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Post by Daddy-o on Feb 20, 2002 16:40:16 GMT -5
This is a nice new feature - congratulations Chris. The material on the site is great too. I hope you don't mind that I use this new board to shamelessly promote my biography? A few people have contacted me of late asking for copies of the book that I put out last year. My details must still be circulating globally! Thanks to all who supported it. The book, Cat Stevens - The Complete Illustrated Biography & Discography, is now out of print and my box number inactive. However, I have been busy revising and updating it. I aim to put this out in a better format and I'm thinking about looking for a publisher. Hopefully, sometime this year. I'm also working on an essay called "UNDERNEATH THE COVERS" to go with it. This is a very lighthearted look at the many people who have covered Cat's material. I hope you will permit me to paste the introduction as follows:
CAT BY PROXY – AN INTRODUCTION
Hopefully the following essay gives interest and information on the many Cat Stevens cover versions that have appeared over the years. It should make a nice companion book to Cat Stevens – The Complete Illustrated Biography & Discography.
Right from the outset of Cat’s career, his contemporaries were queuing up for pages of his songbook. I first decided to write this article after reading an interesting thread on the UK’s “Remember Cat Stevens” website. I found that being a sad individual and wearing my Cat Stevens anorak at the time – I was not content with collecting just Cat Stevens songs alone. My interests had veered towards the many cover versions recorded by the well known and not so well known artists who had used Cat’s songs.
For me, the best interpretation of any of Cat’s songs is by the man himself. However, it’s always good to hear other artist’s reworking of the songs. Cover versions in general have always fascinated me. Especially in the way that a singer/arranger can reinvent someone else’s work. Two songs that immediately spring to mind are Joe Cocker’s version of With A Little Help From My Friends and Jimi Hendrix’s majestic Hey Joe. It’s best forgotten that William Shatner tackled Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds! Led Zeppelin based most of their early material on old Blues singer’s work - bringing the genre into the mainstream. Where would the Beatles and Rolling Stones have been without people like Arthur Alexander, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Little Richard, Willie Dixon et al?
Without wishing to go off on too much of a tangent - this account focuses on how the songs of Cat Stevens were developed, stroke murdered! I have tried to stay as non-judgemental about these as my conscience allows me! The original working title of this essay was in fact called, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly! As far as quality reworking goes, in my opinion, it’s P.P. Arnold’s “The First Cut Is the Deepest”, with Double Feature’s “Baby Get Your Head Screwed On”. “Portobello Road” by Alun Davies and “The Wind” by Mary Hopkin are very closely behind. For innovation, it’s E-Real’s Rap version of "Wild World"! Let’s keep the thread going - over to you!
George Brown
December 2001
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Post by Daddy-o on Feb 20, 2002 16:51:18 GMT -5
I've been censored!! I only said Joe Cocker!
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Post by Vivian on Feb 20, 2002 20:14:26 GMT -5
Hey George,
REMEMBER ME! I STILL LOVE YOUR BOOK![glow=red,2,300]TEXT[/glow] ;D
Peace,Vivian
PS WELCOME TO THE MAJICAT FAMILY![flash=200,200]URL[/flash]
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Chris
Oh Very Young
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Post by Chris on Feb 21, 2002 2:10:34 GMT -5
Hey George, It sounds like a wonderful book and I look foreward to reading it. !!! Best of luck in getting it put to print. And please keep us updated on the progress of your work.  |
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Chris
Oh Very Young
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Post by Chris on Feb 21, 2002 2:17:34 GMT -5
I've been censored!! I only said Joe Cocker! George, I fixed that censor. You can now say Joe Cocker without the censor going into effect. |
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Post by Lucy13 on Feb 21, 2002 20:53:43 GMT -5
Hi, George, Just popping in because I'm dismayed to find out your discography/biography is already out of print! (But congratulations ;D). You see, not long ago, I had given my copy to a dear friend, thinking, "oh, I'll pick up another one from George Brown when I get around to it..." Of course I wanted my friend to have the book, but now I'm without one! Does anyone have an extra copy they can sell me? Thanks in advance! I wish you the best of luck getting your updated edition published, George. Please hurry, so I can buy it! So we ALL can buy it! Beautiful message board, Christine. I look forward to visiting here often (maybe even during Lent...). (I need a headstart ... with Vivian here, after all....  ) Love ya, Vivian. Peace and best wishes to all! |
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Post by Lucy13 on Feb 21, 2002 21:06:20 GMT -5
That Joe Cocker thingy was funny! George really had me confused for a minute there. ;D Thanks for fixing the censor, Christine. We don't need a censor, do we... we know how to behave!  I can already tell I'll enjoy visiting this site. You command such respect, Christine. Really -- I mean this with all my heart. Thanks for all that you do, and have done, for us fans and for Yusuf. |
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Post by Vivian on Feb 21, 2002 23:34:19 GMT -5
Hey Lucy, I guess I got a head start, HUH! LOL Oh, IS FORTY DAYS UP ALREADY! LOL
Peace,Vivian
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Post by Aisha on Feb 22, 2002 0:55:29 GMT -5
Hello everyone, this forum looks great and it is cool to be here.
Hey George, let me know when your book is updated so I can promote it for you. The older version was wonderful.
Peace,
A'isha
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Post by Daddy-o on Feb 22, 2002 12:48:57 GMT -5
Many thanks A'isha & Vivian. Lucy, I possibly can supply you with an original copy if you can contact me: george@henry-brown.freeserve.co.uk
Chris, this message board is very user friendly, lots of nice features. The automatic censor made me chuckle!
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Post by Vivian on Feb 22, 2002 17:03:23 GMT -5
Hi George,
I LOVE the older version! I KNOW I will love the new version as well! Hey, I will be in London for a few days in April! Is there a chance it can be ready then! Maybe I can pick up a copy at that time!
Peace,Vivian
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Post by Daddy-o on Feb 23, 2002 2:41:53 GMT -5
Hi Vivian,
If it is, I'll let you know. What's held me up is finding a programme that is compatible with what the printer uses. Enjoy London!
George
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Post by Vivian on Feb 23, 2002 17:52:55 GMT -5
Thanks George!
Peace,Vivian
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Post by Lucy13 on Feb 24, 2002 8:36:25 GMT -5
Thanks to George, I am speedily able to get another copy of the bio after all. I'm so pleased! |
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Post by Daddy-o on Feb 28, 2002 1:42:53 GMT -5
Lady D, I like your eye catching symbol! Is that your own eye? I'm sending you some cyber drops straight over! There's a nasty speck of grit in there by the look of it!!
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Post by Play_and_play on Feb 28, 2002 14:52:23 GMT -5
Well done. Goerge, for the great job you did on your last book, and I can't wait to see your new one ..Keep up the good work.
David
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Post by Daddy-o on Feb 28, 2002 15:22:47 GMT -5
Hi David - glad you enjoyed it. The revised version is much better I think. I had some fun with the covers essay that goes with it. I'm just getting the pictures organised for both. Thanks for supporting it.
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Jancat
Majik of Majik Member
"I let my music take me where my heart wants to go..."
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Post by Jancat on Mar 11, 2002 19:49:14 GMT -5
Hi George,
As you know, I love your Cat biography, and I'm happy to hear that it's being updated - that's terrific! Please let us know when everything is completed, OK? (And that's hysterical about the site censor! I almost fell off my chair laughing!)
And hello to everybody here - this is my first post on the new and improved message board! Thanks to Shirley for telling me about it, and thanks to Christine for such a great site! I haven't had much time to post anywhere lately, but I'll pop in here whenever I can. Majicat is such a nice place to visit!
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Post by MissKitty on Mar 12, 2002 16:38:51 GMT -5
Oops look like a messed around and missed out on my chance for the book. I have had the letter ready to mail to you for a long time. Are you updating the book or writing an entire new one. I will be sure and get the new one, but have I missed anything in the old one?
~~cheers
MissKitty
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Post by Daddy-o on Mar 12, 2002 17:16:52 GMT -5
Hi Miss Kitty,
I've just brought it up to date really. Such a lot has happened, especially with the release of the box set etc. Of course, the September 11th tragedy changed things too. I've swapped a few of the photos around and added a few. I was always uneasy about breaching any copyright so I've stuck to photos such as the cover shots that belonged to me - the others are from defunct music papers. There's some nice archives I've collected together which are used to illustrate. There's a lot of information from school days to recent days and it remains fairly concise. The covers essay that goes with it is a bit of fun I had, which I hope the Cat collector enjoys. It amazes me the number of artists who've covered his songs, but it's a bit like collecting pebbles - you take the rough with the smooth! Thanks for supporting it and forgive this shameless plug. It's cheaper here than Rolling Stone magazine! Nice new '60's additions on here Chris, looks fab!
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Chris
Oh Very Young
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Post by Chris on Mar 12, 2002 18:33:06 GMT -5
Hey George, plug it all you wish here... thats what these board are here for. For you, the fans. And besides, I LOVEd your bio and am patiently waiting for the new updated version. I enjoy reading about the updates on it. |
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Post by Lucy13 on Mar 12, 2002 19:33:59 GMT -5
George,
How many copies of your bio were printed? I wanted to tell someone at work -- and couldn't remember. Was it 1,000? I too look forward to an expansion.
And Christine, I LOVE your profile picture. I LOVE IT!!
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Chris
Oh Very Young
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Post by Chris on Mar 13, 2002 11:10:18 GMT -5
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Post by Daddy-o on Mar 13, 2002 13:27:37 GMT -5
Hi Lucy,
If only it were a thousand! Much less I'm afraid, I numbered the first 100 but stopped counting after that.
Chris...your picture is a gem, reminds me of those old silent movie images. What happened to Lady D's eye, I blinked and it went!?
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Post by Lucy13 on Mar 13, 2002 14:08:27 GMT -5
Hi Lucy, If only it were a thousand! Much less I'm afraid, I numbered the first 100 but stopped counting after that. George... I had no idea it was such a small print run. That's kinda neat! (To think I and some other neat people are the only people in the world with your unique bio. I like that!) But of course I wish you a MUCH bigger print run/success in the future. Oh, and if I could only have you sign and "number" my really unique copy... maybe one day I'll meet ya! I'm so happy to have it. Thanks for the link, Christine. I'll look at it. I love that kind of sweet illustration. So "Cat"-like. Yep... We need more of that kind of sweetness in this world. Enough Simpsons, etc... |
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Post by Daddy-o on Mar 13, 2002 14:25:07 GMT -5
LOL - conjuntivitis (sp?) nasty business.
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Post by ocaritas on Mar 13, 2002 23:01:08 GMT -5
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Post by Lucy13 on Mar 15, 2002 21:12:54 GMT -5
<--- Yea!! Got rid of the Smurf! But the Smurfs are a million times better than The Ninja Turtles and a trillion times better than The Simpsons.
Ha ha... (Thanks Christine.... meet your special moon buddy)
And ... nice to see you here, Sue!
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Post by Vivian on Mar 15, 2002 22:12:36 GMT -5
;D ;D ;D MAN, I am REALLY EXCITED about this updated version! George, when do you anticipate it being ready!As I said, I am going to be in London from April 18 through April 22! It would be SO WONDERFUL if I can grab a copy then!Peace,Vivian  hippie hippie hippie |
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sue
Oh Very Young
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Post by sue on Mar 15, 2002 22:53:51 GMT -5
George,
I am looking forward to your new updated Biography. I hope
you will autograph the new copy for me as you did the first
one. All the best to you.
Sue
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) Love ya, Vivian. 
