Cat Stevens - Tea for the Tillerman
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Free Music Notes for Tea for the Tillerman
Free Music Review: One of my all-time favorites
Hit: 5 Stars
I've played the guitar for nearly thirty years now, and I learned how from Cat Stevens, James Taylor, and Jim Croce (with some help from Lightfoot and Fogelberg and CSN+/-Y and a handful of others). Moreover, name any drug and I probably know someone who has attempted to play "Moonshadow" around a campfire while under the influence of that drug.So it is not at all lightly that I name _Tea for the Tillerman_ as one of my favorite albums of all time, and a much better introduction to Cat Stevens than any of his "greatest hits" collections. He had two absolutely great albums; this is one of them. The other was _Teaser and the Firecat_, and _Mona Bone Jakon_ was darned close. If you have those three, you have most of the "very best of" Cat Stevens already; borrow _Buddha and the Chocolate Box_ from somebody and tape "Sun/C79" and "Oh, Very Young," and you'll have the rest.
(Not that his other stuff isn't _good_, but it's mostly not of the same quality -- though portions of _Catch Bull At Four_ come within inches of it. I don't have much patience with "fans" who tell us that the rest of us aren't "true" fans if we find "Foreigner Suite" to be much ado about nothing and don't especially care for _Izitso_. If we have to suspend our powers of discrimination and uncritically adore everything an artist emits, who wants to be a "true" fan of _anybody_? And what genuine artist would want such "fans"?)
I think the quality of _Teaser_ is a bit more evenly distributed than that of _Tea_. But _Tea_ seems to me to hit higher heights. For example, I can take or leave "Miles From Nowhere" -- but "Into White" is probably the most hauntingly gorgeous thing the man ever wrote. (On the "haunting gorgeousness" scale, it's up there with Wendy Waldman's "Mad Mad Me" as recorded by Maria Muldaur on her self-titled debut LP.)
He had some hits here, too, of course, but my own favorites aren't the hits. After the aforementioned "Into White," my personal favorites (in no particular order of favoriteness) are "Sad Lisa," "But I Might Die Tonight," and "Longer Boats" (which is indeed, as one reviewer surmised, about UFOs). And one nice feature of the production is that this entire album is recorded with John Ryan on the acoustic bass. That's why there are all those cool growly bits down in the lower register.
Anyway, here's a little history for the uninitiated:
"Cat Stevens" was the stage name of Steven Georgiou, who was born in the U.K. in 1949 of a Cypriot father and a Swedish mother. Something of a musical prodigy, he released his first two albums well before he was twenty years old as was on his way to becoming a "pop star." He then fell victim to a terrible case of tuberculosis. When he returned to singing and songwriting, he had taken a decidedly more reflective turn and found himself delivering absolutely beautiful stuff with no apparent commercial potential. That was fine with him; he was no longer particularly interested in commercial success. But, perhaps ironically, his delicate confessional songs and his deliberate avoidance of "commercial-ness" turned him into a huge international star.
Well, he eventually (1977) became a Muslim and adopted the name "Yusuf Islam" (after the biblical dream-interpreter Joseph). At that time he also left the music industry. He has since recorded a couple of albums about Islam, but his last collection of commercial music was _Footsteps In The Dark_ (ostensibly a second volume of his "greatest hits," but in fact a set of lesser-known favorites and a handful of tunes not available elsewhere).
You can feel safe in ignoring the comments from people who think he has become "rigid" and/or "intolerant." The simple fact is that nearly every Cat Stevens album (the exceptions being his first two) are filled with "spiritual seeking," and he eventually found what he was looking for in Islam. His "recent" (actually, 1990) remarks on Salman Rushdie were not what you probably think they were (and in particular he didn't call for Rushdie's death). He's no more "rigid" or "intolerant" than the rest of us; he's simply a religiously observant Muslim, that's all. There's a problem here only for people who think seekers should never get around to finding, or that traditional religion is more "dogmatic" than irreligion.
_Tea_ and _Teaser_ are still great albums, and they don't need to "transcend" their creator in order to be great; there's no need to run down Yusuf in order to elevate Cat. And since these albums _were_ written during his "seeker" stage, they're suitable for everybody -- future Muslims or not.
Free Music Review: With ease one of the great albums in rock history
Hit: 5 Stars
By changing his name from Cat Stevens to Yusuf Islam and leaving the world of popular music for private religious devotion, Cat Stevens did more harm to his long-term reputation than any critic could have done. The brute truth is that in the early seventies Cat Stevens was the greatest popular perform in all of music. It isn't merely that he sold a lot of records; he produced a string of stunningly brilliant albums. Has there ever been a greater popular album than TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN or TEASER AND THE FIRECAT? Perhaps, but once we exclude those released by the Beatles I'd bet we could count them on the fingers of one hand with more than one finger left over. Anyone doubting how much Stevens's embrace of Islam has hurt him need only ponder this: he is not a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Probably two-thirds of the people in the Hall are less deserving than Cat Stevens.
Frankly, his conversion to Islam bothers me as much as most. He didn't even go the sane route. Richard Thompson is also a Muslim, but a Sufi, a branch of Islam that almost anyone can find acceptable. But Stevens not only became a Muslim, but also made some disturbing public statements when some idiotic Muslim sage declared a fatwa on Salman Rushdie. In recent years Stevens/Islam seems to have moderated somewhat, but there is no question that there is one and only one reason he is not in the HOF while Cleveland continues to induct queues of less qualified individuals: he became a devout Muslim.
But lets put that aside for a second. The fact is that TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN is almost impossibly perfect. Every song on the album is a gem, most are classics, most continue to be played on various radio stations over thirty-five years since their release. We have an ambivalent social reaction to the album. On the one hand we won't put Cat Stevens into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame where he, if anyone, belongs, but we continue to luxuriate in the absolute brilliance of his music.
TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN is an embarrassment of riches. In the early seventies Cat Stevens reeled out a string of albums, all of which had some or several great songs. But he released two that were extraordinary masterpieces. TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN and TEASER AND THE FIRECAT string together one exquisite song after another. People listening to them for the first time in the new century are just as astonished by their beauty as those who heard them when they first came out. What is more, either children or adults reaction in much the same way; musicians as much as non-musicians. These may be the most accessible truly great songs released by any artist not named The Beatles.
Ever since I heard these two albums, they have been among my favorite ever. I will admit that I was unable to listen to them for quite some time. I found it painful when Cat embraced Islam, with its incredibly regressive attitudes toward women (my main complaint toward Islam, since the terrorism many associate with it today truly is not a part of historical or even most contemporary Islam). I couldn't listen to his music without a sense of betrayal. There were great values in many of the songs! Yet he had embraced religious belief that devalued women!
Eventually, however, I started listening to the albums again. How perfect these two albums are! It is almost ludicrous how many great songs are on each of them. TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN goes from "Where Will the Children Play" to "Hard-Headed Woman" (one of the songs I learned to play guitar on) to "Wild World" to "Sad Lisa" to "Miles from Nowhere" to "The Longer Boats" to "Into White" to "On the Road to Find Out" to "Father and Son." This is ridiculous! Albums aren't supposed -- or at least aren't expected -- to have so many extraordinary songs! The only weak song on the album is the title track that closed the disc. "Father and Son" is one of, if not the greatest, intergenerational song ever written, contrasting the view of a young man with his father, contrasting a content, unemotional, unresponsive father to a passionate, restless, desperate son.
There is only one thing that is harder to comprehend than how great this album is. That is, TEASER AND THE FIRECAT was, if anything, better.
These are both albums anyone who loves music has to not only love but completely ingest. Yeah, I don't like the fact that he became a Muslim either. But we really are at a point where we need to get past that and confess that there hasn't been a greater popular album released by anyone since Stevens released TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN and TEASER AND THE FIRECAT. And for Allah's sake, induct the man into the Hall of Fame!
Free Music Review: A Definite Classic
Hit: 5 Stars
I had previously reviewed this CD, but I'll have another shot at it, as I now feel that my previous review does not do this terrific album justice. So here is my new review for Cat Stevens' "Tea For The Tillerman":Cat Stevens' "Tea For The Tillerman" is truly a classic album, and they don't come any classier than this. Stevens was a talented musician, and was not afraid to make music that came from the heart - a quality many musicians nowadays lack (see Limp Bizkit). Stevens had the ability to write memorable tunes and pen intelligent, thought-provoking lyrics, which made him the top of his game in the early 70's, and has gained him successions of new fans year after year, even if he isn't Cat Stevens anymore (I believe he is now known as Yusuf Islam). "Tea For The Tillerman" is in my opinion, Stevens' finest album, and one of the most perfect albums ever recorded. Although most people are only familiar with the albums' hit singles ("Wild World", "Father And Son" and "Where Do The Children Play") - each one a classic in its own right, the other eight songs on the album are equally as great. The songs are not overly produced, and comprise largely of acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards and drums, with the odd string arrangement here and there (arranged by Del Newman). The album kicks off with "Where Do The Children Play?" and although it may strike the average listener as a nice, simple tune, the lyrics present a social commentary that is as relevant today as it was almost thirty years ago (in a world dominated by materialism, technology and want, is there any room for children to play and carry on with their simple untinctured lives?). "Hard Headed Women" is another simple tune, floating mainly on acoustic guitar and strings, but the lyrics about needing a serious woman rather than superficial "fancy dancers" are lyrics that quite alot of men (including myself) can relate to. "Wild World", the song that "broke" Cat Stevens in America remains a timeless pop tune. "Sad Lisa", with its plaintive piano and string arrangement is one of Stevens' overlooked masterpieces. Stevens' singing of wanting to comfort a girl when she is sad is touching, and the violin solo never ceases to send shivers up my spine. "Miles from Nowhere" is a terrific rocker, and from the lyrics, we can sense that Stevens is one a spiritual quest of some sort (and we all know where this quest would lead him, don't we?). "But I Might Die Tonight" is another great rock song, and one of my favourite Cat Stevens' songs. The song is quite short but almost everyone can relate to its lyrics about the monotony of everyday life. "Longer Boats" is quite a weird one, with some really strange lyrics (I suspect the song is about UFOs - but this is just a personal observation), but its a good song nonetheless. "Into White" has a more traditional folk sound. Its psychedelic lyrical content reminds me alot of the Beatles' "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds". In the 5 minute-long "On The Road To Find Out", Stevens tells us more about his spiritual voyage. The tune may not be as catchy as "Miles from Nowhere", but it is by no means a bad song. The classic "Father And Son", a moving commentary on the generation gap of Stevens' generation is still relevant today, as not all parents and children get on well with each other. "Tea For The Tillerman" sees a return to the themes explored in "Where Do The Children Play" and Stevens reminds us that "while the sinners sin the children play" - that innocence will forever exist in a monotonous material world.
Well, there you have it. Keeping in mind the thought-provoking lyrics and the catchy tunes, it is no wonder that "Tea For The Tillerman" has become a staple in folk and rock record collections since the day it was released. Stevens was a true master and this album is a testament to his genius.
Free Music Review: for you will still be here tomorrow but your dreams may not
Hit: 5 Stars
This was Cat Steven's masterpiece and a lot of us had this album recorded on tape with his Teaser And The Firecat on side B. That is how we used to listen to music many years ago so we would not damage our albums (just some extra info you can shock your parents with). Cat Stevens had a huge following because the music of his songs was as powerful as the meaning of his lyrics. Both were simple and beautiful. It all seemed to flow straight out of Cat's heart and the inspiration had started after a serious illness tied him down to a London hospital for a period of many months. Success followed Cat Stevens and showered him and many around him with riches. However, Cat Stevens seemed not strong enough to be able to live the life of stardom and not let the emptiness which comes with it to affect his balanced core (as is often the case).The balance had broken, like the morning has broken and one day, while drowning in the Pacific Ocean he asked God for help, and promised to work towards God's glory if saved. Apparently a huge wave came out of nowhere and carried our singer to shore. That was the beginning of the end, because Cat Stevens meant his promise quite literally, unfortunately for the millions of fans who could have used the perfect way of transmission of his simple golden words. On the other hand, quite frankly, rare are these humans (and it very well may have a lot to do with how unaffected by their so called success they become) whose power of creation doesn't fade away. Personally I find a lot of his later albums without the spirit of Tea For The Tillerman. Perhaps it was time for him to focus on other things in life. I have purchased his music under the Yusuf Islam name and did not find much in it, either. Perhaps I was not able to come up to its level. However, I respect him as a human being tremendously, and I think that when we pull his songs we used to cover out of new editions of our albums and when we start pretending that he did not exist simply because he switched out of our way of life, that is purely a sign of our insecurity and hypocrisy. Remember - we are supposed to be the guardians of freedom. My favorite songs of Cat Stevens are the following: Sad Lisa, The Wind, Where Do The Children Play, Father And Son, If I Laugh, Monshadow, Where Are You, O Caritas, Hard Headed Woman, Oh Very Young, Morning Has Broken, Wild World, Lillywhite, But I Might Die Tonight, Rubbylove, Sitting, Miles From Nowhere, Peace Train, On The Road To Find Out, Northern Wind, Trouble, Longer Boats, Lady D'Arbanville.
Free Music Review: ooh, how I wore out the grooves of this album !!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Cat Stevens scored a major goal with this blockbuster album entitled Tea For The Tillerman. Cat's voice is in excellent form and the musical arrangements reflect forethought.
The track set begins with the classic "Where Do The Children Play?" The song begins with some great guitar playing; and this song gives Cat the chance to lament that "progress" has taken away green grassy fields and playgrounds where children used to play. Cat explores his pain over the downside of progress. "Hard Headed Woman" has Cat singing passionately of his desire to find his one true love; the chord changes make the musical arrangement very strong and poignant. The percussion also enhances the musical arrangement.
"Wild World" is clearly a highlight of this album; Cat's character sings of his pain at losing his lover; and he warns her of how the new people she will meet will be able to hurt her terribly. "Sad Lisa" changes the scenario; now the woman has been hurt and Cat sings of how he wants to comfort her and love her. "Sad Lisa" sports a great arrangement for the piano and strings to make "Sad Lisa" a tender, sensitive love ballad.
"But I Might Die Tonight" explores the angst people experience when they have an unfulfilling life; and "Into White" has a great arrangement for the strings. "On The Road To Find Out" has Cat singing beautifully of his quest to find inner peace. Cat then sings of how inner peace is not in any one location; it must be something you create for yourself by using your mind to think freely about how you want your life to be. "Father And Son" is equally stunning; Cat sings of the typical father and son relationship where the two men simply can't see eye to eye about how to find happiness.
Unfortunately, all things must come to an end. The track set ends with the title song for this album, "Tea For The Tillerman." This optimistic ballad showcases Cat's excellent vocals; he sings of how the children of today can create a better world of tomorrow.
The liner notes have great artwork--awesome!
Cat Stevens remains one of the greatest singers and songwriters of the twentieth century. This album and Cat's other artistry will never be forgotten; it's simply too good to ignore. I highly recommend this for fans of Cat Stevens; and people who enjoy classic '70s rock ballads will listen to this album for years to come.
Enjoy!