It had been 36 years since Yusuf, aka Cat Stevens, last performed in Australia. In that time the English singer/songwriter had a bit of a well-publicized withdrawal from the music business for a few decades, but last night when he performed those classic hits, it was like he never went away.
Yusuf is not only a deeply religious man, he is also incredibly entertaining and funny. He played to 12,000 people like he was performing to a few friends. No wonder that catalogue of albums from the 70s has become some of the most important music of a generation.
Songs from 'Tea For The Tillerman' and 'Teaser and the Firecat', almost 40 years old, sounded as relevant today as they did back then. 'Where Do The Children Play', for example, was introduced as "a song of destruction caused by BP".
Yusuf also took a swipe at the former U.S. Bush Gestapo who had him arrested when he was on route to Texas to record a song with Dolly Parton. He was on their list of potential terrorists. He played the song 'Boots and Sand' last night, written about the experience.
A centrepiece of the show was an upcoming musical based on his music called Moonshadow. He did a truncated version of the song, obviously taking out the big hits that he needed later in the show for the encore. That is when he did 'Moonshadow' and 'Father and Son'.
At one stage he announced an intermission and left while his band performed the 1977 instrumental 'Was Dog A Donut'. A few people in the audience took the intermission thing seriously and nicked off for a beer and smoke. When he came back onstage four minutes later, they missed the next song. "I only did that because I saw Rod Stewart do it once," he said. "What a good idea, take a little break, have a cup of tea".
Songs from his last two albums 'Roadsinger' and 'An Other Cup' fitted nicely alongside the classics. 'Wild World' he did partly in Zulu. 'Ruby Love' he said he had to relearn.
A special mention should go to guitarist Alun Davies who was a member of his band on all of those albums in the 70s.
The setlist for Yusuf at Rod Laver Arena, June 16, 2010 was:
Lilywhite (from Mona Bone Jakon, 1970)
The Wind (from Teaser and the Firecat, 1971)
Midday (from An Other Cup, 2006)
Where Do The Children Play (from Tea For The Tillerman, 1970)
Cat Medley (I Love My Dog / Here Comes My Baby / First Cut Is The Deepest) (from Matthew & Son and New Masters, 1967)
Fill My Eyes (from Mona Bone Jakon, 1970)
Boots and Sand (from Roadsinger, 2009)
Miles From Nowhere (from Tea For The Tillerman, 1970)
World O' Darkness (from Roadsinger, 2009)
Maybe There's a World (from An Other Cup, 2006)
Matthew & Son (from Matthew & Son, 1967)
But I Might Die Tonight (from Tea For The Tillerman, 1970)
Remember the Days Of The Old School Yard (from Izitso, 1977)
Doors
On The Road to Find Out (from Tea For The Tillerman, 1970)
Tuesday's Dead (from Teaser and the Firecat, 1971)
Road Singer (from Roadsinger, 2009)
Don't' Be Shy (from Harold and Maude soundtrack, 1971)
Was Dog A Donut (from Izitso, 1977)
Bad Brakes (from Back To Earth, 1978)
Sitting (from Catch Bull At Four, 1972)
Morning Has Broken (from Teaser and the Firecat, 1971)
Wild World (from Tea For The Tillerman, 1970)
Father & Son (from Tea For The Tillerman, 1970)
Encore
Moonshadow (from Teaser and the Firecat, 1971)
All Kind of Roses (from Roadsinger, 2009)
Ruby Love (from Teaser and the Firecat, 1971)
Ruins (from Catch Bull At Four, 1972)
Peace Train (from Teaser and the Firecat, 1971)
