When a week-long series of concerts
at Shepherd’s Bush Empire were announced to celebrate the 50th birthday of Island Records, one name immediately
stood out form the pack. The artist formerly known as Cat Stevens was commemorating
the occasion by making a very rare live appearance, one of his first and probably his biggest concert since returning to popular
music in the mid 2000s. Sensing a semi-historic occasion, I, along with many
others, scrambled for a ticket and was successful.
After a brief early career as a talented
but semi-manufactured pop star, Cat emerged in the early 1970s as a leading singer-songwriter, penning such classics as Father &
Son, Peace Train and Wild World. His simple, almost childlike acoustic songs
were highly effective and were often coupled with lyrics of a deep spiritual vain. By
the mid 70s, he was growing increasingly disillusioned with the rock star life and quit music altogether after converting
to Islam towards the end of the decade. Over the next 20 years, the re-named
Yusuf Islam made no pop music but instead concentrated on a number of community and artistic projects inspired by his religion. It was only after 9/11, when Yusuf realised the vital role he could play as a well-known,
moderate, converted Muslim, that he began to gradually get involved again in western music.
First came the moving duet of Father & Son with Ronan Keating, then the comeback album An Other Cup in 2006 with
this concert and the recently released Roadsinger LP bringing things up to date.
But before Yusuf, we first had to
endure Baaba Maal and his 10-piece band. A poor sound mix didn’t help things
though, to me as someone unfamiliar with his music, his songs seemed formless and endless. Eventually he left the stage to
re-appear with his guitarist playing a familiar acoustic chord sequence. “Is
it getting better?” sang Maal and yes it was though even more so when Bono joined in later in the verse!
Yes Island Records biggest ever act
were making an unscheduled appearance to commemorate and thank the label which has guided them through most of their career. As if by magic, the other members of U2 appeared on stage to complete a Baaba and
Bono duet of One which segued into fellow Island legend Bob Marley’s One Love.
Baaba then left for U2 to perform a semi-acoustic Vertigo.
After this amazing surprise, it was
back to the interval with a DJ playing Island classics over a dodgy sound system while the stage hands got to work. All slightly
shambolic, perhaps fittingly so for a semi-independent label whose critical heyday
was probably in the 70s. Fortunately though, the toasting announcer was replaced
by a rather bigger star to introduce the following act. “A singer, troubadour,
poet, pilgrim, guitar picker, natty dresser, pop star, icon, iconoclast” said Bono continuing with “the singer
and writer of some of the finest ever songs: Yusuf.”
It was genuinely moving to see and
hear Yusef Islam return to the stage after so many years away. He played a mixture of old and new songs with the still poignant Where Do The Children Play?,
Miles From Nowhere, The Rain and Boots & Sand amongst the highlights. He
also enjoyed (and possibly endured) some lively banter with the audience including a shout of “Grandfather and
son” after saying that his two young grandchildren were here tonight.
Unlike the unsuitably over-large band
he performed with around the release of An Other Cup, Yusuf had a thankfully much smaller drummer-less band this time including
a keyboardist, bassist, guitarist as well as long-time Cat Stevens sideman Alun Davies on acoustic guitar. This smaller line-up suited his songs much better but how good was Yusuf after so many years away? Well, not astonishingly mind-blowing but much better than expected from someone who
has barely played for 30 years. He was certainly warmly received at Shepherds
Bush Empire and it was a privilege to attend such a meaningful concert and welcome him back.
11.6.09
