Numbers [Original recording remastered]

Yusuf/Cat Stevens | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 13, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: A&M
• ASIN: B000058DXS
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,765 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The legacy of singer-songwriter Cat Stevens is a distinct dichotomy: though he built his fame on a string of hit singles and bestselling albums, he seems as famous now for turning his back on that stardom for a life devoted to Islam, education, and charity. But Stevens's latter-day willingness to explore that past (finally allowing his original '70s albums to be remastered and reissued) only reinforces the old adage that hindsight is usually 20/20; some of the later collections that seemed so idiosyncratic at the time of their original releases now seem but part of the artist's larger spiritual quest. Nineteen seventy-five's Numbers is a good case in point, ostensibly a whimsical concept album (subtitled "A Pythagorean Theory Tale" and bearing a "WARNING: This album is not to be taken 2 seriously" advisory) about a distant planet whose inhabitants are charged with distributing numbers to the rest of the universe. Stevens sets up the tale in a fancifully illustrated booklet, leads off with the sprightly instrumental "Whistlestar," and then lets its characters inhabit a tellingly introspective slate of songs. Set against spare backdrops that subtly evoke everything from folk to baroque (incorporating sidemen like sax notable David Sanborn and Art Garfunkel), those protagonists mouth restless spiritual and existential concerns not unlike the singer's own. Stevens also produced this fairy tale for children of all ages, insuring Numbers a very personal space in his canon, whether he took it "2 seriously" or not. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best of his later work, June 23, 2001

By 

John S. Ryan "Scott Ryan" (Cuyahoga Falls, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Numbers (Audio CD)

Cat Stevens had two absolutely great albums -- _Tea for the Tillerman_ and _Teaser and the Firecat_ -- and _Mona Bone Jakon_ was mighty close. If you have those three, you have most of the "very best of" Cat Stevens already, never mind those other "best of" collections. (The rest of the best is on _Buddha and the Chocolate Box_ -- "Oh, Very Young" and "Sun/C79.")

But his later stuff isn't _bad_; far from it. It's just uneven, and even at its best it doesn't approach the stratospheric quality of his earlier work.

To my own mind, the very best of this later material is on _Numbers_, a whimsical album based more or less on a book for which Cat provided the original idea. (He also did the illustrations, which are magnificent. They're included with the CD; all these reissues include all the original artwork from the albums.)

Although we're warned in the liner notes that the album "should not be taken 2 seriously," it's pretty clear that Cat isn't out (only) to entertain us; he just prefers to be taken lightly rather than come on in deadly earnest. The overall concept is a little vague, and Cat seems to have aimed slightly higher than he can actually shoot. But he pulls it off fairly well on the whole.

The absolute highlight of the album comes pretty early: "Novim's Nightmare" is far and away the loveliest piece here, and when I first replaced this album on CD I played that song over and over and over and over . . . . It's not quite "Into White," but it has the same power to bring tears to your eyes as "Oh, Very Young." And it's beautifully produced and arranged, right down to a musical pun involving a single nine-beat bar in the tune's introduction. (Cat produced this album himself, without longtime producer Paul Samwell-Smith, and he did oh, so much better than he had done with _Foreigner_.)

The rest of the material is pretty good, especially the jaunty "Jzero," which introduces the tale's prophet of kenosis. The haunting "Drywood" does a nice job of characterizing the album's spiritual quest and its attempted resolution. "Whistlestar" manages to be pretty bouncy without being irritating. And after twenty-five years I still don't know what the inexplicable "Banapple Gas" is doing in the middle of all this, but it's sort of cute. Things get a little ponderous toward the end, but the quality is pretty consistent and at least there are no really awkward moments.

There are a handful of guests, too, notably David Sanborn and Art Garfunkel. And I must correct a remark from my review of _Catch Bull at Four_: Cat picks up the electric guitar on this album too. (The liner notes don't say who played what on which songs, but I'm fairly sure Cat's operating a Gibson on "Drywood.")

Now here's a little history for the uninitiated:

"Cat Stevens" was the stage name of Steven Georgiou, who was born in the U.K. in 1949 of a Cypriot father and a Swedish mother. Something of a musical prodigy, he released his first two albums well before he was twenty years old and was on his way to becoming a "pop star." He then fell victim to a terrible case of tuberculosis. When he returned to singing and songwriting, he had taken a decidedly more reflective turn and found himself delivering absolutely beautiful stuff with no apparent commercial potential. That was fine with him; he was no longer particularly interested in commercial success. But, perhaps ironically, his delicate confessional songs and his deliberate avoidance of "commercial-ness" turned him into a huge international star.

Well, he eventually (1977) became a Muslim and adopted the name "Yusuf Islam" (after the biblical dream-interpreter Joseph). At about that time he also left the music industry. He has since recorded a couple of albums about Islam, but his last collection of commercial music was _Footsteps In The Dark_ (ostensibly a second volume of his "greatest hits," but in fact a set of lesser-known favorites and a handful of tunes not available elsewhere).

You can feel safe in ignoring the comments from people who think he has become "rigid" and/or "intolerant." The simple fact is that nearly every Cat Stevens album (the exceptions being his first two) is filled with "spiritual seeking," and he eventually found what he was looking for in Islam. His "recent" (actually, 1989-90) remarks on Salman Rushdie were not what you probably think they were (and in particular he didn't call for Rushdie's death). He's no more "rigid" or "intolerant" than the rest of us; he's simply a religiously observant Muslim, that's all. There's a problem here only for people who think seekers should never get around to finding, or that traditional religion is more "dogmatic" than irreligion.

His songs don't need to "transcend" their creator in order to be great; there's no need to run down Yusuf in order to elevate Cat. And since they _were_ written during his "seeker" stage, they're suitable for everybody -- future Muslims or not.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My FAVE ALBUM BY CAT, September 27, 2003

By 

Roger (Castles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Numbers (Audio CD)

This is a truly overlooked masterpiece. I can listen to it over and over again and never get tired at all. Since the very first song "Whistlestar" you are taken to a journey, through sounds and music. "Novim's Nightmare" is certainly the finest piece in the album and one of the best songs by Cat Stevens, mysterious and gentle with a great production. "Jzero" is such a lovely piece and "Home" beautiful. This album has no filler, you can just push play and be sure you will enjoy every single track. My fave album by Cat.
... one more thing about the review "Hokus Pokus" by tnahpelle from Australia, you may need new ears or brain ;-)

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Haunting., August 16, 2006

By 

The Tru Man - See all my reviews

This review is from: Numbers (Audio CD)

Reading reviews on other websites, it would seem this album is a weaker effort by the always searching songwriter Cat Stevens. Filled with folky tracks and even a few dancier tunes, that tell a story about the distant planet where "nine" is an unlucky number, among other things, is artistically and carefully put together, and each song has it's own rhyme and reason. "Whistlestar" is a pleasant and catchy intrumental tune that actually sounds like it's title, and is a great album opener. "Novim's Nightmare" follows the thoughts of a character and his inability to fit in with his "others." It has a nice verse and chorusm diction to it, and haunting tune, like most of the songs do. "Majik of Majiks" and "Drywood" go back to the folk roots that Stevens was famous for coming up with. Each tell s story about the planet of the story the album follows, but also hold their own and could be considered radio friendly.

Side Two (or as it is known on the album, Side 0) Starts off with "Banapple Gas." This is a device that people smoke or sniff, that is said to be healthy, but due to sarcasm, this could be an allegory for marijuana. Nice tune, and bouncy and catchy at that. "Land of Freelove and Goodbye" is a real highlight of the album, with a very sentimental tone and great beat to it. "Jerizo" is a conversation between the title character, about life. "Home" while not as sentimental as it would sound, is all in the title, appreciations and all. The last track is alright, but gets a little forgotten in the hype of the other music.

Nice piece of music for all kinds of music lovers, and very haunting with it's tone and artwork, both of the album cover and story. Should be entertaining, if not as accessible as Stevens' other work.

4.5 Stars