Cat Stevens was a highly successful folk-rock singer of the late 1960s and 1970s, who enjoyed considerable success and recognition on both sides of the Atlantic.
In late 1969, his recording output took a notable turn, as he dispensed with the production services of former Springfields guitarist Mike Hurst and recruited former Yardbirds bassist Paul Samwell Smith. The latter viewed more favorably the new folk-rock direction Stevens wanted to take and, with a new record deal signed for Chris Blackwell’s Island Records, Cat was able to begin a fruitful period of writing and recording.
Prior to the crystallization of this new direction, Peter Gabriel had played flute on Mona Bone Jakon, while Nicky Hopkins had also played keyboards on the same album, having contributed electric piano to The Beatles’ Revolution, among other things. However, Samwell Smith was now instrumental in shaping Stevens’ new sound, as he introduced him to new session musicians who would be crucial to the making of his groundbreaking Island albums.
Arguably the greatest of all Cat Stevens’ session musicians was a guitarist named Alun Davies, also known as Daydo among those in the music business (this moniker is also the title of his first solo album, a mid-70s). Davies was a leading exponent of the new folk-rock genre that was emerging at the time and his fingerstyle guitar playing, compatible backing vocals, and general perfectionist approach suited Stevens extremely well, so much so that he appeared in all but two of Stevens’s. ‘albums before his retirement.
Stevens’ retirement from the music business in 1979 left Davies at a particularly low point, but such was their friendship that, 27 years later, when Stevens re-emerged as Yusuf, Davies was once again by his side, making an invaluable contribution. .
Other notable session musicians involved in the Cat Stevens production included: vocalist Linda Lewis, who had solo hits in the ’70s; Herbie Flowers, who is perhaps best known as the bassist for the classic/rock conglomerate Sky (and for his bassline on Lou Reed’s Walk On The Wild Side); David Sanborn, saxophonist of some renown; Brenda Russell, who had a solo hit in the ’80s with her own song Piano In The Dark; Art Garfunkel, who sang on the Numbers album; Chick Corea, the prestigious keyboardist, recently deceased (2021), member of The Mahavishnu Orchestra and his own project Return To Forever, who played on the Izitso album – and finally, Elkie Brooks who sang prominently on the hit song Remember The Days Of The Old School Yard.
