An Other Cup of Cat

Yusuf Islam
Originally uploaded by Tiago Pinhal.

I first ‘discovered’ the music of Cat Stevens when I was 21 – I’m not even sure how. I’d just landed my first proper job (eg. not in a pub!) as a sales executive for a small telephone directory.

Every morning I’d drive Barnaby (a very old gold Renault 5 – my first car) from Cirencester to Marlborough, about 45 minutes away. Barnaby had no heaters and in the dead of winter this was not good! I took to wrapping my legs in a blanket and wearing gloves whilst driving.

For some reason the only cassettes I had in the car were ‘Tea for the Tillerman’ and ‘Teaser and the Firecat’ – both of which I completely wore out.

On reflection I realise that I had come across Cat Stevens songs before, at school. It must have been something to do with the age of my teachers at primary school that we were taught the Beatles song ‘Lucy in the sky with diamonds’ as a poem, and ‘Morning has broken’ from listening to Cat Stevens.

So when, after 27 years of not releasing an album or touring, Yusuf Islam was coming to Sheffield to talk, play and show a DVD I certainly wanted tickets. Colin liked Cat Stevens too and although he hadn’t heard Yusuf’s new album we both went along to the Showroom.

The whole evening was very interesting and enjoyable, but as we left there were lots of people complaining – Yusuf didn’t bring his guitar – so no live music (as had been advertised).

Although this was obviously disappointing it is in a way understandable, he did say that it’s not really something he enjoys doing (live performance). For Colin and I the biggest disappointment was the person they got to interview him – Roly Smith from BBC Sheffield.

Amazingly for a so called DJ he admitted to not having heard Yusuf’s new album, An Other Cup – and to be honest he didn’t seem to know much about the singer at all.

We were ‘treated’ to inane questions about ‘Cat Stevens’ and his life, but very little about Yusuf Islam and next to nothing about the new music. Roly seemed only mildly interested in Yusuf’s conversion to Islam – more about the name change from Cat to Yusuf. The whole thing was painful to watch, Roly spent the entire hour with his arms crossed in a very defensive manner. At one point he clearly showed his disregard in Yusuf’s belief in god (I might not believe in god, but I’m not rude to others about what they believe).

The DVD shown was basically a music video of Yusuf playing his songs (new and old). One of my favourites, Wild World, he changed the words into Zulu; it actually brought a tear to my eye.

After many years of playing his music (I replaced the cassettes with CDs) I can honestly say that he is one of the few artists that I will never tire of listening to. Most of the money he now makes goes to the charity he has set up – Small Kindness, which helps children round the world.

His songs often tell a story, and always have a deeper meaning – his religion, his conversion to Islam is interesting to me but it’s the music that matters.

The Internet has let me down!

For the first time ever I’ve not been able to find something on the internet!

In the early 1980s my parents took me to the Spanish island of Menorca for a summer holiday, on this trip we met and became friends with two singers (they sang in the large hotel next to Son Bou beach) – Dave and Rick.

I know that Dave (David Fishel) released a number of LPs (vinyl and cassette) and would love to get hold of copies (especially since one of them has a version of ‘Streets of London – which I taught them as I was learning it at school when we went!).

The three titles are – Child of the Sixties (this had a fold out sheet with the words on in the cassette), Food for Thought and Watchin’ from the other side; all were released on the Discobal label.

I can honestly say that this was the first time I’d come across ‘folk’ music and I loved it (and still do) but I’ve nearly worn my copies out and would love new ones – can anyone help?? (I’m prepared to pay a reasonable amount).

New sounds for my car

Tonight on the way to stay with Dad for a couple of days I decided to buy two CDs. The first was the current number one CD – Life in cartoon motion by MIKA. For a while I’d been willing the song ‘Grace Kelly’ to come on the radio, and putting off purchasing the album as I was sure that the song was a one off and that I probably wouldn’t like the whole album – how wrong I was!!

‘Grace Kelly’ is a fantastic song, I love Mika’s voice. The whole album is very different from anyone else I’ve ever heard (although he does have the sound of Freddie Mercury), and I don’t think there is a song I don’t like. I normally don’t turn the car stereo up above number 11 or 12 – tonight I had it up to 15, and singing along (thank heavens I couldn’t be heard!).

I think that one of the attractions of the album is that it’s easy to pick up the words to the songs, and singing along is just pure fun! I’ve just got to be careful not to over play it.

The second album completely blew me away. Have you ever discovered a new band, film or book and instantly loved it – and wanted to tell everyone that they should get it? Well this is the case with this album – I’ve discovered a band that I’ve always loved!

It is the ‘new’ album by The Beatles. It’s called ‘Love’ and features 26 re-worked Beatles classics, including all my favourites; Eleanor Rigby, I am the walrus, Being for the benefit of Mr. Kite (who can’t love a song with the line ‘and of course Henry the horse dances the waltz’), and Octopus’s garden.

This is how The Beatles would sound if they were making records now – full orchestral arrangements, added voices and affects. It is quite possibly the best album I’ve ever bought – and the biggest joy is that I know all the words to the songs!!

Because The Beatles recorded multi-tracks there was so much material to play with, so this album combines well known songs and snippets of the band singing and talking. George Martin (The Beatles original producer – I think!) produced this album with his son. Some of the tracks are reversed, sped up and slowed down; in one case a whole song (Sun King) is played backwards – vocals included (thus becoming ‘Gnik Nus’).

Obviously Paul MaCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko (John Lennon’s wife) and Olivia (George Harrison’s wife) were involved – but I can honestly say that had The Beatles all still been with us, this is what we would be listening to, I can’t help but think that both John and George would approve completely of this.

GO OUT AND BUY THEM BOTH NOW!!