Track Listing

1. (Remember The Days Of The) Old Schoolyard
2. Life
3. Killin' Time
4. Kypros
5. Bonfire
6. (I Never Wanted) To Be A Star
7. Crazy
8. Sweet Jamaica
9. Was Dog A Doughnut?
10. Child For A Day

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #37426 in Music
• Released on: 2001-03-19
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Running time: 37 minutes

Customer Reviews

Yezitiz
Perhaps the biggest surprise this album presents is its relatively hamfisted production. The delicate, sometimes fragile air of early recordings has long gone, replaced by an almost basic, home recording feel. Stevens uses a few gadgets, including the polymoog. He experiments on the instrumental, 'Was Dog A Doughnut,' and employs an annoying percussion loop on the otherwise charming instrumental, 'Kyprios.' Nevertheless, the material in the first half is melodic, imaginative and consistently engaging, with 'Old Schoolyard' an obvious potential hit. 'Life' has glimpses of the old sound and 'Killin' Time' is surprisingly rocking. The second half isn't quite as memorable, but 'Izitso' is more substantial than might be expected.

A creditable return to a more commercial sound for Cat
Izitso, issued in summer 1977, was at the time considered a return to form for Cat Stevens, who had (from a commercial point of view) lost his way somewhat in the previous few years. It mostly comprises concise, melodic pop songs which are essentially what Stevens' reputation was built on in the early 70s (and indeed, in a different style, in the late 60s). The hit single, Remember the days of the old schoolyard, is one of the most instantly appealing tracks on the record, but with the exception of the two instrumental tracks (one of which is rather silly and pointless) every song is very pleasant, and I come back to listen to the album at least as often as any of Stevens' others. The musical style and production is sophisticated compared with his early albums, and the new remastering really does justice to the recording. Although perhaps not quite as memorable as his very best work, it is probably the best of his last few albums and I would certainly recommend it to anyone thinking of buying some of Cat's lesser known records.

CAT'S POOREST EFFORT
Although I have been a fan of Cat Stevens since 1971 I have to admit this is not his finest by far.This album seems to suggest that Cat did'nt know what direction he was going in at the time.This is probably so as he was to leave the music business after his next and last album(Back To Earth).Still worth having for real fans(even me).Past greatness hinted at in 'Life' and 'I never wanted to be a star'(shades of things to come).Buy it if you are a real fan!