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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSTEVENS, Cat(b Steven Demitri Georgiou, 21 July '48, London) Singer-songwriter. Prod. Mike Hurst (ex- Springfields) helped get contract with Deram; Matthew And Son and New Masters '67--8 were above-average pop albums of the period from an able songwriter who was always uncomfortable as a pop idol (one package tour put him on the same bill with Jimi Hendrix and Englebert Humperdinck). The albums yielded a couple of hit singles and his songs were covered by others; he spent some time in a TB clinic, came back on Island UK, A&M USA with Mona Bona Jakon '70, an introspective set incl. no. 2 hit 'Lady D'Arbanville'. Tea For The Tillerman '71 broke him in USA, where it went top 10 with hit 'Wild World', later a hit for Jimmy Cliff; Teaser And The Firecat reached no. 2 USA with hits 'Peace Train', 'Morning Has Broken'. Very Young And Early Songs '72 was a compilation; Catch Bull At Four '72 was no. 1 with no hit singles, but Foreigner '73 dropped to no. 3, the ill- conceived 'Foreigner Suite' taking up side two. Buddha And The Chocolate Box '74 was no. 2 USA; Numbers '75 and Izitso '77 did well; Back To Earth '78 was still top 40 but his disenchantment with the music business was growing: by '79 he had converted to Islam, changed his name to Yusef Islam, since teaches in London's Islamic community. Songs still covered, still heard on radio. |