Cat Stevens - Izitso

Cat Stevens bounced back from the lackluster Numbers with an album of pop/rock songs that brought his usual rhythmic folk-rock into contemporary style with the Muscle Shoals rhythm section, a snappy Dave Kershenbaum production, and lots of synthesizers. Most of the songs were unusually lightweight, but the autobiographical "(I Never Wanted) To Be a Star" explored Stevens' ambivalence about being in the music business, an attitude that would find him dropping out and finding religion after one more album. In the meantime, Izitso produced a final Top 40 hit in "(Remember the Days of The) Old Schoolyard" and a singles-chart entry in the instrumental "Was Dog a Doughnut." As a result, Stevens returned to the Top Ten LPs list with a ninth straight gold album, his last. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Name Credits Andy Newmark Drums, ? Barbara Ingram Vocals, ? Barry Beckett Piano (Electric), Piano, Organ, ?, Keyboards Barry Morgan Drums, ? Bernie Grundman Mastering Beth Stempel Project Coordinator Bill Berg ?, Drums Bill Levenson Reissue Supervisor Broderick Smith ?, Harmonica Bruce Lynch Synthesizer, ?, Sequencing Programmer, Sequencing, Bass Carla Benson Vocals, ? Cat Stevens Piano (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic), Piano, Fender Rhodes, Arp, Guitar, Electric Harpsichord, String Arrangements, Producer, Percussion, Bouzouki, Vocals, Drums, Keyboards, Brass Arrangement, Guitar (Electric), Harpsichord, Loops, Polymoog, Guitar (Classical), Sequencing Programmer, Design, Celeste Chick Corea Piano (Electric), ?, Keyboards Claude Dupras Programming David Campbell Brass Arrangement, ?, Strings David Hood Bass, ? David Kershenbaum Producer Dee Robb Engineer Elkie Brooks ?, Vocals Evette Benton Vocals, ? Flemming Rasmussen Assistant Engineer, Engineer Freddy Hansson Engineer Gene Eichelberger Engineer Gene Page Brass Arrangement Ian Boughey Assistant Engineer, Engineer Jean Rouselle Synthesizer Strings, Vibraphone, Organ, Organ (Hammond), Piano (Grand), String Ensemble Jean Roussel Organ (Hammond), Sequencing, Glockenspiel, Piano (Electric), Piano, Synthesizer Strings, Synthesizer, String Arrangements, Organ, Flute, Keyboards, Vibraphone, ? Jerry Masters Engineer Jim Johnson Guitar (Rhythm) Jimmy Johnson ? John Kelly Engineer Ken Frieson Engineer Little Brother Montgomery Arp 2600 Marjorie Lagerwall ?, Harp Mathieu Bitton Reissue Design Mike Ross Engineer Mike Stavros Engineer Nick Blagona Engineer Nigel Walker Engineer, Assistant Engineer Paul Martinson Engineer Pete Carr Guitar, ? Ray Gomez Guitar, ?, Guitar (Electric) Reggie Young Guitar (Electric), ? Roger Hawkins ?, Drums Steve Brandon Assistant Engineer, Engineer Suzanne Lynch Vocals, Choir, Chorus, ? Ted Jensen Original Mastering Tim Henson Piano, Organ, ? Tom Jung Engineer Weldon Myrick Guitar (Steel), ?