Fil, I have a heartfelt thank you to you. I have held an idiot's grudge against Yusuf since around 1972. I was a huge fan and was privileged to be chosen to design Cat's stage and stage lighting for his upcoming tour (1972-3) by Bill McManus, Cat's lighting director. I worked hard to give him a beautiful "scene". Well, Cat came in as I was working on the final sketches and loudly nixed the entire thing. He didn't like it at all. It both angered and embarrassed me, who'd worked for lots of bands before. I have held this stupid stupid grudge for all these years. Angered at a guy who had all the right in the world to decide how to present himself to his fans. My ego and my immaturity got in my way. I just cried through your presentation realizing what an ass I've been. Thanks. I sincerely needed that. I'm 66 years old. I don't want to leave this mortal coil with anger in my heart. You've been a real friend and you didn't even know it. Thank you.
The thing I find somewhat profound on this song is this. When Cat Stevens wrote and performed this he was “son” Then when Yusuf now performs it he is “father” I find that strangely beautiful. The circle is complete. A song that took 40 plus years to be fully realized.
I first heard this song as a college student in the 1980s. I have as a Math major and that was a “safe” field of study, but I was also a Theatre Arts major. Both fields I found interesting and enjoyable, and I preferred the behind the scenes work in theatre thus the to field of study were not as disparate as you might think. One of my fellow thespians introduced me to the album, and this song really spoke to me. Not only in my relationship with my parents, but in my two fields of interest. Do I chase the dream of theater/movie set work, or go with the more practical math teacher plan. Life intervened, I got married and had a family and now this song resonates with me as a mother and grandmother.
No shredding. No show-off guitar playing. No pyrotechnics. No elaborate electronic effects. No Halloween-ish costumes or masks. And it reaches people, deeply. Could this be... art? What a concept. All from a guy who had the integrity to walk away from wealth and fame. This is greatness.
I was a huge fan of Cat Stevens since I first heard him. I was just a kid back then! I’m 57 now. He still sounds the same! This particular song was one of my favorite!
"Father and Son" which this clip was is probably his most famous. After it's debut on "Tea for the Tillerman" in 1970, it was included on another 3 greatest hit's albums.
This man's music has always had the power to bring me to tears - much like coming home after a long, long time away. It's just so existentially beautiful.
When I was a kid my father was a big cat Stevens fan ..so from the age of seven or eight his music was playing in my house on Long Island in New York.. to this day I still think he is amazing.. such calming relaxing music.. his lyrics are up there among the best.. and a quick small piece of trivia John Paul Jones of led Zeppelin played bass on his first album.
My Dad bought Tea For The Tillerman for my 15th birthday in 1970. Little did he know that this song would become our favorite song. It was so relatable to us. Whenever it came on the radio we would sing it together. It still brings a tear to my eye. I have all of his albums. Thank you for a great review.
Cat Stevens was so popular. We all had several of his albums. They were all good. No wasted tracks. One of the most prolific and enjoyable solo artists of the time. Anybody who played music played Cat Stevens. Me for one. Your videos are such an education. You know your stuff.
One of my favorite musicians EVER! I have most of his lyrics memorized from listening over and over. Also, I had a huge crush on him when I was much younger
Love this, it was our anthem. I had every single record of his. Nobody sounded like him. I thought he was the best looking musician back then. Love you Fil, your videos are wonderful.
Thank you for the info on Cat stevens. I was 17 in 1973 and LOVED his music. Such a string of pearls he wrote for a very troubled time. I went to his concert here in Cleveland Ohio in the mid 1970s, he played maybe 2 or 3 songs, then left the stage and did not come back. Somehow we had been invited to the after concert party, but he never showed. Soon after I realized he was having his own war with self. I will never forget him and the peace and understanding he brought to the world
Father and Son is a gorgeous, poignant song. One of my all time favorites. Cat Stevens was the real deal in the 70s. Peace Train, Wild World, Morning Has Broken, et al are absolute classics and a lot of fun to strum along with.
Fil. Your so much more informative than any other person I have seen on the web. Your insight on guitar melodies, picking styles and technique are so impressive. Your own abilities of playing, writing and singing are also evidence of your own passion for music. You have something very unique here. I shared this with my son tonight and he is going to join up. He is seventeen and plays a viola first chair at a local university’s orchestra. He also plays many string instruments and his knowledge of groups and singers amazes many older than him. He loves SRV as a guitarist and one day going in to his room, I see a large poster of Frank Sinatra. It’s hanging next to his Electric Light Orchestra Poster. I said, Frank Sinatra? He said, Dad, Frank is cool. LOL. I guess he is. Nice to see the love of all music in such a young person. It seems you both are cut from the same cloth. He will love your reviews and the back ground on performers. ROCK!!!!!!!!!
Hellowow 39 I’m also a violist, with wide-ranging musical tastes. Like Duke Ellington said, there are only two kinds of music: good music and bad music. Love Fil!
"Father and Son" brings a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye every single time I hear it, for close to fifty years now. Like so many of Cat's other songs, it has a timeless and universal message that strikes a chord (literally and figuratively) with millions of listeners all over the world. Having grown up in the 1970s, I cannot overstate the significance of Cat Stevens's music to my generation. His songs captured the sense of questioning and the need to find purpose in life that many of us experienced. In my college dormitory, someone had even painted a mural-sized reproduction of Cat's artwork from the "Tea for the Tillerman" album cover. I am so happy that after so many years, Yusuf Islam has made peace with Cat Stevens, and that he is out there again performing his songs for his loyal fans, as we can see in this video. Thank you, Fil!
Had the pleasure of seeing Cat Stevens in concert in the 70s. So many of his songs are brilliant masterpieces. This song is one of them. Brilliant songwriter with such a distinctive voice. Excellence. So glad l found your reviews my friend. Knowledgeable always. 😎🎼🎶🎵
Brilliant insight Fil. It was always the voice of Cat Stevens that got me. So unique. Two or three words on the radio and you know exactly who it is. An artist who will always stand the test of time. Fabulous songwriter too.
To me, he's like an old friend, warm and familiar. I've been listening to and enjoying this man's music since I was about nine years old (I'm 62 now). They say music is the only real time machine we have and I think this proves that. I'm moved back in time whenever I hear him sing. I was too young then to fully appreciate his awesome talent, but I sure do have an appreciation now. Sadly, I'm slowly losing my hearing and one day, I won't be able to hear music at all. I intend to get in everything I can while I can still hear it. Thank you for this video and for you amazing insights.
Thank you Fil, for all the background on his spiritual journey and how it impacted his career choices. Another great singer songwriter. Thankfully he is still alive.
Fil this is the only song that has ever brought tears to my eyes. Always brings up all those heart felt little talks my father and I always had before he passed. Yusuf (Cat Stevens) has never wrote a bad tune. They are always so upbeat (Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Fire cat are my absolute faves from him)
His music is timeless and moving. It’s so wonderful to see your deep appreciation of these great artists from back in the day. It takes an artist to appreciate these artists as you do.
Cat Stevens was my first concert. I was a huge fan then, and his music still moves me today. I'm sitting her singing every word! My son is now a fan, which is very cool.
You know, I’ve known, and been friends with, many a great musicians in my life, but even among that select group of people only a few had shown as much musical sensitivity, intuition, and appreciation as you (Fil) seem to possess. That’s a true blessing; a treasure that brings genuine meaning and immense pleasure to one’s existence. Cat Stevens essentially gave up on music in pursuit of what he surmised to be a more spiritual path in life, but his spiritual journey made it clear to him that without music life itself doesn’t make much sense at all. You can negate many a things in life, but the rhythm of one’s heartbeat ain’t one of them. So, there he is singing those magical tunes, again. When it comes to music, you can in fact go back, or at least come full circle.
Another singer/songwriter and musician that had left His mark in the music industry. His song "Moonshadow" was one that struck me as I was growing up. great performance by all the players on this track. great analysis Fil.
Oh that voice and melody, instantly putting people at peace. His sound was all around us in my early teens,at the beach, just everywhere. Who doesn't remember "Moonshadow." Weird not seeing him with that hair.
Funny how one man, one LP & one line of a song can take you back to one place. I was a sophomore in HS when Cat put out Tea for the Tillerman. My friends & I sat listening that LP, over & over....relating to the mom or dad we had, telling us to sit down & shut up, the years we had in front of us & now love we all feel, knowing that mom &/or dad were right. The unwavering emotion this song brought out in all of us made us think about more than sex, drugs & rock n roll. We girls ALL had a crush on this beautiful man, a crush on his voice & the way he sang w/ so much emotion. The guys all just wanted to write songs about that wild world we living in & their dads. Thx for yet another great insight & acknowledgment of an artist like Yusef, formerly known as Cat Stephens. (strangely familiar catch phrase huh?)
Thanks Fil for another great and insightful video. I have been a Cat Stevens/Yusuf fan all my life but I didn’t know so much about what he had been doing after he converted to Islam. A truly outstanding artist but also a wonderful human being. Thank you for enlightening us.
The most amazing story in all of Pop music--a no gimmick artist, talented singer/songwriter who became a star at an early age, had a year long sickness and near death experience, followed by meteoric rise to fame, soon shunning the spotlight, finding faith, walking away, and then making a comeback nearly 3o years later..., no story even comes close to that. Many thanks and much Love to you ; Yusuf/Cat Stevens!
I was 14 when I bought "I love my Dog"...was a fan for many years....Bought all of his music for decades . But when he went Muslim and started moaning about schooling in the London area.... I thought he was totally wrong. I felt betrayed. I put all his music away and did not listen again for 10 years or more...... However.... I've mellowed over the years.... I now play his stuff.... and still sing "Father & Son".... (When I've had a few beers....) Thank you Cat....For the pleasure you have given me......and my family members...over the decades.....I was 70 this year.....I salute you. Thank you. From my heart.
I'm 61, we sang his songs in our grammer school sing-alongs. Been listening to him ever since. So many attributes...but best of all, I love his passion and the way he throws his whole self into the music.
Fil, thank you for sharing this. Cat breaks my heart with his mournful voice and this performance is beautiful. What a poet he was. Thank you again for shining a light on him. You should check out Harry and Maude, and old, quirky movie he did the entire soundtrack for. Worth watching for that soundtrack alone.
Ah, my favorite of his, and there are lots! Ya know, it took lots of listenings before I realized that the "octave leap" for verses 3 & 5 are the "Son" - the higher voice for the young boy, singing to his father -- and the lyrics sung in the lower register are the "Father" singing to his son. The poem became much stronger when I realized this. What a gem -- go Fil!
This was always my favorite of his songs, having played my "Tea for the Tillerman" album a lot. Love the octave jump, dynamic range, and Alan's solo was exquisite much like songwriter's like Jim Croce, John Prine, and he did so well. Clear as a bell, voice like vibrato, thanks for showcasing it!
Thank you for the background information. I loved seeing this when it was first shown. It was like seeing an old friend. It was a lovely moment. And still in good voice.
Thank you so much for covering Cat Stevens, as I requested. You sure did your homework on this one! I think that Cat and his guitarist Alun Davies were perfect together. They formed a great friendship. It’s always great to see them perform together.
I was in the U.S. Navy from 1971-75. I was in a land based aviation squadron out of N.A.S., Norfolk, Va. I lived in a dormitory type place with 2,3 & 4 man dorm rooms. Back then component stereo systems were the thing so I got myself one and had it in the room. It had a great sound with some very clear sounding speakers that had a 6" mid-range speaker and the vocals sounded incredible. It didn't take me long to discover Cat Stevens and Tea For The Tillerman. That album was so incredible to listen to on a nice stereo system...Wow..!! This 'Ole man of 67 can still get tears in my eyes when listening to Father & Son ( I have a 37 yr. "young" Son ). We actually get along great and always did. I was a single parent and raised a Daughter and Son full time from the time they were still in Elementary school. We all grew up together. But I will always have a special memory of my great Navy aviation years and being young and getting to listen to all of the fantastic music that came out in those years, and on a great sounding system. Thank you, Wings Of Pegasus, for giving us this video.
Fil, I love your channel for the specific reason that you gush effusively and intelligently about the music that you love and share those things with us without ever tearing down any other music to make your points. This is what the world needs.
Another fantastic singer! It's amazing too how the way you relate to and understand the meaning of "Father and Son" changes over the years as your own perspective (along with your age) changes. Truly timeless! Thanks for analyzing this song, Fil.
I put him up there with Dylan, Lightfoot, Taylor, Simon, Croche, anybody at that level. His cover of "Morning Has Broken" even though it was an old tune, still grabs me everytime I hear it.
joe bloggs It is actually a hymn - still in a lot of Christian hymnals - first published in 1931 and set to a Scottish folk tune. Cat pretty faithfully recorded it, adding those gorgeous piano arpeggios.
Love his music. His Greatest Hits album had a poster inside. It had a song for every month of the year. I had it on my dorm wall at school. Very handsome, too, lol.
Hey Fil, I sure love Cat Stevens then and now. I first heard of him back in 73 or 74. My brother had a 74 Cadillac Coupe DeVille with an 8-track player and we'd Cruise and listen to Cat. He is a great songwriter and I remember hearing his voice on Tea for the Tillerman and I thought he was an older gentleman maybe in his 50s but he was in his younger twenties which totally surprised me. Thanks for another great post. 👍
Albeit I’m a female, the line that I identify with the most in this song is: “From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen.” On Father’s Day, I make sure our son’s play, “Father and Son” for my husband. I’m in my 50’s and my boys are grown men, but I still make sure they play it. As an ambidextrous, I usually play instruments with either hand. My son’s a very good guitar player. He was showing me some chords and for some reason when it comes to the guitar, I only play with my left hand. I play the piano, violin, cello, harpsichord and the bagpipes. Thanks for your dedication, Fil!
😢 still a kind of heart melting and i become very emotional, even i have a "Morning has Broken" trauma. My English teacher in 1974 was torturing me with that song 😅😅😅😅 Thank you Fil for covering such a broad range of artists. You ROCK!
Fil, there is this one Cat Stevens song that’s rather obscure, even to he himself, oh my what a song. It’s Cat Stevens most soulful song written in my opinion. What a claim, right? It’s called...How Can I Tell You This song is so beautifully written, and delivered....heart bending. The guitar work is what you’d expect from Cat Stevens, which is to say, quite fabulous. But this song’s true high points aren’t the guitar work, but the lyrics and how they are delivered. My God the lyrics! What a deeply emotional song truly is. How this song fell into such undeserved obscurity, sleeper status is quite beyond my understanding. Can’t people hear? Or is it me, and this song is nothing special? How the song is arranged captures the mood of the deep soul busting message the lyrics intend to convey. A deep anguish and longing that could split diamonds. A masterpiece, even against so much competition from other Cat Stevens songs, of which there are an abundance of gems as you know.. This song....highly refined crystalline emotion delivered quite perfectly. Check out the 1970 live performance on RUclips if you haven’t seen it already. I consider the version delivered much later in Chili to be not quite as good but worth a listen nevertheless. Would love to hear your analysis of this song, particularly the earlier performance. Thanks!
Late to this one. But, damn Cat Stevens was the first album I ever bought, guess I was 16. Tea for the Tillerman I think. Me and my best friend used to listen to it. He died very young and every time I hear Cat Stevens I can’t help but think of him. I’ve generally avoided listening to him because it’s too darn painful. But, this was really nice. Therapeutic. God bless you PB.
Thanks for the guided trip down memory lane, Fil. I didn't know about the Radio London connection. I can still remember "A Day in the Life" fading away as the station went off the air.
The lyrics in the song a deep and they have a lot of meaning and you can see him putting his whole heart into his music. He’s one of the greatest musician ever❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻✌🏻✌🏻
Wow 😲 Cat Stevens, my sister played his WILD WILD WORLD, over and over! I did like hearing him too! Now Yusuf and God Bless him and his JOURNEY!! Fil again I just Love ❤️ ya! What I have learned from you is the most Amazing 😉 Valuable knowledge of all these artist!!! Thankyou my friend! We Love ❤️ you in Arizona 😎and in this house 🏡
Thank you, Fil. The depth of the professional histories and bios (this one and Harry Chapin’s) add the kind of context that makes all the difference when it comes to understanding what these guys have given to us. Well done.
Excellent commentary Fil, with some of the history included. He definitely peaked in '70 and '71 with 'Tea for the Tillerman' and 'Teaser and the Firecat'. Both amazing albums. My favorite song of his, after 'Peace Train', is 'Sad Lisa' from 'Tea for the Tillerman'.
What a journey he has had. British bubble gum pop singer to singer/activist to Cleric, back to Yusuf Cat. He's also a solid multi-instrumentalist. All of the many controversies he's lived through appear to have given his old songs new soul.
Fil, looks like your covering artists from my "glory" years. I've been a Cat/Yusuf fan since early 70s. I still remember sitting in my room learning to play guitar to his songs, or rushing to the record store to buy his newest release. I'm glad he got back into music; he still has a knack for writing catchy (and touching) songs.
What a songwriter this man is. "From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen". This to me Is one of the most poignant lines in music ever written. Sums up the early years of childhood and all the frustration of finding your voice and not being heard.
Another excellent analysis, thanks. A bit like your Neil Young analysis, that change to higher voice at 1.52 really lifts everthing - goose bump worthy !!
Morning has Broken was the song I did yoga too. At the time it was just movement and later realized it was yoga. Thank you for featuring another great singer-songwriter. I love hearing you tell the real story of Cat.
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Fil, I have a heartfelt thank you to you. I have held an idiot's grudge against Yusuf since around 1972. I was a huge fan and was privileged to be chosen to design Cat's stage and stage lighting for his upcoming tour (1972-3) by Bill McManus, Cat's lighting director. I worked hard to give him a beautiful "scene". Well, Cat came in as I was working on the final sketches and loudly nixed the entire thing. He didn't like it at all. It both angered and embarrassed me, who'd worked for lots of bands before. I have held this stupid stupid grudge for all these years. Angered at a guy who had all the right in the world to decide how to present himself to his fans. My ego and my immaturity got in my way. I just cried through your presentation realizing what an ass I've been. Thanks. I sincerely needed that. I'm 66 years old. I don't want to leave this mortal coil with anger in my heart. You've been a real friend and you didn't even know it. Thank you.
hear hear
Isn't it amazing? The things that happen in life?
I'm happy you have lost that heavy feeling.
That's Heavy! 👍✌️
Very cool.
Wow. I feel for you, man.
BTW, what was the problem? Not enough moon shadow?
The thing I find somewhat profound on this song is this. When Cat Stevens wrote and performed this he was “son” Then when Yusuf now performs it he is “father” I find that strangely beautiful. The circle is complete. A song that took 40 plus years to be fully realized.
I first heard this song as a college student in the 1980s. I have as a Math major and that was a “safe” field of study, but I was also a Theatre Arts major. Both fields I found interesting and enjoyable, and I preferred the behind the scenes work in theatre thus the to field of study were not as disparate as you might think.
One of my fellow thespians introduced me to the album, and this song really spoke to me. Not only in my relationship with my parents, but in my two fields of interest. Do I chase the dream of theater/movie set work, or go with the more practical math teacher plan.
Life intervened, I got married and had a family and now this song resonates with me as a mother and grandmother.
Joni Mitchell also wrote lyrics that suit her more now. They were aware of the circle of life.
Chills and a tear, it gives me to hear these notes and chords.
And the voice
Of Cat Stevens again.
Thank you, Phil. Peace.
No shredding. No show-off guitar playing. No pyrotechnics. No elaborate electronic effects. No Halloween-ish costumes or masks. And it reaches people, deeply. Could this be... art? What a concept.
All from a guy who had the integrity to walk away from wealth and fame. This is greatness.
👍
Its all art. From Van gogh to Constable. Just the same. In the receivers eyes I guess.
What you noted is what pretty much defines the singer/songwriter era of the early 1970s -- just an acoustic instrument, a voice, and the song.
Talent and integrity. A rare combination....
I was a huge fan of Cat Stevens since I first heard him. I was just a kid back then! I’m 57 now. He still sounds the same! This particular song was one of my favorite!
"Father and Son" which this clip was is probably his most famous. After it's debut on "Tea for the Tillerman" in 1970, it was included on another 3 greatest hit's albums.
This man's music has always had the power to bring me to tears - much like coming home after a long, long time away. It's just so existentially beautiful.
When I was a kid my father was a big cat Stevens fan ..so from the age of seven or eight his music was playing in my house on Long Island in New York.. to this day I still think he is amazing.. such calming relaxing music.. his lyrics are up there among the best.. and a quick small piece of trivia John Paul Jones of led Zeppelin played bass on his first album.
The words are so heartfelt and poetry for the ears. His voice can’t be duplicated. Thanks for another great analysis.
My Dad bought Tea For The Tillerman for my 15th birthday in 1970. Little did he know that this song would become our favorite song. It was so relatable to us. Whenever it came on the radio we would sing it together. It still brings a tear to my eye. I have all of his albums. Thank you for a great review.
Cat Stevens was so popular. We all had several of his albums. They were all good. No wasted tracks. One of the most prolific and enjoyable solo artists of the time. Anybody who played music played Cat Stevens. Me for one. Your videos are such an education. You know your stuff.
Thanks!
One of my favorite musicians EVER! I have most of his lyrics memorized from listening over and over. Also, I had a huge crush on him when I was much younger
I still love him after all these years. And Father and Son was when I was a teen. Angst music. Thank goodness for his music.
Your hitting them all! Nice Fil! Lov Cat Stevens aka Yusuf ! Another great singer song writer!What a rare talent he is! Peace Train my fav! 👏👏👏
Love this, it was our anthem. I had every single record of his. Nobody sounded like him. I thought he was the best looking musician back then. Love you Fil, your videos are wonderful.
Thank you for the info on Cat stevens. I was 17 in 1973 and LOVED his music. Such a string of pearls he wrote for a very troubled time. I went to his concert here in Cleveland Ohio in the mid 1970s, he played maybe 2 or 3 songs, then left the stage and did not come back. Somehow we had been invited to the after concert party, but he never showed. Soon after I realized he was having his own war with self. I will never forget him and the peace and understanding he brought to the world
Father and Son is a gorgeous, poignant song. One of my all time favorites. Cat Stevens was the real deal in the 70s. Peace Train, Wild World, Morning Has Broken, et al are absolute classics and a lot of fun to strum along with.
It was the kind od dialo I would have like to have with my father
Fil. Your so much more informative than any other person I have seen on the web. Your insight on guitar melodies, picking styles and technique are so impressive. Your own abilities of playing, writing and singing are also evidence of your own passion for music. You have something very unique here. I shared this with my son tonight and he is going to join up. He is seventeen and plays a viola first chair at a local university’s orchestra. He also plays many string instruments and his knowledge of groups and singers amazes many older than him. He loves SRV as a guitarist and one day going in to his room, I see a large poster of Frank Sinatra. It’s hanging next to his Electric Light Orchestra Poster. I said, Frank Sinatra? He said, Dad, Frank is cool. LOL. I guess he is. Nice to see the love of all music in such a young person. It seems you both are cut from the same cloth. He will love your reviews and the back ground on performers. ROCK!!!!!!!!!
Hellowow 39 I’m also a violist, with wide-ranging musical tastes. Like Duke Ellington said, there are only two kinds of music: good music and bad music. Love Fil!
Cool! Thanks!
macleadg Cool. Yes. Fil is respectful of all.
I was glad to see him come back to music. It's where he belongs.
"Father and Son" brings a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye every single time I hear it, for close to fifty years now. Like so many of Cat's other songs, it has a timeless and universal message that strikes a chord (literally and figuratively) with millions of listeners all over the world. Having grown up in the 1970s, I cannot overstate the significance of Cat Stevens's music to my generation. His songs captured the sense of questioning and the need to find purpose in life that many of us experienced. In my college dormitory, someone had even painted a mural-sized reproduction of Cat's artwork from the "Tea for the Tillerman" album cover. I am so happy that after so many years, Yusuf Islam has made peace with Cat Stevens, and that he is out there again performing his songs for his loyal fans, as we can see in this video. Thank you, Fil!
Had the pleasure of seeing Cat Stevens in concert in the 70s. So many of his songs are brilliant masterpieces. This song is one of them. Brilliant songwriter with such a distinctive voice. Excellence. So glad l found your reviews my friend. Knowledgeable always. 😎🎼🎶🎵
Cool!
Thank you Fil so much for this. I loved this song first time around and I'm actually in tears listening to again, so beautiful!
Brilliant insight Fil. It was always the voice of Cat Stevens that got me. So unique. Two or three words on the radio and you know exactly who it is. An artist who will always stand the test of time. Fabulous songwriter too.
To me, he's like an old friend, warm and familiar. I've been listening to and enjoying this man's music since I was about nine years old (I'm 62 now). They say music is the only real time machine we have and I think this proves that. I'm moved back in time whenever I hear him sing. I was too young then to fully appreciate his awesome talent, but I sure do have an appreciation now. Sadly, I'm slowly losing my hearing and one day, I won't be able to hear music at all. I intend to get in everything I can while I can still hear it. Thank you for this video and for you amazing insights.
Thank you Fil, for all the background on his spiritual journey and how it impacted his career choices. Another great singer songwriter. Thankfully he is still alive.
Fil this is the only song that has ever brought tears to my eyes. Always brings up all those heart felt little talks my father and I always had before he passed. Yusuf (Cat Stevens) has never wrote a bad tune. They are always so upbeat (Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Fire cat are my absolute faves from him)
His music is timeless and moving. It’s so wonderful to see your deep appreciation of these great artists from back in the day. It takes an artist to appreciate these artists as you do.
Cat Stevens was my first concert. I was a huge fan then, and his music still moves me today. I'm sitting her singing every word! My son is now a fan, which is very cool.
You know, I’ve known, and been friends with, many a great musicians in my life, but even among that select group of people only a few had shown as much musical sensitivity, intuition, and appreciation as you (Fil) seem to possess. That’s a true blessing; a treasure that brings genuine meaning and immense pleasure to one’s existence. Cat Stevens essentially gave up on music in pursuit of what he surmised to be a more spiritual path in life, but his spiritual journey made it clear to him that without music life itself doesn’t make much sense at all. You can negate many a things in life, but the rhythm of one’s heartbeat ain’t one of them. So, there he is singing those magical tunes, again. When it comes to music, you can in fact go back, or at least come full circle.
Thanks!
I started my day every day with His "Morning has Broken". You cannot be in a bad mood after singing along with Yusuf. Thank you, Wings of Pegasus.
Another singer/songwriter and musician that had left His mark in the music industry. His song "Moonshadow" was one that struck me as I was growing up. great performance by all the players on this track. great analysis Fil.
My favorite Cat Stevens song. This is so beautiful. Great analysis, as always Fil.
Oh that voice and melody, instantly putting people at peace. His sound was all around us in my early teens,at the beach, just everywhere. Who doesn't remember "Moonshadow." Weird not seeing him with that hair.
Funny how one man, one LP & one line of a song can take you back to one place. I was a sophomore in HS when Cat put out Tea for the Tillerman. My friends & I sat listening that LP, over & over....relating to the mom or dad we had, telling us to sit down & shut up, the years we had in front of us & now love we all feel, knowing that mom &/or dad were right.
The unwavering emotion this song brought out in all of us made us think about more than sex, drugs & rock n roll.
We girls ALL had a crush on this beautiful man, a crush on his voice & the way he sang w/ so much emotion. The guys all just wanted to write songs about that wild world we living in & their dads.
Thx for yet another great insight & acknowledgment of an artist like Yusef, formerly known as Cat Stephens. (strangely familiar catch phrase huh?)
I saw his Magic Cat your WAY BACK WHEN.
One of the best concerts I've gone to in my life.
Great memories.
Thanks for viewing him.
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Adore YOU Fil.
I grew listening to all his albums. Such a unique and original artist!
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At his peak all he needed was a guitar and his voice to fill any venue he wanted to play. A stunning solo talent.
Thanks Fil for another great and insightful video. I have been a Cat Stevens/Yusuf fan all my life but I didn’t know so much about what he had been doing after he converted to Islam. A truly outstanding artist but also a wonderful human being. Thank you for enlightening us.
You have to love an artist who calls himself Cat Stevens and writes a song about how much he loves his dog! 😁
The most amazing story in all of Pop music--a no gimmick artist, talented singer/songwriter who became a star at an early age, had a year long sickness and near death experience, followed by meteoric rise to fame, soon shunning the spotlight, finding faith, walking away, and then making a comeback nearly 3o years later..., no story even comes close to that. Many thanks and much Love to you ; Yusuf/Cat Stevens!
What a beautiful performance. I still love his voice. Great analysis as usual young man. Thank you ever so much.
Great insights, Fil!
I was 14 when I bought "I love my Dog"...was a fan for many years....Bought all of his music for decades .
But when he went Muslim and started moaning about schooling in the London area.... I thought he was totally wrong. I felt betrayed.
I put all his music away and did not listen again for 10 years or more......
However.... I've mellowed over the years.... I now play his stuff.... and still sing "Father & Son"....
(When I've had a few beers....)
Thank you Cat....For the pleasure you have given me......and my family members...over the decades.....I was 70 this year.....I salute you. Thank you. From my heart.
I'm 61, we sang his songs in our grammer school sing-alongs. Been listening to him ever since. So many attributes...but best of all, I love his passion and the way he throws his whole self into the music.
Fil, thank you for sharing this. Cat breaks my heart with his mournful voice and this performance is beautiful. What a poet he was. Thank you again for shining a light on him. You should check out Harry and Maude, and old, quirky movie he did the entire soundtrack for. Worth watching for that soundtrack alone.
Always loved Cat Stevens especially this song. Wonderful review!
Ah, my favorite of his, and there are lots! Ya know, it took lots of listenings before I realized that the "octave leap" for verses 3 & 5 are the "Son" - the higher voice for the young boy, singing to his father -- and the lyrics sung in the lower register are the "Father" singing to his son. The poem became much stronger when I realized this. What a gem -- go Fil!
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This was always my favorite of his songs, having played my "Tea for the Tillerman" album a lot. Love the octave jump, dynamic range, and Alan's solo was exquisite much like songwriter's like Jim Croce, John Prine, and he did so well. Clear as a bell, voice like vibrato, thanks for showcasing it!
No problem!
Thank you for the background information. I loved seeing this when it was first shown. It was like seeing an old friend. It was a lovely moment. And still in good voice.
Thank you so much for covering Cat Stevens, as I requested. You sure did your homework on this one! I think that Cat and his guitarist Alun Davies were perfect together. They formed a great friendship. It’s always great to see them perform together.
That's the very song I would have chosen. Thank you Fil. You are the best.
Yes the Cat is also a great one. Grew up with him/his music.
Hi Fil. Thank you for uploading this video, love your comments. Great performance from Yusuf / Cat Stevens, I am a huge fan.
Cat is so human , he can cry ,he can dance, he can dream ,according to the emotions he,s feeling, I love him dearly
I really like that you give us some history about the artist. I have listened to Cat Stevens all my life, but never knew the whole story.
I was in the U.S. Navy from 1971-75. I was in a land based aviation squadron out of N.A.S., Norfolk, Va. I lived in a dormitory type place with 2,3 & 4 man dorm rooms. Back then component stereo systems were the thing so I got myself one and had it in the room. It had a great sound with some very clear sounding speakers that had a 6" mid-range speaker and the vocals sounded incredible. It didn't take me long to discover Cat Stevens and Tea For The Tillerman. That album was so incredible to listen to on a nice stereo system...Wow..!! This 'Ole man of 67 can still get tears in my eyes when listening to Father & Son ( I have a 37 yr. "young" Son ). We actually get along great and always did. I was a single parent and raised a Daughter and Son full time from the time they were still in Elementary school. We all grew up together. But I will always have a special memory of my great Navy aviation years and being young and getting to listen to all of the fantastic music that came out in those years, and on a great sounding system. Thank you, Wings Of Pegasus, for giving us this video.
No problem!
Fil, I love your channel for the specific reason that you gush effusively and intelligently about the music that you love and share those things with us without ever tearing down any other music to make your points. This is what the world needs.
No problem!
Thank you for giving the history of Cat Stevens. Over the years, I wondered what happened to him. Great review!
Cat Stevens is by far one of my all-time favorite musicians. A great writer of timeless songs.
Thanks! 👍😎🤘
Mine too.
@@alanna8983 👋😁
Ditto!
@@stargazer1460 😉
Another fantastic singer! It's amazing too how the way you relate to and understand the meaning of "Father and Son" changes over the years as your own perspective (along with your age) changes. Truly timeless! Thanks for analyzing this song, Fil.
One of the most important singer/song writers of all time. Thanks, Cat ♥️👏
I put him up there with Dylan, Lightfoot, Taylor, Simon, Croche, anybody at that level. His cover of "Morning Has Broken" even though it was an old tune, still grabs me everytime I hear it.
he wrote the music,,,it was a poem NEVER a song
Ditto.
joe bloggs It is actually a hymn - still in a lot of Christian hymnals - first published in 1931 and set to a Scottish folk tune. Cat pretty faithfully recorded it, adding those gorgeous piano arpeggios.
Rick Wakeman wrote the piano section.
@@designstudio8013 that's why I could never be a fan of Dylan's!!!! 😢😢😢😢
It always feels like an astral experience listening to Yusuf Cat Stevens.
Love his music. His Greatest Hits album had a poster inside. It had a song for every month of the year. I had it on my dorm wall at school. Very handsome, too, lol.
Such a beautiful song. My heart is full.
Loved Cat since I was a child, one of the best artists ever
I truly love this man, his talent and his integrity ❤️ thanks Fil ☺️
Hey Fil, I sure love Cat Stevens then and now. I first heard of him back in 73 or 74. My brother had a 74 Cadillac Coupe DeVille with an 8-track player and we'd Cruise and listen to Cat. He is a great songwriter and I remember hearing his voice on Tea for the Tillerman and I thought he was an older gentleman maybe in his 50s but he was in his younger twenties which totally surprised me. Thanks for another great post. 👍
Cool!
Gave me shivers, hearing those thousands of people singing along! Love your commentary...thank you Fil. You are a gem.
Albeit I’m a female, the line that I identify with the most in this song is: “From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen.” On Father’s Day, I make sure our son’s play, “Father and Son” for my husband. I’m in my 50’s and my boys are grown men, but I still make sure they play it. As an ambidextrous, I usually play instruments with either hand. My son’s a very good guitar player. He was showing me some chords and for some reason when it comes to the guitar, I only play with my left hand. I play the piano, violin, cello, harpsichord and the bagpipes. Thanks for your dedication, Fil!
😢 still a kind of heart melting and i become very emotional, even i have a "Morning has Broken" trauma. My English teacher in 1974 was torturing me with that song 😅😅😅😅
Thank you Fil for covering such a broad range of artists. You ROCK!
My absolute favorite Yusuf song. Thank you!
I like your videos. You always show respect to the artists and breaths new life and perspective in the songs that live in our memories.
Fil, there is this one Cat Stevens song that’s rather obscure, even to he himself, oh my what a song. It’s Cat Stevens most soulful song written in my opinion. What a claim, right?
It’s called...How Can I Tell You
This song is so beautifully written, and delivered....heart bending. The guitar work is what you’d expect from Cat Stevens, which is to say, quite fabulous.
But this song’s true high points aren’t the guitar work, but the lyrics and how they are delivered. My God the lyrics! What a deeply emotional song truly is. How this song fell into such undeserved obscurity, sleeper status is quite beyond my understanding. Can’t people hear? Or is it me, and this song is nothing special?
How the song is arranged captures the mood of the deep soul busting message the lyrics intend to convey. A deep anguish and longing that could split diamonds. A masterpiece, even against so much competition from other Cat Stevens songs, of which there are an abundance of gems as you know.. This song....highly refined crystalline emotion delivered quite perfectly.
Check out the 1970 live performance on RUclips if you haven’t seen it already. I consider the version delivered much later in Chili to be not quite as good but worth a listen nevertheless.
Would love to hear your analysis of this song, particularly the earlier performance.
Thanks!
How Can I Tell You popped into my head last night and I played it over and over. It is my favorite Cat Stevens song. It is perfection.
Late to this one. But, damn Cat Stevens was the first album I ever bought, guess I was 16. Tea for the Tillerman I think. Me and my best friend used to listen to it. He died very young and every time I hear Cat Stevens I can’t help but think of him. I’ve generally avoided listening to him because it’s too darn painful. But, this was really nice. Therapeutic. God bless you PB.
His voice has always been so distinctive. It only needs a few words and you know who it is.
Thanks for the guided trip down memory lane, Fil. I didn't know about the Radio London connection. I can still remember "A Day in the Life" fading away as the station went off the air.
The lyrics in the song a deep and they have a lot of meaning and you can see him putting his whole heart into his music. He’s one of the greatest musician ever❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻✌🏻✌🏻
Wow 😲 Cat Stevens, my sister played his WILD WILD WORLD, over and over! I did like hearing him too! Now Yusuf and God Bless him and his JOURNEY!! Fil again I just Love ❤️ ya! What I have learned from you is the most Amazing 😉 Valuable knowledge of all these artist!!! Thankyou my friend! We Love ❤️ you in Arizona 😎and in this house 🏡
Cat Stevens is a rare treasure.
Thank you so much for the additional history
WOW! Haven’t heard him in years! He is in so many of My teenage memories! He’s so awesome! ♥️
Good that he got into the rock hall of fame so good , so many hits. Hi fil. Jt
Favorite line of this song: "from the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen". Reason for most of the communication problems today
His music touches the heart of a person .
Singer&Songwriter’70s sensation love all Peace Train,Wild World,Father&Son,Morning etc..great guitarist acoustics great vocals!
Your encyclopedic knowledge of these artists is so impressive brother 🤘
After a hectic week and weekend, this was a delight. Thank You, Dear Fil. I’ve got some catching up to do. More later. ❤️
Thanks Samantha!
Thank you, Fil. The depth of the professional histories and bios (this one and Harry Chapin’s) add the kind of context that makes all the difference when it comes to understanding what these guys have given to us. Well done.
Missed his talent for sooooo long. From national recognition to gone in an instant.
Cat Stevens is awesome and so smooth.It’s mesmerizing.
Excellent commentary Fil, with some of the history included. He definitely peaked in '70 and '71 with 'Tea for the Tillerman' and 'Teaser and the Firecat'. Both amazing albums. My favorite song of his, after 'Peace Train', is 'Sad Lisa' from 'Tea for the Tillerman'.
Thanks for covering Yusuf Stevens. And for telling his story 😘
What a beautiful guitar! Yusef/Cat Stevens still has the emotion that makes me love him like I did in the 1970s.
What a journey he has had. British bubble gum pop singer to singer/activist to Cleric, back to Yusuf Cat. He's also a solid multi-instrumentalist. All of the many controversies he's lived through appear to have given his old songs new soul.
One of my favorite songs ever. Thank you.
Fil, looks like your covering artists from my "glory" years. I've been a Cat/Yusuf fan since early 70s. I still remember sitting in my room learning to play guitar to his songs, or rushing to the record store to buy his newest release. I'm glad he got back into music; he still has a knack for writing catchy (and touching) songs.
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What a songwriter this man is. "From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen". This to me Is one of the most poignant lines in music ever written. Sums up the early years of childhood and all the frustration of finding your voice and not being heard.
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Another excellent analysis, thanks. A bit like your Neil Young analysis, that change to higher voice at 1.52 really lifts everthing - goose bump worthy !!
Great Artist, thanks Fil, great story about Cat's musical journey! ROCK /M\!
Morning has Broken was the song I did yoga too. At the time it was just movement and later realized it was yoga. Thank you for featuring another great singer-songwriter. I love hearing you tell the real story of Cat.
No problem!
I greatly appreciate your respect & fresh view of a rock & roll hall of fame legend recognized for his musical masterpieces