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1969 was a bad year for young Cat Stevens. He was recuperating from a nasty bout of tuberculosis, he had just broken up with actress Patti D'Arbanville, and his recording career had stalled after a few hits in the UK. He was also experiencing a crisis of faith (which eventually led him to convert to Islam).
With all this going on, he was still able to compose what turned out to be a "Great Song of 1970," but not without a few twists and turns.
At first listen, "Wild World" appeared to be directed at Patti, warning her of the dangers of the world at large without him being by her side--which some claimed was incredibly sexist.
But Cat has always maintained is was written more to himself and the multiple crossroads he was facing. A case can certainly made for that explanation as well.
Surprisingly, Cat was NOT the first person who had a hit with "Wild World!" His friend, Jamaican singer Jimmy Cliff, not only recorded it first and had a #8 hit with it in the UK, Cat actually produced the song for him!
A few months later, Cat's version was released in the US (from the classic album "Tea for the Tillerman"), and climbed the Hot 100 Chart to #11. It was a #14 hit in Canada.
(Note: There had been an agreement that Jimmy's version would not be released in North America, to give Cat's version a fair chance.)
In effect, Cat's version was a cover of his own song...and it was a "Great One of 1970" too, boosting his career, and helping him to speed though all the crosswords that were facing him.
Cat Stevens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtX5xDzaMro
Jimmy Cliff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkDZH9Mxx-o
Tomorrow: Rock & Roll. Literally. Coming Soon: Great Songs of the '80s.
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