Tea for the Tillerman

My first time listening to Cat Stevens - I'd not realised this artist is a man! This was pleasant listening, and fairly varied, but it didn't quite do it for me. I think this album might improve on a re-listen.

Ah, Cat Stevens. Great artist. Looking forward to this one. A nice album with some good tunes. Enjoyed, but not as much as I may have expected.

I like acat Stevens but don't really get the level of others appreciation of him.

On the spectrum of Paul McCartney (good) to Paul Simon (bad), Cat Stevens is on good side of 0, if only slightly. Cooler than Billy Joel, less cool than Randy Newman. Not the worst place to be.

Jahh weet niet zo goed, wel prima, miss beetje saai haha

Fine, added 4 tracks. Basic-good 70s rock folk rock album

3/5 It was alright nothing stands out.

Its ok good indie music well written and good musical arrangements. Remember this album has always been very well talked about and got the cd as a high schooler and it disnt i press me the thought Id thrown away my money. Today it was way better and I could understand it better. Still not an can mt live without album.

I'll give this one a 3. A couple great ones! Definitely don't hate it. It's pretty decent.

I only liked 4 songs out of 11. They all have potential but it’s not my taste I think. I’d rate the album 3.5/5

The very embodiment of a 3. Pleasant enough but completely lacking any edge or willingness to push boundaries. I have tried to think of more to write but I have nothing… Which is probably the most accurate critique of it.

I’m sorry Cat, but I think I have PTSD from boyzone covering ‘father and son’ and I can’t not hear them when the song was playing. Obviously a good songwriter and doesn’t seem to get the same kudos of the Dylan’s of this world, but it didn’t really take me anywhere and found I didn’t manage to connect particularly with it (perhaps it’s all Boyzone’s fault).

Thoroughly enjoyable.

I'm a hater. Too soft.

nice album

not 100% my music taste but still has some great songs! Knew Wild world before Fav songs: -Wild world -Sad lisa ♬ -Miles from nowhere least fav: -But I Might Die Tonight 6/10

Not too bad, one or two songs that stand out, a bit James Taylor.

if you want to be free, be free 'cause there's a million things to be, harold and maude soundtrack

Enjoyed, and getting back into album listening, a 35min album is just right 😅 same sort of length as Neil Young ATGR, released same year I believe. In another world maybe this rather than ATGR would be my favourite but despite almost getting there, it hasn't got the magic in every track like ATGR. It maybe gets a bit samey but maybe that's me millennial attention span disorder... Long Boats just came in as an almost Shanty surprise... Wild World was a lovely surprise to remember

I enjoyed this album except for the title track, which is ironic. I preferred the relatable lyrics on this one than the soaring optimism of some of his other popular works.

An initial groan of dissatisfaction when this first popped up. However, it's perfectly fine and typical of the genre. A few tracks seemed familiar, and by the end I was glad I listened. It won't end up on the shelves though. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ❌️ ★★★☆☆ (6/10) Total reviewed : 201 Already owned : 44 Purchased : 8 To buy list : 6 Nope : 143

Bruh was that Jack Black??

Pretty decent folk album, Cat’s voice kinda reminds me of Peter Gabriel. It’s not the most exciting music but it gets the job done. Standout Songs: Where Do The Children Play Wild World But I Might Die Tonight Longer Boats Tea For The Tillerman

Molte hittone. Piacevole da ascoltare.

I enjoyed it and I'm a big fan of folk from this era, but it doesn't catch me like Nick Drake or CSNY.

Father and Son saved the album. 3.5

Easy listening felt like floating down river on a boat of whipped cream. Although he does make a noticeable habit of mentioning kids in his first few songs. Having done a quick background check it looks like he’s in the clear. Other than that “minor” red flag enjoyed it more than I was expecting it’s good to be back.

Pretty decent, Father and Son is an unreal song.

With the advent of Sufjan, Cat isn't even my Favourite religious mystic singer with the surname Stevens, so can't really go above a 3 here.

Some cool, catchy and laid back folk rock.

Comforting

Nogle gode hits men ikke mere

Good album. But would it end up in my standard rotation? Probably not.

It was cool, I was listening to it very passively though

Quite enjoyed this, must be a secret cat Stevens fan. Nice folky, relaxing album. Nothing inoffensive. No real bite to it either.

Wild World and Father & Son are both all time classics but rest of the album doesn't hit as well for me. Love the chill guitar and vocals

enjoyed the lyricism but the music itself didn’t really grip me

Cute album but didn't manage to do anything to make me interested. At least it didn't have a blaring harmonica ruining my ears

folk/singer-songwriter isn’t usually for me, but i’m glad i listened to this album, especially a second time so i could focus on the lyrics! it’s comforting to hear that the same sentiments have been expressed over decades; where do the children play? will i be remembered when i’m all alone? it reminds me of an album my dad would’ve shown me to teach me a life lesson. top tracks: -miles from nowhere -but i might die tonight -into white

Boring

Feels nostalgic in a weird kind of way, like it feels like home.

Good album, not really my thing tho. Songs are well written, but the vocals just don´t always do it for me. Glad i have heard it tho.

Un álbum muy tranquilo sin malas canciones y algunas destacan por cierto ritmos y sin duda la mejor cancion es Father and Son y se siente en la manera en que canta

lovely but so (maybe too) fucking earnest

Musicianship is good. Songwriting is good. Not really my taste or something I'll come back to. I enjoyed the hits, but felt some of the other tracks were weaker.

Am I just old or is the son way too harsh on the father in “Father and Son”? “Just relax, take it easy.” “YO FUCK YOU DAD I’M OFF TO DISCOVER MY DESTINY OF GREATNESS!”

Tea for the tiller man 7/10

Didn't manage to listen to the whole album, but what I did hear, calm melodies and interesting lyrics

Goes well with a nice cup of tea

À handful of classic songs and the quality of writing is amazing. Ultimately though just not quite my thing.

Lagerfeuer Schlager mit schöner Musik.

Not my usual music taste, but a fun change. It wouldn’t be something I would willingly listen to.

Fina låtar, najs röst. Men inte så intressant instrumentation så det håller inte i längden för albumet.

I’d heard the hits from this album before, and they were just as good as I’d remembered. I now see why they are the only ones I knew.

опять забыла что Кэт мужчина (зато после много думала про Крестоманси). узнала что уайлд уорлд это он и что он любитель суровых женщин. норм)

not my type of music but still good

Tea for the Tillerman - Cat Stevens (1970) Issue - Spotify 1) Where Do The Children Play? - 4 2) Hard Headed Women - 3.5 3) Wild World - 3.5 4) Sad Lisa - 4 5) Miles From Nowhere - 3.5 6) But I Might Die Tonight - 3.5 7) Longer Boats - 3 8) Into White - 3 9) On The Road To Find Out - 3 10) Father and Son - 4 11) Tea For The Tillerman - 2.5

Very cozy album. I have no nostalgia for any track, even though I'm familiar with all the hits found on here. Ahead of its time in a sense, but I'd reach for the contemporary adjacents sooner than throwing this one back on.

Fine - tuneful folk, could be turned into bangers by people covering it

This music is beautiful and the low voice contrasts so well.

It was nice to listen to Wild World and get to know the band behind the song, but not enough to earn the 4 stars

Kenn ich

WOW i love the first song and the guitar.

wow mysigt ju!! blev glatt överraskad må jag säga

Would be 3.5 if I could

Not my favorite but not bad whatsoever. just a little slow for my liking.

I kn ew some of the songs from this but it's nice to hear the album. I'm in two minds about Cat Stevens - I like the music but for some reason a lot of the lyrics slightly give me the ick. I think they feel a bit smug and condescending.

This music is too optimistic. Nobody is this happy to exist

Not bad but also feels like it'd appeal to 80 year olds.

I'm sure it's good but I could not get into it.

3.5

au premier abord je connaissais ni l'album ni l'artiste mais finalement certains titres sont supers connus (wild world, father and son) c'est très reposant et j'aime bien sa voix titre préféré : wild world

pas mal, je connaissais déjà l'artiste avec peace train, l'écoute et agréable mais ça m'a pas marqué tres chill n'empêche, à réécouter !!

Wild world was my only exposure to Cat Stevens before this. I liked the addition of violin to a couple of the tracks including “sad Lisa”

While I can tell that for the most part this music comes from a very real and earnest place from the artist, to me it feels almost like a plastic replica of something great. It's cloyingly sweet or too polished or something. There are a few really good songs, but I feel mixed about it overall.

Better than expected.

Tctc

folky. vocals. feeling. chill.

Where Do the Children Play? is the high watermark lyrically. A withering takedown of overconsumption, environmental abuse, and greed. The rest is a pleasant enough experience.

Best track: Father and Son. Also, what's up with that Yusuf guy?

What a cool ending! Enjoyed the vibe but not all the songs were my thing. Favorite songs: long boats and tea for the tillerman

A very easy listen. The Cat Stevens most people would be familiar with.

I am more familiar with Teaser and the Firecat which has some great songs but the ballads are so soupy, they make me turn it off. This is a much better record. Plenty of 70's singer-songwriter sensitivity but it's not so wimpy. Belongs on the list as a good example of the genre.

It’s so sweet but just not for me

#201/1001. Sounds good in a car, recognisable vocal( definitely Steve Adams/Steven Demetre Georgiou / Cat Stevens / Yusuf (Islam), and I discovered some songs which I've only known as Finnish covers. Never knew Wild World was his original. Most of the songs sound quite the same and maybe it's just me (as a non native English speaker), but the lyrics don't really matter me much. All in all, something I wouldn't mind if I had to listen to it again, but wouldn't necessarily seek it. You know, classic gaussian scale medium stuff. The cover: well I'm glad he dropped art school and focused on music.

6.5 / 10

Interesting themes, album was very folk rock.

Milquetoast nursery rhymes, not really my thing. 3 stars for Wild World and Father and Son, although the latter makes me think of that godawful Ted Lasso finale and now I'm pissed off all over again.

3/5

Ils sont trop chiants avec leur 50 deux avec 68 titre et 4h Mais sinon c'est pas mal

Always surprising to hear a familiair song between all the unknown songs. It started boring, but in the end I quite enjoyed the album. It's just not my genre. 2,5/5

Cat Stevens wrote some great songs, but on the length of an album I get a bit tired of his similar voice and delivery. Other albums are better than this one.

Perfect morning music. Calm and relaxing. Favorite track: Wild World

Cool calm vibes. Was only familiar with wild world previously, and nothing stood out more than that

A cozy jacket over saddness, nostalgia and longing. Sometimes optimistic, sometimes despairing. But, I think, never really hopeless. A genuine voice and rolling guitar & keyboard keep you nodding your head. Reminds me a lot of Colin Buchanan. Least favourite track: 'Sad Lisa'. Equal emotion to all the others, but felt like it had the most prominent and umderwhelming lyrics. It dipped in amd out of stirring my heart rather than carrying me through on feelings. Favourite track: 'Miles From Nowhere'. Upbeat music and a song of contentment. Travelling, but always having a home. Most intriguing track: 'Into White'. Simple descriptions of natural beauty always emptying into white. Surprise: knowing 'Father and Son'. I'm grateful we found where the children play.

This was pretty good. Kinda chill. Father and Son sure hit hard today. With Gabi being in jain and all. :( I'll give this 3 stars

There's really no one else like Cat Stevens. Wise music.

I like Cat Stevens. I don't know why, since the first thing I ever heard of his was a hymn. That hymn isn't on this album (Morning Has Broken of course), but there are some other tracks I've heard before. Good voice, good songwriting and no duds. Nice to fall asleep to. 3½

Enjoyed it. Some great tracks.

Folk music is not my cup of tea, but I'll give this album two points: It's short (only 36 minutes) and it rocks out a little bit, at least. The songs prominently involve the instruments and they aren't just there as background dressing for Stevens' hippy-dippy lyrics. A few more BPMs and I would have really liked this, but as is, it's not terrible and I'd rather they had tossed in a second Cat Stevens album than the umpteen albums of Leonard Cohen that were included.

Perfect for a sunny day, unfortunately it’s November, but I think sitting in the sun with this on would work nicely. Some tracks lapse into a bit of a nursery rhyme feel which puts me off, but there’s some great stuff on here.

Folky calm music. Wild World in a lot of soundtracks

Helt okej! Ganska mysigt och härligt att ha i bakgrunden typ :)

I only listened passively; it was non-offensive.

was kinda boring, sounded like a child album. not awful

I always find it fun when in these random albums there's a couple of songs that I recognize but had no idea who the band was. I remember hearing wild world in a show or movie somewhere and I liked it now I can revisit it! The album was chill, really liked the mellow folksy vibe yesterday especially with the rain. I might revisit that album again this season.

I enjoyed it!

Apparently Cat designed his own album covers, according to Wikipedia. ‘Wild World” was the big hit off this album, while there were a few minor hits including “Where Do the Children Play”, “Father and Son”, and “Longboats”. Overall the album was pleasant listening and rates a solid three stars. Teaser and the Firecat is a slightly better record, maybe that one will come later.

2.7 2x

Gut im Hintergrund, keiner hat was dagegen, eher chillig, ganz gute songs aber nichts aufregendes

Few goood songs

Discovered in BHS music appreciation class—what?—almost 40 years ago? Spoke deeply to me then, less now. It’s a bit kitschy, I wouldn’t just go grab it for a listen these days, but it’s lovely and earnest and still worth appreciating.

Stevens' earnestness, occasional weak lyrics, and something about the timbre of his voice make me want to find him cringey, and sometimes I do, but other times I can appreciate the attempt to explore genuine questions. "Father and Son" is of course strong, but even there I'm not sure how deep the feelings go. One reviewer said he relies too much on dynamics for emotion, and I hear that in this album.

This was a stretch for me. I very rarely enjoy the type of earnest folk music Yusuf Islam is known for, and his voice has always felt affected to me. But, since I've probably never listened to a full Cat/Yusuf album, I went in with as open of a heart as I could. The instrumentation and dynamic range is far more varied than I expected. I didn't know he wrote "Wild World." It's not shocking to me that Mr. Big didn't create it from scratch, but I never engaged with it enough to discover its origins. Around track 4 I had to reckon with whether or not I *could* like this album, or if it was another example of a very good thing that's not for me. I lost almost all interest by track 7 and got actively annoyed around track 8. The more recent update of "Father and Son" where modern Yusuf duets with the original vocals, poignantly mirroring his younger self with his aged voice, has a tension that elevated that song for me. Alas, this is the original, and I felt ashamed of how much eye rolling was happening on my end. Am I so jaded that I can't appreciate this on its face? I was grateful and relieved that the last track was mercifully short, essentially just a sketch of an idea for a song. Not entirely clear what its purpose was. It feels weird to give this less than 3 stars, so here is where I have to wrestle with whether this collection of ratings is meant to be a reflection of my taste or a reflection of an album's objective worth. The former would be a 2-star record, maybe less. The latter a 3-star record, maybe more. In an effort to not be dead inside, I'll go with 3.

No private session used for Spotify. On a business trip, still at the hotel and this was a nice one to play while getting ready for the day. I will have to remember this mellow, thought provoking album future mornings.

Knew the big songs and they are classics, feels like when cat gets everything right he makes brilliant songs. Found the stuff I didn't recognise a bit ropey, I think the quite simple style of the songs means if they dont land they sound clunky. All in all it's okay but big swings in quality throughout.

My father in law plays Cat Stevens all the time, I've been somewhat brainwashed as I've heard it so much. It is all very nice in fairness. A few standout tracks being "where do the children play", "wild world" and "father and son". Wild world is my favourite. I think 3.5 is about right as I do like it but it's a bit too sweet for me generally

Da sind schon ein paar Klassiker bei, als songwriter scheint der ganz gut zu sein

Joa, ganz nett

Großartige (hard headed woman, sad Lisa, into white) und langweiligste (longer boats, father and son) Momente im Wechsel - insgesamt aber tolles (pathetisches ;)) Songwriting. (Das schrecklich hässliche Cover verleitet mich fast dazu, einem extra-Stern abzuziehen …)

Mellow listen.

Album was ok. Had some interesting melodies at times, some catchy-ish songs. Not really my thing, but pretty good. A pleasant listen but probably not anything I'd revisit much. Standouts were "Where Do The Children Play?" "Longer Boats" and "Father and Son"

i love the style and voice of Cat Stevens. Although this is not my favorite album, it feels right

It's alright. I mean that in a positive light. Glad I got to listen to it. I really see how Cat Stevens got big. I'll give it a 3 to 3.5

Gostei do álbum. É um folk bem intimista e acústico. Moondrop May.

I always got an eerie feeling with Cat Steven’s. Like something is hidden behind the folky facade

not that into his voice but some of the songs were awesome

another 3 for the road, the HITS are incredible but the rest are kinda blah Fav song: Where Do the Children Play?

Hey it's fine. Quintessential 70s singer-songwriter/folk rock. "Wild World" and "Father and Son" are the best and best-known tracks. I found "Sad Lisa" sounded a lot like Peter Gabriel-era Genesis; Cat sounds soooo close to PG on that one. It's fine for what it is, it just isn't my bag, baby. Also - for some of these genres - maybe we don't need a hundred examples of the style, just maybe four or five? I don't know. THREE STARS

*I liked this more than I thought I would *Some songs were too mid-slow tempo but the hits were great

A few of his most familiar songs on this album

Oh baby, it is a wild world

I was surprised how much I liked this. Very pleasant despite it's 70's folk easy-listening style.

Really liked Miles from Nowhere. Sad Lisa is a sad bummer after one listen. Recognized a few. Maybe a good weekend morning listen.

It was fine. I’m not as big on male singer songwriters, as I much prefer female voices in this style. Still it wasn’t a bad album and I found some enjoyment

This guy seems like he'd be a great grandfather. Lyrically has the feel of listening to a story you've heard hundreds of times. Wasn't crazy about a couple of tracks but overall liked it.

I liked this a lot. Great easy listening vibes with nice and nostalgic writing. Album doesn't take itself so seriously and definitely has some catchy tunes. I'll be back for a few of them from time to time

6/10

Like this more than I expected to, but not sure I'll be going back to it.

Had forgotten how much I enjoyed Sad Lisa.

Some very good songs

Not really my typical genre, but glad to be exposed to it.

Nice easy listening. A little too folksy even for me. Father and Son is an all-timer

Cool, rainy day album

Not bad

great

Cat Stevens is one of those artists I’ve always overlooked due to some bad memory associations, but after giving this album a listen, I have to say it was a decent folk rock record. It had a few well known hits and recognizable tracks, along with a couple of songs that didn’t do much for me, but overall, it flowed well from beginning to end.

I liked it! As long as I aggressively don't listen to the lyrics, it's quite nice! If I do listen to the lyrics, it's corny as hell. Where do the Children Play? is a stone's throw away from They Paved Paradise and Put Up A Parking Lot.

I didn’t realize how much Cat Stevens I knew. I really enjoyed this listen and will probably add many of the songs to my “in the background while working” list.

Pleasant sounding. Catchy songs that I found myself sing later.

God it gets samey after a bit. STill pleasant enough of an initial listen though. Everything sounds like it could break out into peace train, and his lyrics are incredibly nonsensical if you listen to it. But reasonable enough.

The songwriting on this is obviously very good but i found his voice week, the playing poor and the sound very thin. When the best songs are better in covers, it tells the story

Ohh baby baby it's a folk record

Fine.

This was pretty calming

Nice acoustic songwriting sound, nothing particularly stood out to me though.

Some good, some bad.

Another artist where I’ve heard the hits but never listened to a full album. The only song I was familiar with was Wild World, which is a fantastic track. I’m pretty sure my dad liked Cat Stevens. This was a pleasant listen overall, but I didn’t much care for the sappy orchestral stuff (Sad Lisa). Not sure if I’d revisit this in the future.

Ok

I'm not gonna like it. it bored me.

eh it was okay. nothing amazing here. 3/5

Wild World and Father and Son are the obvious hits here, but I feel Cat Stevens is more famous for being Cat Stevens than anything else. Rest of the album is fine, if not somewhat repetitive.

Good classic stuff

I enjoyed the first several songs, but found most of the second half unmemorable.

When compared to the background instruments, the voice tends to be rather loud, which is a shame. Luckily, this only affects a few of the songs. Overall, the songs are fine though. Rather simple harmonic devices. Some songs are great, others are kind of repetetive. I enjoyed the string accompaniment in Into White. I enjoyed Wild World the most; it is one of the most well-known Cat Stevens songs for a reason after all.

Long hair, conversation pits, and a liiiiiiiittle bit of black tar heroin. Best track: Father And Son

It's unapologetically Cat Stevens, folksy as it is. Like many albums of its acoustic-folk-rock ilk it suffers from having a few too many forgettable/unremarkable songs among its tracklist, but it's worth the listen for Father and Son alone which is a timelessly beautiful ballad to generational change so relevant at the time. Fav tracks: Father and Son, Longer Boats

It's ok for me. I don't really like folk, except for the occasional crossover that breaks some traditional folk rules. I've heard the singles from this hundreds of times and I probably like them just because of mere exposure. Don't like the folksier tunes here and there's just something about his voice that I like and dislike. I like that it's distinctive and has an odd lilt to it. But then I can't stand it after just 2 or 3 songs. Like a good appetizer, but not good for a whole meal. I'll give it a 3 recognizing that in the world of pop rock it usually gets and deserves a 4 or more. But on here, this is what I like and would I listen again. It's a 3 Probably will never listen to this whole album again. It's fine, but it's just not for me.

Not massively for me. Didn't dislike it though. Extra star for the Extras theme song.

Fairly middle of the road for me. Not great but certainly not bad. Wouldn't put it on myself but wouldn't complain if someone else put it on.

I like folk, so this was good!

Yeh

Meh

Nice cozy album to listen while you snuggle a cat

Into it but not in love with it

6/10 Favorite: Miles From Nowhere

An okay Folk album.

Var en fornøyelig opplevelse å høre på, men ble ikke blåst av banen. Var en del fine harmonier, spesielt på de partiene med høyest dynamikk, som nok var det beste aspektet ved dette albumet. Middels + i rating tror jeg

Probably had this on vinyl at some point as I can imagine picking it up from a Goodwill for a buck or from a local record shop's used section for $5. Been ages since I've given this a listen. Been a long time since I've seen Harold and Maude, too. I love Hal Ashby but I don't think that particular effort will hold up well. Afraid my review is gonna be nothing much more than Nick Drake did it better and he didn't sound try-hard doing it. How come Cat Stevens sounds like a 50 year-old man at 22? My Dad got me into Cat Stevens so I guess "Father and Son" is a vibe. First few tracks are sorta better though.

how many songs did this man write about his father over the course of his life....like was everything ok at home....

1. Where Do The Children Play? - 6 Decent song. Very good lyrics and the guitar is great. It's not anything phenomenal but it's not poor by any stretch. 2. Hard Headed Woman - 6 Decent song. I'm not a huge fan of how notes are held vocally both on this track and in Where Do The Children Play? Overall it's not bad though. 3. Wild World - 4 Vocally it just doesn't sound as good at the previous two tracks. 4. Sad Lisa - 3 Not a great song lyrically, especially the opening verse. Strings in the bridge are a wonderful addition to the track. 5. Miles From Nowhere - 8 Lyrically brilliant. Fantastic building and digressing of the instruments throughout the song. 6. But I Might Die Tonight - 5 Average track. Very short but still effective. Not anything too much either way. 7. Longer Boats - 7 Solid track. Vocally brilliant even if the chorus is very repetitive. Introduction of the drums at the end is excellent. 8. Into White - 1 Lyrically too random. Instrumentally very simple. Boring track. 9. On The Road To Find Out - 9 The drums are fantastic and compliment the song so wonderfully. Guitar sounds great and the clash of the percussions add a huge flavour to what is otherwise an excellent track. Lyrically it's superb. Best track on the album. 10. Father And Son - 3 Instrumentally fantastic, the song has lyrics which don't keep pace or structure. The concept of the song is nice but the lyrics are so overly simply it's hard to get through it. 11. Tea For The Tillerman - 6 Decent track to end on. Very very short track as well. Choir is an excellent effect on the end of the track. Average Rating: 5.27 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 2.64 Rounded Up: 3 Stars

I enjoyed this back in the day, but it’s dated now. Simple, well written tunes. Dated, hippie worldview that I embraced at the time. Seems quaint now. But, he hit the mark for his time. I still enjoy some of the tunes.

I've a soft spot for Yusuf/Cat Stevens because I listened to a lot of his Islamic children's music (under the name Yusuf Islam) growing up, so his voice has a real nostalgic feel for me. That said, I find this kind of folk music a little boring. Wild World and Father and Son are classics, but in between it's kind of a lot of filler

nista spec

Father and Son and Wild World are perfect, others are fine but nothing amazing.

It's totally fine

Folk. Suitable album for after Sunday mass car ride with parents where you were told by the priest that as long as you pray and make an honest living you will persevere.

I enjoy noticing themes that have clearly influenced music of my life such as Counting Crows. The progression of American Folk music branched into many different genres following the explosion of Rock and Roll in the 50's and 60's. The 70's era seemed to be more about reflecting on what Americans had just experienced during the turbulent revolution in the 60's. Cat Stevens seems to focus more on folk tales that you may here in a saloon or reminds me of a road trip across the country. A life of exploration of the great American expanse with Stevens as a friendly and wholesome voice in the back of your VW Van.

Familiar with several of the songs, but never listened to the album. This is a great album but on some songs they've done an annoying thing with the dynamics. It's all acoustic, so sometimes it's really quiet, then they make it really loud. So, either you can't hear what's happening, or it sometimes gets really loud. That's costing it a star in the rating. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #205 Best Songs Where Do The Children Play? Hard Headed Woman Wild World On The Road To Find Out Father And Son Tea For The Tillerman

almost a 4 but kind of boring

Short, good, and sweet. A solid album, but I can't say I really know any of his work, nor does it seem particularly amazing?

Some all-time tracks I've heard many times, some that don't get played often. Can't argue with the songwriting quality or musicianship, and his career can attest to that.

Very pleasant. I like the folk influences and double bass sound. But a bit hippy for me. I didn’t know “wild world” was a Cat Steven’s song, or “Father and Son”. In fact, I didn’t even know the titles of them, you just hear cover versions around. And it’s representative of the mawkish sentiment that puts me off. I would probably prefer the album without the hits! Overall, though, it’s an alright album. I guess.

7/10

A real mixed bag IMO. There are the fairly obvious two big highlights I don't need to mention by name, and they are great. The title track featured in Extras, which is OK. And then some mostly forgettable stuff that got a bit too samey. Unpopular opinion but Sad Lisa's mawkish and particularly syrupy strings didn't work for me at all.

Boring, but classic

Buenas canciones Folk setenteras. Míticas Wild World y Father And Son. Agradable, sencillo

Nice album with some classic songs and a few new ones for me. Pretty laid back and can put it on as background music.

I'm not inclined to really love acoustic guitar folk music but listening to this album for the first time brought to my attention the updated version of "Father and Son" that has him, aged ~72, singing in the role of the father against a recording of him at 22 as the son. The original version was Fine but the combination of his young and old voices in the update is surprisingly affecting.

Between a 3 and 4 on this, but I’ll go with 3 for now and potentially edit later. I was pleasantly surprised by this album because I’ve heard Father and Son, but don’t get the hype. The songs were pleasant, uplifting, and smooth.

I enjoyed this less than expected. Sort of bored most of the time. Wild World is pretty great, but man I couldn't get into some of the slower stuff. I like his singing and I'm a sucker for this 70s folks style.

Eh he's fine

Good as a background track. Would like it if my significant other played this at theirs.

6/10

Fine

This one was okay, but nothing I was really drawn to. Must note it's not my preferred genre of music, so that might influence my takes, but the vocals and instrumentals were a bit simple for me but not simple enough that they were poignant in that way (Father and Son is exception, it worked there). Wild World was also solid, great beat which really carried it.

mitt sämsta take: cat stevens e inte så gidd

Enjoyed parts of this album! Where do the children play? Was probably my favorite. Lots of skippable songs for me in the middle

Not my favorite

Some sad getting old bops. Probably won’t listen again ever

pretty good

Interesting songwriting. Interesting voice that swings into grating at times. It's funny how there's a vibe to lyrics from this time that I can only describe as Boomer. Probably won't listen again but glad I got to.

3/5

This was quite an easy listen, with some clear standouts like "Where Do the Children Play" and "Sad Lisa" especially the violin and string ensemble towards the end which was a real mood lifter despite the name of the song. There were some interesting techniques explored with the vocals, and overall the album as a whole receives a 3/5.

very relaxing, sounds lovely, and i realized I did know a few of these songs already.

Folk music done really well, instrumental and the vocals were a good mix. Pretty but too simple. Favourite Song: On the Road to Find Out

Solid enough album, sounds very much in the mould of other early 70s singer songwriters, towards the poppier end of the spectrum, more James Taylor than John Martyn. Pleasant enough and some nice songs but no real edge to anything and nothing that surprises. Nice escapist Sunday afternoon music.

Nice little treat to acoustics.

Alright; very similar to Nick Drake so will be an interesting test of Wills rym bias

Not really heard or thought about Cat Stevens for a long time and it’s not until I played the album that the various inescapable famous tracks hit me. It’s a decent enough listen even if Ronan Keating and Ricky Gervais have done their best to taint it. I just don’t see when I’d come back to listen to this though.

Didn't love it. Kind of boring.

quiet easy listening

Nice album, but I find Cat Stevens a bit cheesy unfortunately, like a grandpa that does not understand the contemporary world.

Veldig ålreit

Would give 3.5 stars if I could. I enjoyed this

Good but not really my usual stuff. Just nice background music mostly. I do like it but it's not compelling to me.

The first things that jump out to me are the abrupt dynamic changes; beyond just feeling quite foreign to me as an inhabitant of the post-Loudness Wars apocalyptic landscape, they reveal a deep insecurity that cuts through this entire collection - Stevens might be a Nice Guy but he still seems to feel like he has to get loud to be heard. (He's *not* shouting, don't accuse him of shouting.) And what does he have to get loud-but-not-too-loud about? The usual shit, mostly - rejection from girls, fake friends in the music industry, the requirement to fulfill his contractual obligations. Behind the veneer of Nice Guy-ness he's downright venomous - I hope the subject of "Wild World" feels like she dodged a bullet. No wonder John Belushi smashed this guy's guitar in *Animal House*. All that said, there's genuine talent on display here, which is part of what makes Stevens frustrating. I guess it's anthropologically interesting to hear the Sensitive Guitar Asshole template used by everyone from John Mayer to Billy Corgan being formed in real time. As a recovering Sensitive Guitar Asshole myself, I guess I should be more sympathetic - but my ongoing recovery is probably part of why I'm not.

2,8/5

This sounds like something a family who like each other would listen to on RV trips growing up in the 70s

Really pleasant - can definitely have this on in the foreground or background. 3.5.

Half of it was boring and half of it I really enjoyed, at least you're getting songs like Wild World and Father and Son

Maybe I was occupied and not paying attention but this flew by quickly. Will need another listen, but alot of the songs blended in to eachother, but a few great songs stood out - you know the ones

3 out of 5. First full album listen for Cat Stevens. Very pleasant and soft guitar playing that really stood out to me.

Schönes Album und toller Sound. Die klare Stimme fühlt sich manchmal an wie eine Umarmung..... aber was zum Fick ist aus dem Typen später geworden. Konvertiert zum Islam, wird Antisemit und fordert Tod von Rushdie.

I enjoy the big tracks off this, wild world, father and son, where do the children play. + a couple others. But ultimately i found the album alright but pretty unremarkable 6/10

I'm familiar with the name, but I can't say I recall listening to one of his albums. Holy crap! Wild World is his song?? Right on. I like this original version. I always am amazed how bands put out multiple albums in the same year back in the day. I love the strings on Sad Lisa. There's a bit of a Genesis vibe on his vocals, and I can tell this influenced Billy Joel, as well. Especially, on Miles From Nowhere. This is a solid album, but it's only a 3 from me, because it isn't something I'll ever search out to listen to again. The crazy thing is when this was over, my next cued up song was Aerodynamic by King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and it flowed perfectly. Oh, baby baby, it's a Wild World, I tell ya.

One of those 70's singer-songwriters that are so earnest, gentle, and soulful in spirit--it reminds me of this group of Boomers I know who run a food co-op and often have such music playing in the background while they work to make their little corner of the world a better place. This music is very chill and philosophical--soothing like a warm cup of tea after working the fields. 3.5

This could be the most poetic collection of words ever but if it’s not presented in an interesting way, I’m not listening.

While I like folk music a lot, this didn't do a ton for me. To say some positives, the lyrics have an interesting spirituality to them, and I like Yusufs' (Cat Stevens') voice. Additionally, these songs aren't bad, but there are only a few I can really say I like a lot, my favorites being Hard Headed Woman, Wild World, and Father And Son. There are moments of songwriting genius across this, but it just doesn't really do it for me. Frankly, for folk songwriting of this era, some of this is pushed a little too pop for me, and I prefer a rawer take on this genre in general. Like I said, not really bad though, and I can imagine a lot of people would be really into this. I'm kind of between a 2 and a 3, honestly, this would probably be, most honestly like an exact 5/10, but I had to choose. Anyways, still give this a listen, I think this is for a lot of people. Edit: Thought about this a little more, 2 is probably a little harsh.

Very average 70s singer-songwriter. Best song is the last one, which also is super short.

Classic but generally not my thing

3.3

Som en dålig höstdag

This was on the higher end of folk for me which is still a 3. I could have this in the background and be fine with it.

3.5 stars....extra star is because "Wild World" is here. Rounding down.

This is decent in a kind of slow rock, down tempo folk way, but not super memorable for me. I liked On the Road to Find Out as well.

no ha estado mal la vd, me he añadido “father and son”. creo q volveré a escucharlo con mas atención.

My expectations were high and I was let down. Some good songwriting.

Kändes som vaggvisor för vuxna ❤

kind of agitated me but maybe today was the wrong day for it, idk. I did like father & son & how it sounds like fight test

This is my second ever listen, and it’s inoffensive, occasionally charming and largely unexciting. There is nothing particularly edgy or challenging about any of it. It’s just Yousef/Cat with his guitar and some decent lyrics. It’s an intimate album, and there is al folkie kind of sound. Father and Son is a highlight, but otherwise I found little to excite me. It’s an album that you listen to when you have had too much to drink and you are in a reflective mood. Whack this on, and you will cry the sad tears of nostalgia and lost innocence. It’s fine.

Wild world

I enjoy his songwriting but the music drifts into the background.

Maybe I'm in a funk? I just wasn't swept into these songs. They played on and I marveled at the strange doubled vocals and the odd habit Stevens has of plumbing the depth of his vocal range. The drum fills seemed oddly out of time with the rest of the band. I was tuned into these things as the songs missed the mark with me. I had never listened to a Cat Stevens record, and going in, I had this notion he was a wise onlooker commenting on the world in general. But I noticed a darker tone, almost paranoid, and it prompted me to read a review. While the review was positive, among other things, it spelled out "Wild World" as being written to a love interest who had left Stevens, and it threw that song into a whole new light. I always imagined it was him singing to his daughter about what to expect as she grew up. But, if that song really is the interior monologue of a troubled man having a hard time with a breakup — trying to convince the girl to stay by telling her how hard things will be without him — maybe it isn't me after all. It's all well and good, he's got a right to sing about what he wants to, but this listen didn't endear me to Stevens — it more or less did the opposite.

I think this was my first time listening to this, although I was familiar with the hits and the ones featured in the Harold & Maude soundtrack. Overall, good stuff. Some of it was a little twee for my liking, but the songs that have that gruff Cat Stevens rhythm are quite enjoyable. I wish there were a 3.5 button.

Highlights: Sad Lisa, Miles From Nowhere. In a nutshell: the folk storyteller. Yusuf Islam suffers the same affliction as Randy Newman and Leonard Cohen- brilliant songwriter, limited vocal range that can be disengaging. There is some variety to the compositions though. Overall: 5/10

probably 2.5 stars if this platform had half star ratings. I'm really just not a huge fan of most "man sings softly and strums guitar" albums

Same review I had for Simon and Garfunkel: great songwriting, beautiful songs just boring. I will never say “I really want to hear some Cat Stevens right now.”

3+ Stars (9/15)

It’s nice, not great not terrible, easy to listen to

A very enjoyable album, but I think I have to be in the mood for it.

Kinda interesting and nothing bad but just didn’t do much for me honestly. 3 stars

I really like this album. Holds up incredibly well and great, warm energy.

There are a handful of good songs on this album - "Wild World", "Sad Lisa", "Longer Boats", "Father and Son" (which, fun fact, Cat Stevens sued The Flaming Lips over because "The Fight Song" has basically the same melody). But something about this album annoys me slightly. It's kind of... ingratiatingly quaint. It's also a bit monotonous. I'm not sure how to explain exactly what it is I don't quite like about this album but the cover art kinda also adds to it. It's so... children's book cozy. Why. -_-

I'd almost say enjoyed it more than some of my 4* albums, and yet....

This album is not exactly my style. It is a calm, cute, and quaint album, which is not my typical vibe. Overall, I think the album felt a little sleepy, which is why I had a difficult time maintaining my interest. The guitar was my favorite part of this album! I also liked the somber violin in Sad Lisa. My favorite song was Longer Boats, I feel it captured the lighthearted and fun nature of the album.

God sangskrivning, følsomt, lidt lejrbålsagtigt, kort

It was fairly average and mundane. For people of my age or generation there are a couple of tracks that are probably more well-known as covers by other artists. The original versions on this album were the highlights of the album.

its okay it feels like the album is for children LMAO

Decent enough folk pop, definitely one that could grow on me. But for first impressions, it didn't feel particularly memorable.

Super chill, beautiful lyrics, time seems to slip away.

I thought I would like this more because of Nick Drake but I honestly was kind of disappointed with how bland most of these songs are. "Father and Son" is a great song though. 6/10 Favourite: Father and Son Least Favourite: Longer Boats

Actually much more pleasant than I was expecting. Steven’s’ voice is really soothing and the instrumentals aren’t especially challenging but are well arranged and nice. The lyrics are largely excellent. But it’s just not really my thing.

Not really my thing, but I can see why it's on this list.

Where Do The Children Play? - 3/4 Hard Headed Woman - 3/4 Wild World - 5/4 Sad Lisa - 2/4 Miles From Nowhere - 3/4 But I might Die Tonight - 2/4 Longer Boats - 2/4 Into White - 2/4 On The Road To Find Out - 3/4 Father And Son - 4/4 Tea For The Tillerman - 2/4

short and sweet!! i like it a lot! my favourite is "sad lisa" which has been added to my playlist. easy listen but probs wouldnt listen to any of the others again.

A few very lovely songs. The rest were sadly a bit boring in comparison. Was a bit disappointed because I had high hopes based on the songs I knew beforehand I also didn't like his voice on a few of the songs, a bit screechy 3 ⭐️

Fine mellow jams

Folk-ish vibes, vocals are fine. 2.8

Solid acoustic pop album, carried by two mega-hits.

Tea for the Tillerman is… fine. Not bad, not great. Just a solid “meh” from start to finish. Cat Stevens has a nice voice and there’s some solid songwriting here, but nothing really grabbed me or made me want to hit repeat. It's one of those albums that’s easy to listen to but even easier to forget Favorite song: "Father and Son"

Lagane pjesmice, slušljivo ali ništa specijalno. Usraću se od ovih ranih rokera sa akustarom.

Cat Stevens is alright but 37 minutes of Cat Stevens in a row is too much. Listen to this album all the way through and then play any other song and that other song will sound like the best song you’ve ever heard just because it isn’t a Cat Stevens song.

the actual music was fine, but its a dude singing and im not a big fan of that for whatever reason

Enjoyed this more than I thought I would but I think musically it's just not going to interest me enough to come back repeatedly

another pleasant album yet a little boring

I was surprised when "Wild World" came on because I assumed I wouldn't recognize any songs from this. I liked "But I Might Die Tonight," so of course it was the second shortest song. Good album I guess, but not my thing. I've said that for 95% of the albums I've listened to on this list, but I really don't know what else to say.

I didn't finish listening to it but I did enjoy it. It's good soft vibes. I will probably listen to this album again. I think it might be good rainy day music. Sometimes music like this makes me gloomy though.

It is a very chill album and give it like 2.5 stars. I would need to be in a certain type of mood to listen to this if I wanted to throw it on.

3.0 - Ok

The world if the only way I can listen to this album on my app wasn't the super deluxe version. 3 hours?? 0 stars. The songs and his voice? 3 stars.

Where Do the Children Play? Wild World Father and Son

Calming and sweet

Pretty chill. Am i the kind of guy that would sit around and listen to cat stevens all day?

Eh baby it's a mild album. Nothing exciting. Then he turned to his Islam because his music didn't even keep him entertained. Mark

ágætt, falleg lög. er ekkert voða spenntur en 3,5.

If i had to describe it in one word: colorful. Like a vibrant crayon drawing of the most beautiful country landscape your mind could think of. Right off the bat, great choruses, beautiful guitar work (and don't even get me started on the times they bust out the piano/strings), all accompanied by the voice of the man himself. And he sounds great, he perfectly complements the aesthetic of the record with that warm baritone (i think its baritone?) Although there are a few duds here; tracks like Hard Headed Woman and Longer Boats, while definitely nowhere near bad, don't reach the same heights as the rest of the album imo. Also, I feel like it could've ended with Father and Son (incredible track, btw) instead of the 1 minute title track and have been better album for it. Solid stuff overall, only with a few blemishes that bring it down a bit for me.

70s folk. Nice traditional American folk with a pleasant voice and good production. A lovely listening experience.

3.0

Beautiful