Gordon Lightfoot Book, Music and More!

As Cat Stevens, he made a fortune with his gentle odes to love and spirituality. Since his conversion to Islam, Yusuf has donated his royalties to charities and Islamic schools he set up in North London. Now, with his first album of pop music in 28 years, the former Cat is back preaching his brand of enlightenment. It’s a mixed blessing: despite singer Youssou N’Dour’s inspired presence on “The Beloved” and the vigorous rock workout “I Think I See the Light,” the album suffers from excessive mellowness and sermonizing.

Osborne will be forever associated with her 1995 hit “One of Us,” recently revived as the theme song for the TV show Joan of Arcadia. She’s recorded only sporadically since, and mostly covers at that, so Osborne’s latest is a significant achievement. Although she interprets songs by The Grateful Dead, Kris Kristofferson and others, it’s her own songs, especially the country-tinged “Who Divided” and the soulful title track, that stand out. And Osborne’s lusty contralto, always one of her strengths, still commands attention.

Like Blue Rodeo crossed with Barenaked Ladies, Winnipeg’s Doc Walker serves up twanging country-rock with a twist of feel-pop pop. Lead singer Chris Thorsteinson even sounds like the Ladies’ Ed Robertson. Still, the group has built a strong following among country-loving hosers and its third album, featuring yearnin’ singles like “Trying to Get Back to You,” will go down well with that crowd. In a nod to its Prairie roots, the band also collaborates with legend Randy Bachman and covers Neil Young’s “Come a Time.”