Perhaps these "additions" to Mr Steven's old work are simply "publicity stunts." I don't think it's that shallow, obviously the new material is very well thought out. However, how do you generate new enthusiasm for very old material?
Maybe we are simply reminded of the wonder and beauty of Cat Stevens's work. His detour as Yusuf Islam took a lot of enthusiasm away from Cat Stevens. It probably should not have!
Since GW Bush dragged us into a stupid and silly war in Iraq "faith" demanded that we must hate Muslims because George Dubya Bush and his fellow crooks said we should. Worldwide huge (historically large) people's demonstrations against making trouble in Iraq went unnoticed by the privileged monsters that couldn't and still can't resist making lots of money on the blood of regular people everywhere.
And this was turned into popular American hatred for the Muslim world. Ergo, Yusuf Islam was very unpopular.
The powers that were had a USA bound flight interrupted by an unscheduled stop in Canada to remove Yusuf from the plane. We didn't want none o' them Muslims stepping onto sainted innocent American soil. Mr Yusuf Islam was quoted as saying that he expected it, so no biggie.
Making the transition from Mr Islam back into Cat Stevens may be impossible. Which truly sucks because I and much of the rest of the listening world that remember his fantastic work are stuck with Massa Bush's engendered suspicion and distrust of everything Muslim.
Can't I simply rise above such stupidity and prejudice? Yes, but only on my good days.
Perhaps Mr Islam/Stevens has no desire to stop being Mr Islam and resume living as Cat Stevens. In that case he's probably doomed to have a remembered but ruined career.
