leonardcohenforum.com

Hi Biraj ~

My record-store guy just called and he was able to get two out of the three cd's that I ordered. He said that "the guy" told him that "Officium" is no longer available, that it's out of print. Do you have it? If you do, perhaps we could arrange a trade for a copy of it? I'm looking forward to hearing the other two, and the ones you suggested to Margaret also sound intrigueing. I may be in the process of becoming 'music poor' here. Absent any judgements on those who do, I just can't bring myself to download from the Internet [and that's even presuming I knew how !]. Maybe I'll get a Eureka change of attitude on it for myself, and start saving myself some money. Finally got my cd burner ~ now just have to get it hooked up. I'll be in a hugely -different position for trading when that happens!

I'll still let you know more as to what I think of "Let Love In" .

~ Elizabeth

Michael Jackson -I wish he wrote more songs by himself. I noticed all my favourites from him have come from his pen. He has talents in songwriting.
Cat Stevens
Dire Straits
Nick Cave -and it seems I'm not the only one who likes him
Iarla Ó Lionáird -Gaelic is truly beautiful language.. At least when Iarla sings.
CMX -metal and poetry; wonderful combination which actually works.

There are more, lot more, but this is what's been playing lately in my cd-player.

Just came across a review of James Yorkston being described as a "Scottish Leonard Cohen" pretty strange....have a listen to him at http://www.jamesyorkston.co.uk go to listen link I am sure that some of you will like

love and peace

Ronnie

Hi Ronnie, thank you for the link!
I like James Yorkston's music, especially the haunting instrumental arrangements.

Hi and welcome Boogahbo!
It's so nice to meet another Cat Stevens fan here!
Cat is one of my top three favourites, together with Simon & Garfunkel - also Paul Simon solo - and Leonard Cohen.

Love, Susanne

Hi Boogahbo!
Yes, Susanne, you can add me to the Cat Steven's fan list too.
I was once awakened by the playing of "Morning Has Broken"... glorious way to wake up!

~Makera

Hi Susanne and thanks It's great that here are other Stevens fans too!

Makera, that indeed sounds like a wonderful way to wake up. I usually wake up just to hear my cell phohe beeping.

Boogahbo, Susanne, Makera

Add me to the Cat Stevens fan list: I loved his music when I was in my early twenties - it made a big impression on me at the time (and actually pre-dated my discovery of LC). My favourite albums were (& still are) "Tea For The Tillerman" & "Teaser and The Firecat".

Interestingly, I have an associate who often comes (by himself) to the annual LC celebration nights I compere and his wife (who is not an LC fan) has pointedly suggested to me she would come along to a similar tribute event for Cat's music! (If I had the energy and sufficient commitment, I would do this - though I think Van Morrison would be ahead in the queue! )

Cheers
Andrew (Darby)

Cat Stevens was one of my pre-Leonard favourites too. I was disappointed when he let religion come between him and his music. I understand that he has had second thoughts about that now, but I have not got round to finding out what he is doing about it. I paid a brief visit to his website (http://www.catstevens.com) today though, and it looks as if it is very informative, so perhaps I shall put that right soon

Hi Boogahbo, Makera, Andrew and Linmag,
What about creating a Cat Stevens fan club?!

Makera, to start your day with "Morning has Broken" is really wonderful!

Andrew, "Tea for the Tillerman" and "Teaser and the Firecat" are my favourite Cat albums too!

Linmag, Cat Stevens - now Yusuf Islam - does a lot for charity. He has, for example, founded the organization "Small Kindness" for children and families in war-shattered countries.
On Saturday he's going to perform a new version of "Wild World" together with Peter Gabriel on Nelson Mandela's AIDS benefit concert "46664". You can watch the concert live at
http://46664.tiscali.com/,
and it will be broadcast worldwide on MTV and other TV stations on December 1st.

Cat's official site is
http://yusufislam.org.uk/
~ lots of information and links!

The best and most inviting and appealing fan site, just to me, is
http://majicat.com/
~ Majicat is even linked from Mandela's site!

Love, Susanne

Susanne~
Thank you for all the info, and great websites!
I finally found out what "Longer Boats" was about...UFOs! Always liked that one too. One of my favourites, for its haunting tone, was "Lady D'Arbanville" (if that's how it's spelled), also "Moonshadow".
I see why you like the 'majicat' fan site - nice bunch, aren't they.

I hope he gets back to songwriting, he could be the Muslim Cohen. Can't see why not, if he could embrace the Sufi style realization (in poetry) and put it to music...it would be great.

Welcome to the 'club', Andrew (D)

Love,
Makera

Thanks for the links, Suzanne. If anyone else in the UK is interested, the concert is being broadcast at 8pm on Monday on the main MTV channel.

Boogahbo, Makera, Susanne, Linmag & anyone else,

Here's one more Cat fan site that's worth checking out (& which also lists a few other links):

http://member.newsguy.com/%7Eherblady/catstevens.htm

Cheers
Andrew (Darby)

Susanne and Andrew - Thanks for those websites, they're very interesting!

Thank you for the link, Andrew!
That's a very interesting website!

Makera wrote:I hope he gets back to songwriting, he could be the Muslim Cohen. Can't see why not, if he could embrace the Sufi style realization (in poetry) and put it to music...it would be great.

Makera, since Cat/Yusuf established his own record label "Mountain of Light" in 1994, he has released ten albums - one of them is a children's album and onother CD for children is coming soon. I think he has written about 15 of the songs himself.
They are religious songs, "nasheeds", and, for religious reasons, performed mainly a capella, some of them with background vocals. The only instruments that are used are drums and other percussion instruments.
One of these new Yusuf Islam songs - "God Is the Light", which is especially beautiful, I think - has even been released on a Cat Stevens album, the Cat Stevens Boxed Set (2001).
I do hope Cat/Yusuf continues writing his wonderful songs!

Love, Susanne

Oh, Wow! Thanks for the up-date Susanne; just shows how out-of-touch I am, huh? Sounds great, I'll have to check those out.
~Makera