The Wayfarer's Lyric

This review is a dedication to one of the greatest singer/songwriters of all times – Cat Stevens aka Yusuf Islam.

As a musician and a music lover, I have my fair share of idols. People who have poured their heart and soul into that beautiful ocean called Music. People who oozed creativity from every pore. People who entertained a whole mass of humanity and opened a world of emotions… who have given more than they got.

Cat Stevens qualifies as a true legend.

The first Cat Stevens song I heard was the Harry Chapin classic – Cats in the Cradle. Surprisingly, this song doesnt feature in this collection of Cat Stevens hits. Still, this is a great album with some incredible songs.

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About The Album
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This album is easy listening, pop/rock music that is both appealing and thought provoking. There are shades of gospel in some of the songs. Most of the songs bear a message or two that shows what a deep thinker Cat Stevens is. Beautiful Acoustic Guitars provide the sonic structure on which Cat Stevens built his songs.

I cannot pick one song and label it a favourite because every Cat Stevens song has something memorable. Instead I’ll highlight a few songs, so that you get a taste of what you can expect from the record:

== Moonshadow – a hauntingly beautiful song with lyrics that go

’’And if I ever lose my eyes, if my colours all run dry,
yes if I ever lose my eyes, I won’t have to cry no more…’’

== Peace Train – A spiritual song that is simply BRILLIANT

’’Cause out on the edge of darkness, there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country, come take me home again’’

== Where Do The Children Play – its one of my favourite guitar songs. The song describes how our growth and technological advances have left our children without much space to grow and blossom…

’’Well you roll on roads over fresh green grass.
For your lorryloads pumping petrol gas.
And you make them long, and you make them tough.
But they just go on and on, and it seems you can’t get off.

Oh, I know we’ve come a long way,
We’re changing day to day,
But tell me, where do the children play?’’

== Morning Has Broken – need a song to appreciate the beauty of creation? need a song to appreciate life?? this is your song…

’’ Sweet the rain’s new fall, sunlit from heaven
Like the first dewfall, on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where his feet pass’’

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So what am I trying to say?
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That… this is a great record to own. The music has melody, meaning and a whole lot of emotion. This isn’t hollow… there is essence. This isn’t shallow… this is deep.

Buy it! And appreciate a legend known as Cat Stevens.

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Track Listing
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1. On The Road To Find Out
2. Moonshadow
3. Sitting
4. Silent Sunlight
5. Wind, The
6. Trouble
7. Peace Train
8. Old Schoolyard, (Remember The Days Of The)
9. 18th Avenue
10. Where Do The Children Play?
11. Father And Son
12. If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out
13. Ghost Town
14. Tuesday’s Dead
15. Morning Has Broken
16. Katmandu
17. Oh Very Young
18. Novim’s Nightmare
19. Ruins
20. New York Times

~finis~