NickDrake.com

[Joe Cronin]

I absolutely love his music. If you haven't got them already, I strongly advise you to check out the albums Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat.

Despite what you might think, he does share some similarities with Nick Drake. Both introspective folk singer/songwriters, both socially alienated and of course, both excellent tunesmiths.

Of course, Cat Stevens had a lot more success than Nick and also achieved happiness in the end, whereas Nick sadly didn't.

Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam) will be releasing his first album in nearly 30 years this November. I can't wait!

[bernie49]

I used to collect all his albums in the 70s, from Mona Bone Jakon up to Back To Earth + some Greatest Hits, but somehow grew out of listening to my old vinyl records. But I still have all of them, of course.

He also did some great stuff for some movies like "Deep End" & "Harold & Maude". I really liked him then, too.

One more thing he had in common with Nick: he also was an artist on Island Records. I wonder if they have ever met or talked
_________________
"Look through time and find your rhyme / Tell us what you find
We will wait / At your gate / Hoping like the blind"

[Joe Cronin]

Wow, you've got a great collection there!

Yeah, I really like the songs he did for 'Harold & Maude' too.

Hey, that's true! I didn't think of that. They probably never spoke to each other, but I like to think they might have done.
I wonder if they were fans of each other's music though?

[bernie49]

Hi Joe, just searched in Wiki, the 2 songs in Harold & Maude previously not available are "Don't Be Shy" & "If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out", sure you knew. The other film I mentioned before - Deep End - can't be found in Wiki. I clearly remember it, as it was broadcasted again a year ago or so. It was produced & filmed - I think only for TV - in an old bath in London, the actors were John Moulder-Brown (the young guy), Jane Asher (the girl adored) & Karl-Michael Vogler (the teacher). He's a German actor & also played in How I Won The War (w/ John Lennon, directed by Richard Lester). Anyway, Cat's song was I Might Die Tonight.

Just did some more research, here's a link to the film:
http://german.imdb.com/title/tt0066122/
It is fantastic, one you don't forget once you've seen it.
_________________
"Look through time and find your rhyme / Tell us what you find
We will wait / At your gate / Hoping like the blind"

[bernie49]

Hey Joe, just to brush up our conversation about Cat Stevens.
Maybe there are some more details, you're interested in.
Please feel free to get in touch with me, you know my number!
_________________
"Look through time and find your rhyme / Tell us what you find
We will wait / At your gate / Hoping like the blind"

[Joe Cronin]

Yes, I'd almost forgotten you liked Cat Stevens!

Seeing as we're both fans of re-masters, I have to recommend the Island Re-masters of his albums as they're some of the best I've heard in terms of audio quality.

I've got 'Tea for the Tillerman' and 'Teaser and the Firecat' from that range - absolutely superb. I can do you copies of them if you want?

[bernie49]

Thanks, that'd be great! If I can do anything for you, please let me know (via PM?).
_________________
"Look through time and find your rhyme / Tell us what you find
We will wait / At your gate / Hoping like the blind"

[anthony]

I too grew up with Cat Stevens'smusic.
I remember him discussing a song he'd written, called, I believe,"pick up a book".The theme was about wanting to choose a religion,but not quite knowing which one to pick. The connection with Nick is possibly not quite so slim.They both shared the pool of session musicians available at Island records,such as Danny Thompson,who I think maybe working on Cat Stevens new album.(dont quote me on that).
Both Cat and Danny converted to Islam at later stages in their lives.

[jamesstarbuck]

A fantastic musician

[placetobe]

I very much enjoy the music of Cat Stevens. He also uses strange tunings, amirite?