Back in 1978 Cat Stevens was one of the biggest artists in the world, and had sold millions of records. Then, suddenly, he did the unthinkable, and decided to step away from the spotlight. While his legions of fans were devastated, as well as those who had played with him in the studio and on stage, the artist found himself exhilerated at the prospect. “It was like going back to my original nature,” he said at the time. “Back to wide-eyed childhood again.”