My Mother's Records
I've written a lot here about my mother's record collection and had been working on one about Cat Stevens' 1971 album "Teaser and The Firecat" before I left for London to see her. It was one of those albums you'd always find sitting next to "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Tapestry" in the homes of over-30s like my mother, offering a little taste of folky counter-culture bohemia in a nice, gentle package for those who were too old for Woodstock but too young for Val Doonican and James Last.
The album contained Stevens' beautiful version of the old English hymn "Morning Has Broken" which, coincidentally, was played by the church organist at the end of my mother's funeral ceremony. Well, not all that coincidentally really, my sister asked them to play it because it's a lovely tune and was on one of my mother's favourite albums.
Download: Morning Has Broken - Cat Stevens (mp3)
PS: I'd like to thank everyone for their kind thoughts and best wishes, it's much appreciated.
7 Comments:
As a Yank, (Yankee, not like "pull your dick") I will say "Cat Stevens is one in a line of icons that inspired all musicians in the late 60's and early 70's". As of late, I follow old Bowie songs. Specifically, Ashes to Ashes.
As you guessed, Cat S. is not why I write. I found your site from a blog or website from 2008, where you seem to know the definition of a certain Bowie lyric from Ashes to Ashes:
"But the little green wheels are following me".
What are green wheels?
A dumb Yank would think that it has to due with dispensing "H" or a drug to stop shakes from "Major Tom ("H")".
I'm currently singing a lead track of Ashes to Ashes produced in Hollywood, California and would like to know what it means.
Respond with the correct answer, and I will send you an early release mp3 of a new Ashes to Ashes (non-Bowie) restricted cut.
Thanks,
G. Crowe
I have no idea what it means. I'm sure the answer is out there somewhere on the web though.
Love this, Lee. It reminds me of trying to sing this in school assembly to his version, not the pianist's. Glad you're back in town, and as always I wish you all the best.
Great choice. Hope everything is, well, you know . . . as okay as it can be.
he's just got a voice hasn't he. i think there might be more cat creeping into my record pile over the next not too long
x
When I was at primary school, I stood up and said that the first morning would have just involved red hot lava and stuff (more than likely after one of my bedtime interesting chats with my dad the night before). I was a know-it-all idiot then, and unfortunately it seems I've remained the same.
My best wishes with you as well.
I was very sniffy about Cat Stevens records at the time they came out. They reissued them recently (with some uncalled-for extra tracks) and I play them a lot, particularly when morning has just broken. There's something gentle and civilised about their sound that you don't get every day.
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