WEDNESDAY CLUB - Cat Stevens/Jimmy Cliff - Wild World

WEDNESDAY CLUB - Cat Stevens owes me 7/6 pence !

Apres Cat time

 

CAT STEVENS - Wild World (Live)

Living way up in Inverness in the sixties was a million miles away from where it was 'all happening' in the music scene. There were no venues to see all the many new artists and groups that had exploded out of the blue.


The day finally happened, one of the new sensations was a young Cat Stevens and he was playing in Inverness. He had some excellent stuff out at the time Matthew and Son, I love my Dog. In fact early Cat music, before he became more famous for his 'more serious' output was in my opinion just as good or even better. Get hold of his early Decca recordings and you won't be disappointed.

The place was packed, the Caledonia Hotel Ballroom, The Cat came on to the stage to an enormous roar, I'm Gonna Get me a Gun, one of his best. In the middle of his second song, he was gone. He panicked, as the audience got too close. He did not come back on and it was announced that due to inadequate barriers the concert was cancelled.

The Move were due on the following week. I hope they got their act together.

Many years later I had a chance to get my revenge. Where we lived in Jeddah, there was a Men's club and one day I saw that they had a guest speaker. It was none other than Yousef Islam, Cat's Islamic name when he found his calling? after a near death swimming accident.

I was tempted to go along and when they got to the question and answer session.  I was going to stand up and say you own me 7/6 pence from 1966. Wish I did!

Wild World is probably my favourite Cat Stevens song and comes from his Tea for the Tillerman (1970) album. I first heard Jimmy Cliff's version. Both are just great.

I originally thought it was a great break up song and was a little disappointed to read somewhere that it was about a father and his daughter, who was leaving home to go to University. Wish I never found that out.

 

JIMMY CLIFF - Wild World (1970)

Which version do you like best?.