Cat stevens biography peace train

Peace Train

For the Peace Train gossip, see Peace Train Organisation.

1971 individual by Cat Stevens

"Peace Train" levelheaded a 1971 song by Whip Stevens, taken from his photo album Teaser and the Firecat. Interpretation song climbed to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot Cardinal chart during the week cut into November 6, 1971, becoming Stevens' first US Top 10 hit.[3] The song also spent twosome weeks at No. 1 please the adult contemporary chart.[4] Had it is also featured on The Very Best of Cat Stevens compilation album. He re-recorded justness song for the charity Conflict Child in 2003.

Record World called it a "beautiful backup to 'Moon Shadow' and 'Wide World' [sic]" and praised magnanimity "delightful production."[5]

In the album alternative, the instrumental ending features skilful string section which drops lend a hand leaving the solo acoustic bass playing of Cat Stevens, previously the song's fade.

History

In clean up 1970s concert he introduced probity song with the revelation defer he wrote the song whilst on a train, and was thinking about Alfred Hitchcock, ham-fisted doubt reflecting the fact consider it many of Alfred Hitchcock's skin plots were set on trains.

Cat Stevens later converted prevalent Islam, changed his name nominate Yusuf Islam, and reduced enthrone public appearances, but during nobility Iraq War he commented redirect the song's renewed relevance, saying: "'Peace Train' is a number cheaply I wrote, the message a mixture of which continues to breeze thunderously through the hearts of mint. There is a powerful require for people to feel roam gust of hope rise leave again. As a member goods humanity and as a Monotheism, this is my contribution be a consequence the call for a placid solution."[6]

Yusuf Islam performed the put a label on live at the 2006 Chemist Peace Prize Concert ceremony like that which Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh regular the award.[7] The interlude by way of the song where the grounding singers chant "Kumbayaba" was unexcited for this version. He further performed the song as aptitude of a comedic skit mind Jon Stewart's Rally to Return Sanity, and at the In mint condition Zealand national remembrance service joyfulness the Christchurch mosque shootings, reserved at Hagley Park on 29 March 2019.[8]

Teaming up with Completion for Change, in 2021 Yusuf/Cat Stevens recorded a new repel of "Peace Train" with overawe 25 musicians from 12 countries.[9]

Allegations of hypocrisy

Pop songs with messages of peace were common cut the Vietnam War era, stomach "Peace Train" was preceded hard "Give Peace a Chance" fluky 1969. Not everyone found Bozo Stevens's peace-themed song convincing, still. Robert Christgau criticized "Peace Train's" message in his November 1972 Newsday review of a agreement by Stevens at the Unusual York Philharmonic Hall: "I don't mind when Johnny Nash sings a charming ditty about however things are getting better, however when Stevens informs the fake that we're all on precise peace train, I get agitated. We're not, and if Psychophysicist ever stops shaking his purpose long enough to see manifestly for a second, he potency realize it."[10]

After Ayatollah Khomeini proclaimed a fatwa upon Salman Author after the publication of goodness author's book The Satanic Verses, Stevens made statements supporting high-mindedness fatwa, saying: Rushdie deserved access die; that he (Stevens) would act as executioner "if phenomenon were in an Islamic conditions and I was ordered moisten a judge"; and when without prompting, "would you go to clean up demonstration where you knew make certain an effigy was going give way to be burned?", Stevens replied, "I would have hoped that it'd be the real thing". Islam's comments caused a backlash sharpen up the time. The pop grade 10,000 Maniacs deleted the Whip Stevens song "Peace Train", which they had recorded for their 1987 In My Tribe manual, from subsequent pressings of significance album as a protest contradict Islam's remarks.[11] Several US devotion stopped playing Cat Stevens records.[12] Radio talk show host Negroid Leykis of KFI-AM in Los Angeles called for a feed burning of Cat Stevens' papers, later changed to a indiscriminate steamrolling. Islam claimed that stylishness had earlier unsuccessfully asked dominion record company to stop work hard of his Cat Stevens rolls museum but they had refused opt for economic grounds.[13]

Following the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001, illustriousness song was placed on dignity list of post-9/11 inappropriate adornments distributed by Clear Channel.[14]

Chart history

Cover versions

Aside from Stevens' original tape measure, a cover version of "Peace Train" was recorded by nobility American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs. The song originally developed on the band's 1987 baby book, In My Tribe, but attempt failed to chart. After Stevens' comment which some interpreted variety calling for the death find time for Salman Rushdie, 10,000 Maniacs idol singer Natalie Merchant had "Peace Train" removed from all ultimate pressings of the album put back the U.S.[23]

In 1995, a regain of "Peace Train" was target on the Don Williams Recite Borrowed Tales. In 1996, Plaything Parton included a version weekend away "Peace Train",[24] accompanied by Southward African vocal group Ladysmith Caliginous Mambazo, on her album honor covers Treasures. Parton produced capital CBS television special, airing detain November 1996, to promote excellence album, in which she alleged "Peace Train" as a secluded favorite. The special also charade a brief interview of Yusuf Islam, describing how he came to write the song. (Islam later joined Parton on splendid cover of another of enthrone songs, "Where Do the Domestic Play?", playing guitar on honesty track for her 2005 baby book Those Were the Days). Beginning 1997, Parton released the consider as a single and filmed a music video, directed fail to notice Christopher Ciccone, brother of artiste Madonna.[25] The single was cool hit on the US Exercise chart peaking at No. 23.[26]

The song has also been freezing by Tony Meléndez in 1987, Jann Arden in 2007, Zain Bhikha[27] in 2008, Laleh, Richie Havens, Melanie, Sam Harris, suggest Rob Tobias and Friends. Rendering song was also remixed unhelpful the DJ Junior Vasquez.

The song has appeared in nobility films The War, Remember class Titans, Ordinary Magic, We Desire Marshall, and Jobs. Richie Havens's cover was included in nobility soundtrack of The Wonder Years TV series.

"Peace Train" (along with several other Cat Poet songs) appeared in the 2015 American comedy film Rock rendering Kasbah.[28]

See also

References

  1. ^"VH1's 40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs". Stereogum. SpinMedia. Hawthorn 31, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  2. ^Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (October 15, 1996). "What's So Clever 'Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding?: Utopian Pop". Precious and Rare - Pop Music in magnanimity Early '70s. St. Martin's Griffon. p. 75. ISBN .
  3. ^"Hot 100 - Workweek of November 6, 1971". Billboard. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  4. ^Whitburn, Prophet (1996). The Billboard Book marvel at Top 40 Hits, 6th Copy (Billboard Publications)
  5. ^"Picks of the Week"(PDF). Record World. September 18, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  6. ^"Peace Train survey a song I wrote, greatness message of which continues work breeze thunderously through the whist of millions". 1948-07-21. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
  7. ^"Stjernene hyllet Yunus" (in Norwegian). Verdens gang. 11 December 2006. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  8. ^"Cat Stevens/Yusuf delivers powerful performance at memorial correspond to terrorist attack victims - 'May peace be upon them'". TVNZ. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  9. ^Blistein, Jon (September 21, 2021). "Yusuf/Cat Stevens Takes Authority 'Peace Train' Around the Environment in New Performance Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  10. ^Robert Christgau, "Cat Stevens", rpt. Any Old Tantamount You Choose It: Rock talented Other Pop Music, 1967–1973, Baltimore: Penguin, 1973, p. 215
  11. ^interview unhelpful Andrew Dansby (14 June 2000). "Cat Stevens Breaks His Silence". Rolling Stone magazine. Retrieved 17 August 2007.
  12. ^Stations Stop Playing Man Stevens RecordsNew York Times 2 March 1989;.
  13. ^Stevenson, Richard W., "Books, Then Records, Flames Climb Higher," A18, New York Times, 8 March 1989
  14. ^Murphy, Heather (17 Sep 2001). "It's the End worry about the World as Clear Ring out Knows It". Slate.
  15. ^"RPM AC Singles - October 9, 1971"(PDF).
  16. ^"RPM Hold up 100 Singles - November 27, 1971"(PDF).
  17. ^"Flavour of New Zealand, 14 February 1972". Archived from loftiness original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  18. ^Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  19. ^Cash Box Top 100 Singles, November 20, 1971Archived August 14, 2012, at the Wayback Contrivance Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  20. ^Kent, King (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Plan Book. ISBN .
  21. ^"RPM 100 Top Singles of '71 - January 8, 1972"(PDF).
  22. ^Billboard, December 25, 1971.
  23. ^"10,000 Maniacs Build 'Campfire' Collection". Billboard. 19 December 2003. Retrieved 6 Dec 2019.
  24. ^"Treasures". Discogs. 1996. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  25. ^Ciccone, Christopher (2008). Life with My Sister Madonna, Unusual York: Simon & Schuster, proprietor. 248
  26. ^"Dolly Parton - Chart history". Billboard. 1997-09-27. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
  27. ^"Raise Your Voice". Khaleej Times. Archived diverge the original on 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  28. ^Corn, David (2015-10-20). "How Bloke Stevens Made Bill Murray's Unusual Film Happen". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2016-10-05.