New Masters will give a whole new perspective to those fans of Cat Stevens who have never before listened to material of his pre A&M releases. Following the highly successful Mathew and Son released in 1967, New Masters represents an artist whose musical direction was being disuaded somewhat by those who sought to keep in tradidtion with the commercial success of Mathew and Son. The opening track of New Masters, Kitty, lends somewhat to the rantings of I'm gonna get Me a Gun with its vengeful I told you so attitude. Though similar in meaning to the almost cartoonish spitefulness of I'm gonna get Me a Gun, Kitty presents a darker aspect and culminates more dramatically. I'm so Sleepy could well be a song that one could sing to their child. Definately a lullaby with its music box-like instrumentation and gentle chordal arrangement. Nothern Wind is a haunting tale with passages that swell like the waves on which these troubled seafarers ride. It has a Celtic quality about it and is really a very interesting piece. Two of the songs on New Masters could have well been written for the sole purpose of capturing that silly wonderment of childhood in all its make believe and imaginary friends. The Laughing Apple is a prime example of Cat's ability to foster to the workings of a softer means-The song however, being almost too cheesy for its own good remains somewhat obscure. Moonstone is a fun little tale in all its adventuresome wanderings but also seems to come up short. Smash Your Heart is somewhat Beatlesque in stature. A fine song by standard it replicates the sentiments of a man whose heart for its namesake has been broken. Cat's own rendition of the hit The first Cut is the Deepest appears on this album testifying to his prowess as a songwriter. His vocal take on The first Cut is very powerful and moving. The musical score has a soulful movement which captures your ears and puts the rhythm down. I'm gonna be King has a Sinatra-sort of ring to it. Again, one of the lesser known Cat Stevens songs. Ceylon City is a happy-go-lucky tune which joyfully parades down the main streets of a young mans home town. It has a catchy get up and go that makes you feel almost too care free. More of a folk song than anything else on New Masters, Blackness of the Night has a Whiter Shade of Pale sound to it with its driving organ and tightly configured drumbeats. The song makes more of a political statement. It's a great song. Come on Baby (Shift that Log) is somewhat of a rave-up and contains a chanting monk-like rhythm which eventually blows up into this massive barrage of stripteased fanfare. This song has a nice string arrangement as do many early works by Cat Stevens. I Love them All could well be the anthem to someones highschool reunion. It contains more spirited energy than you could shake a pom pom at If your into that peppy sort of thing. What really compliments the New Masters album though is the addition of seven tracks not issued on the original vinyl. Supplemented for this CD and combined with the Mathew and Son CD, this represents all of Cat Stevens' recordings issued under Deram between 1966 and 1969. Songs like Lovely City, It's a Super (Dupa) Life and Here Comes my Wife seem to cast a shadow over the pop-like entrapments of his beginnings with Deram. Image of Hell is a simple heartfelt blues number with simple lyrics. It glides beautifully over a piano and lands hard upon the floor all in three minutes and three seconds. The View from the Top is an introspective number which I believe sums up all the frustration and pain which Stevens was dealing with at the time. It's a wonderful song with a big wide open arrangement and an ending which climaxes in fevered guitar soloing which eventually fades into what seems to be the past. Where are You represents the last song Stevens recorded for Deram. It ends his contract with the company and leaves him to forge a new. A beautiful song with Spanish influenced chording. It leaves you destined to tears and hopeful all the same. A track from 1967 ends the New Masters album. A Bad Night downplays the sort of seriousness conveyed in some of the other songs and brings the album to a catchy end. All in all I would have to rate this album 4 stars due simply to the fact that it contains not only the original track listing but because it includes the seven extra tracks which clearly show Cat evolving. It shows a young Stevens about to disappear and re-emerge as one of the worlds most gifted and successful artists of all time.

For those of you who may not have heard this album yet, do yourself a favor and get a copy now. It's like listening to "Tea For The Tillerman" or "Teaser And The Firecat" - except better! Written and produced very much in the "Tea/Teaser" vein, you will find yourself comparing tracks between the two albums. For example, "I'm Gonna Be King" is a precursor to "Miles From Nowhere"; Smash Your Heart" reminds me of "Where Do The Children Play?"; "Moonstone" is clearly Part 1 of "Moonshadow" (and I think Cat may or may not have said as much one time in an interview); "The Laughing Apple" is a forerunner of "Peace Train". And it goes without saying that "The First Cut Is The Deepest" - Cat style - completely rocks.

While you're at it, pick up a copy of "Matthew & Son" at the same time. More great tunes that will have you swearing that you are hearing "Tea" or "Teaser". ("Blackness Of The Night" is just like "If I Laugh"). It's hard to imagine how these pop-folk gems could have been overlooked by so many the Cat fans! If you love "Tea" and "Teaser", you will fall head-over-heels for "Matthew & Son" and "New Masters".

"New Masters" is a tour de force that has a lasting legacy. True Cat fans look to it as the St. Pepper of Cat albums.

I recently reviewed 'Catch Bull at Four' and said it was his most underrated. Well now I'm not so sure! Well to be sure, this is not the Cat Stevens of Seventies fame who gave us 'Wild World' and 'Moonshadow'.

The big surprise is, however, that this is not even the young pop-friendly Cat Stevens of 'Matthew and Son' fame.

In fact, this is one vastly under-appreciated recording and stands as one of his best. The mad-genius behind this album is much more insightful than you might think. This is Stevens fully aware of the situation and is already writing songs very cynical and socially conscious. 'New Masters' has some of his darkest and most thought provoking lyrics. 'It's a Supa Dupa Life' and 'Lovely City' show his perceived hollowness of society. 'Here comes my wife' is a beautifully orchestrated dig at 'ruling-class' love. The fact that it sounds so 'loving' with strings and dramatic rhythms makes it all the more ironic. The celtic flavoured 'Northern Wind' really tries to get into the psyche of people involved in war and represents their ides in a shocking way with lyrics like "Take this knife and let it fill his life let it kill his wife... I don't want to fight it really cause I want to go" while 'Come on baby shift that log' seems like an answer to feminism. And he doesn't make the mistake of making the meanings too obvious. These are nicely balanced with more chirpy songs like 'Moonstone' and 'Ceylon City'.

But I really like these songs because most of them actually have meaning or tell a story. Very importantly most of these songs are catchy and have plenty of hooks. There's plenty of diversity on this album it is based on an array of true instruments, rather than relying on synths, for colour, which makes it all the more satisfying.

On drawbacks, well the songs don't seem very well connected with eachtoher, as some of them don't really fit in with the concept. Not all the songs are terrific and with 17 songs, some grafted on later, it sounds a bit like an odds and sods collection. Also the running order isn't very well thought out. And for Cat Stevens fans who are expecting a stripped down, soul searching album, you will be disappointed, to an extent. But if this is truly good material it should impress you somewhat.

Topped by the song "The First Cut Is The Deepest" this album/disk shows the beginings of what was to be come the landmark sound of the singer known as Cat Stevens. A unique sound that he would claim as his own Stevens hits it great with songs like Come on Baby (shift that log) and Ceylon City.

Except for 'The First Cut Is The Deepest', I don't really get into this album. Maybe it will grow on me, but I will probably sell it. Interesting to see his early development.