Songs Featured:

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood       -      Whispers from a Spiritual Garden

The journey of Yusuf back to making music has taken 28 long years. The millions who bought the records he made as Cat Stevens back in the '60s and '70s always hoped that one day, the world would again hear his mellow voice and intimate, thought-provoking songs. There were times when they feared it would never happen. Now the long wait is finally over and those wishes have come true.

The path that led to his first collection of new songs since 1978 represents one of the most remarkable tales of our time. To say that An Other Cup picks up exactly where he left off would be to ignore the life-changing significance of the spiritual quest that has taken him from youthful pop singer to arguably the best-known and most widely respected figure in British Muslim society today. And yet listen to the songs and there is so much that is familiar. His voice still has the same rich, warm patina, he has lost none of his ability to conjure a memorable melody and his songwriting articulates our profound needs and emotions more eloquently than ever.

 "When I picked up the guitar again it was like a floodgate," he says. "Ideas and melodies floated in without effort. The novelty of the whole process, searching for forgotten chords, inspired me; it made it feel the simple joy of being back as an amateur - with nothing much to lose."

 Co-produced by Yusuf and Rick Nowells (whose credits include working with Madonna, Rod Stewart, Dido and the Corrs) and with guitarist Alun Davis who played on many of his classic albums back in tandem, the record sounds anything but amateur. Yet you know what he means for after so long away, the album has a freshness and vibrancy more usually associated with a debut than someone who is this year celebrating the 40th anniversary of his first hit. 

 "Most of the songs were written over the past two years, "he reveals." Others were actually written during the recording sessions and some are the result of a musical I've been working on called Moonshadow.  A few are old friends left over from way back when, but unvisited in many years."

 The story of Yusuf's early career as Cat Stevens is well-enough known and has become - although he will hate the phrase - the stuff of pop legend. Born Steven Georgiou into a Greek-Cypriot and Swedish family household, he grew up in London and attended a Roman Catholic school. He had his first pop hit before he was out of his teens with I Love My Dog and followed it with further hits such as Matthew & Son.

 Then in 1968 when he appeared to have it all, he was struck down with a life-threatening disease. It was to prove to be a key moment in his life. "I was working three shows a night and overdoing everything and it resulted in me contracting tuberculosis," he recalls. "Because I was close to death, I started to think more purposefully about the meaning of life and why we are here. That was the beginning of my search for something beyond, that eventually led me on a long journey to find out."

Ultimately, the reason for his return, he says, is simple. "The language of song is simply the best way to communicate the powerful winds of change which brought me to where I am today, and the love of peace still passing through my heart. I feel gifted to have that ability still within me. I never wanted to get involved in politics because that essentially separates people, whereas music has the power to unify, and is so much easier than for me than to give a lecture."

At this he smiles knowingly. "You can argue with a philosopher, but you can't argue with a good song. And I think I've got a few good songs."

Click here to purchase his new CD

Music used with permission. Atlantic Records.