Has Anyone Heard Cat Stevens - Tea For The Tillerman?

[Reigh Kaufman]

I just bought this today and, fuck me, what a great album. I owned nothing of the man's work - and his lifestyle now is just about the only thing I do know of the gadge - but I am seriously pleased with this purchase and want to know if anyone else likes the man and his music? Apart from, obviously, Father & Son - which is, and will always be, utter gash.

[Romero&Juliet]

only the GREATEST fucking album in the entire world..

Sad Liza, Longer Boats.... *droooools* I've been listening to this since I was, literally, in the womb. it will NEVER get old.

What's incredible is the near seamless transition he made from a Deram "Baroque pop" artist, to the omniscient folkie.. what was he, like.. twenty two when he made this!? Its as though each song has been written and kept for about a half a century.

The spiritualist angle may grate on you after a while, but after listening to his more recent stuff (like.. conceptual albums abour numerology, etc), you'll be MORE than glad to listen to a little bit of preaching.

Reigh, I'm so glad you like this man. Seriously, he's one of my freaking heroes.

check out Mona Bone Jakon next. Its my favorite of his.

[Romero&Juliet]

http://www.artistdirect.com/Images/Sources/AMGCOVERS/music/cover75/dre200/e255/e25529eqn7y.jpg

Anything up to and including Buddha and the Chocolate Box is a safe buy.. although, you'll see the wierdness start to kick in by then.

Mona Bone is the ticket.. pete Gabriel on flute for a track, really good lyrics.. imo, the best collaboration with Alun Davies that you'll ever hear. Huuuuuuge blues/latin influences, too, which was pretty cool.. Maybe You're Right is absolutely one of the most beautiful songs ever.

[Reigh Kaufman]

I shall be making some Cat Stevens purchases this very weekend, mon amis. Why am I not surprised that you like this album? I mean, it's only fucking brilliant! Heh - I thought my wee thread would die a lonely death, but I'm very chuffed that I'm not alone.

Actually, I keep putting Where Do The Children Play? on repeat - it has something...a quality I like in my music that I can never quite define...like, this might sound stupid, but I can imagine myself sitting alone in a train compartment and looking out through the window as I make my way somewhere VERY early in the morning...it's going to be a nice day, but it's a bit cold as yet... and I look out the window and get that feeling; that 'yeah, man, life is fucking GREAT' feeling. THAT is why I like this album...

Well, that's just my thought on it. I sometimes think I might do that. Make up a CD of songs - simlair to the ones on this album - and just go NOWHERE on a train; ride about and listen to my Walkman for a while...

Cat Stevens - fuck me, he brings out the softer side of life, eh?

[Romero&Juliet]

heh, no worries about this thread going down.. I'll be posting on it all night long.


Where Do The Children Play? is a beautiful track.. in fact, I think it was featured on a movie called "The Deep End", but I'm not sure. In the second verse it sounds as though he strays off key..("petrol gas"). its the dub over of his voice that's doing it, but the effect of it is still there. Sounds as though his tracks where recorded on the fly and nooo one cares..

Agreed; Tillerman is PERFECT road trip music. I've actually travelled quite a bit with my washed out cassette of this.


Oh, and If you play guitar this album is also a godsend.. anytime, anywhere.. they're incredibly fun to play....and the laydeeez go wild! ;)

[bob]

I agree that this album is brilliant, my favorite tracks are "Wild World" (I want that played at my funeral) and "Miles from Nowhere". But the whole album is brilliant.

I'd reccomend picking up "Teaser and the Firecat" next, it's equally great.