The Very Best of Cat Stevens

Amazon.com essential recording
Kicking off A&M's ambitious Cat Stevens reissue program is this 20-song introduction. The set surveys all of Stevens's stages, from the orchestrated late-1960s sides through his early-'70s peak to his more eclectic late-1970s experiments. Following the progression makes for an interesting endeavor as Stevens learns to harness his ambitious ideas with arrangements that don't obscure his rhapsodic messages. Few artists of his generation were more gifted when it came to plucking timeless melodies out of thin air, and his sumptuous voice was always able to movingly convey his bittersweet lyrics. As a career overview (including one previously unreleased cut) this set achieves its goal, hitting all of the chart successes along the way and basically defining his role as a sensitive '70s singer-songwriter, but some fans may opt for the classic early-'70s studio records, which find Stevens at his most consistently touching. --Marc Greilsamer

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The Very Best of Cat Stevens

Average customer rating: Why can't we just enjoy the music for what it is? Just music. Best of Cat Stevens The Very Best of Cat Stevens THE VERY BEST Take the bad with the good

The Very Best of Cat Stevens Cat Stevens Manufacturer: A&M ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: An Other Cup Tea for the Tillerman Gordon Lightfoot - Complete Greatest Hits The Best of James Taylor The Best of Simon & Garfunkel ASIN: B00004S51Y Release Date: 2000-03-28

Tracks:

1. Matthew & Son
2. The First Cut is the Deepest
3. Lady D'Arbanville
4. I've Got a Thing About Seeing My Grandson Grow Old (previously unreleased)
5. Wild World
6. Where Do the Children Play?
7. Hard Headed Woman
8. Father and Son
9. The Wind
10. Morning Has Broken
11. Moonshadow
12. Peace Train
13. Sitting
14. Can't Keep It In
15. Foreigner Suite (excpert)
16. Oh Very young
17. Another Saturday Night
18. Majik of Majiks
19. (Remember the Days of the) Old Schoolyard
20. Just Another Night

Amazon.com essential recording

Kicking off A&M's ambitious Cat Stevens reissue program is this 20-song introduction. The set surveys all of Stevens's stages, from the orchestrated late-1960s sides through his early-'70s peak to his more eclectic late-1970s experiments. Following the progression makes for an interesting endeavor as Stevens learns to harness his ambitious ideas with arrangements that don't obscure his rhapsodic messages. Few artists of his generation were more gifted when it came to plucking timeless melodies out of thin air, and his sumptuous voice was always able to movingly convey his bittersweet lyrics. As a career overview (including one previously unreleased cut) this set achieves its goal, hitting all of the chart successes along the way and basically defining his role as a sensitive '70s singer-songwriter, but some fans may opt for the classic early-'70s studio records, which find Stevens at his most consistently touching. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews:

Why can't we just enjoy the music for what it is? Just music........2007-07-05

I really enjoyed the music on this cd and consider it one of my favorite cds. This collection needs Sad Lisa and a couple of other songs maybe. It is disturbing to see some of the reviews that focus on the political/religious side of the artist. Do you really aggree with the politics or religion of everyone you listen to?

Best of Cat Stevens.......2007-06-08

After year of harboring a foolish grudge regarding his change of religion & some untoward comments by him over the
Iranian hostages, I finally relented. This is good stuff!

The Very Best of Cat Stevens.......2007-05-14

I still remember the impact Cat Stevens' music, and especially lyrics, had on me in my college days. I still enjoy those early performances, not just for the nostalgia, but because they still have much to say and they still move me. If you have just one CD by this ageless performer, this is the one to have.

THE VERY BEST.......2007-05-12

HAD LOOK IN EVERY STORE AND NEVER COULD FINE IT.
IT,S BY FARE THE VERY BEST OF THE CAT.
THANK'S AGAIN

Take the bad with the good.......2007-05-07

This emphasizes that Cat Stevens' career didn't genrate all that much hit-worthy material. There's some really good stuff here, but only half the material is listenable. I'd have been better off just to have bought "Teaser and the Firecat".

Average customer rating:

Very Best of Cat Stevens Cat Stevens Manufacturer: Universal ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Pop | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B000AS1HBS Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

1. Moonshadow
2. Father & Son
3. Morning Has Broken
4. Wild World
5. First Cut Is the Deepest
6. Lady d'Arbanville
7. Oh Very Young
8. Matthew & Son
9. Sitting
10. Hard Headed Woman
11. I Love My Dog
12. Ruby Love
13. Don't Be Shy
14. Can't Keep It In
15. Here Comes My Baby
16. Into White
17. (Remember the Days of The) Old School Yard
18. Where Do the Children Play?
19. How Can I Tell You
20. Another Saturday Night
21. Sad Lisa
22. Just Another Night
23. Peace Train
24. If You Want to Sing out, Sing Out

Album Details

2003 Digitally Remastered Collection from the Former Pop Star that Includes at Total of Seven Different Songs Than It's American Equivalent with Four More Tracks in Total and Three Alternates: "i Love My Dog", "Ruby Love", "Don't Be Shy", "Here Comes My Baby", "Into White", "How Can I Tell You" and "Sad Lisa". The Disc Comes in a CD Slide Pack; No-frills CD Packaging featuring an Outer Slipcase with the Original Cover Artwork and an Inner 'slider' Including a CD. Note: There is No CD Booklet in this Package.

Average customer rating: Great compillation of a great artist Very different from American version! MMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW...! Great introduction to Cat's pop music

Very Best of Cat Stevens Cat Stevens Manufacturer: Umvd Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Pop | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Cat Stevens - Greatest Hits Live at Massey Hall 1971 An Other Cup Reflections: Carly Simon's Greatest Hits ASIN: B0000DKKY4 Release Date: 2003-11-24

Tracks:

1. Matthew and Son
2. First Cut Is the Deepest
3. Lady d'Arbanville
4. I've Got a Thing About Seeing My Grandson Grow Old [#]
5. Wild World
6. Where Do the Children Play?
7. Hard Headed Woman
8. Father and Son
9. Wind
10. Morning Has Broken
11. Moonshadow
12. Peace Train
13. Sitting
14. Can't Keep It In
15. Foreigner Suite [Excerpt]
16. Oh Very Young
17. Another Saturday Night
18. Majik of Majiks
19. (Remember the Days of the) Old Schoolyard
20. Just Another Night

Album Description

2003 compilation featuring 24 of the controversial singer/songwriter's very best, including 'Wild World', 'Father & Son', 'Peace Train', 'Morning Has Broken', 'The First Cut Is the Deepest' & more. Universal.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Collection from the Former Pop Star that Has Four More Songs Than It's American Equivalent.

Customer Reviews:

Great compillation of a great artist.......2007-01-31

Cat Stevens is not a very popular man in the west right now - especially after his conversion to Islam and his lamentable involvement in the Rushdie affair. But he was a superb composer of delicate pop songs in the 60s and 70s. This compillation includes some of the best of them - Wild World, The First Cut is the Deepest (later a memorable cover by Rod Stewart), the wonderful Rubylove, Moonshadow, Father and Son, Hard Headed Woman, Peace Train. Highly Recommended.

Very different from American version!.......2005-03-15

I have the American domestic version of The Very Best of Cat Stevens (which I lost this weekend, along with three other Cat CDs, and will need to replace). I just compared this playlist to that on the case of my American version, to see if the "4 Bonus Tracks" were worth the higher price.

I was surprised to discover that this is nothing like the American "The Very Best of Cat Stevens"! An important aspect of the American "The Very Best of Cat Stevens" is that the songs are in CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER, and that it includes the previously unreleased "...Seeing My Grandson Grow Old".

This Import CD's playlist is almost identical to another Import "Remember Cat Stevens: Ultimate Collection", except for two songs. (This substitutes "Sad Lisa" and "How Can I Tell You," both beautiful songs.) Compared to the domestic version (for half the price), this has 8 additional songs but omits 4 songs.

This IS a very good collection. It includes two of the Harold & Maude songs. But you can get all the Harold & Maude songs on my favorite Cat CD, Footsteps in the Dark, currently a real bargain at $9.98.

MMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWW...! .......2005-02-26

This is a first class compiliation of Cat Stevens' greatest hits. If you are a baby boomer, then you will greatly appreciate this album which primarily features music from the late sixties and the seventies. Some of the music will put you on the nostalgia train and some of it is timeless, but all of it is excellent.

Cat Stevens is undoubtedly a prolific songwriter and when he sings his music, you get gold. This anthology of his music is about as good as it gets. From "Lady D'arbanville" to "Wild World", "Moonshadow", "Peace Train", "Oh Very Young", and, of course, "Morning Has Broken", the listener can't go wrong. Cat Stevens' talent is such that not only can he write great music, but he can sing, as well. His voice is at times folksy, at other times rich and vibrant, with a catch in it that can break your heart. When Cat Stevens converted to Islam and left the entertainment world, Islam's gain was truly the music world's loss.

It is the domestic version of this CD, however, released under the same name, which is the better value price wise, and the one worth having in one's personal music collection, notwithstanding the fact that this import does have an extra four tracks. At nearly double the price of the domestic version, this import is not worth that extra money, especially as the domestic version has all the tracks worth having.

Great introduction to Cat's pop music.......2005-02-24

Born Steven Georgiou, he adopted the name Cat Stevens for his musical career but subsequently became a Muslim, quitting his musical career and changing his name again, this time to Yusuf Islam. This compilation of his music as Cat Stevens is as good as any you are likely to find.

Cat had a minor UK hit in 1966 (I love my dog) but established himself as a songwriter by providing the Tremeloes with their first hit since Brian Poole left them (Here comes my baby) and by providing P P Arnold with her first hit (First cut is the deepest). Those hits were both in 1967, the year in which Cat had his first major hit as a singer, when Matthew and son peaked at number two in the UK. It was the biggest hit he ever had. He had another top ten UK hit (I'm gonna get me a gun) and two minor hits (A bad night, Kitty) in 1967 but none of those hits are included here. Actually, despite their hit status, they aren't really important.

Cat left his original label (Deram) and signed to Island, after which he recorded a series of albums that won him international acclaim. Although he placed six singles on the UK charts, all included here, his reputation ultimately rests with his albums. This explains why so many of his fans do not like compilations of his music, preferring the original albums.

Nevertheless, there is a market for compilations and there are plenty of people who don't want (or can't afford) to collect Cat's original albums. So here you get those hits (Lady D'Arbanville, Moon shadow, Morning has broken, Can't keep it in, Another Saturday night, Remember the days of the old school yard) as well as other classic tracks such as Peace train, Father and son, Wild world and Cat's own versions of Here comes my baby and First cut is the deepest.

If you want just one Cat Stevens collection, make it this one - but if you decide to collect his original albums instead, start with Tea for the tillerman or Teaser and the firecat.

Average customer rating:

Very Best of Cat Stevens Cat Stevens Manufacturer: Umvd Import ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Pop | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B0000C6696 Release Date: 2004-01-26

Tracks:

1. Moonshadow
2. Father And Son
3. Morning Has Broken
4. Wild World
5. The First Cut Is The Deepest
6. Lady D'Arbanville
7. Oh Very Young
8. Matthew & Son
9. Sitting
10. Hard Headed Woman
11. I Love My Dog
12. Rubylove
13. Don't Be Shy
14. Can't Keep It In
15. Here Comes My Baby
16. Into White
17. (Remember The Days Of The) Old Schoolyard
18. Where Do The Children Play?
19. How Can I Tell You
20. Another Saturday Night
21. Sad Lisa
22. Just Another Night
23. Peace Train
24. If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out

Album Details

A Timeless Collection of all his Best Known Tracks Coupled with a Bonus Dvd in a Limited Edition Digipak. The Dvd features Promos of "Banapple Gas", "Remember the Days of the Old School Yard" and the Animation for "Teaser and the Firecat", Along with Previously Unavailable Live Performances from the BBC, Granada and the Majikat Tour.

Average customer rating:

The Very Best of Cat Stevens Cat Stevens Manufacturer: PolyGram/Island Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000MKKZCQ

Product Description

An Import from Colombia. 18 tracks of great hits.

Average customer rating: A Good Album, Too Bad It's Never In Stock

Very Best Of Cat Stevens ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Pop | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B000007445

Album Description

Southeast Asian pressing of this ultimate collection of tracks from the artist currently known as Yusuf. During the first two-thirds of the '70s, Cat Stevens practically owned the charts, releasing consecutive hit albums and singles to adoring fans worldwide. His songs have become standards in the minds of anyone who has been exposed to his music, and they will continue to charm listeners for decades to come. This collection features 17 of his finest including 'Where Do The Children Play?', 'Peace Train', 'Wild World', 'Morning Has Broken', 'Moonshadow' and more. Universal.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Album, Too Bad It's Never In Stock.......2000-01-08

I bought this album when I lived in Prague in 1992 and I listened to it everyday. It's the best Cat Stevens collection I've ever heard. Unfortunately I left the album in the Czech Republic and I thought I would be able to buy it in U.S. stores but no such luck! I wish they would reissue this album, none of the other collections are quite as good.

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