Back To Earth
BMG, 2019
8/10
The 11th studio album from Cat Stevens, Back To Earth, sees the remaster treatment on this Anniversary Edition (it was originally released in 1978), effectively making this soft rock classic an even better listening experience.
“Just Another Night” starts the listen with acoustic guitar and keys as Stevens’ inimitable vocals guide the cautious soft rocker, and “Daytime” follows with a calm spirit of keys in the eloquent setting.
Elsewhere, “Randy” builds into a powerful display of elegant strings and warm piano, while “The Artist” simmers with a graceful quality that can get both quaint and busy. “Nascimento”, one of the album highlights, then finds a groovy place to reside amid disco ideas and fluid saxophone work.
Near the end, “New York Times” offers a louder, almost anthemic delivery with its giant chorus, and “Never” exits the listen gentle, agile and playful with all the hallmarks of a quintessential Stevens tune.
Recorded during a time when Stevens had changed his name and was considering retiring from music, even though Back To Earth was somewhat of an obligated record as he owed the label one more album, this ‘return to form’ effort ended up being one of the best in vast catalog, that still holds up well today.
Travels well with: Don Mclean- Botanical Gardens; Chicago- VI Decades