Cat Stevens aka Yusuf performed in Melbourne, Australia on Monday night for the first time in seven years.
For ‘A Cat’s Attic: Peace Train Tour 2017’ Yusuf is marking his 50 years as a performer by sharing stories about his journey. As such he compares his life as ‘Cat’ to the many lives of a cat.
PHOTO GALLERY: Cat Stevens at Rod Laver Arena Melbourne by Ros O’Gorman.
The journey began in London in the late 60s when a young Cat Stevens was a pop star gracing the charts with songs like ‘Matthew & Son’ and ‘I Love My Dog’. In part two of the show, he uses the set of his Cat’s Attic to reminisce with items such as a turntable and early Beatles records.
Not long after he became a pop star, and married he was struck down by tuberculosis. It was at this time in hospital that he reflected on who he was and became more spiritual. The songs also evolved then to some very deep thoughts. From that period ‘Father & Son’, ‘Morning Has Broken’ and ‘Moonshadow’ have becoming classics.
Another life threatening moment happened a few years later when he nearly drowned off the coast of California. He captured the moment with the song ‘The Hurt’ and said that was when he found the religion that took him to his next journey … retirement where he remained for almost three decades.
A funny thing happened when Cat Stevens retired from showbiz in the late 70s … nothing. He may have left the limelight but the songs just got bigger and bigger and bigger.
His albums like ‘Tea For The Tillerman’ and ‘Teaser and the Firecat’ are iconic music moments. For decades daily the songs were essential daily plays for radio stations all over the world. In this incredible story when he decided to revisit the songs and perform again, he came back bigger than when he left.
In Melbourne this week Cat Stevens is playing 2 x 14,000 capacity shows and they are both sell-outs. He has two shows set for Sydney and two for Brisbane. His audience has a lot of older faces, fans that would have owned the original albums when they were new music. He also attracts a lot of young fans who have heard the music from their parents and grandparents and we are now themselves in their 30s.
A special mention must go to Alun Davies, Cat Stevens guitarist on his 70s output. Alun joined Cat for part 2 of the show playing on some of the classics you can hear him on on record.
Cat Stevens is a legend and we don’t have enough of them left.
Cat Stevens setlist from Perth, November 22, 2017
Don’t Be Shy (from Harold & Maude soundtrack, 1970)
Here Comes By Baby (from Matthew & Son, 1967)
Twist and Shout (The Beatles cover)
People Get Ready (The Impressions cover)
The First Cut Is the Deepest (from New Masters, 1967)
I Love My Dog (from Matthew & Son, 1967)
Where Do the Children Play? (from Tea For The Tillerman, 1970)
Blackness of the Night (from New Masters, 1967)
Miles From Nowhere (from Tea For The Tillerman, 1970)
The Wind (from Teaser and the Firecat, 1971)
Daytime (from Back To Earth, 1978)
Northern Wind (from New Masters, 1967)
Peace Train Blues (new, unreleased)
(Remember the Days of the) Old Schoolyard
Set 2:
Sad Lisa (from Tea For The Tillerman, 1970)
Matthew & Son (from Matthew & Son, 1967)
Big Boss Man (Jimmy Reed cover)
A Bad Night (from New Masters, 1967)
Changes IV (from Teaser and the Firecat, 1971)
Tea for the Tillerman (from Tea For The Tillerman, 1970)
Wild World (from Tea For The Tillerman, 1970)
Moonshadow (from Teaser and the Firecat, 1971)
Rubylove (from Teaser and the Firecat, 1971)
Oh Very Young (from Buddah and the Chocolate Box, 1974)
The Hurt (from Foreigner, 1973)
Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles cover)
See What Love Did to Me (from The Laughing Apple, 2017)
The Boy With A Moon and Star On His Head (from Catch Bull At Four, 1974)
Father and Son (from Tea For The Tillerman, 1970)
Peace Train (from Teaser and the Firecat, 1971)
Encore:
If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out
Morning Has Broken (from Teaser and the Firecat, 1971)
Cat Stevens is touring for TEG Dainty.
Cat Stevens remaining dates
Australia
28 November, Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena
2 December, Hunter Valley, Roche Estate
December 4, Sydney, Qudos Arena
December 7, Sydney, ICC Sydney Theatre
December 9 and 10, Brisbane, Entertainment Centre
New Zealand
December 13 and 14, Auckland, Spark Arena
December 16, New Plymouth, Bowl of Brooklands
