Announced today, Back To Earth is set to be reissued on Cat-O-Log Records/BMG and includes a remastered CD & LP, released on November 29, 2019 while the Super Deluxe box set is set for a February 28, 2020 release. The deluxe boxset features the original album (remastered at Abbey Road) together with previously unheard tracks ‘Butterfly’ and ‘Toy Heart’ (featuring Grammy winning guitarist, Eric Johnson) which were considered by Cat as too ‘pop’ at the time; demos, out-takes tracks, and material from UNICEF’s 1979 Year Of The Child concert, the singer’s then historic last live performance as Cat Stevens.
** Listen to Toy Heart HERE**
In 1978, legendary musician Cat Stevens would make the seemingly shocking decision to abandon the rock star lifestyle and walk away. However, rather than leaving his legions of fans empty-handed, he would instead write his final album Back To Earth, as a parting farewell, using tracks such as ‘Last Love Song’ and ‘Just Another Night’ to help explain his decision to depart.
Back To Earth was considered a return to form, receiving rave reviews and reuniting Stevens with Paul Samwell-Smith, the producer of his landmark, multi-platinum albums Tea For The Tillerman (1970) and Teaser And The Firecat (1971), as well as continuing his creative partnership with long-time guitarist Alun Davies.
The central theme of the album was one of transition with the title Back To Earth symbolizing not only his abandonment of fame, but a tipping point for humanitarian and ecological concerns. In ‘New York Times’ (a song Cat wrote based on stories he read in The New York Times), from Back To Earth, the singer can clearly be heard already railing against one of the ongoing issues of our modern age – air pollution: “Cars choking your child to death/But you don’t wanna see.”
Ultimately, all of these strands, past and present, pull together the very core of Back To Earth, an album which remains to this day, a still incredibly relevant and fascinating piece that captures Yusuf/Cat Stevens at a defining point in his life.
Back To Earth CD and LP (Remastered)
Released November 29, 2019
CD format BMGCAT335CD / LP format BMGCAT335LP / LP format (coloured) BMGCAT335CLP
The Original - Remastered from 1978 analogue tapes to stunning effect at Abbey Road Studios
Just Another Night
Daytime
Bad Brakes
Randy
The Artist
Last Love Song
Nascimento
Father
New York Times
Never
Release date: February 28, 2020
Super deluxe format BMGCAT335BOX
CD1 Remastered - Original album remastered from analogue tapes
Just Another Night
Daytime
Bad Brakes
Randy
The Artist
Last Love Song
Nascimento
Father
New York Times
Never
CD2: Return to Earth – The original stereo mix
Just Another Night
Daytime
Bad Brakes
Randy
The Artist
Last Love Song
Nascimento
Father
New York Times
Never
CD3: Unearthed - Live tracks, rare demos and two beautiful, completely unheard recordings
Butterfly (previously unreleased)
Toy Heart (previously unreleased)
New York Times (new mix) previously unreleased
Just Another Night (demo) previously unreleased
Last Love Song (Session Mix) previously unreleased
Daytime (Live 2017 Adelaide)
Bad Brakes (Live 2011 Albert Hall)
Last Love Song (Live 2014 Toronto)
Nascimento (Solto) previously unreleased
Just Another Night (Live 2016 Nashville)
Bad Brakes (instrumental) previously unreleased
CD4: Alpha Omega (A Musical Revelation) - Completion of the circle. Yusuf helps his brother David realise his own musical ambition by producing the 1978 album Alpha Omega, featuring the much loved ‘Child For A Day’
Universe
I Who Am I
Paradise
Inventions
I See That Face
Child For A Day
Sing, Love Is Everywhere
Alpha Omega
Music Is The 7th Wonder
Dreamer
World
Listen To Me
I Believe
CD5: UNICEF Year Of The Child Concert at Wembley Arena 1979 - The last love song. Cat performs under this name, what will be his final farewell at UNICEF's 1979 Year Of The Child charity concert at London's Wembley Arena.
The Wind with intro from Paul Gambaccini
On The Road To Find Out
Just Another Night
Daytime/Where Do The Children Play?
Father & Son
Morning Has Broken (with Belmont Junior School Choir)
Peace Train
Child For A Day (with Richard Thompson and David Essex)
LP ONE: Remastered - Original album remastered for vinyl from analogue tapes
A1 Just Another Night
A2 Daytime
A3 Bad Brakes
A4 Randy
A5 The Artist
B1 Last Love Song
B2 Nascimento
B3 Father
B4 New York Times
B5 Never
LP TWO: Year Of The Child Concert at Wembley Arena 1979
A1 The Wind with intro from Paul Gambaccini
A2 On The Road To Find Out
A3 Just Another Night
A4 Daytime/Where Do The Children Play?
B1 Father & Son
B2 Morning Has Broken
B3 Peace Train
B4 Child For A Day
