Cat Stevens - Gold

A&M's 32-track retrospective of eccentric singer/songwriter Cat Stevens manages to cram into two discs what 2001's On the Road to Find Out box set tried to accomplish over four. While not as informative or "rarities"-heavy, Gold tells the artist's story with utter succinctness, from earnest, post-counterculture semi-hedonist to Islamic recluse. All of the key tracks -- digitally remastered from the original two-track masters -- are here ("Wild World," "The Wind," "Another Saturday Night," "Moonshadow," "Where Do the Children Play?") as well as deeper cuts like "18th Avenue (Kansas City Nightmare)" and all 18 minutes of "Foreigner Suite." Also included is Stevens' most recent composition. Originally released as a digital download, the emotional and surprisingly rousing "Indian Ocean" was recorded for Stevens' Small Kindness charity to benefit children from the Aceh region who were affected by the December 2004 tsunami. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alan James Bass Alan Tew Musical Direction Alun Davies Vocals, Guitar Andreas Olsson Engineer, Mixing Andreas Toumazis Bouzouki Andy Newmark Drums Angelos Hatzipavli Bouzouki Anna Peacock Vocals Anthony LaMarchina Cello Art Garfunkel Vocals (Background), Vocals Baeho Bobby Shin Engineer Barbara Ingram Vocals Barbara Massey Vocals Barrie Wentzell Photography Barry Beckett Keyboards Barry Morgan Drums Bernard "Pretty" Purdie Drums Beth Stempel Production Coordination Bill Berg Drums Bill Levenson Compilation Producer Brenda Russell Vocals Brian Cole Guitar (Steel) Broderick Smith Harmonica Bruce Lynch Bass Carl Hall Vocals Carla Benson Vocals Carmen Twillie Vocals Cat Stevens Producer, Vocals, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Percussion, String Arrangements, Guitar, Brass Arrangement Chick Corea Piano Chico Batera Percussion Chris Walter Photography Daewook Jung Assistant Engineer Daniel Gordon Associate Compilation Producer, Production Coordination, Photography Dave Mattacks Drums David Angell Violin David Campbell String Arrangements, Brass Arrangement David Davidson Violin, String Arrangements David Hood Bass David Kershenbaum Producer David P. Bailey Photography David Sanborn Sax (Alto) Del Newman String Arrangements Derek Wadsworth String Arrangements Don Weller Saxophone Ed Harcourt Wurlitzer Elkie Brooks Vocals Ellen Fitton Mastering Eric Johnson Guitar Evette Benton Vocals Gene Page String Arrangements, Brass Arrangement George Marino Mastering Gered Mankowitz Photography Gerry Conway Percussion, Vocals, Drums Gordie Fleming Accordion Graham Smith Harmonica Harvey Burns Percussion Herbie Flowers Bass, Guitar (Bass) Jean Roussel Brass Arrangement, Keyboards, String Arrangements Jim "Shaft" Ryan Guitar Jim Cregan Guitar Jim McCrary Inlay Photography John Fell Ryan Bass John Marson Harp John Rostein Violin Kelly Pribble Engineer Kristin Wilkinson Viola Larry Steele Conga, Guitar, Vocals, Percussion, Bass Lewis Furey Vocals Linda Lewis Vocals Love Sponge String Quartet Strings Luther Vandross Vocals Magne F Piano (Upright) Marcus Pungetti Illustrations Marjorie Lagerwall Harp Mark Warner Guitar Martin Terefe Producer, Production Coordination, Bass, Mixing Meire Murakami Design, Illustrations Melba Joyce Vocals Michael Kachko Product Manager Mike Hurst Producer Neil Primrose Drums Patti Austin Vocals Paul Martinez Bass Paul Samwell-Smith Producer, Vocals Pete Carr Guitar Peter Gabriel Flute Phil Upchurch Guitar Ray Gomez Guitar Reggie Young Guitar Richard Niles String Arrangements Rick Wakeman Piano Roland Harker Banjo Ryan Null Photo Research Scott Schinder Project Assistant Simon Nicol Guitar Steve Jordan Drums Suzanne Lynch Vocals Tasha Thomas Vocals Ted Jensen Mastering Tim Henson Piano Vincent Beck Vocals Vincent Gloud Vocals Weldon Myrick Guitar (Steel) Will Lee Bass Yusuf Islam Vocals, Producer, Guitar, Associate Compilation Producer