Busking Cat Stevens

[suziko]

Stuart,

Wow, that was great!!! I loved your singing in this. Wrench is right- your singing is incredibly like Cat Stevens's. I have to admit, I'm with Vanessa. I'm happy to see you showing your face in your video. It's so much nicer to see who is peforming, it makes you feel more of a connection with their performance. I'm also excited to see that you rest the guitar on your left leg. It makes me think maybe I don't need to wean myself off of that, since I really do prefer playing that way (though, as I've mentioned before, it makes it very hard to play in skirts- not a problem you probably encounter regularly).

Suzi

[thereshopeyet]

Thanks

[wammer]

Stuart

Wow listened twice and both times you sound just like Mr. Stevens...........The timing on that looks sooooooooooooooo diffucult. You did a great job.

Tammy

[Lavallee]

Hi Stuart, excellent playing on a tricky song. And the voice... wow

Marc

[cosmicmechanic]

Even though it was one of his earlier works, the "Mona Bone Jakon" album had it's turn as my favorite Cat Stevens album long after Cat had stopped recording (this was before Yusuf).

Stuart, had I been in a hustle and bustle moving crowd and heard this coming from a street musician playing, I would definitely have stuck around.

I would have also hoped for more to come. Maybe from same period ? Really nice.

Pierre

[michelew]

Stuart,

I really enjoyed that. You may have felt troubled playing it, but it sounded GREAT. If I was half as proficient at strumming as you seem to be I'd be ready happy. Your voice is perfect for this sort of tune too and you look especially comfortable singing.

Great job.

Michele

[sws626]

Thank you Dennis, Willem, Vanessa, Craig, Daryl, Bill, Dermot, Marc & Michele. You are really all far too kind.

I just wanted to kick off this thread and I know that some of you have been working on Cat's songs, so I'm looking forward to some posts from others who have actually mastered his guitar technique.

Tony, your "Father & Son" is a fantastic example and I hope you've got some more up your sleeve.

Chas, the mics are set up for mid-side stereo recording. I posted a link explaining this technique in the Neil Young thread. Here's
another. My knowledge of this is limited to what I've tried so far. But, when I have a chance, I'll start a new discussion with some experiments and examples.

Wrench & Tammy, you are right about the timng and strumming "pattern." I've really just sort of faked my way through it here and would be most grateful for any suggestions.

Suzi, I also prefer to rest the guitar on my left leg. It obviously works for you too. Whether this works with a skirt, I can't say.

Pierre, thanks for stopping to listen. Mona Bone Jakon is also one of my favorite albums; but I first heard this song in Harold & Maude.

-Stuart

[neverfoundthetime]

Great job Stuart! That voice is predestined to sing Cat songs.... looking forward to some more.
I'm a left leg player too but have no problem with the skirts!

[beaker]

Stuart. Wow! Nice one, That was really good. IMO your best singing yet. Your voice is a lot like Cat Stevens. I can really see a fantastic improvement in both your playing and singing. It is nice to see. Is that a Martin D-28 that you are playing?
Happy strumming, Beaker.

[AcousticAl]

I heard the similarity to Cat in the Neil Young busking thread.
The strumming can improve with practice- but DONT CHANGE THE SINGING!