New Masters

New Masters
Studio album by Cat Stevens
Released	December 1967
Recorded	5 October 1967
Studio	Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London
Genre	Baroque pop, folk pop
Length	30:13 (Original Release) 51:08 (1989 Reissue) 61:12 (2004 Reissue)
Label	Deram
Producer	Mike Hurst
Cat Stevens chronology
Matthew and Son (1967) New Masters (1967) Mona Bone Jakon (1970)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

New Masters is the second studio album by singer-songwriter Cat Stevens, released in December 1967 by Deram Records (a new subsidiary of Decca Records) as a follow-up to the highly successful debut album, Matthew and Son.

Overview

The label was disappointed by Cat Stevens' second album's poor sales, given that the previous album made the UK Top Ten and produced several hit singles. New Masters generated little interest, failing to chart in either the UK or the United States. The single "Kitty"/"Blackness of the Night" languished at number 47, becoming Stevens' first single to miss the top 40. This was a sudden and steep commercial decline from the considerable success that Stevens enjoyed with his earlier recordings.^[2]

"The First Cut Is the Deepest" has been covered successfully by several artists. Prior to the release of New Masters, Stevens had sold the song for £30 to P. P. Arnold (formerly of the Ike and Tina Turner Revue) which gave the former Ikette her first UK hit.^[3] In the decades to come it would also be a hit for Rod Stewart, Sheryl Crow, James Morrison and Keith Hampshire. Hampshire's version reached no. 1 on the Canadian charts in 1973. Other versions have been rendered by singer Barbara Jones, Colm Wilkinson of Les Misérables and Jesus Christ Superstar fame, Duffy and the Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Cat Stevens

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Kitty"	2:23
2.	"I'm So Sleepy"	2:23
3.	"Northern Wind"	2:51
4.	"The Laughing Apple"	2:39
5.	"Smash Your Heart"	3:02
6.	"Moonstone"	2:18
7.	"The First Cut Is the Deepest"	3:03
8.	"I'm Gonna Be King"	2:30
9.	"Ceylon City"	2:29
10.	"Blackness of the Night"	2:31
11.	"Come on Baby (Shift That Log)"	3:52
12.	"I Love Them All"	2:12

^[4] Bonus tracks (1989 CD reissue)

No.	Title	Length
13.	"Image of Hell"	3:08
14.	"Lovely City (When Do You Laugh?)"	2:43
15.	"The View from the Top"	3:36
16.	"Here Comes My Wife"	3:00
17.	"It's a Super (Dupa) Life"	2:54
18.	"Where Are You?"	3:03
19.	"A Bad Night"	3:11

^[5] Bonus tracks (2004 CD reissue)

No.	Title	Length
13.	"Here Comes My Wife" (Single Mono Version)	3:00
14.	"A Bad Night" (Single Mono Version)	3:11
15.	"The Laughing Apple" (Single Mono Version)	2:39
16.	"Kitty" (Single Mono Version)	2:23
17.	"Blackness of the Night" (Single Mono Version)	2:31
18.	"Lovely City (When Do You Laugh?)" (Single Mono Version)	2:54
19.	"Image of Hell" (Single Mono Version)	3:08
20.	"It's a Super (Dupa) Life" (Single Mono Version)	2:54
21.	"Here Comes My Wife" (Stereo Version)	3:00
22.	"Where Are You?" (Single Mono Version)	3:03
23.	"The View From The Top" (Single Mono Version)	3:36

Personnel

• Cat Stevens – vocals, guitars, keyboards
• Chris Hunt – drums
• Herbie Flowers – bass
• Arthur Greenslade, Lew Warburton, Ivor Raymonde – music direction

References

1. Allmusic review
2. Yusuflifeline Official Website
3. Marrin, Minette (26 September 2004). "Profile: Yusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens: Not so much a zealot more a lost musician". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 8 May 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
4. "Cat Stevens – New Masters (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
5. "Cat Stevens – New Masters (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 14 November 2014.