On June 10, 2006, Cat Stevens, the musician, released to iTunes 12 tracks he considers his favorites to be considered his iTunes “Celebrity Playlist.” With Cat’s extremely rich musical talent and considerably controversial career choices, we thought it would be interesting to examine Cat’s choices and his remarks regarding them in light of Meanspeed Music Theory.

Track 1
“Reason To Believe”
performer=Tim Hardin
album=20th Century Masters—the Millenium Collection, The Best of Tim Hardin
genre according to iTunes=Folk
Cat’s remarks regarding choice= “One of my favorite songs by one of the early introspective singer-songwriters.”
a) meanspeed=82.1 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=loneliness
c) meanspace=731 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=350.40 hertz, 1 cent above F4=349.228 hertz, 99 cents below F#4/Gb4=369.994 hertz.

Track 2
“Daydream”
performers=The Lovin’ Spoonful
composer= John Sebastian
album=Daydream–Remastered
genre according to iTunes=Pop
Cat’s remarks regarding choice= “Great, innovative group.The lyrics are permanently ‘up’ and still relevant to many, me included.”
a) meanspeed=111.2 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=lust
c) meanspace=540 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=474.30 hertz, 29 cents above A#4/Bb4=466.164 hertz, 71 cents below B4=493.883 hertz.

Track 3
performer=Elliot Smith
album=XO
genre according to iTunes=Alternative
Cat’s remarks regarding choice= “Shame he died so young but…” [sic]
a) meanspeed=132.1 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=mixed fast
c) meanspace=454 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=563.50 hertz, 28 cents above C#5/Db5=554.365 hertz, 72 cents below D5=587.330 hertz.

Track 4
“Dying To Live”
composer= Edgar Winter
performer=Edgar Winter
album= Edgar Winter’s White Trash
genre according to iTunes=Rock
Cat’s remarks regarding choice= “Here it’s the song that speaks to me. It’s part of life’s great puzzles.”
a) meanspeed=64.4 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=ceremony
c) meanspace=931 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=300.71 hertz, 40 cents above D4=293.665 hertz, 60 cents D#4/Eb4=311.127 below hertz.

Track 5
“The Lion This Time”
performer=Van Morrison
album=Magic Time
genre according to iTunes=Rock
Cat’s remarks regarding choice= “Van’s the man.”
a) meanspeed=88.4 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=renewal, while slowly accelerating through grace, bittersweetness, loneliness, renewal and enthusiasm
c) meanspace=377.22 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=377.22 Hertz, 33 cents above F#4/Gb4=369.994 hertz, 67 cents below G4=391.995 hertz.

Track 6
“Hey Joe” (live at Woodstaock, remastered in 1999)
performer=Jimi Hendrix
album=Woodstock
genre according to iTunes=Rock
Cat’s remarks regarding choice= “I remember him on tour in ’67 during this period. As a friend he was extremely quiet and withdrawn, but his excesses overtook him.”
a) meanspeed=84.4 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=loneliness
c) meanspace=711 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=360.13 hertz, 52 cents above F4=349.228 hertz, 48 cents below F#4/Gb4=369.994 hertz.

Track 7
“Wings”
performer=Tim Buckley
composer= Tim Buckley
album= Tim Buckley
genre according to iTunes=Rock
Cat’s remarks regarding choice= “Another of the wonderful free voices of the sixties, who lived a short life.”
a) meanspeed=105.3 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=natural
c) meanspace=570 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=449.38 hertz, 36 cents above A4=440.000hertz, 64 cents below A#4/Bb4=466.164 hertz.

Track 8
“Chicago”
performer=Sufjan Stevens
album=Illinoise
genre according to iTunes=Alternative
Cat’s remarks regarding choice= “Not just because he’s a namesake, but someone who has done something musically interesting in contemporary terms.”
a) meanspeed=125.0 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=victory
c) meanspace=480 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=533.33 hertz, 32 cents above C5=523.251 hertz, 68 cents below C#5/Db5=554.365 hertz.

Track 9
“Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”
performer=Nina Simone
genre according to iTunes=Vocal
Cat’s remarks regarding choice= “Her talent, and particularly this recording, remains one of my all-time inspirations.”
a) meanspeed=77.1 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=bittersweetness
c) meanspace=778 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=329.07 hertz, 99 cents above F4=349.228 hertz, 1 cent below F#4/Gb4=369.994 hertz.

Track 10
“Don’t Think You’re The First”
performers=The Coral
composer=James Skelly
album=Magic and Medicine
genre according to iTunes=Rock
Cat’s remarks regarding choice= “Great to feel this group’s magical wind of creativity, part of an interesting wave of new tones today.”
a) meanspeed=125.3 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=victory
c) meanspace=479 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=534.62 hertz, 37 cents above C5=523.251 hertz, 63 cents below C#5/Db5=554.365 hertz.

Track 11
“Evil”
performer=Stevie Wonder
composer= Stevie Wonder
album=Music Of My Mind (Re-issue)
genre according to iTunes=Rhythm & Blues/Soul
Cat’s remarks regarding choice= “Stevie’s the best and this song says it all for me.”
a) meanspeed=71.6 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=grace
c) meanspace=838 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=305.66 hertz, 69 cents above D4=293.665 hertz, 31 cents below D#4/Eb4=311.127 hertz.

Track 12
“A Remark You Made”
performer=Weather Report
composer=Josef Zawinul
album=This Is Jazz, No. 10: Weather Report
genre according to iTunes=Jazz
Cat’s remarks regarding choice= “A haunting melody which I played and continue to play a lot.”
a) meanspeed=52.0 beats per minute
b) meanemotion=surreal
c) meanspace=1153 milliseconds per beat
d) meanpitch=222.00 hertz, a tone identical to A3=220.00 hertz.

Ian Schneider
Meanspeed.com
December 30, 2006