An Other Cup

Yusuf/Cat Stevens

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 14, 2006)
• Original Release Date: November 14, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B000I5X82O
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (188 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,165 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Three decades after decisively trading fame and his superstar moniker for the spiritual devotion for which his restless '70s songs seemed a perpetual quest, the singer-songwriter born Steven Demetre Georgiou has successfully resurrected Cat Stevens's muse, if not his persona. The musician whose dedicated embrace of Islam embroiled him in controversy frequently sings its praises on An Other Cup, both boldly (the Prophet-lionizing "The Beloved") and with delicate reflection ("Whispers from a Spiritual Garden" reworks Sufi mystic Jalaluddin Rumi.) Given the political and religious misconceptions that have often plagued him, he's mused for years that his theme song should be Nina Simone's "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"; here Yusuf makes good on the promise, conjuring a cover steeped in brooding elegance with the assistance of Madonna/Dido/Rod Stewart producer Rick Nowells.

Yet, as "Heaven/Where True Love Goes" attests, the musician remains as masterfully adept at blurring distinctions between spiritual and romantic ecstasies as he is at evoking his trademark idealism in the lilting harmonies of "Maybe There's a World." Fans of his vintage catalog will find intriguing riches outside the more spiritually focused works here, too, with the familiar idealism of the previously unrecorded 1968 song "Green Fields, Golden Sands" and muscular "I Think I See the Light" further evoking the glories of Cat past. The production leans towards the spare and shrewdly contemporary, whether casting the effusive opener "Midday" in Paul Simon's spirit of cross-cultural adventure, underscoring the melodic charms of "One Day at a Time," or suffusing "When Butterflies Leave" and his autobiographical cover of Simone with graceful, neo-classical strings. Considering the career time lapse, it's a remarkably strong effort, yet one inspired by a gentility and spiritual inquisitiveness that's comfortably familiar. --Jerry McCulley

Product Description
Yusuf's (formerly Cat Stevens) first album of modern pop songs since 1978's Back to Earth. On his return to music, Yusuf says "I feel right about making music and singing about life in this fragile world again. It is important for me to help bridge the cultural gaps others are sometimes frightened to cross."

More Yusuf

The Very Best of Cat Stevens	Majikat	Mona Bone Jakon
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

204 of 221 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Triumphant Return--Better Than Ever!, November 14, 2006

By	Robert L. Smith (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Like many diehard Cat Stevens fans, I have eagerly devoured his Islamic recordings over the past twenty-eight years, all of which are superb, if somewhat difficult to find. "An Other Cup," is something else entirely.

Although still recording under his Muslim name, ("Yusuf Islam" now shortened to simply "Yusuf"), the former Cat Stevens has made a triumphant return to the spiritual folk-pop of his youth, and--by any name--he IS still very much Cat Stevens. Every track here is heartfelt, beautifully written, and gorgeously produced.

The whole range of his remarkable career is represented: a new recording of "I Think I See The Light," originally from 1970's MONA BONE JAKON; a horn-powered "Midday" which, although it is a new song, wouldn't have sounded out of place on his very first album, 1966's MATTHEW AND SON; "Heaven/Where True Love Goes," which expands on the final section of 1973's "Foreigner Suite." The album even closes with "Greenfields And Golden Sands," a previously-unrecorded early song dating from 1968! From start to finish, all are superb; there is a maturity in these tracks which in some ways surpasses his classic 1970s work.

This album is not for everyone. In the age of hard-edged, angry rap, some people will undoubtedly find Yusuf's folky spiritualism out-moded and passe. For those of us who loved Cat Stevens thirty years ago, however, this CD represents a long-awaited return to a magical world we feared we had lost forever. Bravo, Yusuf! And welcome back!

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the Cat is back and he is Yusuf now, February 17, 2007

By	Kathleen S. Goode "kathy1111" (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Thank you Yusuf for sharing yourself with us again. You were greatly missed! Please consider us again when you are moved to share more of your gifted self.

I found his voice more mature, deeper, older, which for me works well. I adore the variety on this mellow cd. I love the flavor of Islam in some of the music and the open-ended spirituality that allows for us ALL to listen or sing along from our own unique perspectives, whatever our beliefs. "Greenfields and golden sands are all I need, are all I want...A small house and an olive tree, to keep and feed my family." "If only you all could rely on God with absolute trust ..." "I have dreamt of an open world, borderless and wide, where the people move from place to place, and nobody's taking sides..." "One day at a time, we can learn to fly ... Those who worked for tomorrow, will not miss the dreams of yesterday." Thank you, Yusuf. More please. I wish you a long, healthy, fruitful life.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great album,, May 8, 2007

By	Perpetua - See all my reviews

I had never heard anything by Cat Stevens, I wasn't even interested, but my girlfriend came in with his new CD the other day and I was blown away. I don't think I have heard such a good and strong album for a very long time. I haven't been able to stop listening to it over and over again, even when the CD wasn't playing the music was still there in my head. That music, so delicate, so beautiful, so heartfelt, so genuine, so exquisite and moving... I just haven't got words. It reminds me a bit of George Harrison. I'm not a religious person, but it's anquestionable that their respective faiths have elevated this two musicians to an amazing state of artistic grace.
This record will stay with me.