Tell 'Em I'm Gone

{{EngvarB|date=March 2016}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Tell 'Em I'm Gone

| type = studio

| artist = Yusuf

| cover = Yusuf Tell 'Em I'm Gone.jpg

| alt =

| released = 27 October 2014

| recorded = 2013–2014

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = R&B, folk rock

| length = 35:57

| label = Cat-O-Log, Legacy

| producer = Rick Rubin & Yusuf

| prev_title = The Story of Adam and Creation

| prev_year = 2014

| next_title = The Laughing Apple

| next_year = 2017

}}

Tell 'Em I'm Gone is the fourteenth studio album by Yusuf (formerly known as Cat Stevens). The album was released on 27 October 2014 on his new Cat-O-Log record label, through Sony's Legacy Recordings. It is Yusuf's third mainstream release since his return to music and his first in five years since 2009's acclaimed Roadsinger. The album was produced by Rick Rubin and Yusuf, and features Richard Thompson.

{{Album ratings

| MC = 70/100{{cite web|title=Tell 'Em I'm Gone – Yusuf|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/tell-em-im-gone/yusuf|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=28 October 2014}}

| rev1 = Chicago Tribune

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite web|last1=Kot|first1=Greg|title=Yusuf channels blues roots of Cat Stevens|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/kot/ct-cat-stevens-yusuf-islam-im-gone-review-20141024-column.html|website=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=28 October 2014}}

| rev2 = AllMusic

| rev2Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last1=Deming|first1=Mark|title=Cat Stevens / Yusuf – Tell 'Em I'm Gone|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/tell-em-im-gone-mw0002755619|website=AllMusic|publisher=All Media Network|accessdate=28 October 2014}}

| rev3 = The Daily Telegraph

| rev3Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last1=McCormick|first1=Neil|title=Yusuf, Tell 'Em I'm Gone, review: 'understated'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/11182147/Yusuf-Tell-Em-Im-Gone-review-understated.html|website=The Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited|accessdate=28 October 2014}}

| rev4 = The Observer

| rev4Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last1=Mongredien|first1=Phil|title=Yusuf: Tell 'Em I'm Gone review ‑ still the Cat with the cream|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/26/cat-stevens-tell-em-im-gone-review|website=The Observer|date=25 October 2014|publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited|accessdate=28 October 2014}}

| rev5 = Rolling Stone

| rev5Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|last1=Dolan|first1=Jon|title=Yusuf's New Album: Tell 'Em I'm Gone|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/yusuf-tell-em-im-gone-20141021|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=21 October 2014|accessdate=28 October 2014}}

| rev6 = Consequence of Sound

| rev6Score = (C+){{cite web|last1=Melis|first1=Matt|title=Yusuf Islam – Tell 'Em I'm Gone|url=https://consequence.net/2014/10/album-review-yusuf-islam-tell-em-im-gone/|website=Consequence of Sound|date=27 October 2014|publisher=Townsquare Music|accessdate=28 October 2014}}

}}

Background

On 15 September 2014, Yusuf/Cat Stevens announced the forthcoming release on 27 October 2014 of his new studio album Tell 'Em I'm Gone and two upcoming tours: a November 2014 (9-date) Europe tour and a December 2014 (6-date) North America tour, the latter being his first since 1976.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-29219019|title=Cat Stevens to tour US for the first time since 1976|date=16 September 2014|work=BBC Online|accessdate=17 September 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://radio.com/2014/09/15/yusuf-cat-stevens-announces-new-album-tell-em-im-gone-living-to-die/|title=Yusuf / Cat Stevens Announces New Album 'Tell 'Em I'm Gone,' Debuts 'Living to Die'|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|date=15 September 2014|accessdate=17 September 2014}}

Cover art

On the album cover, the singer is credited as "Yusuf" with a promotional sticker identifying him also as "Cat Stevens". Vinyl and digital editions have a different cover, drawn by William Stout.

Personnel

Personnel on the album include Richard Thompson, Charlie Musselwhite, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Tinariwen, and Matt Sweeney.{{cite web |title=Tell 'Em I'm Gone LP (Vinyl) |url=http://www.yusufislam.com/store/product/tell-em-im-gone-lp |website=www.yusufislam.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604115247/http://www.yusufislam.com/store/product/tell-em-im-gone-lp |archive-date=4 June 2015 |url-status=dead}}

Promotional tours

On 15 September 2014, Yusuf/Cat Stevens announced two short tours following the release of the album: a November 2014 (9-date) Europe tour and a December 2014 (6-date) North America tour, the latter being his first one there since 1976.

Track listing

All songs are written by Yusuf except as indicated.

{{Track listing

| title1 = I Was Raised in Babylon

| length1 = 3:53

| title2 = Big Boss Man

| note2 = Luther Dixon, Al Smith

| length2 = 3:10

| title3 = Dying to Live

| note3 = Edgar Winter

| length3 = 3:47

| title4 = You Are My Sunshine

| note4 = Jimmie Davis, Charles Mitchell, arranged by Yusuf

| length4 = 3:13

| title5 = Editing Floor Blues

| length5 = 3:42

| title6 = Cat and the Dog Trap

| length6 = 3:22

| title7 = Gold Digger

| length7 = 4:34

| title8 = The Devil Came from Kansas

| note8 = Gary Brooker, Keith Reid

| length8 = 3:42

| title9 = Tell 'Em I'm Gone

| note9 = originally "Take This Hammer", arranged by Yusuf

| length9 = 3:12

| title10 = Doors

| length10 = 3:22

}}

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"| Chart (2014)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{album chart|Australia|24|artist=Yusuf|album=Tell 'Em I'm Gone|rowheader=true|accessdate=9 November 2014}}
{{album chart|Austria|15|artist=Yusuf|album=Tell 'Em I'm Gone|rowheader=true|accessdate=6 November 2014}}
{{album chart|Flanders|94|artist=Yusuf|album=Tell 'Em I'm Gone|rowheader=true|accessdate=19 July 2016}}
{{album chart|Wallonia|69|artist=Yusuf|album=Tell 'Em I'm Gone|rowheader=true|accessdate=6 November 2014}}
{{album chart|France|90|artist=Yusuf|album=Tell 'Em I'm Gone|rowheader=true|accessdate=10 November 2014}}
{{album chart|Germany4|26|id=255377|artist=Yusuf|album=Tell 'Em I'm Gone|rowheader=true|accessdate=19 July 2016}}
{{album chart|Italy|30|artist=Yusuf|album=Tell 'Em I'm Gone|rowheader=true|accessdate=19 July 2016}}
{{album chart|Switzerland|39|artist=Yusuf|album=Tell 'Em I'm Gone|rowheader=true|accessdate=6 November 2014}}
{{album chart|UK|22|artist=Cat Stevens|rowheader=true|accessdate=19 July 2016}}
{{album chart|Billboard200|24|artist=Cat Stevens|album=Tell 'Em I'm Gone|rowheader=true|accessdate=6 November 2014}}
{{album chart|BillboardFolk|2|artist=Cat Stevens|album=Tell 'Em I'm Gone|rowheader=true|accessdate=6 November 2014}}
{{album chart|BillboardRock|6|artist=Cat Stevens|album=Tell 'Em I'm Gone|rowheader=true|accessdate=6 November 2014}}

References

{{reflist|30em}}