Cat Stevens - Tea for the Tillerman
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Free Music Notes for Tea for the Tillerman
Free Music Review: Transcendent and timeless
Hit: 5 Stars
"Tea for the Tillerman" still beckons to be heard, a rare feat for any popular recording that has aged beyond 30 years. Cat Stevens completely transcends the self-conscious trappings that plague many musicians and delivers a sparkling testimony about the life of a seeker. Though undercurrents of melancholy run through many songs, Mr. Stevens does not give in to sadness and depression. Instead, the theme of love lost in the classic Wild World absolves his lost lover and warns her about the ways of the world. He confronts dying with an unflinching resolve in But I Might Die Tonight and appeals to the ideas of Zen in the muscular, celebratory Miles from Nowhere. Mr. Stevens raises the eco-flag in Where Do the Children Play, which still sounds relevant despite a few archaic (at least to current American sensibilities) words such as "lorry."
He visits the quest motif more than once---perhaps an indication of his own state of mind at that time---in the jaunty On the Road to Findout and the plaintive dialogue that captures the essence of the generation gap in Father and Son. In Sad Lisa, he confronts a quest of a different sort, chronicling the narrator's efforts to deal with some form of mental illness, though it's not entirely clear if Lisa is real or an apparition only the narrator can see.
Mr. Stevens also delves into the possibly related themes of contacts with UFOs in the metaphorical Longer Boats and experimentation with psychotropic drugs as he catalogs images and experiences that merge Into White.
The stellar band that supply the musical textures here are in fine form, especially second guitarist Alun Davies, long the unsung hero on the best of Cat Steven's recordings. Mr. Stevens and Mr. Davies interweave melodies and ideas so seamlessly that it's almost impossible to separate one from the other. The rhythm section here ranges, whether nearly muted or unleashing torrents of energy, never intrudes but always anchors the songs. The strings on "Tea for the Tillerman" sparkle like moonlight on the ocean, offering subtle relief and counterpoint without choking out the music as they do on some of Mr. Steven's later recordings.
Mr. Stevens made many excellent recordings, some good ones, and one transcendent one, "Tea for Tillerman." I hope that he has found the peace he sought and am thankful for this gift he left us before entering the life of contemplation and devotion that beckoned him.
Free Music Review: Classic Cat Stevens
Hit: 5 Stars
For lots of people listening to popular music several decades ago, one of the most enchanting albums of all was Cat Stevens' "Tea for the Tillerman." The eponymous song closed out a musical treasure of reflective, thoughtful, and insightful songs. Song after song lures the listener in, trying to make out the lyrics as the stories spin out.
The CD starts off with the wonderful "Where Do All the Children Play." Key lines that typify this song:
"I know we've come a long way,
We're changing day by day.
But tell me, where do the children play?"
These innocent lines are juxtaposed with signs of progress, such as jumbo jets, "roads over fresh green grass," skyscrapers filling the air. Simple instrumentation that supports the words and singing.
Then, the marvelous "Hard Headed Woman." The opening lines:
"I'm looking for a hard headed woman,
One who will take me for myself.
And if I find my hard headed woman
I will need nobody else."
This kind of partner Stevens longs for, as opposed to "I know many fine feathered friends, but their friendliness depends on how you do."
Again, rather spare instrumentation, with Stevens himself on guitar and keyboard. A marvel of a song.
Perhaps my favorite cut on the CD--"Longer Boats." There is the hypnotic recurring line:
"Longer boats are coming to win us,
Coming to win us, they're coming to win us."
This is a song that stays in your mind, reverberating, long after you have heard it.
And so many other fine songs, such as "Wild World," "Sad Lisa," "Miles from Nowhere," "But I Might Die Tonight," "Father and son," and so on.
One of the finest albums of its time--and it still wears well, sounding fresh after all these years.
Free Music Review: Cat Stevens is a weird guy who produced a Sgt. Pepper of sorts
Hit: 5 Stars
No, I don't wish to get into either the personal life or the politics of the, now controversial, Cat Stevens. If we did that, we'd probably drop Pete Townsend, James Brown, Jim Morrison, Elton John and a laundry list of other rock notables.
I clearly remember when a high school pal of mine, Billy Duffer, told me to snag this album. Billy must have made a secret study of contemporary music because he was always spot-on about what was "good" and what was "lousy". Anyway, I bought the album and I've never regretted that choice. This folk-rock compilation didn't come out of the box like a fireball, but rather, gained a flywheel's momentum as more and more listeners of the day heard this great music.
From Wikipedia: "In 2003, the album was ranked number 206 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time."
I'd put it in the top 100; however, I would qualify my rating by noting that this musical work may have had more appeal in it's chronological Woodstock environment and that the music really does not stand the all-important test of time, in the same way that Elvis' early works will generate little interest in, say, 2040, when all his bug-eyed fans are long dead and gone.
"Tea for the Tillerman" yields Free Love Society folk-rock, very acoustic piano ballads, and the compositions carry the hearers' burden of Cat Stevens' rather distinctive (some would say "weird"), vocal attributes. This album is certainly not for everyone; however, those who like it will REALLY like it.
As a final comment, and perhaps this comes off as a "great review-noir," I would just observe that this album/CD is an integral facet of our rock music history, like it or not.
Free Music Review: Revenge of the Persians!
Hit: 5 Stars
First off.. I spent years trying to hate Cat Stevens for becoming a radical Muslim...that's becoming a "radical" Muslim people..He was already a Muslim. I mean advocating the death of a writer (Simon Ruski) for a perceived insult, that must make him an enemy of the U.S right? I grumbled and mumbled doesn't that bastard realize he's a writer too! I put away his records (that's a large round disc of poly-vinyl used in ancient times to reproduce music) and refused to listen to him...then a funny thing happened...I started hearing litle bits and pieces of his music here and there like the outtro on Extras... then I noticed on Amazon that they had remastered his catalog...hmm... interesting... one listen and hooked again. I think this was his sophomore effort and if you only buy one of his albums buy this one, I don't think you can get the spirit of the man or the time's from a "best of" disc. The pleading timbre in his voice and baritone delivery when others of that era were doing the falsetto...genius...Where do the children play , Wild World , Sad Lisa , Miles from Nowhere..These are "thinking mans" lyrics somewhat dark and introspective...does anybody get it stuff! The remastering is perfect ,acoustic guitars are separated in the sound stream from each other just enough , the keyboards move in and out from supporting to lead roles ,the percussion and occasional brass or orchestra instrumentation seem to put the Cat squarely in the middle of the soundstage..Very nice! Buy this disc..You probably won't be supporting terrorist if you do..Just damn good music!!Free Music Review: the legend of Cat
Hit: 5 Stars
Some people think Cat Stevens is one of those hippie type of songwriters because he likes to mix mellow rock with the style of commercial rock that was popular during the 70's. The truth is, he's not like that at all. He shouldn't be compared to the Grateful Dead in any way (not that someone would compare the two anyway). I just mean his style of songwriting isn't like anyone else, even though the SOUND of his music isn't that far off from Seals & Crofts, America or Carole King.
You see, many of those hippie artists might remind you of, oh I don't know, everyone on earth standing on top of the planet and holding hands. Cat Stevens has a more realistic kind of easy, pleasant vibes. When I listen to his music, I think about all the different cultures in our world, and the great feelings that go along with it. China, India, Australia, you name it. Every country has a certain level of satisfaction, and Cat Stevens has the talent to write music that fits the pictures in my head of each and every unique country in the world.
Of course, he's also a magnificent songwriter. Not many people can write one memorable song after another. The way he persistently writes each song with such ease and special consideration is something amazing. He's a talented man, and that's why people are still remembering and singing his songs all these years later. Pick up all his classic 70's albums. Every one of them.