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Cat Stevens — Angelsea
Album: Catch Bull at Four
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1158









Released: 1972
Length: 4:25
Plays (last 30 days): 0
She moves like and angel
And seven evening stars
Dance through the window
Of her universal house
Of her universal house

Her voice a crystal echo
Lies humming in your soul
So patiently awaiting
For your ears to behold
For your ears to behold

She ripples on the water
Leaves diamonds on the shore
And fish from every distance
Watch her ocean cellar door
Her breath a warm fire
In every lovers heart
A mistress to magicians
And a dancer to the gods
And a dancer to the gods

Her clothes are made of rainbows
And twenty thousand tears
Shine through the spaces
Of her golden ochre hair
Ooh my babe I want you
and on my life I swear
My conscience will I follow you forever
If you meet me everywhere
Yes if you if you meet me everywhere
Comments (93)add comment
A few years back, I was reading an article of an interview with Cat Stevens brother David.  According to him Cat was an extremist with everything he did.  The major life change he experienced happened on a day when he decided to go for a swim.  He nearly drowns that day, and from that moment on is when he decided to go in a totally different direction.
If anyone was asking, which I know no one is, and this would probably upset most, but I find his music mostly preachy and dreary.  All but this one.  In my opinion, this song is a true Gem.     An 11+
 xrdstv wrote:

The synth always had a great groove in this song




I Agree.  GREAT TUNE!  Thanx RP!   
The synth always had a great groove in this song
 Grammarcop wrote:

Thank you to Kingart for stepping up in my absence. As Kingart said, the Crusades started late in the 11th century when Pope Urban decided to support Alexios the First (the emperor of the Byzantine Empire) in his efforts to stave off the Turks who were migrating to the west. Historians are suspicious of Pope Urban's motives. Perhaps Urban simply wanted to support Alexios. But there was a bad east-west schism in the Catholic Church at that time and by supporting Alexios, Urban saw an opportunity to unite the branches and therefore solidify his own power. 

The result was three centuries of warfare in Europe and western Asia. Not only did the Christian warriors kill Muslims, mobs of Christians killed thousands of Jews in the well-documented Rheinland Massacres of 1096, and Christians killed each other for reasons that we would view today as unjustifiable. 

The result of the Crusades: Muslims see themselves as persecuted by Christians and the West, lasting anti-Semitism, a schism in the Christian church (Roman Catholic vs. Orthodox), the Dark Ages, feudalism, and hundreds of thousands of dead. 

It wasn't Christianity's proudest period.

Best wishes.


Thank you 
love that album cover
 AlienRelic wrote:
I guess the question is, should our opinion of a musician's music be kept seperate from our opinion of his other actions and statements? I would say yes, but I have to admit that I have a problem with this guy. I used to love his music, but these days it sits on the shelf. A personal problem? Yeah, I guess.

A legitimate question and one I've thought a lot about. In my own experience, of the many artists who've misbehaved in their private or professional capacities, a few have managed to ruin my ability to enjoy their work. Whether or not I liked their work to begin with did factor into it if I'm honest.

In this case I am still able to enjoy Yusuf Islam's songs despite the fact that I don't agree with the tenor and tone of some of his public statements in the past few decades. It helps that he's attempted to provide a more moderate stance after the fact. It's a personal decision though, I get that.

It's a strange world we live in, maybe it always was, in which some folks seem to get away with "murder" while others are "burned at the stake" by an angry mob sometimes for in my view far less than capital offenses. In my understanding of history, and personal experience, mobs very rarely provide just decisions or actions.

This, like so many others of his, is a beautiful song.

 Piranga wrote:

Sorry. He peaked at Tea for the Tillerman.



We all have to peak sometime.
 Grammarcop wrote:

Thank you to Kingart for stepping up in my absence. As Kingart said, the Crusades started late in the 11th century when Pope Urban decided to support Alexios the First (the emperor of the Byzantine Empire) in his efforts to stave off the Turks who were migrating to the west. Historians are suspicious of Pope Urban's motives. Perhaps Urban simply wanted to support Alexios. But there was a bad east-west schism in the Catholic Church at that time and by supporting Alexios, Urban saw an opportunity to unite the branches and therefore solidify his own power. 

The result was three centuries of warfare in Europe and western Asia. Not only did the Christian warriors kill Muslims, mobs of Christians killed thousands of Jews in the well-documented Rheinland Massacres of 1096, and Christians killed each other for reasons that we would view today as unjustifiable. 

The result of the Crusades: Muslims see themselves as persecuted by Christians and the West, lasting anti-Semitism, a schism in the Christian church (Roman Catholic vs. Orthodox), the Dark Ages, feudalism, and hundreds of thousands of dead. 

It wasn't Christianity's proudest period.

Best wishes.

The Turks are still migrating to the west and I don't blame them. They favor the german speaking countries and many have settled in Germany where Turks and Kurds get along, sort of.
Oh... so she doesn't have golden ogre hair.
This one makes me move. Always has
An interesting and distinctive voice. I love it. 
Sorry. He peaked at Tea for the Tillerman.
My favorite Cat song, period.
Almost forgot about this good song, thanks RP 
Long-time favorite marking special times in my life - a solid 10...
Sit back have a beer and enjoy the music!!! Didn't your mother tell you don't talk about politics or religion?
 kingart wrote:
No, it was not the time that the Christians pushed out the Moors. That was El Cid, and during his years he warred against both Moors and Christians.  That was in the 11th century.  The Moors did not leave Spain until the 14th and 15th.  
The Christians invaded the Middle East on several occasions and slaughtered many Arabs, so the Muslims returned the favor. Get off our lawn. 
 
The Reconquista of the Iberian peninsula started long before the official First Crusade.  Moors invaded in 711AD and were not expelled until 1492.  The conflict between Christendom and the Islamic world was far more complex than a mere war between cultures.  As anyone who has been to Spain or Sicily can attest, an incredible fusion of cultures occurred that affected European literature, music, philosophy, warfare.  Lost classics from Greek antiquity were rediscovered (from Arabic translations).  A sense of "Europe" as a political and cultural entity began to appear (especially under the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II).  One can argue that the European Age of Exploration and Scientific Revolution were direct descendents of this cutural exchange.
 kingart wrote:
Brilliant. I think I'll pod this one.

 

Can't believe that this is the first time I've heard this. Wow, this really holds up! Starting at 8.
I do love that music   {#Bananajam}


Nothing that a little cow bell would not help   {#Wink}
 acupunk wrote:
Reminds me of Rush: Closer to the Heart. 
 
There's no need to be cruel.   ; )
Take your politics somewhere else.

"Golden ochre hair".

Listen to that massively cool squeaky toy synth over a chord pattern that's so fundamental, like Sweet Jane.

This is a 10 by all means!
 kurtster wrote:

The Crusades, hmmm ?  Wasn't that the time when the Christians pushed out the Moors, invaders of Europe ?

That said, I still love Cat.

 
Thank you to Kingart for stepping up in my absence. As Kingart said, the Crusades started late in the 11th century when Pope Urban decided to support Alexios the First (the emperor of the Byzantine Empire) in his efforts to stave off the Turks who were migrating to the west. Historians are suspicious of Pope Urban's motives. Perhaps Urban simply wanted to support Alexios. But there was a bad east-west schism in the Catholic Church at that time and by supporting Alexios, Urban saw an opportunity to unite the branches and therefore solidify his own power. 

The result was three centuries of warfare in Europe and western Asia. Not only did the Christian warriors kill Muslims, mobs of Christians killed thousands of Jews in the well-documented Rheinland Massacres of 1096, and Christians killed each other for reasons that we would view today as unjustifiable. 

The result of the Crusades: Muslims see themselves as persecuted by Christians and the West, lasting anti-Semitism, a schism in the Christian church (Roman Catholic vs. Orthodox), the Dark Ages, feudalism, and hundreds of thousands of dead. 

It wasn't Christianity's proudest period.

Best wishes.
No, it was not the time that the Christians pushed out the Moors. That was El Cid, and during his years he warred against both Moors and Christians.  That was in the 11th century.  The Moors did not leave Spain until the 14th and 15th.  
The Christians invaded the Middle East on several occasions and slaughtered many Arabs, so the Muslims returned the favor. Get off our lawn. 
 Grammarcop wrote:

It's probably not a good idea for Christians to enter any discussion on religion with an air of moral superiority. Remember the Crusades? 

 
The Crusades, hmmm ?  Wasn't that the time when the Christians pushed out the Moors, invaders of Europe ?

That said, I still love Cat.
Warren Zevon to Catch Bull at Four. Only on RP. {#Music}
 BooKitty wrote:
Message to Cat Stevens: My president may be an ignorant liar, but at least he never took foreign embassy employees hostages.
 
It's probably not a good idea for Christians to enter any discussion on religion with an air of moral superiority. Remember the Crusades? 
Brilliant. I think I'll pod this one.

One of the voices that I could listen to at any time singing anything. Heaven sent.
I prefer the politics of Anglesea, myself.
  haven't heard this in decades, still awesome as ever.. {#Cheers}
Reminds me of Rush: Closer to the Heart. 
I'd like to place a fatwa on his singing voice... Hard to believe, but here's one who's more grating than the guy from Nickelback...
BooKitty wrote:
Message to Cat Stevens: My president may be an ignorant liar, but at least he never took foreign embassy employees hostages.
So are you saying that that Cat, aka Yusuf Islam, personally kidnapped embassy employees? Or do you mean Cat's president? I didn't even know he had one of his own? Or did you drop an apostrophe in employee(')s and you actually mean he took the hostages that the embassy employees had? Or something far more vague and unclear?
...and for those still searching.
Ah, for the days when he was a searcher rather than a believer.
I really like his early work - up through Catch Bull at 4 and Buddha & Choc Box, then I guess I lost interest. Talented individual though. Thought it pretty funny his incident at the airport in New York(?) Actually it's sad that an artist of his caliber would have trouble. Consider the times, I guess.
Dylan76 wrote:
People change. Sometimes not for the better. But for me it doesn't negate the beauty of his body of work as Cat Stevens. I love it. Regardless of who he is now.
I have to agree with you, really. I gave it an 8, despite my personal feelings.
BooKitty wrote:
Message to Cat Stevens: My president may be an ignorant liar, but at least he never took foreign embassy employees hostages.
no, he just spirits them off to a remote island and holds them indefinitely...much better
People change. Sometimes not for the better. But for me it doesn't negate the beauty of his body of work as Cat Stevens. I love it. Regardless of who he is now.
I guess the question is, should our opinion of a musician's music be kept seperate from our opinion of his other actions and statements? I would say yes, but I have to admit that I have a problem with this guy. I used to love his music, but these days it sits on the shelf. A personal problem? Yeah, I guess.
Does anyone know what the backing lyrics are?
agkagk wrote:
YEE HA!! Haven't heard this for a while. Cranked it up! WAY up. Screw the religious and political crap! This guy gave us some awesome music. Thanks, Cat.
I'm with you on this one. My absolute favorite Cat Stevens song, just blows me away. The images are so vivid yet fantastic: Her clothes are made of rainbows/ and twenty thousand tears...
YEE HA!! Haven't heard this for a while. Cranked it up! WAY up. Screw the religious and political crap! This guy gave us some awesome music. Thanks, Cat.
What good timing! I just watched Harold & Maude last night for the first time in almost a decade and since then have been in such a Cat-listening mood...
Ok, does the name of this song have anything to do with this beautiful Island I live on? anyone got any idea?
Too bad the world lost this voice.....
It is way too common for talented artists to be completely misguided in the other aspects of their lives.
dissen wrote:
listen to that guitar, does anyone really like that...?
Absotively.
radiojunkie wrote:
In his own words: Read what he says. At BEST, he is saying that he doesn't support killing Rushdie because it's against the law in Great Britain -- but that DOESN'T MEAN he doesn't support it in some country where it's NOT against the law! And even if you want to accept this as NOT supporting the Fatwa, he is DEFINITELY advocating CENSORSHIP simply because somebody wrote something offensive to HIS RELIGION! What true "artist" advocates CENSORSHIP? In other words, Yusuf Islam is an ASS. But I still rate the song an 8, pre-assdom.
trempel wrote:
if by any chance this references a specific religious group, keep in mind that cat stevens and probably the majority of that religions followers were not involved in that and may even have been opposed to such actions.
I would bet money that you are right, but by being very quiet in voicing their distaste of such things, they leave themselves open to comments from people looking for easy targets when good targets aren't available. Osama and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi are not really taking the vast majority's will as the voice of reason. As long as the criminals have sanctuary, they can hide.
cat must be cool again - the song at the end of the hbo show "extras" is another song by him. how much did i like cat? hearing this song reminded me that it was a whole lot. maybe i'll go rent harold and maude!
Wow, haven't heard this in forever. Enjoyable.
BooKitty wrote:
Message to Cat Stevens: My president may be an ignorant liar, but at least he never took foreign embassy employees hostages.
if by any chance this references a specific religious group, keep in mind that cat stevens and probably the majority of that religions followers were not involved in that and may even have been opposed to such actions.
This is a nice chestnut. Never knew its name. Heard it a dozen times before all of Cat Stevens's music disappeared from the airwaves.
Crap, Bill, you have to keep playing this and reminding me of how much I used to like Cat Stevens. Why must you do that?
Remember people it's about the music; not politics! :sunny.gif:
Message to Cat Stevens: My president may be an ignorant liar, but at least he never took foreign embassy employees hostages.
THere's gotta be some way we can convinde Bill to play more Cat Stevens and Van Morrison.
dmax wrote:
I had to upload this. I totally love the squeaky toy synthesizer! And that freeform drumming...You can sense that they're just having a great time grooving to this. We'll ignore that it's another Sweet Jane rip-off... Thanks, Bill!!!!
I remember how NEW synths were back in those days. And we thought that MOOG sounded other-worldly. Still gives me a nostalgic good feeling when I hear a Moog....
Ok, this might be the worst Cat Stevens song I've ever heard.
In his own words:
Yusuf Islam Talks about the Satanic Verses Controversy By Yusuf Islam CatStevens.Com March 12th, 2003 What I actually tried to do at the lecture in Kingston, and subsequently during other interviews, was to quote ‘from the book' what Islam says about the legal consequences for someone who commits blasphemy within the context of Islamic law where it is adopted and applied, I never ever sanctioned people taking the law in their own hands or overstepping the laws of the Britain which is what the Fatwa of Ayatollah Khomeini proposed. The truth is I never once stated support for the ‘Fatwa' I was simply a new Muslim who had stated something which I considered quite plain and obvious and if you were to ask a bible student you know what the Ten Commandments were you would expect him to repeat them honestly, you wouldn't blame him for doing so; the Bible is full of similar headlines if you're looking for them. On reflection, the Satanic Verses question was another glaring case of journalistic malice, a chance for someone to distort and damage another person's character or faith – in this case, me and Islam. Today the myth that I supported the edict of Ayatollah Khomeini on Salman Rushdie still perpetuates. Even when music journalists review a record of mine occasionally, a few can't help regurgitating the same old story as if I have done nothing else of worth in my fifty odd years on earth! As for my actual statements, forget it! They would never make news. Following the fake headline printed on 23rd February 1989, I immediately sent out an official Press Release explaining my true position – one of abiding by the law and letting the legal process deal with such offences – was wholly ignored, and was only printed in a local paper in Willesden, North London. After confirming that Islamic Law considers Blasphemy without repentance as a capital offence, I stated clearly, "Under the Islamic law, Muslims are bound to keep within the limits of the law of the country in which they live, providing that it does not restrict the freedom to worship and serve God and fulfil their basic religious duties (Fard ‘Ayn). One must not forget the ruling in Islam is also very clear about adultery, stealing and murder, but that doesn't mean that British Muslims will go about lynching and stoning adulterers, thieves and murders. If we can't get satisfaction within the present limits of the law, like a ban on this blasphemous book, ‘Satanic Verses' which insults God and His Prophets – including those Prophets honoured by Christians, Jews as well as Muslims – this does not mean that we should step outside of the law to find redress. No. If Mrs Thatcher and her Government are unwilling to listen to our pleas, if our demonstrations and peaceful lobbying does not work, then perhaps the only alternative is for Muslims to get more involved in the political process of this country. It seems to be the only way left for us." I would also like to quote a letter I sent to the Viking, the publishers, on 8th October, five months prior to that lecture after I had been sent a preview of the Text of Satanic Verses, "I wish to express my deepest outrage at the insensitivity of Penguin Books in Publishing Salman Rushdie's book, ‘Satanic Verses', This book is clearly blasphemous in nature and so deeply offensive to the Muslim Community…I urge you to give the contents of this letter your most urgent attention and take a responsible decision."
Read what he says. At BEST, he is saying that he doesn't support killing Rushdie because it's against the law in Great Britain -- but that DOESN'T MEAN he doesn't support it in some country where it's NOT against the law! And even if you want to accept this as NOT supporting the Fatwa, he is DEFINITELY advocating CENSORSHIP simply because somebody wrote something offensive to HIS RELIGION! What true "artist" advocates CENSORSHIP? In other words, Yusuf Islam is an ASS. But I still rate the song an 8, pre-assdom.
Maybe (probably) he's a lot happier doing what he does now.
Sorry, Bill... I wasn't a Cat fan back in the 70's. Nothing's changed. With the exception of "Kitty", a little-known work by him (see his anthology) that I uploaded to RP eons ago, I never need to hear Cat again in this lifetime.
seeing all these comments about Cat Stevens and what he's about these days makes me really glad that RP doesn't play any Wagner or Carl Orff otherwise we'd be deluged. As the other poster said, Cat was a fabled celebrant of the goddess in the days this music was made. And it was pretty good stuff then, but not so sure it's aged well. Talent's talent, and he was a seminal artist then
dissen wrote:
listen to that guitar, does anyone really like that...?
Yep.
yeppers Harold and Maude, my favorite movie of all time..and the soundtrack to Magnolia is great too!!!! rgj13 wrote:
Not that I can think of off the top of my head. I've seen it about 20 times myself and haven't tired of it. And you're right that Cat's soundtrack is a flawless fit; a more recent, analogously good fit is Aimee Mann's music for "Magnolia".
Mikec445 wrote:
IMHO we have a lot to be emarrased about. Liking good music isn't one of them.
Go back and read all the replies. Actually MtnGoat was not implying that Cat Stevens is embarrassing Americans. He thought that Blichan was embarrassing Americans, but he was also expressing affection for Cat Stevens, however in a queer way. The improper comment starting all this was the one about grooving in Afghanistan. Okay, no one was really appreciating the good work he is doing now and that is more important than his religious belief which are not fundamentalistic IMO. BTW, there music is really good, too.
MtnGoat wrote:
Please do some research and stop embarrassing the rest of us Americans: https://www.catstevens.com C.
IMHO we have a lot to be emarrased about. Liking good music isn't one of them.
MtnGoat wrote:
Please do some research and stop embarrassing the rest of us Americans: https://www.catstevens.com C.
As they say, MG. some of my favorite music comes from Muslim nations. I've just found CS the worst recorded entertainer known to humankind since I first heard him over 30 years ago.
Biichan wrote:
Oh probably. He converted to Islamic fundamentalism, after all. But he's Cat fucking Stevens. It's totally forgivable.
Please do some research and stop embarrassing the rest of us Americans: https://www.catstevens.com C.
dmax wrote:
I had to upload this. I totally love the squeaky toy synthesizer! And that freeform drumming...You can sense that they're just having a great time grooving to this. We'll ignore that it's another Sweet Jane rip-off... Thanks, Bill!!!!
I thought that might be Ernie on Rubber Ducky. Great tune, in any case. Even though I can't make out any of those lyrics.
The only answer for any Cat song is ... 10
listen to that guitar, does anyone really like that...?
Ya know, until I looked I thought this was Meatloaf. My bad.
Biichan wrote:
....he's Cat fucking Stevens.
That's about the kindest thing one can say about this guy. I don't care about his religion, but his music stinks. Phew!
blades wrote:
isn't this guy grooving somewhere in afghanistan?
Oh probably. He converted to Islamic fundamentalism, after all. But he's Cat fucking Stevens. It's totally forgivable.
Man, this song makes me miss our old Teaser and the Firecat tape. My Mom used to play it in the car all the time when I was a kid. And then she gave it to me, but I don't have a cassette tape player at college. Dude, I want to find a CD copy of it now...
isn't this guy grooving somewhere in afghanistan?
Wow, talk about a "deep cut". I haven't heard this since back in the day. And I didn't even own the album, my local radio station at the time WBCN in Boston used to play it. Great Job Bill!
Truly a wonderful song to hear this crisp clear winter day. Been much too long since I have heard it.
I think I may have to dust off my turntable, dig out the LP and give it a spin. It's been too long since I've heard it.
catmaven wrote:
SEE "Harold and Maude" at least one time. Is there any other movie that does what that does? :-k :D
Not that I can think of off the top of my head. I've seen it about 20 times myself and haven't tired of it. And you're right that Cat's soundtrack is a flawless fit; a more recent, analogously good fit is Aimee Mann's music for "Magnolia".
The people who like this cut and find it "new" and "refreshing" might do well to rent the classic sleeper cult favorite offbeat film "Harold and Maude." Hearing Cat Stevens perform as part of the soundtrack on that film made me able to appreciate his music far more than before. Without a film to watch, his "tunes" strike me as monotonous. But for that film, his music seemed a perfect choice to convey the era-independent human yearnings for something beyond the constrictions of convention. SEE "Harold and Maude" at least one time. Is there any other movie that does what that does? :-k :D
What a great CS song that I've never heard before. Go RP!
So much talent..now gone to what..? Like great wine turned to vinegar
LOVE LOVE !!! - made my day, thanks!
A great album, regardless of what came later.
Ohhh Cat. How did such an incredible Celebrant of the Goddess become a Mullah ? :( :( :( Ah but this song !!!
What a lost treasure ! Don\'t think I\'ve ever heard it, didn\'t have that album, although \"Tea for the Tillerman\" was on my turntable frequently circa 1971. I\'d welcome rather frequent play, at least for a time.
Originally Posted by AC: Why do I feel like I've heard more Cat Stevens in the past nine months than the previous 20 years? Ah, well. At least it's a fresh track.
In my world - that is not a good thing.
Why do I feel like I\'ve heard more Cat Stevens in the past nine months than the previous 20 years? Ah, well. At least it\'s a fresh track.