Cat Stevens is Back (in the Guise of Yusaf Islam)

It has been almost 40 years since Cat Stevens recorded his first song, and nearly 30 years since he last performed in concert in the guise of a folk-rock artist. In the interim, a lot has changed in the music industry: different artists, different styles of music and new technology just to name a few. All that change is underscored by Cat Stevens changing his name to “Yusaf Islam” and giving up virtually all his worldly goods before turning his back on the music industry that for years nurtured its favorite son. 

But come November 6, 2006, Cat Stevens a.k.a Yusaf Islam is going back to his roots: He’s coming out with a new album containing some of the most accessible pop and rock music he’s ever produced. The new effort, titled “Another Cup” - smacks of the great licks and lyrics of such Cat Stevens masterpieces as “Moonshadow,” “Morning has Broken” and “Wild World.” 

But is the record-buying public ready for Stevens/Islam’s return? The president of Polydor Records (which is distributing the new effort) - David Joseph - certainly thinks so. Referring to the music of Stevens/Islam as “timeless” and calling the ageless singer a “…truly unique voice and one of the greatest English recording artists of all time…” 

Hard to argue with the facts. 

When he was Cat Stevens, the balladeer seamlessly blended a variety of styles that included pop, rock, rhythm and blues. Stevens was a force to be reckoned with during the 1970’s, but by the end of the decade he was searching for something more. Shortly after the release of his last album, 1978’s “Back to Earth” Cat Stevens quietly changed his name to Yusaf Islam and began following a different path. 

Now that journey has taken him full circle.