Reviews (page 2 of 13)
Was thinking about giving it a four but the overall vibe of this album is very consistent and has nice easy feeling to it.
cat stevens good- not the keyboardist for the price is right
Going to revisit this but I loved it. 4.5 rounded up
Absolutely astounding, such a great album. Not a single bad song in my opinion
This is just a beautiful album. Chill, perfect for a rainy day without being depressing, like a warm blanket.
It is exactly albums like this that made be begin this project. Wild World is just incredible.
His voice is so much more than the sum of it’s parts. Beautiful stuff from a complex, difficult guy.
It's a beautiful album, I like its simplicity and relatable themes. I enjoy Stevens' voice and as far as acoustic floo pop, it's about as good as it gets. Must have had lots of comparisons with Van Morrison and Dylan etc at the time. I prefer Dylan as a complex songwriter and Van as an emotive and evocative performer, but there's no denying the pop power and joy that this album gives. My first listen to this album too, remarkable to have two huge hits in Wild World and Father and Son on one album.
A lot of the songs on Tea for the Tillerman are about wanting a better world for all and while one hears Tea for the Tillerman it truly is a better world. Cat Stevens made the world a better place by releasing so many wonderful songs that seemingly have healing qualities and feel like a warm hug from a friend at exactly the time you need it the most. Eleven of his best songs are found here.
Puras joyas…o bueno, casi.
I love Cat Stevens. I just do. Never gets old
Perfect
Absolutely great, Where will the children play? is a great opener, Wild World has such a great energy. Feels melancholic but celebratory at the same time, like optimistic pessimism. 9/10
Another brilliant songwriter at the top of his game.
Really enjoyed that. A really complete album with lots of surprise twists and turns, finished leaving me wanting more.
Yusuf brings the hits.
soothing soundscape
Very consistent Very beautiful Does something thst other albums with Very similar songs doesnt, it works here. Good voice Good backing vocals Calming
Escrevo a minha primeira crítica no meu português nativo pois creio que não conseguiria fazê-lo devidamente em inglês. Começo por dizer que já conhecia a maior parte dos temas neste álbum; mas ouvir o álbum como ouvi ontem nunca o tinha feito! E como bateu, esta audição, meu Deus, como bateu fundo, bem cá dentro. A meio do álbum dei por mim com lágrimas nos olhos, não de tristeza, também não de alegria. Creio que foram lágrimas de aceitação, de agradecimento. Não há, neste álbum, uma nota desperdiçada; não há uma música abaixo de excelente; são todas elas canções que nos reconfortam, que apelam ao melhor de nós, são temas que nos preenchem e levam a pensar e a sentir o quanto estamos rodeados de coisas boas - se nos dermos a esse esforço! Ontem a audição deste álbum bateu cá bem no fundo do meu ser! Talvez fosse o momento certo; talvez eu estivesse a precisar de ouvi-lo como ouvi; de qualquer modo, mais uma vez obrigado ao gerador dos 1001 - este é sem dúvida, um álbum a ouvir antes de morrer. Quando tal acontecer, sei que morrerei feliz e em paz. E podem tocar Miles From Nowhere no meu funeral ;-)
The first second and opening notes are sooo fucking nostalgic for a simpler time. No smart phones. No social media. NFTs and crypto. Nigerian princes. Urgh. Things really got shit
Muchos lindos sonidos, voz maravillosa 🙌🏼
I've always been a fan of Cat Stevens, but I never actually listened to an album in full. Boy, was that a mistake. This was beautiful.
Classic, Beautiful Music. Great musicians.
Gong to give a 5. Great songs. Great voice.. great lyrics
WHIMSY
Ovviamente bellissimo.
Beyond Father And Son I had never heard anything from Cat Stevens before but bloody hell this was brilliant. Great tracks throughout and I absolutely love his voice. Only slight negative was the title track itself. Great song, was really getting into it but it’s only a minute long. I wanted more, much more lol.
I don't know why but this album really hit even stronger today. It's been a long fiver for me since I first heard it some time in my high school years in the early eighties. It's been a good while since I've pulled this out. My long standing faves "Where Do The Children Play?" (my absolute favorite song of his), "Father And Son", "On The Road to Find Out" and of course "Wild World" are among my absolute favorites of his, and the harmonies of "Longer Boats" still as grand as ever. This time however I've really just taken by the deeper tracks, the the solemnness of "Sad Lisa" and "Into White", how "Miles From Nowhere" has the Elton "Border Song" gospel drive to it, and how "I Might Die Tonight" opens the second side as a musical call back to the opener "WDTCP?". It's probably been a good two decades since I sat down and properly listened to this album. But this listen really felt like a reacquaintance with an old friend. (10) ★★★★★
Such a classy, cool, craggy, worldly wise voice. Such beautiful, timeless songs. Father & Son always makes me blubber. Wild World? Absolute smasher. Hard Headed Woman? Hard Headed Hot To Trot! Just a terrific blend of folk and pop with chamber music elements and even hints of prog textures and gospel. Deft yet delicious strings and keyboards throughout. Also mightily political and searingly soul-searching. ‘Where do the children play?’ - these are the big questions that weren’t really being asked by chart singers at the time other than maybe Rolf Harris. Title track at the end also deserves credit for being the only good thing about the Ricky Gervais sitcom Extra besides Patrick Stewart and David Bowie’s appearances. Perfect Ten for the Tillerman (5 for the site).
Ian
Classic
I mean. Yeah. Classic
His best.
415/1089 - A very compact album that I think will grow on me. Production is super clear and I like the playing.
Zalig 🤩
Heel aangenaam
What an incredible album of songs inspiring hope and change. A great pop/folk song album. With several excellent song choices.
One of the finest albums of the singer-songwriter boom of the 70s. Very cool for Cat.
I'll search for comprehensive information about Cat Stevens' "Tea for the Tillerman" album to provide you with an in-depth review. # In-Depth Review: *Tea for the Tillerman* by Cat Stevens (1970) ## Overview Released in November 1970, *Tea for the Tillerman* represents the artistic zenith of Cat Stevens' transformation from pop star to singer-songwriter poet. Recorded just seven months after his comeback album *Mona Bone Jakon* (itself following a near-fatal battle with tuberculosis), this album cemented Stevens' reputation as one of the defining voices of the 1970s folk-rock movement. Produced by former Yardbirds bassist **Paul Samwell-Smith** and featuring the same tight-knit band of musicians, the album achieved remarkable commercial success—peaking at #8 on the US Billboard 200—and was inducted into the **GRAMMY Hall of Fame in 2025** . --- ## Lyrical Analysis ### Core Themes The album operates on two primary thematic axes: **the preservation of innocence** and **the search for spiritual meaning** . Unlike *Mona Bone Jakon*, which was preoccupied with mortality, *Tillerman* is about *living*—specifically, navigating a modern world that Stevens found spiritually bankrupt while maintaining hope for transcendence. **Environmental and Social Consciousness** "Where Do the Children Play?" opens the album with startling prescience. Written decades before environmentalism became mainstream, Stevens questions urbanization, technology, and concrete landscapes: *"Well you've cracked the sky, scrapers fill the air / But will you keep on building higher / 'til there's no more room up there?"* . The song emerged from Stevens' own childhood in London's "cement world," where playgrounds were concrete and greenery was absent . **Generational Conflict** "Father and Son" stands as the album's emotional centerpiece—a dialogue between a father urging caution (*"It's not time to make a change, just relax, take it easy"*) and a son desperate for autonomy (*"From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen"*). Stevens' genius lies in his vocal delivery: he sings the father's parts in a lower register and the son's in a higher, more urgent tone, embodying both perspectives without judgment . **Spiritual Searching** "On the Road to Find Out" and "Miles from Nowhere" document Stevens' personal journey toward spiritual fulfillment. The former moves from fable to parable, described by Rolling Stone as *"Dick Whittington meeting three blind mice, setting out to find London, and instead finding God"* . **Relationships and Loss** "Wild World" subverts the typical breakup song formula. Rather than bitterness, Stevens offers genuine well-wishing to a departing lover: *"It's hard to get by just upon a smile... But if you wanna leave, take good care"* . This emotional maturity—finding grace in separation—was revolutionary for pop music in 1970. --- ## Musical Composition & Arrangements ### Instrumentation and Dynamics The album's sound is characterized by **chamber-folk intimacy**—acoustic guitar-driven songs augmented by carefully chosen, never excessive instrumentation: - **"Where Do the Children Play?"** builds from subtle acoustic guitar interplay between Stevens and Alun Davies, gradually adding vibraphone, Hammond organ, and gentle percussion - **"Sad Lisa"** replaces guitar with piano as the primary instrument, featuring a haunting violin bridge performed by Jack Rothstein - **"Miles from Nowhere"** introduces harder rock elements with prominent percussion and a driving rhythm section - **"Longer Boats"** incorporates Beach Boys-inspired vocal harmonies and gospel choir elements ### Dynamic Range Stevens employs dramatic dynamic shifts as a compositional tool. **"Hard Headed Woman"** begins as a gentle love song with string arrangements, then explodes at the 2:10 mark into aggressive, full-throated folk-rock . This technique—whisper-to-roar dynamics—creates tension and emotional release that keeps the listener engaged despite the album's acoustic foundation . ### Song Structure The album maintains accessibility through concise, melodic songwriting. Most tracks hover around the 3-minute mark, with only "On the Road to Find Out" extending past 5 minutes . The title track, clocking in at just over one minute, functions as a symphonic outro—abrupt, memorable, and leaving the listener wanting more . --- ## Production Paul Samwell-Smith's production is **warm, sympathetic, and remarkably adult** for an album by a 22-year-old . Recorded at Morgan Sound Studios and Olympic Sound Studios, the production values emphasize: - **Analog warmth**: The album retains the "warm analogue sound" established on *Mona Bone Jakon* - **Spatial clarity**: Each instrument occupies distinct sonic space—acoustic guitars are crisp, vocals are intimate and forward in the mix - **Subtle effects**: Samwell-Smith included "modulation effects" on tracks like "On the Road to Find Out" that demonstrate sophisticated production techniques rare in folk music of the era The consistency of the sound—using the same musicians (Harvey Burns on drums, Alun Davies on guitar, John Ryan on double bass)—creates a cohesive musical identity that feels like a band playing together in a room rather than a studio construction . --- ## Cultural Influence and Legacy ### Immediate Impact *Tea for the Tillerman* transformed Stevens from a UK pop curiosity into an international star. The album broke into the US top 10, a territory where he had previously made little impact . Songs like "Wild World" and "Father and Son" became generational anthems, covered by hundreds of artists across genres. ### Film and Media The album's cultural penetration was amplified by its inclusion in the 1971 cult classic *Harold and Maude*, which featured several tracks including "Where Do the Children Play?" and "On the Road to Find Out" . This association introduced Stevens to new audiences and cemented his music as the soundtrack to 1970s counterculture romanticism. ### 50th Anniversary Re-Recording In 2020, Stevens (now Yusuf Islam) released *Tea for the Tillerman²*, reuniting with Samwell-Smith and Davies to reimagine the album. The project allowed Stevens to sing "Father and Son" as both the father and his younger self, using the original 1970 vocal for the son's parts . This meta-textual approach created what one critic called *"one of the greatest retrospectives in music history"* . ### Influence on Subsequent Artists The album established the template for the **singer-songwriter as spiritual seeker**—a lineage that includes artists from Elliott Smith to Iron & Wine. Its fusion of pop accessibility with philosophical depth proved that folk music could address adult concerns without sacrificing melodic appeal. --- ## Strengths (Pros) | Aspect | Assessment | |--------|------------| | **Songwriting** | Nearly flawless. "Wild World," "Father and Son," and "Where Do the Children Play?" are timeless classics; deep cuts like "Hard Headed Woman" and "But I Might Die Tonight" maintain high quality | | **Vocal Performance** | Stevens' voice—described as having a "furry" quality with a "glottal buzz"—is perfectly suited to the material, capable of both whispered intimacy and powerful crescendos | | **Production** | Samwell-Smith's warm, sympathetic production enhances without overwhelming; the album sounds intimate and ageless | | **Thematic Cohesion** | The album functions as a unified statement about spiritual searching and modern alienation, not merely a collection of songs | | **Dynamic Range** | The contrast between quiet acoustic moments and explosive full-band sections keeps the album engaging throughout | | **Cultural Resonance** | The environmental and generational themes remain relevant decades later | --- ## Weaknesses (Cons) | Aspect | Assessment | |--------|------------| | **Instrumental Simplicity** | Stevens' guitar and keyboard playing can seem "amateurish" by technical standards—though this amateurishness contributes to the album's authentic charm | | **Repetitive Structures** | Some tracks ("Longer Boats," "On the Road to Find Out") rely on repetitive melodic patterns with incremental additions of instruments, which can feel like padding | | **Middle Album Lag** | "Miles from Nowhere" and "Into White," while pleasant, don't reach the heights of the album's bookends; some listeners find them "boring" or "average" compared to the classics | | **Over-Reliance on Dynamics** | Occasionally, Stevens uses dynamic shifts (quiet-to-loud) as a crutch for dramatic effect rather than compositional necessity | | **Vocal Limitations** | Some listeners find Stevens' voice an acquired taste—his distinctive timbre and delivery can strike modern ears as overly earnest or "nursery-rhymish" | --- ## Final Assessment *Tea for the Tillerman* is a **masterpiece of 1970s singer-songwriter folk-rock** that successfully balances pop accessibility with philosophical depth. At just 22 years old, Stevens demonstrated remarkable maturity in addressing themes of environmentalism, generational conflict, and spiritual searching—topics that would dominate cultural discourse for decades to come. The album's genius lies in its **deceptive simplicity**: these are not complex songs harmonically or structurally, but they resonate with emotional truth. Paul Samwell-Smith's production preserves this simplicity while adding just enough instrumental color to prevent monotony. While certain tracks in the album's middle section don't match the brilliance of "Wild World" or "Father and Son," there are no true failures here—only varying degrees of excellence. The album's influence on subsequent folk, pop, and singer-songwriter traditions cannot be overstated. **Verdict**: Essential listening. A foundational document of the 1970s singer-songwriter movement that remains emotionally potent and thematically relevant over 50 years later.
One of his best albums
This album was really very good. I was surprised to see Wild World on there as I knew it but didn’t know the version that I knew was a cover. “Where Do The Children Play” and “Father and Son” were both quite good and were excellent as opener/closer to the album. I also think it’s interesting that there’s a second album to this that is a sort of “remix.”
Great lyrics, great voice, great album!
As a man with zero memory of the 20th century, I hadn’t really ever heard Cat Stevens talked about amongst my peers. Sure, I’d heard ‘Wild World’ and ‘Father and Son’ before, but that was the height of it. This is what this generator is for really, because I would’ve gone my whole life never even thinking to listen to this, which would’ve been a shame, because it’s bloody fantastic.
Great album! It’s been a favorite of mine ever since I was a child. Timeless music and lyrics.
This is a 5 star album. I’d give it 5 stars based on the title track alone. The album really is a multiple course meal. From the entree opening of Where Do The Children Play you get a sense of the main meal to come - gentle, questioning, angry, simple and stripped in parts, building in fury in others and full throated. The song wuestions what sort of future there will be for us and for our children. The next song hard headed woman is about his future, the possibility of it with the right person. There is a light floatiness about this that masks somewhat it’s shades and texture that’s balances beautifully by the back band. I say somewhat and by that i mean not very much cause he doeant mind pouring on the volume and sweel. Do you think in Wild World he takes a big gulp of a drink in those bits it sounds like he’s taking a big gulp of drink in?
Lovely weekend afternoon album. I didn't really expect anything but an unexpected 5
Really enjoyed this one.
So good
The star power is palpable here – even with most of the tracks being soft, understated, acoustic. On paper, the album could come across as monotonous, since it really is just one guy singing and playing acoustic guitar with varying levels of aggression. And it's not particularly virtuosic, either. But I'm telling you, it's the understatedness that hits you right in the heartstrings. The strumming noise in Wild World is recorded in just the right way to perfectly tickle your brain. The chord progressions are fresh for 1970 folk-rock but still completely accessible. Plenty of alternate instrumentation is used alongside the guitar, too, from piano to strings to crazed hand percussion (Miles From Nowhere). No track overstays its welcome, not even the 5-minute On The Road To Find Out. Not to mention the lyrics, which are strong, simple, anthemic, relatable. The two recurring themes seem to be advice from a parent to their child, and an traveler's musings – or both. Wild World is a father's lullaby to his growing daughter. Miles From Nowhere is a self-motivating ballad written to an adventurer's loved ones back at home. On The Road To Find Out speaks like a solemn reflection on that adventuring, and (possibly) the idea that what he was looking for was in his heart all along. Maybe a little cheesy. But lyrical themes like these just don't resonate with (pop) audiences as much as they used to. Normally Rolling Stone publications are crappy, but their reviewer for this album had a good take: "[the] songs effortlessly resonate beyond their artfully simple lyrics and hooks." Singer-songwriter folk rock getting 5 stars? What is this, the apocalypse? 5/5 Key tracks: Where Do The Children Play, Wild World, Miles From Nowhere, Father And Son
Es ist ein kompaktes, warm klingendes Folk‑Rock‑Album, das mit Klassikern wie „Wild World“, „Father and Son“ und „Where Do the Children Play?“. Die Mischung aus introspektiven Texten, klarer akustischer Instrumentierung und zeitlosen Themen begeistert einfach und schnörkelos 😊.
Brilliant. Simply brilliant.
Optimal. Haven’t listened in a while
This album was on my turntable constantly in the early seventies. This is one of those albums that you don't skip a single song.
Album #62 Cat Stevens: Tea For The Tillerman Cat Stevens, as an artist, is one who I feel like is more appreciated with the younger generation than he was in his time. I’ve heard quite a few people who were around for his cultural peak refer to his songs as overly sappy and corny, and I suppose his attitude about returning to a simpler time may have been not as novel then as it is now. I do have quite a bit of personal attachment to this album, as I grew up listening to some songs on it, namely the hits Wild World and Father and Son, songs which, no matter how many times I hear them, will always deeply resonate with me. The whole album is such a pleasant experience, never outstays its welcome, and each song feels comforting, like home; it just makes me want to leave it all behind, move to the countryside and live on a farm. I can’t think of another album that captures this feeling so well. Stevens vocals, though comforting, will often times surprise you with his passion. An album like this can very easily fall into the tacky category if the artist doesn’t fully commit and believe what he is saying, which Stevens definitely does. When I was compiling a list of albums to give my friends, this one was immediately on my mind; it just feels so personal and important to me. I think that this album may not be the most impressive technically, it certainly doesn’t reinvent the wheel, and it is often quite simple. Yet as far as consistently enjoyable experiences, it doesn’t get much better than this for me personally. I think having a shorter album is something that is underutilized amongst artists, often with albums that stretch on for about an hour, I will find moments that I don’t quite resonate with, which is why it is definitely more impressive for a long album to get a 10. But sometimes, an artist knows exactly what they want to convey, and they do just that without adding on any extra bloat. I didn’t think I would give this album a perfect score despite my attachment to it, but I really can’t find any flaw with this thing. So, Cat, my old friend, I hope you’ll be there for me whenever I need to turn to you and the Tillerman, like you always have been. Best Songs: Wild World, Father and Son, Where Do the Children Play Worst Song: None Score out of 10: 10
Loved it
A favourite then, has improved with age
Feels very fairytale like
This really is leagues better than a lot of the other albums on the list. Problematic person but incredible talent.
10/10 God I love this album. Absolute masterpiece even if my spirituality is very different from Yusuf/Cat's. Re-listening for this project confirms that after all these listens "Father And Son" can still make me cry. Listens: countless
Absolutely gorgeous 70s folk alt album. So classic and beautiful from start to finish.
This is a truly magnificent album. It's gentle, it's hard-hitting, it's engaging, it's like being wrapped in a tight warm blanket, it's like having your heartstrings pulled til you cry. I'm a fan of Yusuf / Cat Stevens in general, and have listened to Tea For The Tillerman a number of times in the past. This time I really tried to pay attention to the in-between tracks that didn't receive so much exposure on commercial radio. I was impressed with Hard Headed Woman and its abnormally interesting minor-based chord progression. I think it's quite difficult to come up with a pleasing acoustic musicality that evokes both simplicity and complexity. Miles From Nowhere was the first track that struck me as having a more full, harder sound, sans-delicacy of the previous tracks. It made for a great midway change of pace. Longer Boats - which I'm listening to right now for a second time - was a soulful, folksy, gospel tune with impeccable harmonies and beautiful inflection. I love its full-band crescendo at the end. Lyrically speaking, it's extremely relevant in this modern day & age - perhaps the most relevant of the whole album, in my opinion. On The Road To Find Out had a beautiful open G feel, despite (from what I could tell) being played in standard tuning. He has this ability to strum his guitar in such a dreamy fashion. These were my favourite of the album tracks, without even speaking of the hit singles, which I'm sure have been eloquently spoken of numerous times elsewhere. It's a sure-fire 5. One of the greatest of all time.
A favourite of mine
Really soothing acoustic album. Very nice songwriting and sound. It has its own vibe. And it has some classics. One of Cat Steven's best.
Beautiful folk sounding album.
I've never really liked Cat Stevens' voice, but this is a good album. In particular, the ambient acoustic sound does the melancholic feel really well. Combined with some well made melodies and intricate guitar work and you have an enjoyable album, of which highlights are "Father and Son" and "Wild World". But the rest of the album is good too, which is fairly easy when the macro sound of the album is so strong.
tö-ké-le-tes
Immediately grabs you. So many deeply meaningful, moving songs. A masterclass in intent.
great, fresh, so full of hope and feeling
Loved it
I’ve loved Cat Stevens since I was a kid and then fell in love with his songs all over again when I first watched Harold and Maude in the ‘90s. A number of those songs are on this album, including my favorite, On the Road to Find Out. I could see some songs being a bit to earnest for some (Father and Son, Where Do the Children Play), but they’re just the right amount of earnest for me.
Great mellow album to listen to during trying times
Very clutch with some bangers.
I can't play this album without thinking of the friend who recommended it to me. Such a great sound and wonderful, hopeful lyrics. Great for the times we are going through now. May it ever be so.
Classic Cat
First time listening to Stevens in earnest. I know Wild World as it’s very well known and after my son was born, I listened to Father And Son a good bit. I still can’t listen to that song without tearing up. It’s simply one of the best songs ever written. The rest of the album is a beautiful collection of really well written and constructed folk songs. Wonderful listen for a Sunday hunkered down due to an ice storm.
I had played this album a few times before, focusing on the Harold & Maude connection, but this time through I found the whole thing to be something special. The music has a comfortable familiarity about it, but it also has an ache and a longing for something just out of reach… particularly in songs like Sad Lisa and Into White, which were standouts for me. I still love Where Do the Children Play and On the Road to Find Out. Cat Stevens really did have one of the best voices in music. I knew I was going to like this one, but I kinda loved it.
This is a magnificent album. Cat Stevens has such a great taste, and it's hard to make so engaging and interesting acoustic songs while also being so characteristic (of him). This album is a great, beautiful and very pleasant listening. At times, the album becomes dramatic, pretty theatrical too; others, it's such a classic. I love some the arrangements there, and the guitars and pianos are so soft and delightful... I love this one, I guess it's something I've made obvious. But it's because it's so good... Oh, every time I listen to it I get goosebumps.
Had the cassette. Love this album!
This album is a pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed listening to it. In fact, it played on repeat for most of the day. This is a nice introduction to Yusuf/Cat Stevens and a keeper. I plan to explore more of his work.
Classic vocals and 70s sound. Lyrics deep with memory and life experience. Definitely a walk down memory lane.
5/5
Cat Stevens’ second album of 1970 and his second after a three-year break from recording – a break that included a TB scare and a period of soul searching. Considered by most as a pop performer at the start of his career, his return marked a departure into singer-songwriter territory, where he’d stay until he gave up the music biz in ’78. Tea For the Tillerman is a lovely album, intimate and ageless, with a warm, sympathetic production from Yardbirds’ bassist Paul Samwell-Smith. It’s also an incredibly adult collection, with adult concerns; Where Do The Children Play, Wild World and Father And Son are all prime example of Stevens new found spiritual maturity. In 1970 Stevens was 22 years old. Remarkable. 10/10
Lit up my weekend. The man is a songwriting genius
One of my favourite folksy albums of the era. Some timeless tracks on here like father to son, with a strong supporting cast throughout. A delightful listen.
loved
Favorite album so far. This musician is so gentle and the music is just perfect for any mood
Cat Stevens’s voice and lyric are always poignant and soothing. This one did not disappoint
I adored this album when it premiered and has the opportunity to see Cat Steven at Carnegie Hall. Amazing, poignant and lyrical music that holds up well.
this is literally the perfect album. his music is sorrowful and joyful and just so full of emotion... it hits every time
yoooooooo hijacked you account
Probably not my favourite Cat Stevens album. Catch Bull At Four deserves that accolade but an exceptional album still. I’m a sucker for an outright troubadour and Cat Stevens was the original of that genre. Full of lovely songs which just melt you into your sofa and make you think all is right in the world. Stand out track for me is Father and Son which I guess every father and son can relate to at one time or another. It’s a lovely song with poignant lyrics which don’t actually resolve the conflict. You have to make your own mind up. I often listen to this track and follow it immediately with the Peter Gabriel track of the same name which has more softer and outwardly loving lyrics compared to the harsher relationship breakdown depicted by Cat. 5/5 3/1/26
Was shocked to see how much I enjoyed this, especially with that corny ass cover
5 out of 5 Cat fucking Stevens. So soulful and sad; cannot help but crying. This whole album rocks.
Really good vibes - already knew 2 of the songs
Classic.
Masterpiece, plain and simple
Such a beautiful album and a lovely voice. Wild World has always been one of my favorite songs.
Love this album
I like it 😼
I had heard some of the more successful tracks from this before, but unsuprisingly the whole thing is stellar. Yusuf/Cat has a great voice, and the guitar-dominant production is really quite rich and complex. Add some great lyrics and you have some top of the line songs. Easy 5 stars! And the super deluxe version from 2020 has some good outtakes as well as some great loose singles (like "If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out")!
wonderful album! fav songs: wild world and where do the children play
classic
Very nostalgic for me.
First album that has been genuinely great on this list and that people actually need to listen to
This guitar work is really impressive. Actually, a lot of the instrumental work is really masterfully crafted and played. Some of his vocal ornamentations are a little, odd, I think. He's got a really great, but kind of simple, voice. When he pushes it and does these little embellishments, I think it actually takes away from the song. They're not frequent, so it's a little nitpicky of me. This is an example of really great song writing, both lyrically and musically. This one took a minute for me to really start enjoying it. It doesn't come on very strong (not that it comes on poorly), but I think this album really wants to get to know you and vice versa. If you do that (let it know you and get to know it), I think this is a really incredible album. It helps that it hides some gems right at the end. Favorite Song(s): Wild World, Father and Son, Tea for the Tillerman
Love it. Own it. A masterpiece
This guy really knows how to pack a punch (lyrically)
Thoughts during my listen: Hard Headed Woman is my favourite new song to me Did not know Wild World was a Cat Stevens song, I learn something new every day I feel like Sad Lisa has some sufi/ghazal influence in it's melody and the way he sings the chorus Longer boats sounds so different to all the previous tracks, really grabs your attention Had no idea Father and Son was off this album, thank you once again to guardians of the galaxy for introducing me to this classic, it always brings tears to my eyes Overall: A beautiful album full of longing for simpler times and rejection of the modern world, wrapped up in gentle guitar melodies and Steven's soothing voice to guide you through it.
Father and Son will always make me cry
I love this album. I think it’s mostly sentimental though. There are some incredible songs on here and then some songs that regularly skip. I do think Cat Stevens did something amazing with this album though. Incredible melodies, guitar work, and lyrics.
Holy hell. I knew Cat Stevens from Wild World, but this is awesome. Like, when D&D thought up a bard they just wrote up what it felt like to listen to this album and you got someone who's pure musical expression could defeat mythical beasts.
Amazing
One of the great musical days of my life was buying almost all of Cat Steven’s records at a record store for like $5.
When the day after asking out a girl I've had the dice fall on Cat Stevens, I've suspected the answer would be no. Two masterhits, and a good baseline on this album. Could've been better, but it's enough.
A great album, the songs and voice is picturing an amazing picture Favs song - Wild World, Miles From Nowhere, Father And Son 5/5
This was such a huge album when I was a sophomore in high school. Great songs, real fun to hear on the radio and sing along to.. Also, females liked it as much or more as the guys (which was unusual), so it was played a lot at parties. Then it was followed the next year by an album almost as good, Teaser and the Firecat. The albums after that, NSM. Then we discovered he had 3 albums prior to TFTT that weren’t real good, but had some fine tunes on them. Hadn’t heard this in years and was afraid it wouldn’t hold up but it does.
absolutely loved it! this is what i think people say when they say they imagine me liking 70s music. this album!
Best storyteller
Top stuff. Father and son is of course a highlight
Fantastic album. Great songwriter.
9/10
This is my favourite Cat Stevens album. It is also the only one that I have owned. The consistency of the tone and overall quality of the songs keeps you engaged.
Beautiful, calming music from Yusuf, better known to the world as Cat Stevens. As always, his music is simple but engaging acoustic folk/pop. It will calm your nerves while it takes you on a journey. "Tea for Tillerman" is arguably his greatest album and includes some of his most well known songs, like "Wild World" and "Father and Son". The latter is one of his best songs, evoking generational gaps in politics, culture, and attitudes to war and peace that all remain relevant. I once purchased a used copy of this album at a record fair. When I got it home, I discovered that the wrong disc was in the record sleeve. This explained why the album was only a dollar. Anyway, I realize today that this is actually my first time listening to the entire album, a fact that was only obvious to me when I recognized the closing track as the end theme on Extras. I'm glad to have finally listened to it in its entirety as it's a beautiful album.
What a great fucking album.
The start and end of the album are better than any out there. There is an emotional weight to these songs that moves me to my core. On this listen the lesser-known tracks in the middle resonated with me as well. His artwork is fun too, just a great all around package. Rating: 4.9
Great album!
Beautiful performance by Stevens & co. All around lovely music.
Great
He’s so great
Shirt but sweet
Certified hood classic
Great album all round
What a masterpiece in it’s original composition. In a review I read he is pathetic - maybe yes, but in a beautifully emotive way that never becomes annoying over the whole length of the album. High quality music and an amazing voice, purely enjoyable. I really like the albums to be short to be listened in one piece and experienced as the piece of art it is. I strongly disliked the deluxe versions I found on youtube. But as soon as I created a playlist with the original songs I was at ease and fully enjoyed.
Great album 4.5
I found that I could sing every song on this album except two. what a banger!
this is one of my favourite albums of all time, amazing start to finish. flawless album!
Man er lige ved at kradse af turbekolose overlever og så leverer han en af de mest autentiske, ærlige og sårbare albums om mening, kærlighed, død og alt hvad livet har at byde på. Jeg resonerede meget med hello Lisa og troede naturligvis det handlede om en pige, men det eneste jeg kan finde på udtalelser om teksten er at han mener det i virkeligheden er ham selv som er Lisa. Virkelig smuk sang og jeg har virkelig lyst til at give det 5 bare for at jeg sikrer mig at jeg vender tilbage til det, selvom jeg ikke synes det er en perfect 5/5. folk rock/singer song writer, baroque med strygere og arrangementer og soft rock.
Gorgeous album. Beautifully written and performed.
It's a banger, ok. Poetic, calming, beautiful
classic 1970's folksy mellow rock with a few familiar songs mixed in.
Nice surprise album, very enjoyable. I never knew he made these songs but plan to listen to more of his music. 4.5 stars
This album is incredible. Stevens is a master of dynamics, songs crescendo and decrescendo multiple times and his voice goes from tremendously soft to boisterous and passionate multiple times in a song. On the road to find out is special, where do the children play, father and son, wild world, each more beautiful than the last. Such a beautiful songwriter.
Mellow
I've been listening to this album trying to work out what it is that I love about Cat Stevens. He can be a bit sickly sweet and arguably takes himself a tad too seriously but the songs in this album are so well crafted. His voice is so effortlessly appealing and the level of supporting instrumentation is perfectly pitched to bring a full bodied sound without sacrificing intimacy. This album is very much "of it's time" and can sound a bit happy-clappy, but in terms of songwriting it's top notch. It's not just the velvety vocals and simple but beautiful songs, Cat Stevens has an extra quality, a charisma that I can't quite define but that exudes through his music. TFTT is a masterful singer/songwriter album and probably his best.
Beautiful album, thought this one had already come up, but happy that it didn't. A demonstration of simple ideas (lyrics, musical composition) but beautiful nonetheless.
AHHHHH Father & Son always hits me hard since I lost my dad :(
Excellent album. Great music, lyrics, voice.
Where Do the Children Play? - 4/5 Hard Headed Woman - 5/5 Wild World - 5/5 Sad Lisa - 4/5 Miles From Nowhere - 5/5 But I Might Die Tonight - 5/5 Longer Boats - 4/5 Into White - 5/5 On the Road to Find Out - 4/5 Father and Son - 5/5 Tea for the Tillerman - no rating Average score: 4.6/5 (rounding up)
Good stuff. I knew the song Wild World thanks to Mr Big wonderful cover. Later I found it was a cover from Cat Stevens and gave the album a play. It was refreshing to get to play this album again after so many years. My favourite song is "Hard Headed Woman" that reminds me of Jethro Tull.
Didn't expect to like this as much as I did.
Best Song: Wild World I wanted to not enjoy this for some reason. I guess it is because I have heard enough Cat Stevens "greatest hits" on the radio and from friends. But, when listened to in this format, by the end I was really enjoying it. This could be one of those albums you need to listen to the whole thing like a Pink Floyd or even Death Cab for Cutie album instead of a track here or there. 5/5.
Instant Classic
Day632 - what an easy to listen to beautiful album
an absolute delight of an album! i know a few of cat steven’s famous songs but have never listened to a full album. my fave song is probably Sad Lisa. wow!! it was unknown to me and it just grabs me. such a beautiful song. another clear 5 star album. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Timeless.
Deceptively simple, earnest, and lovely, this is Cat Stevens at a point where he's just polished enough to sounds confident but still keep that folky vulnerability. The lyrics can be cheesy and awkward but I'm willing to give them a pass because this album occupied such a special place in my memory; I pulled it from my mother's vinyl collection and listening to it because I liked the cover. Both are 5 stars from me, but it's a pretty personal rating.
Great album! Really enjoyed listening to this one!
Makes me happy
Gonna be honest, I can't be objective on this album. This album gets a high rating for a purely personal reason (although it is fantastic objectively) despite the fact I've never heard it before. My grandfather passed away in 2006 and my uncle in 2008. I remember breaking down one time and having to leave while visiting my grandfather while he was going through chemo, and that was the last time I saw him. After that I promised myself I wouldn't avoid my family members when they were going through similar health issues. So I made sure to be there when my uncle passed. Father and Son was one of the songs my uncle requested be played at his funeral and that's stuck with me ever since. With that bit of incredibly sad backstory out of the way, yeah, this is an amazing album. Of course Wild World is fantastic, but other cuts like Miles From Nowhere, Longer Boats, and On the Road to Find Out are amazing. The cello (bass violin, I dunno, too busy breaking down in tears listening to this) in Longer Boats is exquisite. This is music that would fit incredibly well for driving through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (UP-core, if you will). Cat Stevens has an amazingly full, warm, and comforting voice. But yeah. This *might* be a 4/5 without the personal connection to Father and Son, but I can't justify anything less than a 5 due to that. Honestly breaking down in tears writing this review, this is tough. I'm a mess listening to this. Didn't think this would hit me this hard tonight, yet here we are. This album has too many personal feelings (including stuff I won't mention here) and issues wrapped up in it for me, so yeah. 5/5, 9/5, fucking whatever out of five, doesn't fucking matter. I both did and did not need this tonight. Fuck you Cat Stevens for destroying me tonight, and thank you for the amazing music, and for reminding me of the important things in life I have been neglecting. FUCK. "All the times I've cried/ Keeping all the things I knew inside/ It's hard, but its harder to ignore it" Rest in peace Uncle Vince.
I’ve loved this album for all my life. And I know it’s not even Yusuf’s best. My heart wants to give this five stars. My brain wants to give this four stars. Rolling Stone Magazine watch: one instance on album Wikipedia page.
I was surprised to realise I hadn’t already reviewed Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens. I return to this album so often that I must have mistaken a casual listen for having written about it before. This is one of the easiest 5/5 ratings I’ll ever give. It’s a masterclass in the art of the three-minute pop song—catchy, concise, and deeply meaningful. The songwriting and storytelling are exceptional, and the recording and production capture it perfectly. It’s no wonder this album is regarded as an all-time classic. Favourite track: Father and Son—as close to perfection as a song can get. Least favourite track: None—every song earns its place here. Album artwork: A charmingly twee cover that fits the album’s gentle spirit.
Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens hits your soul like few other songwriters, and 'Tea For the Tillerman' is perhaps the brightest example of his minimalist, yet poignant songs about perseverance, generational disconnect, heartbreak and personal journey. Much like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, Stevens only really needs his acoustic guitar and voice to get the message across, and he does so with plenty of emotion and feeling throughout 'Tea For the Tillerman', with standouts including the solemn 'Wild World', the retrospective 'Father and Son' and the preservation anthem 'Where Do the Children Play?' It's impressive how Stevens conveys so much emotion and feeling in this album with such a minimalist approach to the music. He doesn't need significant studio magic or innovative effects here, he lets the sheer strength of the songs do the talking. It's also a very easy album to listen to. Stevens music is like a warm blanket that will never let you go cold. But the true strength of this album is Stevens ability to speak to the human condition. He sings in such a calm way, but the messages of 'Wild World' and 'Father and Son' hit so brutally that you can't help but want to do better by yourself and others. 'Wild World' and 'Father and Son' are two of the greatest songs ever written, and the rest of 'Tea and the Tillerman' is pretty bloody good to, so top marks from me!
Lowkey heartfelt.
Never listened to Cat Stevens before, but I loved this. Was familiar with Wild World and Father and Son, which are both wonderful. Also love the title track, which I only know from being the closing song of the excellent TV show 'Extras'. Sad Lisa was also a great listen. Look forward to listening again and the rating may well go up as I get more familiar with the other tracks, but for now it's a very solid 8/10 Update - I've listened to this a lot since first publishing the review in September and am bumping it up to a 5* 9/10
Brilliant.
I really liked it! Spiritual hippy. I was brought to tears by a couple different songs. Caught me right in the feels.
This album contains two of my favourite songs. Stevens was at the top of his game when he made it.
This album is a warm hug that I keep coming back to. It's a 5!
He couldn’t do what he was trying to do with this album any better. Really interesting arrangements that still feel exciting. Beautiful stuff.
Zuhause, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Fantastisches Album.
- Entspannter rockiger Vibe - würde das ganze Album nochmal hören Topsong: Father And Son
Would give it a 6 if I could. Beautiful.
Everyone knows Wild World and Father And Son but there's a lot of surprising depth and emotion here outside of those two songs as well.
Light and charming
This is great, I learned Sad Lisa is what my dad would play all the time on the piano
Chill. Easy going. Enjoyable.
This is the kind of music that makes you want to fall in love with a 79 year old woman
Wild world!!! Really enjoyed hard headed woman, will bring this into the CS rotation.
Beautiful vibes right off the bat. Teaser and the firecat was a fixture of my childhood, so it makes sense that I would immediately like this one. The emotional impact of his music makes it hit just as hard as some of the actually heavy music I listen to. Its mostly just a man expressing himself over acoustic guitar. I absolutely admire this and it inspires me to try and express myself in a similar way. The music faded into the background at times, but only because of the thought that it provoked. The album is short and sweet, so ill have no problem coming back again and again to get all the little details. Father and son hit me hard as a man who just completed his third decade on this earth, and who is struggling with deciding to bring another life into it. Overall, the album left me a sense of peace and calm in an unpredictable world, and I deeply appreciate it. 5/5
What a beautiful album. Cat Stevens has such a cool, expressive voice. Not a bad song on this one.
Solid album! This album proves that voice isn’t everything. As a teenager I didn’t get Cat Stevens. But I get it now.
Yussuf is life
(4.5 stars) The first three tracks, all instantly recognizable hits, don't stand up as well as some of the deeper cuts, such as Miles From Nowhere. The first cuts aren't nearly as well developed. Of course, they have the tasteful strings and embellishments which make every track on the album a delight to listen to, but the simple melodies are gone through several times and they ultimately don't go anywhere new. For contrast, listen to But I Might Die Tonight grow and change.
The best Cat Stevens' album.
Wild World is a popular song I didn't know was by cat stevens. Good soft rock.
Very very good. Leaves you wanting more.
Ja
Una maravilla de álbum. Es apabullante la que grabase estas canciones con poco más de veinte años. Lo podría escuchar varias veces seguidas.
Simply put, this is a lovely album. The opener is a strong start as Stevens passionately questions where the children play in our ever changing world. What a voice and songwriter. The range in his vocals carry this album but the instrumental arrangements and skill do so much to fill this album out. I really didn’t appreciate Cat Stevens as much as I should have, I ran thru this album several times after it popped up on the generator and I confidently give this classic 5 stars
Incredible Everything on the album is very good and I may single out every single song, but Miles From Nowhere is that song that ties everything together. Brilliant song. Longer Boats is so good, that chorus just gets better and bigger each time. When the drums kick in, so good. Where Do The Children Play has a similar vibe, where the last chorus is the same thing but he sings in a manner that lifts the song even more. Father and Son, Tea, Sad Lisa, all massive great songs, and then Wild World is on another level The strings on Into White are incredible
Sweetest Warmest Gentlest
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: 9/1001 Yeah... I don't even know that I can pretend to bullshit an objective review for how good this album is. I have listened to it on repeat all day and each listen just resolidifies there's not a bad song here as each one grows on. The music is homey and folky, the vocal delivery is hard hitting yet smooth, it's tranquil, reflective, moving, and just absolutley beautiful. The first track, Where Do The Children Play is as relevant today as ever, the progression overall is amazingly sticked together, the production is so simple yet so powerful. It's warm and familiar and wholly capable of bringing you to tears. It's just phenomenal. Yeah... Just wow. Podium (Extended): 1. Father and Son 2. Where Do The Children Play? 3. Miles From Nowhere 4. Wild World 5. On The Road To Find Out Honorable mention: Everything else. For sure. It feels strange to say it's flawless, but it just is. Such a simple production with such a heavy progression of absolute art. It's a beautiful piece of art that is a must listen, one that I'll come back to many times for years to come. I give Cat Steven's/Yusufs Tea For The Tillerman 5/5 stars.
So excited to finally get a Cat Stevens album! Very nice, will be adding this to my playlists.
Classic
Master class in storytelling and song composition. Beautiful album with two undeniable hits, wild world and father and son.
Excellent album from start to finish. Couple classics with no skips. 11 songs, 37 minutes. Auto + .5 from me. This is in that 4-5 star range easily.
so so beautiful. the perfect length for something so densely packed with emotion, ending with one of the most heartbreaking songs of all time to me and a bittersweet coda final track. i love the texture of his voice, the way it sounds like a mentor telling stories and giving advice even as a young man. i just checked his exact age and he was TWENTY-TWO when this came out? some people just have a perspective and writing ability that is so innate that it blows my mind to hear what they're capable of writing at such a young age.
Three lifelong favourites (Wild World, Sad Lisa, Father and Son) and the rest of the album is great too - I only discovered Where Do The Children Play and Into White around ten years ago.
good
Perfect album written by a musical genius
This one was a huge surprise, what a fantastic album. Listened on holiday in Crete. Sometimes simple songs, but others with such beautiful orchestral arrangements. The strings in Sad Lisa were incredible, and absolute highlight. Some songs I knew already, including Wild World, Father and Son, and Tea for the Tillerman (admittedly as the Extras theme tune). Loved this, will return.
Cat delivered three perfect albums in a row with no weaknesses. This one may be the most perfect.
Occasionally mysoginist
Every song bangs
I may be a tiny bit biased but this is one of my favourite albums of all time
It’s just so fucking good.
Maybe closer to 4 stars when compared to Teaser and the Firecat, but for me Cat will always be an automatic 5 given how influential he's been in carving out my own music taste. I remember as a young kid feeling like I "discovered" him because it wasn't my parents, siblings, or friends who showed him to me- I found him all on my own listening to the oldies station and instantly he became a my guy. Tea for the Tillerman rules.
An excellent addition to the beginning of the singer songwriter era. It was album perfect for its time. Wild World, Father snd Son, and On the Road to Find Out expressed the turmoil that was occurring among young men in the Viet Nam era. It also represents the growing divide between the authority of the Silent generation and the restless Baby Boomers.
It’s unfair to have “Father And Son” on the album because it obviously boosts a rating.
Geiles singer-/songwriter Album einfach. Lieb die markannte Stimme, die Melodien, die Harmonien, die Arrangements und wie das Album aufgebaut ist. Einfach starkes songwriting
Absolutely eclectic in sound and tonality. This is the Webster dictionary example for the sign of the times. Gorgeous sound, classics on here, beautiful work by Cat Stevens.
My personal favorite Cat Steven’s album. Lots of great songs, no down moments throughout
What a great lp. Cat Steven’s had several fine albums, but this one might have the most hits.
Good vibes nice songs
Brilliant
think I’m getting my period because I just burst into tears
My parents always disliked Cat Stevens. I never really understood it. This album was 70s perfection and I loved everything about it.
My personal fave Cat record. Every tune still holds up, from the classics to the (criminally) underplayed.
Definitely going to be a bit biased by nostalgia on this one from years of listening to the former Stevens/Islam in the backseat as a kid. Funny enough, this wasn’t one of my favourites growing up because I always felt it was a bit dated/dry compared to some of the music my parents would put on but nowadays (especially when trawling through certain sections of this list) good lord is this fresh. Automatically better than 90% of his singer/songwriter contemporaries for making the accompanying instruments to his lyricism not feel like an afterthought. Even if you were to completely forego listening to the lyrics on a lot of these songs they would still just be incredibly pleasing to the ears.
Yusuf is a fantastic singer with an impressive range. Songwriting is superb too. I was impressed with the production and mixing, it all sounded polished. There's a special quality to guitar pieces you can picture every pluck of the strings and the reverberation of the strummed notes in the body. Beautiful and heartfelt album, I liked every track. Favourites Miles from nowhere, Wild World, On The Road to Find Out, Father and Son
You ever hear a bad song YUSUF ISLAM??? Didn’t think so mate. Alhamdulillah.
Yusuf Islam is a rare combination of a brilliant songwriter and a phenomenal singer. He really can paint a picture in my mind; something about listening to this album feels like going on a hike through a meadow with someone wise beyond their years. Equal parts melancholic and joyful, this is an album that you can put on in the background having your tea on a Sunday morning but also an album where actively listening to the lyrics pays dividends. The standout tracks here are obviously Wild World and Father And Son, but the deep cuts here are honestly just as good. The latter of which is a song that I listen to very rarely, I don't want to wear out how special and beautiful that song is. Each track is simultaneously simple and complex in its lyrics and composition, some albums are lucky to have one track included in the world's songbook and this one has two. You often hear people say "they don't make 'em like they used to" and you roll your eyes, but in the case of Yusuf Islam, it is 100% true. There is a beauty in the sincerity, optimism and tenderness of this album that doesn't appear in many other albums that I've heard. I honestly had to stop myself from listening to this a fifth time in a hope to preserve how this album makes me feel. Highlights: Where Do The Children Play?, Wild World, Longer Boats, Father And Son
Really beautiful, classic “music” music. Strong, defined melodies, compositions with heavy piano accompanied by guitar and drums, clear and well-structured lyrics. And it’s good. I’d heard and loved Wild World and Father And Son before this, so it was nice to meet their family. Songs like Sad Lisa are just so beautiful, those string sections are incredible, so despite not being a particularly relatable or relevant song I just can’t resist smacking that like button. I honestly can't say much else about, just an absolute pleasure to listen to. Plays: 4 Most: Father And Son - came along and knocked Wild World out of an easy top spot. Least: Into White - I honestly just did not get this song, I mean I too want a simple garden and acres of sky etc etc but what is this song even about? Colours? Rating: 4.5 - but i'll round up, really loved listening to this.
Clearly a stunning piece of art
Well this is a surprise. I haven't consiously listened to Cat Stevens before, but I have heard of him. I've heard Wild World before. I had to listen to this twice. The first time, I'm deciding between a 3 and a 4. Then I get into the second listen and it goes right past a 4. There's a not a bad song here, and the worst is still above average. Maybe I'm just in the right mood for this at the end of the day. It's a 4.5, but Father and Son alone makes me round up.
This is the first album I’ve come across that I actually own. One of my favorites, great song writing, and chill vibes
There's a quite immediate and comforting feeling I get in my gut when I hear an album this immaculately written. I just love hearing a melody unfolding right before my ears and I somehow know exactly where it's going to go, but also didn't foresee quite how it would get there. A gorgeous, succinct and rewarding little record.
I am a simp for Yusuf. Can't get enough of him. This very well might be his best album, and it's in my short-list of all time favorites.
So great! Beautiful guitar work here by Cat Yusuf Stevens. He is a master of the melancholy.
There's a chance I'm giving this a 5 only for its familiarity. Then again, it's good enough for me to build the level of familiarity required for it to deserve a 5.
Too much history with this album not to give it a 5.
Listened
Just one of the best albums ever made
One of my very earliest memories as a child was my dad singing me to sleep with the song “Tea for the Tillerman”. 10/10 album no notes.
I mean, this is and always has been exquisite, thanks dad
I can vote on this without listening to it, but I won't. I've got a particular connection with Into White and Longer Boats, but this is a great album without a bad track.
Lovely, peaceful, folky, not a bad word to say about this. Thanks dad, it's still fantastic.
Love me some Yusuf. No skips. Comeback to this one all the time.
This album was amazing. I listened to it on a Sunday morning and the sun is shining. It was so peaceful and calming. Father and Sons is just so beautiful, I got some body chills listening to it.
Fabulous album. Haven’t played it in a long time. Forgot how great it is.
Wholesome
Lovely, Just lovely
Exceptional. Great tunes for a rainy Sunday morning. The Merry Minstrel.
Just beautiful
I think I'd probably give this a 4.5 if I could, but I'll round up because Father And Son and Tea For The Tillerman are both songs I've loved for years. There's something so simple about Cat Steven's writing. He's a storyteller but he's much more concise than someone like Bob Dylan. But, just like Dylan, he's been heavily covered by a wide range of artists and it's not hard to see why. This is a joy to listen to.
Growing up, mum used to play this album a lot and I always loved it. Listening was an exercise in nostalgia and I still love it. Cat Stevens has a real ability to evoke emotion while making you sing and bop along. Rating: 5
This album is priceless. A remarkable voice.
Cool vibe, it has 2 of my favourite songs
Deeply relaxing
Really good all bangers
Nice easy listening. Great vocal work and instrumentals. 'Wild World' was my fave.
First impression.. weird fucking cover, it is very Tolkienesque. Listening to the music I'm noticing that Tenacious D's ballads sound quite a lot like this and I never would have expected that. I didn't expect to, but I am loving this album. The folk-rock mix is pretty good. Then I get to "Father and Son" and that song always makes me fucking cry. I'm sitting it work crying my eyes out and trying to hide it. I didn't realize it was from this album.... goddamnit.
I would like to shout out the man who made this website for giving us the ability to edit ratings. Can you believe I gave this a 3* on first listen? 3!! I guess I was being fucking stupid. Anyway. 5* What am I, fucking stupid?
Plenty of gold in here
Father and son gives me shivers
36 minutes of utter beauty. No one does it like Cat Stevens and this is one of his best!
“Father and Son” has a whole new meaning now that I have two sons. Great album.
Great singer songwriter album. I enjoyed this one tremendously.
Classic album with some of his best songs, find myself singing along to a lot of these.
You mean Yusuf- what a wild world.
Awesome
Alright
I remember the first time I listened to "Father and Son" when I was 16, and it hit so hard in my soul at the time, it seemed that the song were speaking directly to me. Since then, Cat Stevens been on my waiting list, and finally my chance came, and boy... why dind't I had listen to this before? I wasted so much time. This is wonderful. It's my kind of music you know, it just fills my soul! Of course I knew "Wild World" too, but all of the songs are amazing. 5 stars without a doubt!
Father and Son is so heartbreakingly beautiful.
This is not my style but this is a great album. It’s folk. It’s great lyrically. It’s straight forward and easy to listen to and enjoyable. The hits are Wild World and Father and Son, but I really enjoyed Hard Headed Woman and hadn’t hear it before listening.
great
Beautifully done ❤️
I met Cat Stevens backstage at one of the enormous London pro-Palestine rallies in 2024 and he was incredibly kind, despite me losing my shit over sharing a stage with him.
Unparalelled songwriting and one of the purest voices to ever grace the world. I always forget how much I love Cat Stevens in between listenings.
I have always considered this an excellent album that deserves the plaudits it has received.
Great album. Never listened to any of Cat Stevens before and this was really enjoyable
I liked it.Don’t know why,but it touched my heart
Didn't expect this to hit the way it did
Gorgeous
Fun, relaxing music
tearing up listening to “Father and Son”
I have quite complicated feelings with Stevens’ music in general — regarding a friend who passed away a few years ago who would always play a couple of Cat Stevens songs whenever I saw him play live — so I always worry I’m putting too much of my own emotions into his music and inflating it’s standing in my mind. But no, on listening to it again this album is genuinely brilliant. There’s the big singles everyone knows (Father And Son might just be one of the all time great songs), but every other song on this album is no slouch either. Coming in at just a squeak over 30 minutes there’s not an ounce of fat on this thing, and to end with such a flash of excellence as the title track shows real skill and dedication to Stevens’ artistic vision. I’m not a big fan of the reimagined album he released in 2020, but we were all going through some things then weren’t we.
Love this stuff
OOOO BABY BABY IT’S A WILD WORLD Listened to this one twice through and could honestly do a third.
This album is good. There are few songs so good it would bump up the rating but I like how well they are spread aparat giving you a chance to enjoy whole album.
I came to hear this album later in life and I've always liked it. I think Father/Son will always be the standout track to me, I'd heard it here and there over the years, enjoying it enough, but a few years ago I was driving cross country on the highway by myself, coming home after my dad's funeral. For whatever reason it hit me like a ton of bricks. Since then its always been a difficult but good listen. The rest of the album was fantastic as well and I'm glad I got to experience it.
I’ve loved this album for years! Yusuf has such a unique voice. Sounds weak but has a lot of power. Beautiful lyrics and catchy songs. Seriously every song on here is fantastic! “Miles From Nowhere” was the standout track on this listen. Just a great song about the journey of life
Я КОНЧИЛ. 5/5
Biased but I love cat Stevens. Nice album that we listened to waking up with Lottie
Classic
A classic. Every song is so precise and aware of what it’s trying to do. Stevens has a voice like no other - first time I heard Father and Son I cried. I cried every other time, but I cried then, too.
Now this is an album that absolutely deserves a place on any listen before you die lists.
god tier
AN UNREAL ALBUM. All of my youth in 11 songs
Beautiful album. Contains the hits "Wild World" and "Father and Son".
I hadn’t listened to this in more than 50 years, surprised at how good it is.
Tea for Stealerman by Cat Stevens is an exceptional acoustic driven album that stands out from start to finish. Though I am not usually a fan of purely acoustic records, this one is something else, beautifully recorded, with high quality compositions that feel both refined and effortless. There is a certain aura to it, an intangible vibe that keeps you engaged throughout. While I do not always focus on lyrics because of language barriers, the music alone carries a strong emotional weight. It is hard to put into words, but this album has a presence, a soul. A truly immersive listen, and an absolute banger.
Tears 😭
Beautiful album.
Harold and Maude fans unite.
Im not a native english speaker and often in english music i dont really get what they are saying without reading the lyrics. At this Album i didnt need or want to read the lyrics. I Just feel what he is saying without actually understanding it. Its wonderful and somehow Sad. Also "wild world" was featured in a very sad szene of skins uk so i got like a emotional Connection to it.
One of the best album's I've ever heard in terms of pure song-writing. Faves are Father & Son, and Wild World, because I'm basic as fuck :)
Great listen.
I really love Cat/Yusuf and his exploration of life and love and meaning and death. He has a very calming effect on me, and I admire the emotion and wisdom he sings with. The instrumentation really adds more layers to the feelings he evokes too. Especially love the piano and violin in Sad Lisa and the violin again in Into White. Wild World is a classic and a great song, and my fave 'new to me' songs were Miles from Nowhere and Father and Son. This was really beautiful from start to finish. While his life is certainly not free of controversy, and I'm mildly confused at where his spiritual journey led him, he somehow makes it feel like it will be perfectly ok to float away someday after this journey is done.
Uwielbiam! Łagodny głos, delikatne melodie, teksty, które trafiają do samego środeczka. Bardzo kojąca płyta. 9/10