Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, talks to Jade Wright about his love of The Beatles, and the Jacaranda

Peace Train is a favourite of Dolly Parton, while Wide World was a massive chart hit for Maxi Priest.

The tour only takes in four venues – Dublin, Birmingham, Liverpool and London, at the Royal Albert Hall.

“They showed me a big choice of dates and venues and I thought ‘I can’t do all that’,” says Yusuf, 61. “I said ‘Let me do the places I want to do’. And my first choice up north was Liverpool.

“It has been so central to the music scene, it was City of Culture, and I had a personal reason.

“My brother-in-law had been to the Echo Arena to see a concert and he said ‘You have to play here’. So I said yes. And then I got thinking.

“One big link for me playing in Liverpool is that the musical takes place all around it. At the centre of the story is a tree called the Jacaranda. And that got me thinking – of course – it all goes back to The Beatles. I was delighted when I realised that. It was a signal.

“The Beatles did so much for me. They inspired every musician of my generation – they were four ordinary lads who took over the world. I would never have dreamt of doing this without them.”

Yusuf was friends with all four Beatles.

“I loved them all,” he says.

“They were intertwined with everything that happened in the 60s. Their story was the story of music.”

He struggles to choose a favourite track . . .

“Love Me Do, From Me to You, Hello Goodbye, All You Need is Love – they’re all great. And I love what John did. His solo albums were incredible.

“And I love All Things Must Pass. George had a beautiful spirit.

“He studied philosophy and religion – without him, I don’t know if I would have learnt so much about eastern religions, and made the decisions I have.”

Struck down with tuberculosis at the height of his pop success in 1968, Cat spent a year recovering.

The experience led to a new, deeper singer/songwriter style that swept the world and set him off on a life-long spiritual search.