Mona Bone Jakon: Super Deluxe Edition Box Set

Following the 1967 Decca releases of Matthew & Son and New Masters, Cat Stevens became a bone fide pop star. However, stardom and a year recovering from TB gave him pause and time to reflect.

Emerging from his recuperation with a new deal with Island Records, 1970 saw the release of Mona Bone Jakon, and with it a new sound which would forge the Cat Stevens sound we know and love today. Produced by Paul Samwell-Smith (formerly of The Yardbirds), the album featured the single “Lady D’Arbanville” as well as the fan favourites “I Wish, I Wish” and “Maybe You’re Right”. The track “Katmandu” also featured Peter Gabriel on flute! 50 years on, the songs on Mona Bone Jakon still sound as fresh as the day they were recorded. Presented here in a brand new 2020 Remastered version on CD, as well as in a new 2020 Mix (by David Hefti) on CD and LP, the Super Deluxe Edition also includes an exclusive third CD of previously unreleased demos, and a fourth CD featuring 18 live performances from 1970/71.

This 50th anniversary set is rounded out with a live 12” etched vinyl E.P. of the rare audience recording of “Live At Plumpton Jazz & Blues Festival” from August, 1970, and with a BluRay disc featuring the original promo video of “Lady D’Arbanville”, plus eight live TV performances, and the HD audio of the new Mona Bone Jakon 2020 Mix.