With a backlog of material, Stevens had a second Island album, Tea for the Tillerman, out in November it made the U.K. Stevens' talent as a songwriter for others had not deserted him in August, Jimmy Cliff entered the British charts with his composition "Wild World," reaching the Top Ten. Drawn from the album, the single "Lady D'Arbanville" was issued in June 1970 and became his third Top Ten hit in the U.K., causing Mona Bone Jakon to chart modestly in July. He signed a new contract with Island Records and released his third album, Mona Bone Jakon, in April 1970. After the failure of an intended comeback single, "Where Are You," released in July 1969, he parted ways with Deram.ĭisillusioned by his experience in the music business, Stevens began writing more personal, introspective material. Even worse, in March 1968, Stevens contracted tuberculosis and was hospitalized for three months. That was a disappointment, considering his recent success, and his next records did even worse: "Kitty," his fifth single, barely made the charts in December, while New Masters, his second album, didn't chart at all. Sheryl Crow revived it for an American Top 20 hit in 2003.) Stevens' fourth single, "A Bad Night," was in the charts in August, peaking in the Top 20. (Ten years later, Rod Stewart topped the U.K. Arnold got into the British charts with Stevens' composition "The First Cut Is the Deepest," peaking in the Top 20. Stevens' third single, "I'm Gonna Get Me a Gun," entered the British charts in March and reached the Top Ten, preceded by his debut album, Matthew & Son, also a Top Ten entry. (In America, it peaked just outside the Top Ten.) It was another self-written effort, and Stevens' reputation as a writer was further enhanced by the success of his song "Here Comes My Baby," which was recorded by the Tremeloes and entered the British charts in February, reaching the Top Five. Stevens' next single, "Matthew & Son," entered the charts in January 1967 and just missed getting to number one (in America, it grazed the bottom of the charts). "I Love My Dog" reached the British charts in October 1966, peaking in the Top 40. Mike Hurst, a former member of the folk-pop group the Springfields, who had become a record producer, heard him and took him into a recording studio to cut his composition "I Love My Dog." This demo caused Decca Records to sign him under the name Cat Stevens and assign him to its newly formed Deram subsidiary. He became interested in folk music and rock & roll in his teens while attending Hammersmith College and in 1965 began performing under the name Steve Adams. He became interested in folk music and rock & roll in his teens while attending HammersmithĬat Stevens, born Steven Demetre Georgiou, was the son of a Swedish mother and a Greek father who ran a restaurant in London. Retrieved 7 June 2019.Cat Stevens, born Steven Demetre Georgiou, was the son of a Swedish mother and a Greek father who ran a restaurant in London. Recording Industry Association of America. ^ "American album certifications – Cat Stevens – Cat Stevens Greatest Hits".Type Greatest Hits in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter. ^ "British album certifications – Cat Stevens – Greatest Hits".^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Cat Stevens 'Greatest Hits ')" (in German).Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 March 2021 – via. ^ "Top Selling Albums For 1975" (PDF).^ "Cat Stevens Chart History ( Billboard 200)".^ "Charts.nz – Cat Stevens – Greatest Hits".^ " – Cat Stevens – Greatest Hits" (in German).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies.