Every Cat Stevens / Yusef Islam Album Ranked Best to Worst

This is the absolute crown jewel of Cat Stevens’ entire discography. Packed with intimate songwriting, delicate acoustic arrangements, and powerhouse vocals, every single track feels like a timeless classic.

Following up a masterpiece is hard, but Cat Stevens delivered a nearly equal masterpiece full of joyful warmth and spiritual longing. Alun Davies’ acoustic guitar interplay here is pure magic.

Recorded after surviving a severe bout of tuberculosis, this record stripped away early orchestral pop clutter for raw, stripped-down folk perfection. It set the blueprint for his legendary 70s sound.

His most commercially successful album in the US, this release expanded his acoustic foundation with heavier percussion and electric synth textures. It balances high drama with quiet acoustic soul effortlessly.

Returning to a simpler acoustic rock format, this album sparkles with lush melodies and playful spiritual searching. It balances infectious pop energy with contemplative folk ballads seamlessly.

A vibrant, enchanting late-career triumph that sounds as classic as his early 70s output. Rich orchestrations, whimsical storytelling, and soaring acoustic melodies show his songwriting magic is fully intact.

This Grammy-nominated album revisited unreleased 60s songs and fresh originals with classic acoustic production. Reunited with guitarist Alun Davies, the pure warmth of the performances is incredibly touching.

Cat Stevens’ debut is a delightful artifact of 1960s British Baroque pop and swinging London soul. It highlights his early flair for theatrical storytelling and memorable horn-driven melodies.

A daring and ambitious pivot where Stevens self-produced and recorded an entire side-long R&B and soul suite in Jamaica. It stands as his most unique experimental risk of the 1970s.

Recording under Yusuf, this record feels like a direct spiritual sequel to his classic 70s acoustic sound. The songwriting is gentle, charming, and deeply personal.

A bold 50th-anniversary re-imagining where Yusuf re-recorded his seminal 1970 album with modern wisdom and altered arrangements. It provides a fascinating sonic dialogue between past and present.

An adventurous album incorporating early synthesizers, drum machines, and electro-pop grooves. It remains a fascinating tech-forward chapter right before his hiatus from secular pop.

Marking his long-awaited return to mainstream acoustic pop music after nearly three decades, this album felt like welcoming back an old friend. It bridges gentle pop folk with soulful reflective lyrics.

Co-produced with Rick Rubin, this album taps into blues, R&B covers, and gritty soul influences. It shows a bluesier, tougher side of his vocal range that fans rarely hear.

The final studio album recorded under the name Cat Stevens before his long retirement from pop music. It reunited him with producer Paul Samwell-Smith for a solid, graceful farewell record.

Though over-produced by studio executives of the era, this early album contains absolute songwriting gems like the original version of ‘The First Cut Is the Deepest’.

A quirky concept album set on the fictional planet Polygor based on numerical spirituality. While eccentric, it features creative arrangements and lighthearted melody work.

Created originally as an educational project for children, this double spoken-word and musical album focuses on Islamic history and alphabetic spirituality. It highlights his narrative voice clearly.

A devotional album featuring traditional Islamic nasheeds and spoken reflections. It captures Yusuf’s vocal dedication to choral harmony and spoken clarity outside of secular pop structures.

Produced during the Bosnian humanitarian crisis, this spoken-word and choral album served as a passionate humanitarian benefit project featuring traditional Bosnian songs.

The debut spoken-word spoken narrative album following his post-1970s career shift, detailing historical biographical narration with subtle vocal backings rather than acoustic pop songwriting.