Yusuf/Cat Stevens
Back To Earth (Remastered)
Cat-O-Log Records/BMG
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Although it is not his biggest seller,ย Back To Earthย may be Cat Stevensโ most important and personal album of his career. Stevens, also known as Yusuf, had decided to put his music career on hold so he could follow his religious journey into enlightenment.ย Back To Earth, originally released in 1978, was his attempt at an explanation to fansย as toย why he was moving on from the pop music world.
Although it did not chart in the U.K. and peaked atย onlyย 33 on the Billboard chart, Stevens hasย made the decision to rerelease the album, as both a single remastered disc, and a five-CD setย to be releasedย in February 2020. The remaster does make a difference, as the original release was very dense, whereas this version provides the necessary space between and within the songs.
Many of the songs can be interpreted as love songs to a person or a deity. The opening track, โJust Another Nightโ, couldย be understood in eitherย sense, but given his move and devotion to Islam that followed the release of this album, the meaning becomes somewhat clearer.
โI remember standing here
Rightย onย this very same site.
I was dying but for you
It was just another night.โ
Severalย other songs follow suit.ย By the end of the album, heย is committed.ย On theย last song, โNeverโ, it is clear to Stevens andย toย the listener,ย โThere’ll never be another you/There’ll never be another you love.โย Withย the benefit of looking back,ย the lyrics take on aย distinctiveย meaning.
Stevens was not as adventurous musically as he was with the lyrics onย Back To Earth.ย ย He had utilized his usual musicians, and the result has more of an easy rock feel, which is not necessarily a bad thing. The melodies are solid, and the instrumentation isย highย calibre, especially Stevensโ steel guitar and synthesizer. There is nothing amiss here, but it is just not exciting. It simply does not live up to his classic albums such asย Mona Boneย Jakonย orย Tea For The Tillerman.
Overall, a worthy rerelease, but I will wait for the box set in February. For casual fans, this remastered album will be just what you need. It is a chance to rediscover โ or even discoverย for the first timeย โ a lost album that deserved a better fate than it received at the time ofย itsย release.
Artistย Links
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: YUSUF/CAT STEVENS – BACK TO EARTH (REMASTERED)
Aaron Badgley