Cat Stevens | ||||
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Released | October 30, 2001 | |||
Recorded | 1965—1978, 1997 | |||
Genre | Soft rock, folk rock, baroque pop | |||
Label | A&M | |||
Producer | Bill Levinson and Daniel Gordon, Cat Stevens (aka Yusuf Islam) | |||
Cat Stevens chronology | ||||
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Cat Stevens (also known as In Search of the Centre of the Universe[1] and On the Road to Find Out) is a four-disc box set by British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam. Released on October 30th, 2001, it features 79 tracks—hits, B-sides, live tracks and previously unreleased material from his tenures on Deram and Island/A&M Records—spanning his career from 1965 to 1978, plus one track from 1997 recorded as 'Yusuf'.[2]
The box set came in the wake of renewed interest in Yusuf's work[citation needed], following a highly-rated exposé on VH1's Behind The Music[3] and remastered CD reissues of his back catalog the year before.[4] Yusuf was heavily involved in the production of the box set,[5] writing a new essay on his early life and spiritual journey[6] for the included booklet. The booklet also contains a timeline of Yusuf's career, and track-by-track commentary by Yusuf, Mike Hurst, Paul Samwell-Smith and Alun Davies.
The box set was re-released in 2008 with smaller packaging.[7]
All songs written by Yusuf/Cat Stevens, except where noted. * indicates previously unreleased track.
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In response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks that occurred one month before the box set's release, Yusuf announced on September 28th[12] that he would donate a portion of his royalties to the September 11th Fund, with the rest going to homeless families and underdeveloped countries.[13]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Miami Herald | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution | A[19] |
Upon release, the box set was met with little fanfare and did not chart.[citation needed] Entertainment Weekly's David Browne and Los Angeles Times' Robert Hilburn both thought the box set was inferior to The Very Best of Cat Stevens.[20][18] The Guardian's John Aizlewood notes: "The forgotten artist is often worth reintroducing. [...] His eponymous four-CD box set chronicles a lavishly gifted, if wet, talent."[15] Miami Herald's Howard Cohen thought there were far too many tracks in the box set, and wrote that the new songs "fail to advance one's appreciation of the artist".[17] Goldmine's Dave Thompson noted the "seamless" song transitions and concluded that "the box is unquestionably a magnificent edifice", with the additional notes from Stevens providing an "irresistible glimpse" into the making of his records.[21] The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Shane Harrison gave the box set an "A" grade, noting that it had plenty to offer for hardcore fans, but may be too overwhelming for casual fans.[19]
A contemporary review by The New Rolling Stone Album Guide states that it "offers just about all the Cat Stevens anyone should ever need, including a handful of rarities."[16] AllMusic's Lindsay Planer also praised the improved quality of earlier Deram tracks.[14]