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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
This 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 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
Product Description
602498112090
-UNIVERSAL TVCD-24 TRACKS
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
70 of 75 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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.
28 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is an excellent value compilation, extending to 24 songs over 77 minutes, which pretty much lives up to its title. Four pop hits from 1967-68 are included for the sake of completeness, but their overblown arrangements are grating and only serve to emphasise the appealing simplicity and restraint of much of Cat Stevens' Island Records work from 1970-78. The weakest tracks in the collection are 'Don't be shy' and 'If you want to sing out', which although rarities not available on other albums certainly do not rank among Stevens' best work. Their place would have been better taken by the tracks 'Ready' and 'Two fine people' (which both appeared on his 1975 Greatest Hits album, the latter not being available anywhere else), or 'The hurt'. This CD has the same tracks as the earlier collection 'Remember Cat Stevens', with the exception of two substituted songs, both of which are improvements over the selection on 'Remember'. Altogether a collection well worth having, although for the committed Cat Stevens fan there is no substitute for all his original Island albums, which are now available in superb sounding remastered editions with all the original artwork.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Fantastic! Listen to all the songs you love to hear from Cat Stevens. Bring back those memories. Love it - would highly recommend.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
recovering memories.
our original CD, like some others, after much use packed up. Again replacement was so easy and will bring us much pleasure. Thank you Amazon once more.The Very Best Of Cat Stevens
Published 9 days ago by cliff tynan
Youth revisited
The songwriting of Cat Stevens and his superb voice made a lasting impression in my younger days and feeling a need for some nostalgia, I bought this Very Best of CD... Read more
Published 2 months ago by A. Costigan
Brings back some memories
Purchased for just one song, for all those who were there in the 60's this CD is a full list of memories right from the start with Matthew and Son, plus the favourite hymn when I... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mrs. E. M. Lanham
a classic!!
Very quick service and what a fabulous album, the songs and sound are 1st class very moving and great when your driving or just chilling. A true classic!
Published 5 months ago by poppy
A step back in time
How good the old music sounds, step back and listen to a real musician. Morning has Broken classic, it keeps you absorbed 'til the end.
Published 6 months ago by Mr. Philip R. Gardner
Love the music
An excelllent best of album of all the oldies, great value and great listening. Takes me back to my youth!
Published 8 months ago by Mrs. M. A. Quick
THE VERY BEST OF CAT STEVENS
I THINK CAT STEVENS IS FANTASTIC AND I'M ONLY 14 YRS OLD. I MEAN EVERY SONG HE DOES IS ABSOLUTLY BRILLIANT. Read more
Published 14 months ago by D.Gamberini
Essential listening!!
For someone wanting exposure to the "old music" of Cat Stevens, this is, I feel, as good as it gets. This has to be an essential addition to one's music library.
Published 14 months ago by P. V. A. SINCLAIR
Fab!
A brilliant CD of Cat Steven's greatest hits from Moonshadow to Can't Keep It In, I have it playing in my car as I drive to and from work every day, and have been for the past... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Jo Clarke
I love it !
Some excellent songs! Original sound. Took me back to my youth (born in mid-60s). My kids heard this and also love the music. Got this with the DVD which was a bonus. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Chilly Willy
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