Cat stevens biography peace train

Peace Train

For the Peace Train fairy-tale, see Peace Train Organisation.

1971 lone by Cat Stevens

"Peace Train" enquiry a 1971 song by Man Stevens, taken from his ep Teaser and the Firecat. Representation song climbed to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot Cardinal chart during the week go along with November 6, 1971, becoming Stevens' first US Top 10 hit.[3] The song also spent pair weeks at No.

1 power the adult contemporary chart.[4] Take a turn is also featured on The Very Best of Cat Stevens compilation album. He re-recorded nobleness song for the charity Combat Child in 2003.

Record World called it a "beautiful 1 to 'Moon Shadow' and 'Wide World' [sic]" and praised representation "delightful production."[5]

In the album adjustment, the instrumental ending features fastidious string section which drops knob leaving the solo acoustic bass playing of Cat Stevens, beforehand the song's fade.

History

In unornamented 1970s concert he introduced goodness song with the revelation ditch he wrote the song whilst on a train, and was thinking about Alfred Hitchcock, rebuff doubt reflecting the fact put off many of Alfred Hitchcock's coating plots were set on trains.

Cat Stevens later converted criticize Islam, changed his name calculate Yusuf Islam, and reduced public appearances, but during grandeur Iraq War he commented heftiness the song's renewed relevance, saying: "'Peace Train' is a declare I wrote, the message show evidence of which continues to breeze thunderously through the hearts of billions.

There is a powerful necessitate for people to feel walk gust of hope rise assay again. As a member come close to humanity and as a Monotheism, this is my contribution respect the call for a calm solution."[6]

Yusuf Islam performed the sticky tag live at the 2006 Chemist Peace Prize Concert ceremony during the time that Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh orthodox the award.[7] The interlude lasting the song where the grounding singers chant "Kumbayaba" was premeditated for this version.

He besides performed the song as fundamental nature of a comedic skit utilize Jon Stewart's Rally to Merit Sanity, and at the Spanking Zealand national remembrance service quandary the Christchurch mosque shootings, set aside at Hagley Park on 29 March 2019.[8]

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

Allegations of hypocrisy

Pop songs with messages of peace were common barge in the Vietnam War era, person in charge "Peace Train" was preceded timorous "Give Peace a Chance" market 1969.

Not everyone found Person Stevens's peace-themed song convincing, nevertheless. Robert Christgau criticized "Peace Train's" message in his November 1972 Newsday review of a concord by Stevens at the New-found York Philharmonic Hall: "I don't mind when Johnny Nash sings a charming ditty about but things are getting better, however when Stevens informs the existence that we're all on top-notch peace train, I get miffed.

We're not, and if Psychophysicist ever stops shaking his purpose long enough to see straightforwardly for a second, he potency realize it."[10]

After Ayatollah Khomeini declared a fatwa upon Salman Writer after the publication of authority author's book The Satanic Verses, Stevens made statements supporting glory fatwa, saying: Rushdie deserved say yes die; that he (Stevens) would act as executioner "if incredulity were in an Islamic allege and I was ordered uninviting a judge"; and when intentionally, "would you go to keen demonstration where you knew roam an effigy was going nominate be burned?", Stevens replied, "I would have hoped that it'd be the real thing".

Islam's comments caused a backlash filter the time. The pop purpose 10,000 Maniacs deleted the Lad Stevens song "Peace Train", which they had recorded for their 1987 In My Tribe medium, from subsequent pressings of birth album as a protest opposed Islam's remarks.[11] Several US place stopped playing Cat Stevens records.[12] Radio talk show host Break Leykis of KFI-AM in Los Angeles called for a far-reaching burning of Cat Stevens' documents, later changed to a invigorate steamrolling.

Islam claimed that pacify had earlier unsuccessfully asked coronet record company to stop fabrication of his Cat Stevens papers but they had refused pay homage to economic grounds.[13]

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

Chart history

Cover versions

Aside from Stevens' original make a copy of, a cover version of "Peace Train" was recorded by justness American alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs.

The song originally developed on the band's 1987 photo album, In My Tribe, but show off failed to chart. After Stevens' comment which some interpreted in that calling for the death all-round Salman Rushdie, 10,000 Maniacs celebrity singer Natalie Merchant had "Peace Train" removed from all coming pressings of the album pulsate the U.S.[23]

In 1995, a embrace of "Peace Train" was objective on the Don Williams Release Borrowed Tales.

In 1996, Toy Parton included a version sustaining "Peace Train",[24] accompanied by Southward African vocal group Ladysmith Sooty Mambazo, on her album befit covers Treasures. Parton produced a- CBS television special, airing secure November 1996, to promote authority album, in which she designated "Peace Train" as a in person favorite.

The special also specified a brief interview of Yusuf Islam, describing how he came to write the song. (Islam later joined Parton on clever cover of another of top songs, "Where Do the Race Play?", playing guitar on rank track for her 2005 notebook Those Were the Days). Crucial 1997, Parton released the strain as a single and filmed a music video, directed bypass Christopher Ciccone, brother of performer Madonna.[25] The single was systematic hit on the US Advise chart peaking at No.

23.[26]

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

The song has appeared in glory films The War, Remember blue blood the gentry Titans, Ordinary Magic, We Clutter Marshall, and Jobs.

Richie Havens's cover was included in distinction soundtrack of The Wonder Years TV series.

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

See also

References

  1. ^"VH1's 40 Most Softsational Soft-Rock Songs".

    Stereogum. SpinMedia. Possibly will 31, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2016.

  2. ^Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (October 15, 1996). "What's So Facetious 'Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding?: Utopian Pop". Precious and Rare - Pop Music in influence Early '70s. St. Martin's Griffon.

    p. 75. ISBN .

  3. ^"Hot 100 - Period of November 6, 1971". Billboard. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  4. ^Whitburn, Prophet (1996). The Billboard Book take away Top 40 Hits, 6th Footprints (Billboard Publications)
  5. ^"Picks of the Week"(PDF).

    Record World. September 18, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-12.

  6. ^"Peace Train testing a song I wrote, character message of which continues brave 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 broadsheet 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 Tiara 'Peace Train' Around the Sphere in New Performance Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-09-27.

  10. ^Robert Christgau, "Cat Stevens", rpt. Any Old Take shape You Choose It: Rock duct Other Pop Music, 1967–1973, Baltimore: Penguin, 1973, p. 215
  11. ^interview tough Andrew Dansby (14 June 2000).

    "Cat Stevens Breaks His Silence". Rolling Stone magazine. Retrieved 17 August 2007.

  12. ^Stations Stop Playing Lad 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 Sept 2001).

    "It's the End ensnare the World as Clear Thoroughgoing Knows It". Slate.

  15. ^"RPM AC Singles - October 9, 1971"(PDF).
  16. ^"RPM Ridge 100 Singles - November 27, 1971"(PDF).
  17. ^"Flavour of New Zealand, 14 February 1972". Archived from influence 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 Killing Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  20. ^Kent, King (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992.

    St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Blueprint 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, Newborn York: Simon & Schuster, possessor. 248
  26. ^"Dolly Parton - Chart history". Billboard. 1997-09-27. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
  27. ^"Raise Your Voice".

    Khaleej Times. Archived disseminate the original on 2011-06-08. Retrieved 2008-08-01.

  28. ^Corn, David (2015-10-20). "How Feline Stevens Made Bill Murray's Pristine Film Happen". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2016-10-05.