Rare footage of Live Cat concert in France, 1968

[Chris]

Nancy posted this Sunday on Facebook! What a cool find. THANK YOU Nancy!

I noticed it hasn't been posted here, at least I haven't located it yet. Take a look at this wonderful French concert from the 1960's! AMAZING!!!!!

[Milan]

Oh man!

[brandnewman]

Very nice. I'd love to see the rest of it.

[downunder72]

Wow!!!!! I haven't seen this one before. This is incredible!!! Thanks Christine for bringing this to our attention, and thanks Nancy for an incredible find. Just when you think theres no hope of seeing, or hearing anything more of the young Cat in the old days, something like this turns up. Can you imagine what else we could be missing. I wonder if Yusuf has this tape safe in his vault.

What an outfit. ;D Looking far out, hip, real groovy. Notice he appears a bit under the weather, exhausted, nearly about to flake out, pushing himself to the limit, but he still sounds, and moves great. Who's the band playing with him?

I still can't believe this, so I'm going back for more. ;D

Hope Nancy makes a post here soon.

[Vivian]

What a gem of a find.

Peace,Vivian

[Deleted]

Thanks Chris! Geez, what a rare find indeed! Wonder if there's more, where it came from and who's the band performing with him.

[nancy]

Chris !!! So glad you posted this here ..... I meant to, but am trying (last minute, of course) - to get our tax stuff prepared - ugh

I found this on Yusuf's Facebook page !!! I went to his page, and clicked on "fans" .... I had never done that before, and wondered if anyone actually wrote there. I had only ever checked his personal status updates.

There's all kinds of personal comments - and then THIS ... at first I didn't know if it was really "HIM" - so I watched closer, and was really shocked.

Yes, he does look tired, exhausted, this is maybe an example of just how tired he really was - and what led to the TB and hospitalization.

I have no idea who the back-up musicians are, there was nothing listed at all, and none of them look familiar to me. The drummer looks like he is totally "gone"

And that coat - well ..... Cat in a Coat It was the 60's !!

I have found nothing else that goes with this - it makes me wonder where the youtube poster found this. Perhaps there is more out there? Keep looking my friends !!!

Glad we all enjoyed. It was kind of an unreal feeling to see this the first tiime. This piece of footage is 42 years old !!! WOW

xoxo ~~ Nancy

[brandnewman]

Glaucus, I know it's not him, but doesn't the guy on guitar (over Cat's left shoulder) look alot like Peter Tork?

[ilovemycat]

He's got a Monkee look-alike and a Beatles look-alike. The other guitarist resembles George Harrison. What a total cool cat - was there ever a more suitable name?

[Deleted]

What a trip it is to watch this video! Such an invaluable document really. And yeah, what's with those Monkeys and Beatles emules (if that's a word). You know, I think I remember reading about some Cat concerts in France in his first incarnation -touring with some musical group... from a French book I picked up once at the public library. But it's vague.. middle-age memory fails me again!

[downunder72]

Again thankyou Nancy for this very special Cat treat. This might mean it's time for me to become a Facebook member. ;D

Maybe our dear Majicat friend, and expert on Cat, Daddy-O (George) , would know more about this concert in France, and who the band is.

I also noticed the video is now up on u-tube.

[Milan]

I believe the video was uploaded on Youtube in the first place and then linked on that page... someone should PM the uploader.

Yeah, the guitarist who is harmonizing with Cat looks so much like Harrison in '68.

Calling Daddy-O...

[Chris]

Your right Milan, the guitarist could be a G.H. double. And the other guitarist, caught my eye instantly.... a Peter Tork (Monkees) look alike! The outfits are hilarious... but then that is how we dressed back then.

This is such a great film.. I can't stop watching it.

[Chris]

OH, I sent this to George a few days ago and he emailed me back saying, he thinks it is the group 'Quotations'. I will tell George that he is being summons here.

[richina]

What a find!! That guy REALLY does look like Peter Tork...amazingly so! He even moves like him (I was a huge Monkees fan). And as far as Cat being exausted...uh, he just looks "fried" to me. Dragging out words and a little more animated than usual...Sorry, gotta call 'em like I see 'em. It's not much of a stretch, you know, it was the '60's!
Wish there was more.
Thanks for the post...what a blast from the past! ;D ;D

[nancy]

Found the band members:
www.marmalade-skies.co.uk/wagesofsin.htm

Seems they had 3 names: Wages of Sin, Yellow Rainbow, and Zeus.

"One of the band’s final gigs in the West Midlands is at the Crown and Cushion in Perry Barr. Soon afterwards, Yellow Rainbow relocate to London where Cat Stevens renames them, Zeus.

Backing Cat Stevens, Zeus performs at the Palais de Sports in Paris on a show that also features The Spencer Davis Group, The Soft Machine, Dantalion’s Chariot, Keith West and Tomorrow. The show is recorded and broadcast on French TV.

Back in the UK, Stevens records and produces Zeus covering two of his compositions at Pye Studios, which are subsequently shelved.

Cat Stevens and Zeus appear at the Winter Gardens Weston-Super-Mare. Within weeks, Stevens contracts TB and is forced to lay low while he recuperates."

Wow .... lot of info on that page about this group .... who I have never heard of !! The top photo is dead on.

xoxo Nancy

[Milan]

Good detective work there, Nancy.

"The show is recorded and broadcast on French TV."

Ah-ha!

[richina]

Boy Nancy, you're good!!! Thanks for all the info! Maybe it can all be found. Cool!

[Deleted]

Thanks Nancy. Yep, that's what I read about some time ago. And here's some more info about this I just found:

This actually took place November 17-18 1967, it is known as "La Nuit de la Fenêtre Rose" or "The Night of the Pink Window" - psychedelic happening at "Le Palais Des Sports" in Paris.

With "The Spencer Davis Group", "Tomorrow", "Dantalian's Chariot", "Soft Machine" and "Cat Stevens".

This "Soft Machine" video is also taken from those concerts:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4iX7cRvPNc

Source: the Web and "Soft Machine - Out-Bloody-Rageous" by Graham Bennet.

[Chris]

Talk about detectives... You two; Nancy and Glaucus, take the cake.. Good research! Thanks for the great info! This is so cool to think that maybe more even exist out there somewhere.

[Daddy-o]

That's the concert... (mentioned in the book 'Cat Stevens - The Complete Illustrated Biography & Discography'... subtle plug!) what an amazing line up! It just proves that some early unseen material must exist out there. Great to see the direction Cat was going in just prior to his illness, as opposed to the lip synched footage. Zeus were a Birmingham (U.K.) band, formerly the Yellow Rainbow. Cat had signed the band to his Doric management company and was promoting the band for a spell but they weren't successful... although of great interest to Psych/Beat fans.

I thought that the Cat resembled the lead singer of Ocean Colour Scene in their video with P.P. Arnold, called Beauitiful Thing. Same coat and moody profile!

Awesome :-)

[Sir Lorry Load]

This is all so great!

It's been a joy to both view the priceless and vintage Cat video that Nancy unearthed and that Chris highlighted, and to catch-up with this entire thread.

You 'Cat Detectives' are nothing short of amazing in the research and uncovering that you do, and the fascinating results that you then provide us with are so appreciated... thank you!

Boy, if the FBI, the CIA, Scotland Yard, Interpol, etc. are ever in need of some new, first-class agents, they need look no further than the good folks of Majicat.

-Bud

[brandnewman]

All of this new information just adds to the fact that Cat wasn't only a great artist, but also had a pretty decent business head. By the time he was 18 or so, he was writing hits, had his own publishing company and was producing other artists. Not to mention having hit singles and lp's of his own and touring to promote them. And i thought I was busy. No wonder he burned out and got sick at such an early age.

[suncatcher]

Great find and many thanks to Nancy, Christine, Glaucus, and George. This is simply amazing - I've watched it over and over.

[Sir Lorry Load]

Apr 14, 2010 12:21:53 GMT -5 brandnewman said:

All of this new information just adds to the fact that Cat wasn't only a great artist, but also had a pretty decent business head. By the time he was 18 or so, he was writing hits, had his own publishing company and was producing other artists. Not to mention having hit singles and lp's of his own and touring to promote them. And i thought I was busy. No wonder he burned out and got sick at such an early age.

Makes great sense and so very well stated, BNM!

-Bud

[Sir Lorry Load]

Apr 14, 2010 11:49:36 GMT -5 Daddy-o said:

That's the concert... (mentioned in the book 'Cat Stevens - The Complete Illustrated Biography & Discography'...)

I have heard from others that this book is not only good, but that it is truly GREAT.

Right here on Majicat, I read the section of the book that addresses 'Cat covers', and the work you did on that topic was incredible in its thoroughness and detail, George.

This is a book that I must order soon... and one that I most assuredly will.

-Bud

[downunder72]

You have been busy Nancy. Yep, a real fashion statement, he hasn't left anything out, specks and all, and not to mention the cigarrette.

After reading the link on the band, this video is just a few months before his collapse. Taking a closer look at the video again, he may have be wearing that fur coat due to chills caused by a high fever. He looks weak, and sweaty, and slightly delirious. Just a thought. He took on too, too, much for someone so, so young.

[SuzieQ]

Apr 14, 2010 9:53:33 GMT -5 nancy said:

Found the band members:
www.marmalade-skies.co.uk/wagesofsin.htm

Seems they had 3 names: Wages of Sin, Yellow Rainbow, and Zeus.

"One of the band’s final gigs in the West Midlands is at the Crown and Cushion in Perry Barr. Soon afterwards, Yellow Rainbow relocate to London where Cat Stevens renames them, Zeus.

Backing Cat Stevens, Zeus performs at the Palais de Sports in Paris on a show that also features The Spencer Davis Group, The Soft Machine, Dantalion’s Chariot, Keith West and Tomorrow. The show is recorded and broadcast on French TV.

Back in the UK, Stevens records and produces Zeus covering two of his compositions at Pye Studios, which are subsequently shelved.

Cat Stevens and Zeus appear at the Winter Gardens Weston-Super-Mare. Within weeks, Stevens contracts TB and is forced to lay low while he recuperates."

Wow .... lot of info on that page about this group .... who I have never heard of !! The top photo is dead on.

xoxo Nancy

Great detective work, Nancy Thanks xxx

[Vivian]

Apr 14, 2010 10:46:25 GMT -5 Milan said:

Good detective work there, Nancy.

"The show is recorded and broadcast on French TV."

Ah-ha!

Would that be the same show as the early 70s French TV show, showing just Cat and Alun?

Peace,Vivian

[paulo]

My head is still swimming about this video! six replays and it's still not old!

This has got to be the rarest find yet and I really hope that there is more to come.

Whilst I loved hearing the song (first I've ever seen done live), my favourite part of this video was seeing a young Cat rocking out and dancing on stage! In all the concerts I've seen, he's usually very reserved and just bops along with his guitar.

Well done and kudos to whoever is responsible for finding this, once we find out who they are. Also thanks to Christine and Nancy for bringing it to us here. And much gratitude to our detectives! :-)