Mr. Islam is back!!

For fans clinging to memories of Cat Stevens, perhaps the most remarkable thing about this story is that it hinges on "musical ideas". For more than 20 years, Yusuf Islam and Cat Stevens have been estranged. He didn't just stop making records after releasing his 1978 album Back to Earth: he sold his guitars, disowned his past and became the most zealous of converts. It was as if he was trying to deny Cat Stevens had ever existed.

Yusuf and Cat first cautiously shook hands in 1999, when for the first time since his "retirement", he endorsed a new collection of his greatest hits. Since then it's been a step-by-step process back to full musical health. Shortly after 9/11, he sang an a cappella version of Peace Train by video link to the charity concert in New York for the victims. It was the first time he had performed a Cat Stevens song in public in almost a quarter of a century. Then he penned some affectionate liner notes for a box set of his old songs. Further charity performances followed for Bosnian refugees and Nelson Mandela's Aids charity. Late last year he appeared on stage with a guitar for the first time since the 1970s at a Darfur benefit. There was also a re-recording with Ronan Keating of his classic Father & Son.

And now, at last, there is a new single: Indian Ocean, the first song he has composed since he retired from music in 1978

The Cat is back?

hehehe is 2005 the year of the Cat??



Guardian Unlimited | Arts features | 'Music is part of God's universe'