Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens and singer of world-wide appreciated works such as ‘’Peace Train’’, ’’Moonshadow’’ or ‘’Matthew and Son’’ released his new album, entitled Tell’Em I’m Gone, on October 27. This album is the revival of Yusuf on the stage, as its release is attended by a world-wide tour including North America.
Cat Stevens’ vision upon his latest recording is yet another evidence of his deep sensitivity towards the essence of the human being and the quest for inner freedom: “I hope this record will help revive the spirit of Freedom…and re-kindle some of the excitement of those amazing days, when every musical door seemed to point us a way out of our imprisonment.” Although Cat Stevens has admitted that he is not passionate about collaborations in the process of art creation – his solo carrier, which expanded over half a decade, standing as proof of that – Tell’Em I’m Gone is a mixture of covers and collaborations with figures such as Richard Thompson or Matt Sweeney.
The first track of the album, entitled ‘’I was born in Babylon’’, talks about the emerging and disappearance of any prominent civilization, of its meanings and reasons, confesses the now Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Cat Stevens. In an already viral video on the making of the album, Cat Stevens aka Yusuf Islam describes his personal beliefs and views upon an art creating process and seems to compare it with the development of an ancient civilization: ‘’Songwriting is an extension of what you’re doing, what you’re thinking. It can come any time, providing that you’re in a creative moment: a mood which is created by a cord or a riff ignites the song’’.
Cat Stevens made entrance in the musical stage of the 60’s and has been considered ever since one of the most influential and creative artists in the history of music. His early chart hits of 1967 included songs such as ‘’Matthew and Son’’ or ‘’I Love My Dog’’. This first period was of a rather playful and youthful Cat Stevens, who would later on change into a more mature, spiritual Yusuf Islam. The turning point in the artist’s inner life and musical career was the year 1968, when he contracted tuberculosis, due to his Pop Star life and heavy working. This event gave Cat Stevens the opportunity to access a deeper inner self as he embarked into a voyage of self-reconsideration. In the following years, as a consequence of his receiving a Coran, Cat Stevens would become Yusuf Islam (the Arabic version of Joseph), transformation which did not cease his musical development, but which deepened his awareness of the importance of spirituality in the life and work of an artist: ‘’Music comes from the soul, reaching out. Music allows us to look beyond the bars of our existence’’.
Tell ‘Em I’m Gone Tracklist:
01. I Was Raised in Babylon
02. Big Boss Man
03. Dying to Live
04. You Are My Sunshine
05. Editing Floor Blues
06. Cat and the Dog Trap
07. Gold Digger
08. The Devil Came From Kansas
09. Tell ‘Em I’m Gone
10. Doors