Some know him as Cat Stevens — the folk artist behind some of the biggest singer-songwriter records of 1966 - 1977, the era of Father and Son, Wild World, Peace Train, and the rest of that near-mythical catalogue everyone seems to know at least one line from. Others know him as Yusuf Islam — the man who stepped away from the pop world to focus on family, education, and charitable work. Today's music platforms tend to write his name with a slash, as if gently acknowledging both identities — and so does this playlist, dedicated to one of the 20th century's true pop legends.

So which chapters of his life does it explore?

It begins, naturally, with the early Cat Stevens of the 1960s. These are the songs written before he became the folk icon most people picture today: lighter, poppier, and still searching for his voice. Think I Love My Dog and Here Comes My Baby — the sound of an artist discovering who he would become.

Then comes the golden era of 1970–1972, the remarkable run that turned him into an international superstar — Father and Son, Can't Keep It In, and the songs that continue to define his legacy.

Finally comes perhaps the most intriguing chapter: his return to music as Yusuf, decades later. These albums are calmer and more reflective, often wrestling with faith, peace, gratitude, and growing older through tracks such as I Was Raised in Babylon and King of a Land.

Behind the music sits a life that took some dramatic turns. The highs of global stardom, the search for faith, the years away from the spotlight, and the quiet return to music all found their way into his songwriting. That is exactly what this playlist captures: not simply the greatest hits of Yusuf / Cat Stevens, but the soundtrack to a remarkable life. Press play and get to know the man behind one of modern music's most extraordinary journeys.