Cat Stevens : Foreigner : Vinyl Reissue Review

Cat Stevens : Foreigner : Songwriter PROG? : Vinyl Reissue Review
Foreigner, released in 1973, was Cat Stevens’ fifth LP with Island Records/A&M and represents the adventurous, risk-taking streak in his character. The entire first side consists of the 18-minute opus, “Foreigner Suite,” which transports the listener on an epic journey of compelling grooves and deeply layered lyrical meaning, and the album’s second side includes the Top 40 hit, “The Hurt,” which exemplifies the authenticity of Cat’s relationship with soul music. Foreigner is essential listening for anyone who truly wishes to understand the range and courage that underpins Cat Stevens’ artistry.

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Thank you everyone for being part of my journey and supporting me. Phil :)
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine

[douglasweston]

Hi Phil - its was certainly a totally different listening experience from what had gone before. I grew up listening to Matthew and Son, and all those amazing songs and albums that followed and of course the ones you mentioned. Just reacquainted myself with the Foreigner Suite, and to be honest I quite enjoyed it. There were certainly 4 or 5 different movements to the suite. Musicianship brilliant, and his vocals were brilliant as well. I particularly liked the last movement which starts at about 4:30 - lovely. I saw Cat Stevens live in Sydney, Australia in 1973 / 74 - fantastic. Cat and Alan Davies just sat on stools with acoustic guitars, playing all these amazing songs - unforgettable. Thanks again phil. Cheers Doug

[evileyes]

I will check the Foreigner album out. I love Catch Bull at 4 and also The Chocolate Box .❤

[axiomatic]

I love this album so much- especially foreigner suite

[RingosMate]

This was always my favourite CS album. I still listen to it. Thanks for giving it its due.

[immaterialimmaterial]

Lovely album! Beautiful music and energy.

[thomaswery]

I bought this when it came out.This is my favorite Cat Stevens record.Saw him do it on Don Kirshner

[trevorpugh]

I bought all of Cat’s 70’s albums when they were first released and Foreigner was and still is a favourite of mine. The Foreigner suite is a beautifully composed piece with upbeat and melancholy passages…I’m guessing Island records were a tad nervous when Cat brought them a sides worth of one long track but it works so well! The other tracks have grown on me since buying the recent cd remaster but it’s the suite that takes the biscuit for me, so special…it takes me right back to my “hippy” safe place 👉☺️😎✌️

[BG-idcv]

Love Mona Bone Jakon, love Tea For The Tillerman, love Teaser and The Firecat, love Catch Bull At Four....but Foreigner is my favourite Cat Stevens album and I bought all of them at the time.

[gavaxemanspins]

See that one in the bargain bins all the time ! Will have to investigate now ! Like a bit of the Cat 🐈‍⬛ thanks Phil

[frankstecker]

Klasse.. diese Schallplatten wurde of unterschätzt..von Cat Stevens...man musste sie mehrmals hören ..dann klasse.

[terrydaktyllus]

There's a really good band from Trinidad and Tobago called "Orange Sky" who released a cover of Cat's "Peace Train" song on their 2005 debut album "Upstairs" that I actually loved when I first heard it - that led me to pick up a "Best Of Cat Stevens" album shortly afterwards and I also discovered a copy of "Tea For The Tillerman" in my wife's old but small vinyl collection that ended up being framed and going on the wall with other albums, but unplayed because I still don't have a turntable (but waiting to see what Santa brings me at Christmas).

I don't know this album at all but had a scan on the popular online retail site and discovered 50th anniversary editions of "Tillerman" and "Firecat", each with lovely packaging and half a dozen discs in each at around £50 a pop and snapped those up in an instant (as well as the new Thin Lizzy "1976" box set).

So thanks for pointing me in the direction of Cat Stevens, I am really looking forward to getting my hands on those and giving them a spin as a "Cat Stevens newbie".

[nttng]

Have the original with white cover sleeve. Saw one alternative cover with different color.

[michaellord]

I've got an original copy. A disappointment to me coming on the heels of the Mona Bone Jakon-Tea for the Tillerman-Teaser and the Firecat run. I'll give it another spin someday but generally my first impression is the one that gets reinforced.

[ColinJames-ti]

Experimental album for cat, mind you listen to the track, WAS DOG A DOUGHNUT, an instrumental track from the IZITSO album, very different, if you weren't a cat Stevens fan you would never know this was performed by him .

[Arutha_Con_Doin]

I'm a huge Cat Stevens fan (not so much of his Yusuf era). Everything from Matthew and Son over Mona Bone Jakon to Tea and Teaser and even later recordings like Numbers or Back to Earth are all great albums, but i have to be honest, i never understood this album. The nearly 20 minutes Foreigner Suite is boring as hell and all in all just not a very fun listen. Too hectic and confusing to my ears. The B side is ok, but nothing special either.