Cat Stevens Most Notable Session Musicians

Cat Stevens was a highly successful folk-rock singer of the late 1960s and 1970s who enjoyed considerable success and recognition on both sides of the Atlantic.

In late 1969, his recorded production underwent a marked change, once he disbanded the production services of former Springfields guitarist Mike Hurst and recruited former Yardbirds bassist Paul Samwell Smith. The latter viewed more favorably the new folk-rock direction Stevens wanted to take and, with a new record deal signed for Chris Blackwell’s Island Records, Cat was able to embark on a fruitful period of writing and recording.

Before the crystallization of this new direction, people like Peter Gabriel had played the flute on Mona Bone Jakon, while Nicky Hopkins had also played keyboards on the same album, having contributed the electric piano to The Beatles’ Revolution, among others. stuff. However, Samwell Smith was now instrumental in shaping Stevens’ new sound, introducing him to new session players who would be crucial to the making of his groundbreaking Island albums.

Arguably the best of Cat Stevens’ session musicians was a guitarist named Alun Davies, also known as Daydo by those in the music business (this nickname is the title of his first solo album, too, in the middle of 70). Davies was a prominent exponent of the emerging new folk-rock genre at the time, and his finger-style guitar, compatible backing vocals, and overall perfectionist approach matched Stevens extremely well, so much so that he went on to appear on all but two of Stevens. ‘albums before his retirement.

Stevens’ withdrawal from the music business in 1979 left Davies on a particularly low ebb, but their friendship was such that, 27 years later, when Stevens resurfaced as Yusuf, Davies was once again by his side, making an invaluable contribution. .

Other notable session musicians who participated in the Cat Stevens production included: vocalist Linda Lewis, who had solo hits in the 1970s; Herbie Flowers, perhaps best known as the bassist for the rock / classic conglomerate Sky (and for his bass line on Lou Reed’s Walk On The Wild Side); David Sanborn, a saxophonist of some fame; Brenda Russell, who had a solo hit in the 1980s with her own song Piano In The Dark; Art Garfunkel, who sang on the Numbers album; Chick Corea, the prestigious keyboard player, recently deceased (2021), member of The Mahavishnu Orchestra and his own project Return To Forever, which he played on Izitso’s album and, finally, Elkie Brooks, who sang prominently on the hit song Remember The Days. Of The Old School Yard.