Yusuf: Tell 'Em I'm Gone (10th Anniversary) (Limited Ed.) (LP)

With "Tell 'Em I'm Gone", Yusuf / Cat Stevens returns to the origins of the musical sources of inspiration of his teenage days: American blues and R&B. However, the central theme remains the human urge for freedom. The songs on the album breathe the spirit of his early days as an aspiring singer/songwriter in London. Every single track is a revival of the age-old motifs of freedom and peace that have characterized Yusuf's musical career for more than four decades. Great new compositions such as "I Was Raised In Babylon" and "Cat And The Dog Trap" are joined by cover versions of blues pop songs and American standards ("Big Boss Man", "You Are My Sunshine"), as well as the moving version of the Edgar Winter song "Dying To Live". In terms of sound, the album impresses with powerful grooves and simple arrangements that seem authentic for the blues genre, but Yusuf's unique musical signature is unmistakable. The album cover was designed by Yusuf and illustrated by artist William Stout. It differs from the Sony Legacy release, which used a photo by Danny Clinch.