I bought Cat Stevens’ “Foreigner” album when it first came out. One of my friends had bought me, “Tea for the Tillerman” as a Christmas gift (I bought her a James Brown album) and I loved it so got this one. It’s one I listened to incessantly until it was burned into my grey matter. I chose the entire “Foreigner Suite,” which runs over 18 minutes. I was going to choose just part, but it’s meant to be heard as a whole. Cat on piano and the rest of the exceptional musicians do it up right. Even though the information at wiki says Cat has been influenced by R&B, there seems to be a way bigger jazz influence going on here.  The ensemble meshes flawlessly!

Cat Stevens – vocals, piano, keyboards, acoustic guitar, synthesizer, guitar synthesizer, clavinet, RMI electric piano, string/brass/wood arrangements

• Jean Roussel – keyboards, string/brass/wood arrangements
• Phil Upchurch – electric guitar
• Paul Martinez – bass guitar
• Herbie Flowers – bass guitar on “How Many Times”
• Bernard Purdie – drums, percussion
• Gerry Conway – drums, percussion on “Foreigner Suite”
• Patti Austin – vocals
• Barbara Massey – vocals
• Tasha Thomas – vocals
• Tower of Power – horns

Foreigner is the seventh studio album released by English singer-songwriter, Cat Stevens in July 1973. In addition to the minor hit “The Hurt”, which received a moderate amount of airplay, Foreigner also included such songs as “100 I Dream” and the 18-minute-long “Foreigner Suite”, which took up the entirety of side one. It is the first album written and produced solely by Stevens. Stevens said: “If black music was happening, I decided to just get down to it. And because I was a stranger in the world of black sounds, I called the album Foreigner.” Stevens additionally named the album Foreigner, because he took up residency in Brazil as a tax exile. He recorded Foreigner in Jamaica.

There are no words, I can use
Because the meaning still leaves for you to choose
And I couldn’t stand to let them be abused, by you.

Dreams I had just last night
Made me scared, white with fright
But I’m over to that sunnyside road
Over to that sunnyside road

Fortunes come and fortunes go
But things get better babe, that’s one thing I know
And I’m over to that Sunnyside road
Over to that Sunnyside road

I have a friend that I have met
Who gives me love and a certain respect
Just a little respect, everybody needs just a little respect
That means you…you…

And in a little while our love will spread
To you
Ain’t no matter who inside this world you know
There’ll he someone who will love you just for who you are
Really are

Dreams I had just last night
Made me worried to face up to the light
But I’m over to that Sunnyside road
Over to that Sunnyside road

Come on now it’s freedom calling
Come on over and find yourself
Come on now it’s freedom calling
Come on in and remind yourself

You can live in the largest house
And eleven apartments too
Run your own private plane
And a boat in Malibu

But ’till you know’ deep down what inside you really need
Well I love you baby, ooh my dear
And I think about you sometimes
But when you’re with me boy it chokes my mind

Come on now it’s freedom calling
Come on over and find yourself
Come on now it’s freedom calling
Come on in and remind yourself

Man must fight for freedom sure that’s what most other people would say
Look for a body to lead them but there’s too many to lead them away.
Why wait until it’s your time to die before you learn what you were born to do’?
Come on now it’s freedom calling but there’s only one freedom for you.

Love, love boy…
And I can’t wait to be with you tomorrow night.
Love, love boy…

Won’t you give me your word that you won’t laugh
Cause you’ve been a saving grace to me
And I’d hate to face a day without you around
My life would be without sound

Love, love, love, love must’ve made you on a Sunday
Cause you taste to me as good as god made honey taste babe
And the sky all glistens with gold
When you’re talking to me
And the whirling wind turns to song
Why it sets my soul free
Love, love. love. Love must’ve made you on a Sunday

There are no words. I can use
Because the meaning still leaves for you to choose
And I couldn’t stand to let them be abused, by you

Oh darling, you see my face
But it’s in my heart that’s where it’s taking place
And I couldn’t stand to let it go to waste
Can you, you…

Oh love, sweet blue love
No man can ever get enough
But maybe one day we’ll all die in love
Will you…oh love, sweet love, my…love

(Oh love, sweet blue love
But maybe one day we’ll die in love)

Oh babe, understand
Take my love that’s all I have at hand
Please say you will…don’t say you can’t
Oh will you will you will you

The moment you walked inside my door
I knew’ that I need not look no more
I’ve seen many other girls before, ah but darling
Heaven must’ve programmed you

Will you, will you, will you…

The moment you fell inside my dreams
I realized all I had not seen
I’ve seen many other girls before, ah hot darling
Heaven must’ve programmed you