broken would be my next Cat Stevens song to hit.
Try Bitter Blue, that’s a musician’s song. Then Morning has Broken and Peace Train. Many more after that as good.
YES
Do you like "The Wind"?
as far as his catalog goes, i'd pick "Bitterblue" to be a song that fits in the A&A "Banger" category. solid choice, often overlooked!
"Killin' time" is a banger, too. Pretty scathing lyrics ... I wish I had "You missed the point, you really missed the point" as a jingle on fast dial in online discussions sometimes.
This album, Tea For The Tillerman is folky singer/songwriter magic.
The First Cut Is the Deepest is another great one. Rod Stewart did a great cover.
I actually think Rob Stewart did it better, and this is from a massive Cat Stevens fan.
Surely the PP Arnold version is the definitive one?
Yes on Cat!!
And, yes to all the typical other Cat scratches commenters will recommend but really give Hard Headed Women a listen.
In general, his lyrics have tremendous depth but not preachy. However, they will make you think…long after the song ends.
If you dig Cat, give Tea for the tillerman a listen in its entirety.
"Morning Has Broken" and "Peace Train" are the 1st to come to mind. "Father And Son" is another good one.
You've NEVER heard of Cat Stevens?! Wow yous guys are babies (meaning young) He is such a legend. Such an impact he made on the 70s.
Wow Jim Croce and then Cat Stevens! You guys are hitting' my early 70s sweet spots here. For The Cat, I'd say "Morning Has Broken" next, just because it's his biggest hit. You mentioned Elton John in the intro and I'll say it again - "Someone Saved My Life Tonight". Do it!
Yes do it! My favorite Elton John song!
My favorite by him as well! Actually in my top 10 songs of all time. My favorite line is "and just one more beer, and I don't hear you anymore."
@@karend918 I love all the lyrics but that is one of the good ones!! Andy and Alex need to listen to the Karens! 😉😂
"Miles From Nowhere" is a gospel-tinged banger. "Sweet Scarlett" is a piano masterpiece he wrote about Carly Simon. "Trouble" is a lyrically profound plea for mercy.
Great catalogue. rick Wakeman know for being in "YES" even played the piano for his song "Morning Has Broken".
Correct.
Wow I did not know that thanks for sharing. That was one of the few songs we listen to as kids that my mom liked.
@@bradsense7431 He's a tremendous keyboardist.
@@bradsense7431 Rick has done more session work than anyone in the world. He's in the book of world records. He has hundreds of solo albums and recordings. I have about 50 of his solo albums and that doesn't even put a dent in what he has recorded. Rick is THE MASTER!
@@snorelacks7069 Rick is the GOAT!!!!!
It might be down lower on everyone else's lists but my all time favorite Cat Stevens song was Morning Has Broken. It was an old, ancient song that was revived and I even remember them singing it in church after he made it so famous. All the other songs mentioned in the comments are great songs but for me, it will always be Morning Has Broken.
To me, the thing that really separates Cat Stevens is his arrangements. When you think “singer/songwriter”, you usually think lyricist. But Cat Stevens’ music is really well arranged. He is like Joni Mitchell in that regard.
This is the truth. I keep saying it about "Peace Train" - that the arrangement, the adding of instruments one by one, the backup singers entering for just one word until the chorus - but it's true of all his work.
Good example of that is this song. There was a cover of "Wild World" that hit the Top 40 in the late '80s, I think. It was all very... even. Bland. No dynamics. Certainly none of those brief pauses with Cat's growl as he sings "... And I'll always remember you like a child, girl."
My thoughts exactly. Cat Stevens and Joni Mitchell are paired in my brain the way David Bowie and Kate Bush are.
Cat Stevens' "The Hurt" is highly underrated. Give it a listen.
I second this, my favorite Cat Stevens song.
All suggestions so far are excellent. One I haven't seen mentioned yet is Yusuf's version of the hymn Morning Has Broken. Rick Wakeman of Yes is a session musician on the track and wrote the piano intro, outro, and interlude for it when Yusuf's producer said the hymn with just guitar was too simplistic to put on the album.
He also did Do You Remember the Old School Yard, one of my favorites!'
What!! No rating?? S Tier all the way from me. One of my absolute favorite artists and songs from back in the day. Still holds up🎸
yeah, I was waiting for the rating and wondering if they'd give it an S
then again, as someone else said, this isn't even his all-time best tune - imho "Father and Son" is an even more powerful parent/offspring themed song as it's a conversation between the two [edit: I'm informed that I had this one wrong...]
he's just an S-tier artist, is all
@@dwc1964 Totally agree! S Tier artist all the way. No need to make comparisons between his masterpieces😍
We’ve been thinking about not doing a rating unless we feel that it’ll help us describe our feelings toward a song, we’ll see, just want it to feel more natural 😁
I really look forward to the rating.
@@andyandalex Thanks for letting me know. I think that's a good idea! There's no competition in greatness😍
Damn I love that young people appreciate the genuis of those who were their age when they created these masterpieces, Bravo.
Peace Train!!! Should also check out his duet of Wild World with the late Chris Cornell. It’s fantastic ❤️
Good suggestion! Loved that video! ☮💕🎸
Thanks, I’ve never heard of that.
One that might fly under the radar is my favorite, Father and Son. One of the best songs of the time.
Cat Stevens wrote "The First Cut is the Deepest" which has been covered by many other artists, notably Rod Stewart in 1977 and Sheryl Crow in 1993.
Cat Stevens wrote "Here Comes My Baby" -- popularized by the Tremeloes in 1967. Worth a review.
Prefer his original version.
This whole album is great!..Not a dog in the bunch.
1970 2nd time to try pot, 1st time didn't feel anything, next time was in a cabin by a lake it hit me fully with this album playing.....the music and lyrics were burned into my heart and soul...still to this day I remember everything about this album!!! Sad Lisa would be my next choice but any song off this album is a keeper!!
Loved Cat Stevens, growing up in the 70's to his music. But then, in 1989, he inserted himself into the whole Salman Rushdie controversy - and that spoiled CS and his music for a lot of people, myself included, for many many years. I only recently started listening to him again, and enjoy it once again - but still have that unfortunate pang of listening to his songs while knowing that he publicly called for the death of another artist. A very weird chapter of music history.
10,000 Maniacs had included a cover of "Peace Train" on an album in 1987. When the Rushdie thing happened, they stopped playing the song in concerts, and pulled it from future pressings of the album. Natalie Merchant was super pissed.
Has a lot of good songs one I'm surprised that hasn't been mentioned yet is "If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out" but "Father and Son" should be next.
There is an amazing cult movie " Harold and Maude" and the soundtrack is All Cat Steven. Love the movie
Peace Train is such a great song by Cat - you'll love it!
His lyrics are so emotionally shown through the music. You guys would love Peace Train, Moonshadow, oh very young .. all the Cat!
A&A great instalment. Peace Train, Father and Son, Where do the Children Play are a few other key Cat tunes. Peace from Toronto!
"Matthew & Son", "Moonshadow" and "Morning Has Broken" are all brilliant songs.
I like the story by Carly Simon about how she wrote Anticipation while she was waiting for Cat Stevens, at the time, to come by her house.
Anything from 'Tea for the Tillerman' or 'Teaser and the Firecat' is brilliant.
Watch Harold and Maude. The soundtrack is all Cat Stevens.
One of my favorites was always 'Where Do The Children Play', his vocal delivery in this one is spot on.
Totally unique vocal style. Inspired almost spiritual songwriting. His humble message of peace and devotion to something bigger than us was perfect for the era. It's no wonder he turned to religion and decided to devote his life to it... Although he still makes appearances from time to time. Sounds exactly the same. Check out "Moon Shadow", "Peace Train", "Morning Has Broken".
He was born Steven Georgiou, changed his stage name to Cat Stevens, then converted to Islam and became Yussuf Islam. He had a terrific hot period in the early seventies, but got really ill with TB. When he recovered he had a straight three of albums that should be on everyone's shelf. Catch Bull At Four, Tea For the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat. His peak of popularity was when the folk revival was at its height, so he was competing with the likes of Pentangle, Simon and Garfunkel and Stealer's Wheel. And Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Buffy Saint-Marie, Donovan, Carly Simon and Carol King. Stellar.
Cat Stevens had some wonderful music. He also did the art for the album cover. Thanks.
"How Can I Tell You", "The Wind", "Morning Has Broken", "The First Cut Is The Deepest", "Father and Son", "Trouble" are My Favourites of his. Some of the catchiest and best written tunes. Cat Stevens' and Jim Croce's music always lifts me up in time of trouble!
Wow, great choice!!!
Definitely worthy of full album reaction!
" Tea For The Tillerman" Circa 70!
Great albums before and after, though this was the one that broke the US and at the time was huge!!
Tracks!!
Moonshadow
Morning has Broken
First Cut is the Deepest
Love Jim Croce though Cat is the most spiritual Cat period.
Art Garfunkle inducted him into the R&R Hall of Fame.
In the intro leading up to his induction, Yusuf says “You can argue with philosophy but you can’t argue with a good song, and I think I’ve got a few good songs!” Indeed, he does! ☺️
Also voting for "Oh Very Young," which is a great, great song. Also, a dark horse nod to his "The First Cut is the Deepest" (later covered by so many others), which would make for a quintessential "deep cut" choice! :-)
"The Wind" - you've heard it in situ in "Almost Famous", just a beautiful 100 or so seconds of music.
that would be my first choice for them to listen to next
My absolute favorite from him.
Moonshadow, Father and Son, Peace Train, Morning Has Broken... The man wrote and sang incredible music and lyrics. Another part of my 70's teenage years. Thnx so much!
'Morning has Broken' 'Father and Son' - also worth seeing the live version of Yusuf doing 'Wild World' with Chris Cornell (Soundgarden) joining in...it's incredible.
You started with the right one. Next: "Hard-headed Woman", "Peace Train", "Moon Shadow".
I’d go Peace Train only because he wrote it in the early 70’s and yet this song is so current to where the world is in 2021
“Where Do The Children Play” would be a good one.
Cat Stevens wrote some wonderful songs for the movie Harold and Maude -- maybe you guys might want to check that out sometime
Today is my Birthday! Gotta love September Birthdays!
Happy Birthday from one Virgo to another!!🎂🎈
The whole Tea for the Tillerman is a great listen!
This album is an absolute masterpiece. Every song is great. One of the best albums ever. Hope you go down the Cat Stevens rabbit hole.
Love Cat Stevens! This is a solid song but he has a lot of good ones!
I always imagine this as a couple who is part of a commune. Her desire to step away from him and the community and into the wider world’ but her innocence and inexperience concerns him. Lovely song!.
70’s Rock Just Hits Different
Singer Songwriter
Glam Rock
Classic Rock
Wild World is Awesome
So are many other Cat Stevens songs
Moonshadow
Peace Train
Morning Has Broken 👍🏻
Cat Stevens ( Yusif Islam) your voice and music is iconic!
This album and Teaser and the Firecat are brilliant. Pick a song off either...can't lose !
Jamel AKA Jamal just did a live version that is so good and you can really see the charisma that Cat Stevens has in a performance.
Peace Train is another favorite.
He paints all the cover art for many of his post-1970 albums.
For a beautiful song, his cover of "Morning Has Broken" is difficult to top and features the piano talents of the incomparable Rick Wakeman!! Yeah...that caped dude of Yes fame!
The time has come for more Hall and Oates.....
Another 70s singer-songwriter you should hit is Tom Waits. He's created a lot of great music, but for this channel I'd suggest Step Right Up or The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) from his Small Change album. Some fun singer-songwriter stuff that doesn't take itself too seriously for a change (no pun intended). You could also check out (Looking for) The Heart of Saturday Night. That's a great tune too.
I second Tom Waits. As with a lot of artists, it can be tough to find the right introduction. "Step Right Up" is my top choice, too, with the warning that no one Tom Waits song is "representative" of his body of work.