Cat Stevens.... Great Artist or Wacko?

Hey, it's simple: buy only used versions of his music if you don't want any of your $ going to support extremist/anti-free-expression viewpoints. I love his early music but strongly disagree with his current politics and buying or not buying his music (sending him royalties) is a way to put my $ where my mouth is.

There are rumors that Cat Stevens is supporting the terrorism acts abroad to support his religous beliefs. Of course there is denial on his end. But the question is, do you think with his sudden appearances on TV 20/20 Downtown, CNN interviews, VH-1 Behind the Music ,etc. Cat is trying to to cause hype, (doesn't matter if it's positive hype or negative because the media helps sell records) and go out and buy his remastered Cds. There are six, plus the Greatest Hits, and the VH-1 soundtrack. Was his bank account getting a little low? Or he's just being a nice guy and giving us music lovers an opportunity to listen to his classics and not so classics on remastered? Stick with Greatest Hits, Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat and you'll be happy. Forget about the other ones; unless you are a deep serious Cat fan.

I never could stand Cat Stevens. During the 80's the LA County Tax Collector played "Baby it's a Wild World" over and over on a continuous loop when you were placed on hold -which could be for eight hours until they cut you off. I never could stand them either. Just my personal opinion.

Cat Stevens wrote some of the most introspective songs of the 1970's. Along with James Taylor IMO the 2 best male folk artists of that era. His music and lyrics are timeless in that they aren't dated and there is always a freshness when you listen. His religious beliefs are a personal issue. I think Muljo made a very good point, how can we in the West understand using our Western values the whole picture concerning Islamic culture and beliefs? Answer: We can not. There was more to Khomeini than a raving mad man passing out death decrees. He was acknowledged as one of the foremost Aristotlian scholars of the 20th century, a philosopher you say? But we ARE talking about music here, right?

Not into politics;However "Cat" had his day.In music/and popularity,timing is the key.After "Tea---"& Teaser---" I only liked a couple of songs on "-Bull--". Father & Son" is one of my favs.IMO,Cat was nowhere near Lennon/Mc Cartney as composers;and just a notch below JT,but one (of many)of the greats of his era.-This ain't his era.