Editing Cat Stevens (section)

====Changes in musical sound after illness====
The lack of success of Stevens' second album mirrored a difference of personal tastes in musical direction. He felt a growing resentment of producer Mike Hurst's attempts to re-create the style of his debut album, with heavy-handed orchestration and over-production,<ref name="Scoppa"/> rather than the [[folk rock]] sound Stevens was attempting to produce. He admits having purposely sabotaged his own contract with Hurst by making outlandishly expensive orchestral demands and threatening legal action, which achieved his goal: to be released from his contract with [[Deram Records]], a sub-label of [[Decca Records]].<ref name="Biography" />

On regaining his health at home after his release from the hospital, Stevens recorded some of his newly written songs on his tape recorder and played his changing sound for several new record executives. He hired an agent, Barry Krost, who arranged an audition with [[Chris Blackwell]] of [[Island Records]]. Blackwell offered him a "chance to record [his songs] whenever and with whomever he liked and, more importantly to Cat, however he liked".<ref name="AustralianConcert Programme"/> With Krost's recommendation, Stevens signed [[Paul Samwell-Smith]], previously the bassist of [[the Yardbirds]], as his new producer.<ref name="Forbes"/>