Cat Stevens, Yusuf

The DVD concert performance is brilliant – a wonderful live appearance captured to perfection February 22, 1976 at William & Mary College in Williamsburg, VA…

Even as a serious-minded singer/songwriter, Cat Stevens never stopped being a pop singer at heart, and with Teaser and the Firecat he reconciled his philosophical interests with his pop instincts. Basically, Teaser's songs came in two modes: gentle ballads that usually found Stevens and second guitarist Alun Davies playing delicate lines over sensitive love lyrics, and uptempo numbers on which the guitarists strummed away and thundering drums played in stop-start rhythms…

Completists will be happy to own many of the rarities on this four-disc set, including Stevens's first demo session, an unreleased 1970 duet with Elton John, a cover of Fats Domino's "Blue Monday," and several choice live cuts from the late '70s. And it's nice to have an overview of the artist's entire career–from late '60s pop-star wannabe to '70s folk-rock superstar–in one place. But the difference between early Cat Stevens (despite composing hits for others) and post-Tea for the Tillerman Stevens is substantial. The two follow-up LPs were part of a trilogy of brilliance–both musically and lyrically–and any Stevens collection must start there. Nevertheless, surprises and some gems are to be found throughout all four discs–even his most recent recording (as Yusuf Islam) isn't bad. This box set also offers a choice opportunity to reassess a deserving career. (All royalties go to New York City relief victims and orphans and homeless families in underdeveloped countries.)

Cat Stevens’ 1971 album Teaser and the Firecat will be reissued in November across five physical formats, including TWO super deluxe editions. The classic album includes songs such as ‘Moonshadow’, ‘Peace Train’, ‘Morning Has Broken’ and ‘The Wind’. It has been remastered at Abbey Road Studios, overseen by original album producer, Paul Samwell-Smith and as with previous reissues, an extensive super deluxe edition is the premium offering.