- Annie's Scrapbook
Cat Treads Softy on His
Return
I'm so glad it happened -
I've had the chance to become human again.
Cat Stevens was talking
about his nine months lay-off through illness. Now relaxed and fit, he is preparing for
his comeback on the record scene with the release of " Here comes my wife" on
October 4.
" I came straight from
art school into the business and I didn't have time to look around," he continued.
"Being forced to rest up has altered my musical outlook. I've become much simpler
again because I was living a normal life in hospital.
Cat's Illness has been a
well-kept secret.
"It all started about
February," he explained. " I was feeling ill and at first they thought it was
pneumonia. But when I had been in the hospital for about a week they found it was more
serious. I was in the hospital for three months and after they they gave me some tablets
and told me to take it easy.
"The only thing that
brought e down in hospital was having to conform - getting up at 6 am and all that. One
day I found a little garage on a farm about three miles from the hospital. There was an
attic over the garage and I just stayed there for about four days. I had a tin of
pineapple chunks and some apples - I never want to see another apple again.
"No one knew I was
there and when the farmer came to get his car out I lay low.
"Back in the hospital
I felt my music had been getting too complicated. I had a little record player and I
played Bach again and again - he helped me out. Bach is like mathematics, it helps to
clear your brain.
" Two months ago I
went to Venice for a holiday and my doctor sent me my x-rays whch were completely clear
and said I could start work again.
"I got together with
Mike Vickers and did three songs for a single. We couldn't decide on the A side.
Eventually it was decided to have " Her Comes My Wife" although a lot of people
liked the B side 'Superlife" better.
"I wrote about 30
songs while I was away - enough for two good LP's and I am now working on an idea for the
first one. I'd like to get some kind of story running through one side."
I asked if Cat was
planning to return to live shows.
" I'll just see
what happens," he told me. " But I'd like to do some shows, I want to get back
on a stage again. When I came out of hospital I went to concerts and things and just
watching other people at work has helped me.
"The whole scene seems
very distorted at the moment. It's a big topsy turvey with nobody knowing what is
happening."
Written by _ Bob
Dawbarn
CATS BACK
 There
are a lot of stresses and strains in the pop world. And many stars suffer. Cat Stevens has
been ill for several months - but now he is well again, we're delighted to tell you. He
came up to the FAB office the other day and told us what has been happening for the
past few months. Here is what he said…
A year ago
people were saying to me 'go to the doctor' - you see I couldn't sleep properly at night
and felt generally run down. But I couldn't be bothered to go and left it till last
February. The same night I received a call from the doctor and went straight into the
nursing home. I had TB.
"It was a Harley
Street nursing home and they use to wake me at six every morning. Then I had an injection,
breakfast, a bath, and then they just waited around. I had a room on my own, but found
plenty of things to do. I read a lot and learnt how to actually write down music and of
course, I listened to the radio.
"After about a month I
went to a nursing home in Surrey. I stayed there for about two months, Only my immediate
friends knew I was ill. But I think it was printed in a paper that I was ill and I
received a great amount of cards. I had a great time just opening them and reading them.
And lots of fans sent cards - they really care.
"When I was ill I
think I had a chance to really look at myself and become a human being again. I was pretty
much in a world of my own before.
"When I left Surrey I
spent some time in London just generally resting and taking it easy. Then in July I went
to Venice for a few weeks with Paul and Barry Ryan. The doctor phoned me while I was there
and said that my x-ray was very good and showed considerable improvement, and I could
start to do some work providing I took it easy.
" I came back and did
a session with Mike Vickers and we did a song I'd written before I'd gone to Venice - '
Here Comes My Wife'. My latest record folks! It's about a guy who marries a rich girl -
but really too young to take the plunge.
" I wrote quite a few
interesting songs while I was in the hospital and I'm still working on my musical. I'm
looking for ideas. I'd be glad to hear them! I feel better, much better now - But I won't
be doing any one-nighters for a while."
Well it's good to
see him back on the scene again. Talent like Cats has been sadly missed in the charts for
too many months now.
Julia Webb |
