Cat Stevens - Numbers (1975) (LP) - €10,00

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Numbers is the ninth studio album, and the first concept album, by singer/songwriter Cat Stevens released in November 1975.

Subtitled "A Pythagorean Theory Tale," Numbers was a concept album relating to a faraway galaxy, a planet called Polygor, a palace, and its people, the Polygons. 

So one learned from the album's accompanying booklet. The songs presumably told the tale, but as with so many concept albums, listening to Numbers was like hearing a Broadway cast album without having seen the show -- something seemed to be going on, but it was hard to tell what. 

The setting did allow Cat Stevens to indulge his affection for Middle Ages madrigal music, and individual songs, notably the singles-chart entry "Banapple Gas," were appealing. 

The lyrics were full of references to home, God, and "the truth," which gave the whole a vaguely spiritual tone, though the key word here is "vague." Stevens fans may have been somewhat put off by the fear that Numbers was a kind of musical math class -- though it went gold, the album was the first in his last seven to peak below the Top Ten.

Side one

1.  Whistlestar   (3:46)

2.  Novim’s Nightmare   (3:50)

3.  Majik of Majiks   (4:30)

4.  Drywood   (4:53)

Side two

1.  Banapple Gas   (3:07)

2.  Land o’ Freelove & Goodbye   (2:50)

3.  Jzero   (3:44)

4.  Home   (4:09)

5.  Monad’s Anthem   (2:43)

Personnel

• Cat Stevens – acoustic and electric guitars, twelve string guitar, piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano, ARP 2600, ARP 2500, vocals
• Alun Davies – acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, vocals
• Bruce Lynch – bass, double bass
• Jean Roussel – piano, Yamaha organ, Wurlitzer electric piano, synthesizer, harpsichord, Hammond organ, string synthesizer, vocals, vibraphone
• Gerry Conway – drums, vocals

Additional personnel

• Simon Nicol – acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12-string electric guitar
• Chico Batera [pt] – congas, wind chimes, ganza, triangle, waterphone
• Gordie Fleming – accordion
• David Sanborn – alto saxophone
• Magic Children of Ottawa – vocals
• Barbara Massey – vocals
• Carl Hall – vocals
• Tasha Thomas – vocals
• Art Garfunkel – vocals
• Lewis Furey – vocals
• Melba Joyce – vocals
• Carmen Twillie – vocals
• Brenda Russell – vocals
• Vennette Gloud – vocals
• Suzanne Lynch – vocals
• Anna Peacock – vocals
• Vincent Beck – vocals

Notes

Release: 1975

Format:  LP

Genre:  Folk Rock

Label:  Island Records

Catalog#  89680 GT

Vinyl:  Excellent

Cover:  Excellent

Prijs: €10,00