Cat Stevens to return this summer with a new album

Legendary British singer-songwriter Cat Stevens will release a new album of original songs this summer that took the Peace Train hitmaker over a decade to make and revisits familiar themes of togetherness.

The 12-song collection is called King of a Land and comes out in June on George Harrison-founded Dark Horse Records. The album cover illustration shows a boy playing guitar on top of the Earth, as a cat stretches and a train puffs along a track.

The first single is the cheerful, family friendly Take the World Apart, with the lyrics “I'll take the world apart/to find a place for a peaceful heart.”

“The source of musical inspiration for this song came from the 50s. The smoochy harmonies and chords have an enchanting effect on the ear. Life was simpler then: lonely hearts yearning for love," he said in a statement.

The album reunites Stevens with producer Paul Samwell-Smith, who produced three Stevens albums between 1970-72 — Tea for the Tillerman, Teaser and the Firecat and Catch Bull at Four.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Stevens, who also goes by Yusuf, the name he took when he converted to Islam, has been a respected writer since releasing his debut in 1967. He’s had a string of Top 40 hits, from Peace Train and Wild World to Morning Has Broken. He was just named to Glastonbury’s coveted Legends slot this summer.

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