Izitso


Izitso is the tenth studio album by the British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, released in April 1977. After the lacklustre Numbers, the album proved to be his comeback. The album updated the rhythmic folk rock and pop rock style of his earlier albums with the extensive use of synthesizers and other electronic music instruments, giving the album a more electronic rock and synthpop style, and anticipating elements of electro.

Overview

The album reached No. 7 on the American Pop Albums charts.
It also included his last US and UK top 40 chart hit for almost three decades, the Days of the) Old Schoolyard", an early synthpop song that used the Polymoog, an early polyphonic synthesizer; it was a duet with fellow UK singer Elkie Brooks. Linda Lewis appears in the song's video, with Cat Stevens singing to her, as they portray former schoolmates, singing to each other on a schoolyard merry-go-round.
The song "Child for a Day" was featured in the 1977 film First Love, starring Susan Dey and William Katt.
The song "Was Dog a Doughnut?" upon release was criticised for sounding "a bit too robotlike" with elements later associated with hip hop music. The track made early use of a music sequencer along with synthesizers. In an interview for Uncut in 2014, Yusuf explains his inspiration for the song:
The song " To Be a Star" references the transition phase happening in his life, as he was growing more and more resentful of the more commercial aspects of the music industry. The lyrics make references to four of his early songs: "Matthew and Son", "I'm Gonna Get Me a Gun", "A [Bad Night (song)|A Bad Night]", and "I Think I See the Light".

Additional information

Some of the album's unreleased tracks featured Ringo Starr on the drums, during a recording session on 30 September 1976. According to The Beatles biographer Kristofer Engelhardt in 1998, "Yusuf said that he met Ringo at a hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark, and invited him down to a recording session for his album Izitso at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen. He recalled that the party atmosphere of the sessions led to a jam of him singing 'Blue Monday' and 'I Just Want to Make Love to You,' with Ringo joining in on drums." Bootleg copies of the sessions exist.
Stevens, who had a strong interest in Islam prior to recording the album, formally converted to Islam later in the year and adopted the name Yusuf Islam in 1978, by which time the album Back to Earth would be released and Islam had essentially retired from the music business. It would be nearly 30 years before he would again perform Cat Stevens songs.
A piano/vocal sheet music book with every song from the album was published in 1977, approved by Stevens, with arrangements by Los Angeles musician Laddie Chapman.

Critical reception

Upon its release, Rolling Stone praised the album for blending together elements of folk rock and electronic music, "often in apparent opposition to each other", with "the diversity and the maturity to match this seeming incongruity."

Track listing

All tracks composed by Cat Stevens, except where indicated.
Side one
  1. "(Remember the Days of the) Old Schoolyard" – 2:44
  2. "Life" – 4:56
  3. "Killin' Time" – 3:30
  4. "Kypros" – 3:10
  5. "Bonfire" – 4:10
Side two
  1. " To Be a Star" – 3:03
  2. "Crazy" – 3:33
  3. "Sweet Jamaica" – 3:31
  4. "Was Dog a Doughnut?" – 4:15
  5. "Child for a Day" – 4:23

    Personnel

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Singles

Cat Stevens duet with Elkie Brooks, "Remember the Days of the Old Schoolyard", though Linda Lewis appears in the song's video. In Canada, the additional singles "Sweet Jamaica" and "Was Dog A Doughnut" reached numbers 98 and 79 respectively.
Chart 1977Peakref.
Australia Kent Music Report18
Canadian Singles Chart RPM Top 10027
Canada Adult Contemporary RPM AC14
US Billboard Hot 10033
US Adult Contemporary US AC28
US Top 100 Singles Cashbox (magazine)38
UK Singles Charts44
France Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique35

Certifications and sales