Lifeline
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1 9 7 8
March : March.
During a UNICEF visit to war–ravaged Bangladesh, Steve and Alun Davies perform at a “cultural festival” in Rangamati. On March 21 they give a spontaneous concert in the farming village of Rangpur. Then it’s on to Thailand and Egypt, where Steve delights in visiting each and every mosque.July : July 4.
Steven Georgiou changes his name to Yusuf Islam. It is 28th Rajab 1398 in the Islamic calendar. He still owes Island/A&M one more Cat Stevens album, for which he is reunited with Paul Samwell–Smith and with Alun Davies, who didn’t appear on “Izitso.” Alun co–writes two new songs.November : November.
LP: Back to Earth. The old team has come together to complete the final record. Recorded in several places including Longview Farms in Massachusetts, London’s Advision and CBS in New York City, the album is completed at Le Studio in Quebec. Yusuf is praying five times daily, and the sessions take on a melancholy edge as it’s implicitly understood that they are to be the last. Indeed, Yusuf has no more use for Cat Stevens, having found something that satisfies him a great deal more. With no artist to promote it, “Back to Earth” and its singles make a poor showing in the charts.November : November.
Single: Bad Brakes/Nascimento (U.S.)December : December 3.
Stavros Georgiou dies. -
