Yusuf (a.k.a. Cat Stevens): An Other Cup

Label: Ya/Atlantic
Sound/Style: Adult-oriented pop, combining acoustic balladry and world music influences

Well before he traded a life of stardom for the Muslim faith and the name Yusuf Islam, British performer Cat Stevens had been treading the path of a spiritual seeker. The search was evident in songs like "On the Road to Find Out," in which he concluded "the answer lies within." He scored massive hits with songs of peaceful intent ("Peace Train"); one was even borrowed from the classic Christian hymnal ("Morning Has Broken"). His song "Jesus" compared the journeys of Christ and Buddha, indicating the openness with which he pursued his own trek towards enlightenment. On An Other Cup, the former pop icon--now billed simply as Yusuf--rekindles past glories and demonstrates that his artistic objectives haven't significantly changed since abandoning the secular pop world in 1978.