Foreigner
Studio album by Cat Stevens
Released	July 25, 1973
Recorded	March 1973, Dynamic Studios, Kingston, Jamaica; Atlantic Studios, New York
Genre	Singer-Songwriter
Length	36:09
Label	A&M (U.S.) Island (UK)
Producer	Cat Stevens
Professional reviews
Allmusic link
Cat Stevens chronology
Catch Bull at Four (1972) Foreigner (1973) Buddha and the Chocolate Box (1974)

Foreigner is an album released by English singer-songwriter, Cat Stevens in July 1973. In addition to the minor hit "The Hurt", which received a moderate amount of airplay, Foreigner also included such songs as "100 I Dream" and the 18-minute-long "Foreigner Suite".

[edit] Background

After the pinnacle of Stevens' success with four consecutive platinum and gold albums: Mona Bone Jakon, Tea for the Tillerman, Teaser and the Firecat, and Catch Bull at Four, Stevens had a dependable audience who wanted more. However, he felt himself falling into a rut. Stevens came to a decision that he would write and produce his next album himself, surprising many others, given that Alun Davies and his producer, Paul Samwell-Smith in particular, were instrumental in assisting Stevens to form the definitive signature sound that had brought Stevens to the height of his stardom. Seeking an alternative, he focused on the kinds of music that moved him, which he heard on the radio: R&B music.

Bands that inspired him included The Blue Notes and Stevie Wonder. Stevens came to realize that the music that he had always loved originated not as Rock and roll, but what he had been introduced to as "black music". Leadbelly instantly came to mind, who had been one of his favorites. In his mind, he'd learned about "black music" almost through the back door, while also being moved toward acoustic folk music. In deciding to drop all the musical influences in his band, he hoped to foster those early soulful sounds himself. In an interview with Circus Magazine, Stevens admitted that. 'If black music was happening, I decided to just get down to it. And because I was a stranger in the world of black sounds, I called the album Foreigner."^[1]

Stevens additionally named the album Foreigner, because he took up residency outside the U.K. to avoid the heavy taxes levied on him for accumulating so much money through his previous albums. He recorded Foreigner in Jamaica. On November 9, 1973, Stevens performed the song on ABC's In Concert, a 90–minute program they named the Moon & Star, including the full 18 minute "Foreigner Suite" without commercial interruption. ^[2]

Although Foreigner sold well, with the album reaching #3 on both sides of the Atlantic, it was not favourably reviewed, and its release was not followed by a tour.

In 2009, Stevens--now known as Yusuf--entered the Coldplay versus Joe Satriani fray alleging that Coldplay had unintentionally plagiarized their melody to "Vida la Vida" from his "Foreigner Suite".^[3] Yusuf added that he has forgiven Coldplay and would love to sit down and have a cup of tea with them. The section that resembles "Viva la Vida" begins at about 14:30 until the end of the 18 minute song.

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Cat Stevens.

[edit] Side one

1. "Foreigner Suite" – 18:06

[edit] Side two

1. "The Hurt" – 4:09
2. "How Many Times" – 4:18
3. "Later" – 4:40
4. "100 I Dream" – 4:04

[edit] Personnel

• Cat Stevens - electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, keyboards, strings, brass, arranger, vocals
• Jean Roussel - keyboards, strings, brass, arranger
• Phil Upchurch - electric guitar
• Paul Martinez - bass
• Herbie Flowers - bass on "How Many Times"
• Bernard Purdie - drums, percussion
• Gerry Conway - drums, percussion on "Foreigner Suite"
• Patti Austin - vocals
• Barbara Massey - vocals
• Tasha Thomas - vocals
• Tower of Power - horns

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Foreigner at Discogs