•
Rating:
Incredible, but true, there is no review of this cult by Cat Stevens!
To fill the gap, I have to go back a full 45 (forty-five) years to resurrect what I believe is the masterpiece of the English author, son of a Greek Cypriot father, a judgment at the time of release widely shared by peers, despite the illustrious predecessors: "Catch a Bull at Four", "Teaser and the Firecat", and "Tea for the Tillerman", albums that are highly respected, with memorable tracks that have entered the history of Music, more or less light. With "Foreigner", Cat makes a step forward through the complex "Suite" that occupies the entire first side, helped or pushed by a certain trend in vogue at that time, just think of "Close to the Edge" released the previous year and the album by Mike Olfield his contemporary.
Listened to today, the suite, the longest piece written and composed by Stevens, still sounds very fresh and flows by without you even noticing, despite its high longevity. Its worthy corollary is the 4 tracks on side B, among which perhaps the most famous is "The Hurt" where our hero's grit is at its peak, which is toned down by transitioning to the slow ballad "How Many Times", quite suitable for the classic slow dance of the time. "Later" follows, much more rhythmic and complex, characterized by changes in rhythm and reprised melody lines that lead to the logical and congruent conclusion in "100 I Dream", another highly rhythmic piece and permeated by Cat's unmistakable and contrasting voice.
Returning to the album, many may not know what it owes its title to, and I am certainly not here to reveal what is known, notably that Stevens, having enriched himself greatly thanks to the success of the previous three albums and pursued by the British tax authorities, certainly more "precise", at least in the 70s compared to ours, decided to escape at least 6 months a year from perfidious Albion to take refuge in what was then Brazil, not only a tax paradise, where he felt like an "exiled" foreigner (poor thing!). Consequently, the album was recorded and produced in Jamaica, an island at the time very well equipped for these kinds of ventures thanks to the passage of the Marley tornado and reggae music in general; additionally, despite the gratifying reception from his audience, it was not equally well received by critics who belittled its value and also for the reasons mentioned above, did not enable a promotional tour, something absolutely necessary in those times poor in relaunches on various media like today. This practically decreed its relative failure, the first of his long career, except in Australia where conversely, it reached peaks of sales perhaps due to the numerous Greek-origin colony stationed there.
It is difficult to predict the reception of such an album by the modern audience, I do not care much and my judgment remains firm, certainly "Foreigner" represented the peak of Cat Stevens' musical career which already from the subsequent "Buddha and the Chocolate Box" begins the inexorable musical and not crisis. Poor or if you prefer essential graphics, in black and white; the technical quality of the vinyl could have been improved and instead worsened in the digitization on CD.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Foreigner Suite (18:23)
There are no words, I can use
Because the meaning still leaves for you to choose
And I couldn't stand to let them be abused, by you.
Dreams I had just last night
Made me scared, white with fright
But I'm over to that Sunnyside Road
Over to that Sunnyside Road
Fortunes come and fortunes go
But things get better babe, that's one thing I know
And I'm over to that Sunnyside Road
Over to that Sunnyside Road
I have a friend that I have met
Who gives me love and a certain respect
Just a little respect, everybody needs just a little respect
That means you. . .you...
And in a little while our love will spread
To you
Ain't no matter who inside this world you know
There'll he someone who will love you just for who you are
Really are
Dreams I had just last night
Made me worried to face up to the light
But I'm over to that Sunnyside Road
Over to that Sunnyside Road
Come on now it's freedom calling
Come on over and find yourself
Come on now it's freedom calling
Come on in and remind yourself
Oh darling, you see my face
But it's in my heart that's where it's taking place
And I couldn't stand to let it go to waste
Can you ...
Oh love, sweet blue love
No man can ever get enough
But maybe one day we'll all die in love
Will you . .. Oh love, sweet love, my... love
Oh babe, understand
Take my love that's all I have at hand
Please say you will ... Don't say you can't
Oh Will you Will you Will you
The moment you walked inside my door
I knew' that I need not look no more
I've seen many other girls before, ah but darling
Heaven must've programmed you
The moment you fell inside my dreams
I realised all I had not seen
I've seen many other girls before, ah hot darling
Heaven must've programmed you
You can live in the largest house
And eleven apartments too
Run your own private plane
And a boat in Malibu
But 'till you know' deep down what inside you really need
Well I love you baby, Ooh my dear
And I think about you sometimes
But when you're with me boy it chokes my mind
Come on now it's freedom calling
Come on over and find yourself
Come on now it's freedom calling
Come on in and remind yourself
Man must fight for freedom sure that's what most other people would say
Look for a body to lead them but there's too many to lead them away.
Why wait until it's your time to die before you learn what you were born to do'?
Come on now it's freedom calling but there's only one freedom for you.
Love, love boy...
And I can't wait to be with you tomorrow night.
Won't you give me your word that you won't laugh
Cos you've been a saving grace to me
And I'd hate to face a day without you around
My life would be without sound
Love, love, love, love must've made you on a Sunday
Cos you taste to me as good as God made honey taste babe
And the sky all glistens with gold
When you're talking to me
And the whirling wind turns to song
Why it sets my soul free
Love, love. love. love must've made you on a Sunday
There are no words. I can use
Because the meaning still leaves for you to choose
And I couldn't stand to let them be abused, by you
02 The Hurt (04:20)
You say you want to seek the truth, but it's hard to find
No one to help you, your friends don't have the time
So you ride around in your car. switch on the radio
You want to relate to something you once read in a book
What kind of a way to try to take a look
Until I got hurt I was looking, I was on my way
Until I got hurt, until I got hurt, darling I painted my face grey
Until I got hurt, 'till got hurt, why didn't I
I didn't think of this until I got hurt
'Till I got hurt. baby. I didn't know' what love is
You say you want to learn to laugh 'cause music makes you cry
But the tears you shed are only in your eye
So you turn to any phoney mouth with a tale to tell
But he's just a hoaxer don't you know, selling peace and religion
Between his jokes and his karma chewing gum
Until I got hurt, I was looking, I was the same as you
Until I got hurt, until I got hurt, I did not know what to do
Until I got hurt, 'till I got hurt, why didn't I
I didn't think of this until I got hurt
'Till I got hurt, baby, I didn't know what love is
Young son, don't let me down, young son
I'm trusting you to keep on, never turn away now
Hold on, never let go, now hold on
Turn your heart to the bright sun
Love will come your way
Cos 'till you make that final show
You'll never know what love you've been missing
Missing
You say you want to seek the truth but you work alone
No one to help you and nobody to push you on
So you sit at home drinking your wine, television on
You wait for a miracle, cos you say one day one'll come along
(But wishful thinking, boy) any minute now You might be gone
I'd like to help you brother but that would be wrong
Until I got hurt, I was looking, I was on my way
Until I got hurt, until I got hurt, darling I didn't know which way
Until I got hurt, 'till I got hurt, why didn't I
I didn't think of this until I got hurt
'Till I got hurt, baby, I didn't know what love is
Until I got hurt, oh I didn't know what love is
04 Later (04:45)
Later,
I want to talk it out with you
Try to get my message through
That's not all I want to do
Later
Later,
I want to feel your body close
From your head down to your toes
Maybe help you fold your clothes
Later
I want to spread the news, don't want to soft soap you
We're meant to live and love together girl . . . Oh babe
There's nothing I can do, oh darling
I love you
There's no way you can stay home, alone, babe
Later
I want to talk it out with you
Try to get my message through
That's not all I want to do
Later
Later...
Loading comments slowly
