Back to Earth

by Cat Stevens, Yusuf

Overview

In retrospect, it is not hard to find hints of a coming change in the final album Cat Stevens made before a near-death experience and a religious conversion. "I must be heading for a breakdown," he notes in "Bad Brakes," the album's sole singles-chart entry; there are songs titles like "Last Love Song" and "Never"; and there is, throughout, an elegiac tone to the mostly quiet ballads. But it is just as easy to see Back to Earth as an intended return to the simple style of albums like Tea for the Tillerman and thus a return to form: producer Paul Samwell-Smith is back on board, along with his subdued arrangements, and Stevens is again investigating his favorite themes, including children ("Daytime"), the father-son relationship ("Father"), and the vulnerable nature of romantic love, in plain-spoken verses. The year 1978 was late for a sensitive singer/songwriter to make a comeback; most of the folkies were getting tossed off the major labels by then. So, it's doubtful that Back to Earth could have re-established Cat Stevens even if he had been willing and able to promote it. As it is, the album serves as a satisfying coda to his pop career. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	11/01/2019
Label:	Bmg
UPC:	4050538451221

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Yusuf   Primary Artist
Cat Stevens   Primary Artist,Keyboards,Synthesizer,Choir/Chorus,Spanish Guitar,Guitar (Electric),Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Strings
The McCrarys   Guest Artist,Vocals
Luther Vandross   Guest Artist,Vocals
Derek Wadsworth   Orchestra
Dave Mattacks   Drums
Del Newman   Strings
Richard Niles   Strings
Bruce Lynch   Bass
Gerry Conway   Drums,Congas,Vocals
Will Lee   Bass
Don Weller   Saxophone
Graham Smith   Harmonica
Brian Cole   Guitar (Steel)
John Marson   Harp
Eric Johnson   Guitar (Electric),Guitar,Guitar (Electric)
Shire So   Keyboards
Steve Jordan   Drums
Jean Roussel   Piano,Strings,Keyboards,Organ (Hammond),Piano (Electric)
Alun Davies   Guitar (Acoustic)
Paul Samwell-Smith   Vocals,Choir/Chorus

Technical Credits

Cat Stevens   Producer,String Arrangements,Arranger,Composer
Nick Blagona   Engineer
Jesse Henderson   Engineer
Mike Stavrou   Engineer
Derek Wadsworth   Orchestration,String Arrangements
Bill Levenson   Reissue Supervisor
Del Newman   Arranger,String Arrangements
Vartan   Reissue Art Director
Richard Niles   Arranger,String Arrangements
Stig Kreutzfeldt   Engineer
Junie Osaki   Reissue Design
Declan O'Doherty   Engineer
Jeff Titmus   Engineer
Jean Roussel   Arranger,String Arrangements
Alun Davies   Composer
Ted Jensen   Mastering
Paul Samwell-Smith   Producer
Don Gehman   Engineer
Freddy Hansson   Engineer