I am a child of the 70's, the early 70's that is.  I am still into the Peace movement and love that music.  I  hear so much talk of 70s nostalgia but rarely hear the name 'Cat Stevens' except in some negative manner.  I don't get it.  When I was a teenager we fought to get our hands on his albums, especially "Tea For The Tillerman" and "Teaser And The Firecat".  "Catch Bull At Four" went to Number 1 in 1972.  So I ask 'Why is Cat Stevens so underrated?'  We, as teenagers, fought to get his T-shirts, and posters and dreamed of seeing him perform.  He could sellout Madison Square Gardens two nights in a row without having a record out.  So why has this legend and great talent been forgotten.  Sure there were those terrible lies and rumors during 1989, but he was proven innocent and even won some lawsuits concerning these rumors.  But that should not  have much to do with the great music.  Other performers have withstood the test of time and have done some pretty horrible things with a tenth of the talent of Cat Stevens.  He didn't urinate on stage, eat animals alive, or put hidden messages in his records.  

If you don't think he is underrated just listen to "Tea For The Tillerman" and I am sure you will have a change of mind.  I think that was one of the most beautiful records to emerge from the 70's.

Peace,
Yusufscat

Couldn't agree more, Yusuf'scat! If anyone has been underrated, I can say for sure, it is Cat Stevens! and as far as those misconceptions of the late 80s and eaarly 90s, it was just too easy for people to believe what they read, so they did! But in any case, Cat's music is timeless filled with heartfelt meaning, and that is what people should focus on!

Peace,Cat Lover

IMO, anyone who gives up ALL thier material riches and does something spiritual is someone I admire. BTW, my favorites by him for beauty: Morning Has Broken and for my Happy I would choose "Wild World"  :)

RockandRollFan,

You are SO RIGHT! Yusuf, the man, today is quite a remarkable man!

Peace,Cat Lover

I don't think he's underrated at all.  He is recognized world-wide for his contribution to music and in the muslim faith.

IMO, his greatest accomplishments are the schools he has founded.  Don't get me wrong, I am a Cat Stevens music fan, but he has chosen to take the road less traveled and appears to have succeeded in making his dreams come true.
And to me, that makes him a success.

I might be talking out of my a$$ here, but didn't he release a recording of faith-based music?  I'm too lazy to search the web for info on that right now :P

CS...I have most of his faith-based music and it is wonderful.  Go to these sites and you can see what he is doing now.  He is totally remarkable.

http://www.mountainoflight.comhttp://www.yusufislam.org.uk

In the Islamic world he is never underrated.  We, Muslims, call him 'the worlds most popular Muslim'... He is so loved by many because of his charities and his schools.  He gives over half of his income to charity and to the schools.  He has also gone into war-torn countries and rescued refugees.  You should really read up on what he is doing now.  He donated the proceeds to his recently released Boxed set to the victims of New York City and to other charities.  

He really is a nice person.  Many  of us can attest to that.

Peace,
A'isha

I've always felt that his verse that sits under my avatar sums up most things perfectly.

I think the problem is that most people couldn't understand what they saw as his 'sudden' switch in lifestyle/religion etc.  I know as a teenager at the time I couldn't - to me it seemed more a case of yet another person jumping on another popular cause (whether or not it was considered popular).

That's not a great analogy but I couldn't find better words for it.

With the benefit of having looked at it for lots of years now, I can see that that's what he wanted to do, and so good on him for doing it.

He also suffered a lot of bad press over his move and the Salmon Rushdie Fatwa issue which he personally had nothing to do with, but as a high profile person he kept being asked about it, and so therefore everyone associated him with the Fatwa.

As for the music, I play it regularly and think it contains some of the strongest mesages going.    :)

All of you make good points! What I mean by underrated is the fact that for years, the media has given him a bad rap for things that were not his fault and that he has had no control over! And it is because of this bad rap that his music has been banned by some radio stations and some record stores through out the years!

It is only though recent years that his reputation is slowly being restored and people are realizing that this is a man who does tremendous good for the world! If anyone hasn't seen his episode on BEHIND THE MUSIC, I urge you to keep an eye out for it! Yusuf, himself explains all the misconceptions and sets the record straight! Unfortunately, there are still folks out there who choose to believe the worst!

Peace,Cat Lover

 The VH1  BTM was awesome.  Anyone who has any questions about Cat/Yusuf, will find them answered there.  His music continues to get me through the rough patches in my life.  Cat RULES! IRIE    ~FE~

I think that for those of us who love him, Cat Stevens is special, but when I see these programs where there is a list of the Top 100 Singers, Albums, etc. you never see his name.  He was one of the top stars of my teen years.  When people like The Sex Pistols and Britney Spears make some lists I have to say that the media underrates our man.

And he is quite a human being.  You know, I think people didn't understand about how a person could walk away from it all for God and for a religion that has such hostility connected to it.   It seems so strange for someone to do so.  But Cat did and became Yusuf, found his peace and is helping the world.  I wish people could take time to listen to what Yusuf has to say about his faith.  Yusuf is an example of what Islam is all about rather than Osama bin Laden who distorts it and uses it for his own evil plans.  I wish people would listen to him more.  He is still the engineer of that wonderful dream, The Peace Train.

Peace/Love,
A'isha

A'isha is correct! Not even seeing his name on lists like the top 100 is another reason that makes him underrated! Yes, his music is recognizable! So why does he not make any of these lists! I would think he has done more for music than the Sex Pistols, and I HOPE that others think that as well!

Peace,Cat Lover

If anyone would like to check out the Cat Stevens website, here is the address!

http://www.catstevens.com

Peace,Cat Lover

And don't forget these sites...one is mine. :-)

http://www.majicat.comhttp://www.peacetrainn.com (mine)
http://www.catstevens.co.ukhttp://www.cat-stevens.de (German)

Hey, all the sites including Catstevens.com are great places with their own little touches to honor that great man.

Peace,
A'isha

Thanks A'isha

Peace,Cat Lover

Cat/Yusuf may be underrated. but in my mind he is the BEST.  Where is Vivian and her buckets?

The BIG V is RIGHT HERE, trying her DARNDEST to control herself! And BELIEVE ME, IT ISN'T EASY!  :P :P :-[ :-[

Peace,Cat Lover