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Cat Stevens unveils two previously unreleased songs from 1978

Ahead of a massive box set reissue, Cat Stevens has dropped two previously unreleased tracks.

The tracks were originally written for the 1978 album, Back to Earth, however at the time they were cut because Stevens considered them “too pop.”

Cat Stevens has just unveiled two previously unreleased tracks from his 1978 album Back to Earth. Are they “too pop” for Yusuf? You decide.

However, it seems Stevens has finally changed his mind. Next month he will be releasing Back to Earth as a 5xCD box set and it will include the two tracks, titled Butterfly and Toy Heart.

Ahead of its release, the two tracks have today been given a digital release accompanied by animated lyric videos. The latter track features guitarist Eric Johnson.

The box set will also feature a remastered version of the original album, demos, and outtakes, as well as material from UNICEF’s Year Of The Child charity show at London’s Wembley Arena in 1979.

Following a near-death experience in 1978, Stevens converted to Islam and changed his name to Yusuf Islam. Despite wanting to walk away from his music career, he still owed one last LP to his record label. So reuniting with Tea For The Tillerman producer Paul Samwell-Smith, Stevens recorded Back To Earth. Ever since Stevens has billed himself as Yusuf/Cat Stevens.

The Back To Earth Super Deluxe box set is out on the 28th of February via Cat-O-Log Records/BMG. You can pre-order it here.

Check out the videos for Butterfly and Toy Heart below.