Reviews (page 4 of 14)
Wow 😮
Love cat Stevens
Amazing album. Wild world is awesome
I love this, this is my favorite album we've had so far, this is my music finally
Perfect album, no skips
Just simply one of the best ever. *Wild World* is top ten songs for me, ever. 11 Oct 2023
Classic
I’m so happy to see Cat Stevens on a list of essential albums. I went through a phase in my youth of being obsessed with Wild World after it was featured on Skins, and then again later when I discovered the cover by Mr Big. I adore Cat/Yusuf’s voice, so I’m looking forward to listening to this today Songs I already knew: Father and Son, Wild World, Tea For The Tillerman Favourites: Father and Son, Wild World, Into White And his was every bit as wonderful as I was hoping it would be. Father and Son never fails to make me tear up a little as it’s just such a beautiful song. As much as Mr Big did an excellent cover of Wild World, there’s just no beating Cat/Yusuf’s version. Every second of this album was just so delightful, and there is literally nothing I can fault with it. I love it. Listen to it please.
Fleetwood Mac/eric Clapton type vibes. Loved this album. Will listen to this artist again
Loved it.
One of the all time greats
A classic.. I've always like Cat Stevens and this album sounded perfect today. A perfect length too.
One of the greatest guitar albums ever created. Cat is a legend.
Always was a 5 still is. Many a day and night listening to this and Elton John. Completely new and unheard sound when it was released. A big departure from cat Stevens the 60s pop singer.
As I grow up I like this album more an more... (currently 37 y). Much wisdom, lovely intimate tunes..
Such a wonderful album front to back. Would get a 5 for Father and Son alone.
Folksy Fire
9/10 amazing, unique voice
70s | Pop/Rock | Overall score: 4.5 / 90.00% 01. Where Do The Children Play? - 4.5/5 (very nostalgic) 02. Hard Headed Woman - 4.5/5 (chills with that bass) 03. Wild Wolrd - 5/5 (everyone loves this song) 04. Sad Lisa - 5/5 (sad, love it) 05. Miles From Nowhere - 4.5/5 (made me tap my foot) 06. But I Might Die Tonight - 4/5 (makes me think of the caroussel of life) 07. Longer Boats - 4/5 08. Into White - 4.5/5 (sweet lullaby) 09. On The Road To Find Out - 4/5 (is there really a bad song in this album?) 10. Father And Son - 5/5 (i always cry hearing this) 11. Tea For The Tillerman - 4.5/5 (funny tingles in my ears)
great
Loved every song - this was a real classic.
Great Album. Great Songs. Great Artist.
Cat Stevens was 22 toen dit album uitkwam, kun je nagaan. Ik heb het altijd al een wonderschoon album gevonden, met Wild world, Lisa en al die andere nummers, dromerig, verstild. En dan steekt het prachtige Father and son daar nog weer bovenuit. Dit zijn de echte klassiekers in de lijst.
Excellent. This has aged so well. Wild World was a highlight.
I'd say it's perfect but I listened back to back with the new release where he re-recorded the album doing a duet with his younger self and . . . they're both pretty amazing.
Excellent melancholic album. Some really lovely tuneful and melodic with great acoustic playing.
Have yet to come across one of these albums I haven't liked, what an icon
Unreal
Quaint, nostalgic, beguiling, wistful, melancholy, poignant, safe, comforting. These are all adjectives I would use to describe what ‘Tea For The Tillerman’ sounds like. It does its thing quietly and assuredly. A wonderful, legitimately excellent little album.
I was unfamiliar with Yusuf prior to venturing into this record, but I am nothing short of amazed. Every song is a banger, catchy, and downright beautiful. His vocals are great, the tones, melodies, and production all standout on this album. Favourites: All of them
Well that was absolutely lovely. This could very well be the most objectively good album I've ever heard. I can't even think of any flaws anyone could find in it. I think you have to be an actual psychopath to hate this (finding it boring is acceptable). Two 5/5s in a row? Shit, maybe this "music" thing ain't so bad after all.
Used to listen to songs like this around the dinner table with the family every day when I was a kid. They were easy listening then, but take on a whole new meaning for me now I can properly appreciate them. I adore this album.
Beautiful songwriting; each of the tracks feels so earnest.
A great album.Car Steven’s voice is beautiful and all the tracks were good.Obviously wild world and father and son are the best songs. The soul in his voice on father and son is amazing.A truly great acoustic album and I don’t usually like those.Great storytelling good guitar Ana amazing voice.
A beautiful, peaceful album. Full of soothing lyrics which explore love and loss. The songwriting is masterful and the instrumentation is gorgeous.
Perfect wind down music. I cant wait to listen to this on my next camping trip. It reminds me alot of the Rich Mullins stuff my dad always used to play.
What was still is. I wore out this album and still appreciate it on so many levels. "Miles to go. Guess I'll take my time to reach there"
"That's a good one." - my mom
Just relax, take it easy. All know these magnificent songs. What a beautiful lyrics. More than 50 years already. Magic is here.
great
Swift and straight to the heart. This album is one of my mom’s favorites and mine for extension. Love it.
I love this album. It feels like a gentle breeze on a road trip, borderline spiritual in its simplicity. The melodies are memorable, the lyrics are touching, and the whole affair doesn't outstay its welcome. All in all...it's pretty perfect to me.
Fave tracks: Where Do The Children Play?, Hard Headed Woman, Wild World, Miles From Nowhere, Father and Son, Tea For The Tillerman 4.5/5
While this is a very calm record, this is one of the best. Tea for the Tillerman is not for everyone and I do recognize that fact; some people just don’t like folk music. But this is one of the greatest in my opinion. This is some of the most calming folk music there is and on vibes alone, this album is great. However, the instrumentation is also so good. The guitars are amazing and the appearances of the piano, drums, bass, and strings are just so, so good. The vocal performance by Yusuf (formerly Cat Stevens) is also so moving on pretty much every track. While this record doesn’t reinvent the folk music wheel, it perfecta folk music to a degree that’s indescribable. And how could you forgot the song Father and Son; this song is an absolute classic song dealing with themes of wanting to move away and grow contrasted with staying and embracing roots. Easily the climax instrumentally and lyrically to this masterpiece record. While every song holds some ground for whatever reason, Father and Son is the absolute best of the bunch and one of the greatest songs of all time. While I was not planning on giving this album this high of a score, the more and more I think about it, I think a 10/10 is in order for this record.
This probably says as much about my music preferences as it does about this specific album, but I really enjoyed it. It’s simple folk rock, the whole album is short, and it just is consistently good. Includes a couple of top tier songs too, so hard to find any major complaints. Cat Stevens seems like a bit of an odd dude and he oversings a little occasionally, but neither of these things really impacts my thoughts on the album as a whole. This will make its way into the rotation for me. Favorite song: Wild World Other: Miles From Nowhere, But I Might Die Tonight, Into White, On The Road To Find Out, Father and Son
Such sweet sentiments in a pretty little package. This feels l like high folk and it's pretty great.
When I was 9 to 10 years old I truly thought the world was populated by swarthy dark haired moustachioed men; Dennis Lillee/Jim Croce/Elliot Gould et al. It was a popular cultural look which I think morphed into porn star, c'est la vie. Shame really, for a while there is was happening thing and perhaps the last time swarthy moustachioed men felt cool, we were only a couple of years away from Ian Curtis. Cat was one of those swarthy dudes looking back at me on album covers and cinema screens as I started my musical journey and he was a key part of that huge 70's surge of male singer songwriters. An important difference being that he was British and had come up through the touring ranks of the 60's, pretty sure he played with Hendrix, and he'd learned his songwriting and performing chops on the road. This is an absolutely brilliant record, you marvel at the quality of the songwriting, an astonishing meditation on the human condition by a very young man. Fantastic lyrics, he has something to say Cat, and it's universal. He's got a great sense of justice and being working class, he's thinking about fine feathered friends who he knows are going to walk away if he takes a fall. And as with all great pop music, be it Cole Porter or whoever, these lyrics are sustained by superb melodies. I've not listened to this properly since I had my last glass of Tang, but the songs just came flying at me like a Proustian rush (and no I'm not wearing Proustian Rush by Chanel, but thanks Woody, I hope you are ok out there somewhere..) just magnificent. Yes Robert Caro fans this holds up and would be a great soundtrack to your last moments before you slip off into the eternal nothingness that is the end of your conscious being.
My old man, Bodgie Bill, had a very old friend, Vince Emery, who I only ever knew as Gunga (as in Gunga Din). Both men had spent some time working on the wharves in Sydney. In the early 70’s, Gunga had opened a pet-shop in Bankstown. In early 1971, I went with my old man to visit the pet-shop one afternoon. While we were there, Gunga pulled out a box of records, all brand new, lots of multiples. All for only $1.00 each, at a time when albums cost $5.95 in Australia. I think I parted with $5.00. I know I grabbed a Peter Sarstedt album, but the 2 prizes were Elton John’s breakout 2nd LP & Cat Stevens’ Tea For The Tillerman. One of the many times during my childhood/youth that I asked the question “Where did this stuff come from?” & was told “It fell off the back of a truck”. My parents’ house was full of such goods. Anyway, I hadn’t yet heard the Cat Stevens album. I only knew him from his mid-to-late-60’s pop output - Matthew & Son, I Love My Dog, &, most notably, The First Cut Is The Deepest. His career had been put on hold in 1969 when he almost died of TB, & I’d missed his 1970 album release, Mona Bone Jakon, which had heralded a change in style (they called it folk-rock). My sister Deborah was onto it, but I have no memory of hearing it, so Tea For The Tillerman was definitely my introduction to the juggernaut that would be Cat Stevens career in the first half of the 70’s. And I loved it. Still do. I wasn’t familiar with any of these songs when I first played it, although I had heard Jimmy Cliff’s version of Wild World. Look, this was hippy-shit. By 1972, I was wearing kaftans, and my favourite cult flick that year was Harold & Maude, which had stiffed on release in 1971, but was doing the art-house circuit the following year - I saw it at the Union Cinema on Sydney Uni. It’s soundtrack was built around Stevens’ recent output & featured 4 tracks from this LP, which is very much an album of its time. And every time I listen to it, I’m 20 years old again. The early 70’s in Australia were our version of the 60’s in the rest of the west. However, the fact is that now, every time I pull this vinyl out to play, I’m reminded of the fact that Yusuf Islam (ex-Cat) totally endorsed, in public, the death fatwa against Salman Rushdie in 1989. A fact that’s been magnified by the vicious attack on Rushdie last year. Stevens has back-pedalled on it over the decades but the proof of what he said & continued to say is there to be seen. To this day, I have good friends who refuse to play his records, because of what he said. I also still watch my favourite Woody Allen & Roman Polanski films. It’s the art v. the artist thing. Gervais used the title track of this album as the closing song to every episode of his series Extras. (Except for the episode where Chris Martin sang the song).
Shit man Father and Son
Fantastic songs. Thoughtful, introspective, a really good listen.
Wild World bien merece un 5. Una de mis canciones favoritas de siempre.
Excellent.
Great songwriting and of deep personal significance to me
I feel this album is a strong four. Where do the children play is a great intro to the album and Cat Stevens songwriting in general. It's just one of those relaxing albums. Wild world is a classic too and I really enjoyed the other tracks such as "Sad Lisa". Then "Father and Son" came on. I think it's a strong contender to be on any any top song of all time list. Can a single song warrent an extra star? I feel in this case it can. A five it is, a weaker one but still a five.
Tea for the Tillerman is Cat Stevens fourth studio album, and marks his explosion into popularity on the global music forefront. Instead of his normal fare up to this point, this album is more of a solo, minimalist folk effort, featuring Cat Stevens dabbling on the piano and guitar, and not much else. During the writing of this album, Cat Stevens came down with a severe case of tuberculosis and had to he hospitalized for a time. This time of solitude and silence allowed him to finish writing and scoring the album. That sense of solitude can really be felt in this music. Another point of interest is that Cat drew his own album cover artwork. Wild World and Father and Son are two absolute bangers, and couple that with the fact that there is absolutely no filler on this album, and it launches this review all the way up to a 5 star album. I have listened a few times today, and will absolutely listen again!! Beautiful work!! Favourite songs: Father and Son, Wild World, On the Road to Find Out, Into White, Longer Boats, Where Do the Children Play?, Miles From Nowhere, But I Might Die Tonight, Sad Lisa Least favourite songs: Hard Headed Woman 5/5
This is the best album that Cat Stevens ever made. It's where he best combined his gift for a melody and hook with the downplaying of his orchestral (and I would call, overblown) sound. He's at his best when he does folk rock and telling a narrative through song. Some of his earlier albums seemed to meander at times and feel like prog-folk rock, which was not a sound that Cat Stevens really wanted to pursue. This is a must-listen, not only for the hits, but for the album tracks.
Very fine
I don't know what more you can ask for from a Singer Songwriter album, every song is memorable so many classics. Each time I come back to this album I remember how great it is, seems to always catch me at the right time.
Classic folk album. Love it! Pairs well with playing board game at the lake
Ye
Wow. There is not a bad song on this album. In fact, there's at least three or four amazing ones. This is a singer-songwriter at the height of his creative powers. Love this so much. Check out the 2020 re-issue and re-recording of the album where 2020 Yusuf duets with 1970 Cat on Father and Son.
I have a history with this album. One of the founding albums in an old romantic relationship. Which did eventually fall apart and then be built back into a good friendship. Cat's music has this loose, shambling rythym, which does well with his voice and subjects. Hard Headed Woman is a great song. Miles from Nowhere is another good one. The ending of the album I wish let its triumphant harmonies breathe a little more on the back end but such is life.
So good
Nice and short. Wild world is a banger.
I love it. Gentle vocals, plucky and sweet guitars, nostalgic and reminiscent lyrics. It all works so well together.
One of my all-time favorite albums
My favorite Cat Stevens album. A masterpiece.
I have heard some of the songs to this album and they are good. So I am curious to hear the whole album! Omg This albums is so good! I love the album. I want a vinyl of this. Amazing album!
I love this album he has a great tone quality and fantastic lyrics.
Great album. New to me. I know Cat Stephens, but as a cultural figure and not by his songs. Totally listening to this one again. 5/5 90/100
One of the strongest beginning/ending combos of any album I've ever heard. There's a little bit of a lull in the middle but there is so much lyrical and musical imagination on display here that it's hard to believe he was only 22 when this came out. Every song has a good message without being overly preachy (I'd argue the advice is offered humbly, in fact) or trite, which is incredibly hard to pull off.
He has such an evocative voice! I really liked Hard Headed Woman. Sad Lisa was true to its word! And I added Longer Boats to my Seas Shanties playlist (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2op2rhKMidaMSxuYbm4s1x?si=6db5a1b1299840a3).
All killer no filler. I’ve listened to this album a lot, one of my favourites.
Lovely album.
Love this 🐈
Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the fire cat are a pair of albums that got me through my late teens and the songs are just a part of me …
Dam it! Yondu! ;(
Timeless
I love the instrumentation on this album, it made for an absolutely beautiful listening experience!
Classic
8/10 me gusto la mayoría de las canciones
AMAZING
A really good album with a good sounding guitar and the singer voice is both soft and energetic. Some of these songs like Father&son are legendary.
Lifetime classic
What a masterpiece. Full of dynamics and movements, prog rock meets folk, and this poetry throughout that really touched you, especially Father and Son. His voice is so unique and I loved the use of strings on songs. Legend!
Long awaited and didn't disappoint. Lovely voice, beautiful songwriting, minimalistic yet never bring music
Absolutely excellent album. Must have heard it a thousand times. Cat Stevens is a slow burner I think but once you get into his mood it's hard to recreate anywhere else. It's not a challenging album but has quirky little elements that keeps it interesting. If I was to describe the album in one word it would probably be friendly. The album is sincere, well produced. Well conceived and utterly complete.
HOW CAN I TRY TO EXPLAIN
A nice trip
heartfelt and truly a masterwork of songwriting. Father and son resonates on a visceral level having experienced both perspectives. 5/5
Sure - a 5. This felt like a timeless classic, like these songs have somehow always existed. Incredible soul and production put into these tunes.
One of the true gems of the Island catalogue, and one of the best from their early 70s line-up of Folk artists. Chris Blackwell really did prioritise quality over quantity with his label. Iconic. That's all that can be said, it qualifies as a Cat Stevens 'Best Of' and it's one bloody album. I was always more preoccupied with Richard Thompson, John Martyn and Nick Drake when I was learning guitar, so his work was a little lost on me until my partner got me into this LP when we first started courting. I love her more than this album, but it still gets five stars.
Personally loved this album. Probably not the best idea to listen at the gym but I loved the peacefulness, I could definitely see myself listening to more.
Very tranquil and relaxing, a nice, easy and enjoyable listen
Classic.
Still sounds fresh 50 years on. Many of these songs have an unexpected build, sounds like it is going to be a tame folk song then it slaps you to attention halfway through. Love it when his voice switches to the upper octave, it is so exciting and brings the song into a new gear. If you haven't heard the Song Exploder episode where he talks about Father and Son, I highly recommend it.
6/10, 60%
I enjoyed all of the songs. They gave a coming of age indie film vibe. Favorite song from the album is Father and Son as Marvel is my whole personality and it's played at Yondu's funeral in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
Simply a 9.9/10
I'd love to hear the story behind this albums making of process. Cat Stevens tells stories that are so relatable to the human experience. Essential folk and essential 70's record
Father and Son and Wild World are amazing songs that definitely carry this, but the rest of the album is great as well
The talk I always needed but never got
An album I grew up with. 5/5 easily. Fantastic acoustic guitar work. Solid recording. Nothing else sounds like Yusuf/Cat. Great selection of his songs. Maybe one or two tracks I could do without.
it has Wild World on it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyMi_itzgFs
that’s funny I got this album today of all days, I just saw Harold and Maude coincidentally great movie, great album - 10/10
Amazing
My dad listened to Cat Stevens a lot while I was a kid. Super chill and enjoyable album overall. 5/5
Beautiful. One of my favorites. Even more so having lost my father recently, "Father and Son" just turned me into a weeping pile.
Excellent
Classic, approachable, enjoyable
It’s very hard for me to hear Wild World or Father and Son and not sign along. Even hard to keep my voice for cracking at some point when you’re hit by the heart breaking emotion. Some beautiful songs on here.
Wild world, where do the children play, sad Lisa, longer boats, hard headed, father and son
Awesome album! I grew up listening to Cat Stevens, and I always loved rocking out to Miles from Nowhere. It's hard to pick a favorite, though. I love every song.
Absolute banger hit just what I was looking for.
Enjoyed this album a lot. I knew a bit of the songs but I have this thing where I don’t remember who sings them. This album was chill, a bit sad and a bit hopeful. Really dug it’s vibe and style.
THIS is the album I expected from Simon & Garfunkel. Melodic and inventive but earthy and approachable at the same time. I’ve kind of ignored Yusuf because all the people I’ve known who loved him were jerks, but after hearing this, I’m planning a deep dive into his catalog.
Jeg liker alt ved dette. Behagelig lydbilde, fine melodier, noen skikkelige klassikere. Mer av dette.
Helmax. Trekker selvsagt frem hitene "wild world" og "Father and Son". Selv om det går litt i det samme så er alle sangene lytterverdige. ingen svake spor. Dette er ikke grensesprengende nytt eller innovativt, men det er perfekt i det man prøver å få til - viser. jeg gir denne topp score. Kommer til å ta den med videre.
Such a great album!
Top album classique. A ecouter dans ca vie. 5*
An old favorite of mine. I love the golden age of Cat Steven's and this is his very best. Starts with the epic where do the children play continues with great song after great song peaking at the tear jerking Father an Son. And my old A & M vinyl sounds FANTASTIC! 5 🌟
Love it!
Wonderful to spend time with this old favorite.
Cat Stevens and this album has been in regular rotation in my life from before I could form memories. Yet I hadn’t listened to the whole album in decades. When the opening notes of the album started, I got goosebumps and all the bad in the world melted away by a voice that has comforted me since I could barely walk. I cannot overstate how much I love this album. Another reminder to forget about all those greatest hits collections and get back to spending some real quality time with great albums. The prodigal son returns and TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN has been waiting to welcome me home.
This is actually my first time listening to a Cat Stevens album, this was very good really enjoyed it somewhere between a 4 and a 5, then, 2nd last track father and son, wow straight into the five star album bucket. What a song and what an album, this is a must listen to Folk album…
For those who like Hal Ashby and Wes Anderson films. Your mileage my vary if you have Daddy Issues. It makes me worry about whether or not I've done well by my son. It also just makes me miss my dad.
Behold, the power of association! I won't share the story here as no one would care except me, but this album has one of the most acutely direct associations with a time in my life and a person (sweet and melancholy memories wrapped in nostalgia) that it is more challenging for me to just hear the album on its own. That's perfectly fine, of course, as art is that which we experience as art, music is that which we experience as music, and we can never separate our subjectivity from the experience. This is hardly the only album or song for which this kind of memory flood rushes in -- everyone has a long list, I know. And there are times when a song, artist, or album has a strong association but the music doesn't hit us the same way. This album stands up well for me. I love the songwriting, and it's all performed superbly well. I feel like I'm listening to some real poetry and storytelling, and the music accompanying the lyrics is compelling to me. I'm a bit overdone with 'Wild World,' but that's just because it's been everywhere for so long. I particularly love 'Where Do The Children Play?', 'Miles From Nowhere', and 'On The Road To Find Out'.
Decent, some nice hits
This healed my soul a little bit.
Fundamental, um dos prediletos da casa. Sequência magnética.
Simply beautiful. I loved this so so much.
An absolute masterpiece. It's a flawless album from end to end. Cat has a remarkable talent for drawing listeners in and connecting with them while bearing his soul. And he does it with beautiful pop-folk arrangements, gorgeous melodies, and emotional poignant lyricism. He stirs my soul in a way that no other artist can. I adore this album!
Pop folk done right, perfectly even in places. It doesn't matter that Wild World and Father & Son have been played to death by others. This has the title track and the sublime Into White.
Clássico.
This was great, varied and powerful lyrics
A true classic. Beautiful.
Great album ands made better on a quiet Sunday morning. There are some amazing tracks on here. Emotional and though provoking.
I went through a Cat Stevens phase last year and listened to this one a few times. This might be his best, and it's very listenable end-to-end with "wild world" and "father and son" the clear hits. I'm going to check out the "father and son" 2020 remake where he sings with his 22-year old self!
schöne Songs, erinnern an die Jugendzeit
Much more enjoyable than I had expected. Some absolute bangers on here, particularly Miles From Nowhere. Saved 5/11 songs onto my Spotify.
I remember discovering Cat Stevens as a high schooler. Best decision I ever made. This has been, and still remains, one of my favorite albums to put on when I'm having a bad day.
Great album. The titular track is a personal highlight, and of course wild world slaps from beginning to end
nice music to listen when you're bored
Pretty much perfection.
A true classic in my opinion. This album brings me a lot of joy
hard headed woman wild world father and son
Basically perfection
Chill album. Good background music but full of depth if you want to listen closely. The two big hits on the album bring some extra energy as well
Chill album. Good background music but full of depth if you want to listen closely. The two big hits on the album bring some extra energy as well
The last track! 😍 I want it to go on forever, but it doesn’t. The chorus! I play this track over and over. What a baller move to end this album on that unresolved chord. I associate Cat Steven’s with so many pieces of video media as well. “This is Us” uses him almost obsessively. And the title track of which I am enamored is from “Extras”. All in all, good vibes on this album and some substance
Classic, no one quite like Cat Stevens.
zaebumba
My favorite Cat Stevens album
Loved this. 9
9/10. I like Cat Stevens.
Honestly loved this. Great album front to back
Excellent album, he had a lot to say and he was on the money, where will the children play indeed.
An old favorite of mine. I love the golden age of Cat Steven's and this is his very best. 5 stars
An album that was part of the soundtrack of my life growing up. In addition to Cat Steven's great voice, the songs touch on basic universal human feelings. A classic that doesn't age.
Father and son is top. The rest of the album is really good.
Banger after banger
Solid good album. All songs blend together. One or two noticable songs.
Perfect for a Sunday-afternoon listen. Find it on vinyl if you can.
Another 5 star album
I. Love. This. Album. SO MUCH. Cat Stevens is so good, and I have always loved them. This album is EXCELLENT. 5 stars xD
Awesome
The easiest way for me to describe this album is simple, it’s basically the beauty of a Studio Ghibli film condensed into an album, and no I’m not just saying that cause the album art kinda reminds me of them. Anyways, it’s a lovely little folk album.
I liked this more than I thought I would. Easy listening all the way through but with enough variation between songs to keep me interested.
Good guitar album with excellent texts.
Me gustaron todas las canciones, la verdad. Sintetiza muy bien toda la buena vibra hippie setentera a la que el indie dosmilero le debe tanto. Mención honorífica para “Hard Headed Woman” <3
Bloody great, will listen again :)
I liked it. Sincere, simple, beautiful.
Heel leuk album. Je zou denken dat Sufjan Stevens en Cat Stevens familie zijn van elkaar, omdat de muziekstijl wel wat weg heeft van elkaar. Toch is er blijkbaar geen verwantschap tussen de twee.
i ADORE "wild world", so I'm quite biased :)
Beautiful.
Needs no description. It’s just so fucking good through and through.
Really liked this! Wish the title track was a proper song rather than a minute long
Chefs kiss emoji
I find it amazing how each song on this album stands out from the other stylistically. Songwriting at the highest level.
Supuse un buen disco y ya. No me considero fan de Cat Stevens, ni siquiera sabía que se llama Yusuf. No se quedó en un buen disco y ya, la verdad lo disfruté mucho y después de 3 o 4 vueltas lo podía seguir escuchando sin problemas otras 3 más. Miles From Nowhere fue mi favorita, además de las obligadas Wild World y Father And Son. Hard Headed Woman también es buena y en general el disco es una chulada.
Beautiful album, was a favorite in my younger years and still holds up.
One of my favorite albums, a must for anyone who likes Cat Stevens or classic 70s folk music Highlights: -Where do the Children Play? -Hard-Headed Woman -Wild World -Sad Lisa -Miles from Nowhere
Well that was a classic. Finally.
oh baby baby baby naaaaaaaadaa
A favorite of mine!
Father and Son and Wild World kind of carry but the whole thing is great
On Tea for the Tillerman, Cat Stevens had approached the road where he found out and ultimately came to terms with things regarding himself. With a wisdom beyond his young years, Cat guides the listener through the complexities of life and how to navigate it through warts and all.
this is the shit i grew up on, playing in the station wagon as i sat in the back seat staring out the window on road trips. will always hold a place in my heart.
Tender, lovely, beautifully rendered. The soundtrack of my childhood in many ways. Only giving it a 4 because I struggle to get through the entire thing - it’s almost painfully nostalgic.
Fun and easy listening
Two absolute classics = at least 4 stars. I wish the rest of the album was just a little more compelling.
Impressive in its time, though not an album or artist I can listen to now. Classic 4
Overall enjoyed this, some good tracks in here. Very chilled out easy listening
I wanna be a hater because of how overplayed the title track is on Spotify but you can’t hate this album. It’s so lovely. Great stories and great melodies. I love the passionate singing too. Gotta love cat stevens
7/10 Very nice, with some Proper songwriting. Boyzone did their best to destroy the beautiful Father and Son, and it barely survived - it's taken 30 years for me to recognise it as the quality song it is. Elsewhere, I'm unsure what was going on with Wild World - I'm a fan of the song, but I've never noticed how ridiculously loud the plectrum clicks are??! Really, really annoying. Will listen elsewhere and see if it is just the track on Spotify.
Nice Album to start us off. Nice peaceful lyrics, not a western of 30 minutes. But I Might Die Today is greatly written, and even though I never heard of him, I think he completely deserves his awards.
Love Cat Stevens/Yusuf, but had somehow never listened to this particular album all the way through. This is an all-timer.
Not my usual style but loved it. Little to no filler
I love the atmosphere of the album, very folky
Great albumn great voice surprised this hasn't been sampled more
Really enjoyed it. Wild World and Sad Lisa are tunes.
I always have a bit of a hard time with Cat Stevens - 1 part kids album, 1 part beautiful, 1 part cheesy, 1 part melodic, 1 part pure 70's. I really can never decide where i stand. Damn can he write a beautiful melody though!
I didn't really know this about myself, but I think I'm a pretty big fan of like 70s singer-songwriter stuff. This generator is really showing me a lot of stuff about what I do and don't like. I also didn't know that I knew a Cat Stevens song, but apparently that Wild World jam was a pretty big hit. It doesn't have any other major songs on it, but it's still pretty consistently enjoyable despite that. Favorites: Where Do The Children Play?, Wild World, Father and Son
Always a great listen
Once I woke up in the middle of the night with an all encompassing need to listen to "Father and Son" and I don't know why
Cat Stevens is one of the 'classic' and 'established' artists who I've never had any love for. I find his voice to be irritating, and the melody for 'Wild World' is actively grating. However, if I were to spin one of his albums, I accept that this is probably his best, and one which (Wild World aside), I actively get enjoyment out of. I do find his lyricism and musicality to be lacking compared to his singer-songwriter peers at the time, but I'll let him have this album.
Before pursuing a full-time career in music, Stevens attended Hammersmith College of Art in London to study painting and illustration, (Far out music). Although in the 1970s this type of sleeve was standard fare for this type of music, Island Records were renowned for letting artist create their own artwork with minimal interference so this would be Yusuf's vision. Fits with the music.
- Banger of a first song. - second song is good too -- reminds me of a Beatles/elton John (tiny dancer-esque) mix - Ah - wild world is a song I've heard before. 10/10 (idk why I thought this was an eagles song) miles from nowhere is a banger - but I might die tonight is also great - Father and Son reminds me thematically of the Abba song slipping through my fingers but from the child's perspective Really like this album overall - 8/10
some lovely tracks on here, very calming
3.8/5 Like a warm hug. I’ve never listened to the whole thing but have heard a couple tracks before. Father and Son gets me every time.
"Tea for the Tillerman" is a well-crafted record - well written, arranged, performed, and produced. The production gives each instrument space to breathe without ever overwhelming the core acoustic performance, creating a lovely listening experience. For listeners of a certain age, Cat Stevens’ vocal tone remains one of the most instantly recognizable in 1970s popular music, carrying a warm, comforting quality. While the material is rooted in folk, it is elevated by a strong pop sensibility and delicate touches of chamber music. Ultimately, it is a subtle, introspective album that addresses weightier themes - environmental loss, spiritual searching, and generational conflict - without ever feeling heavy-handed, making for an easy and rewarding listen. Four stars. Side one 1 "Where Do the Children Play?" (5/5) 2 "Hard Headed Woman" (4/5) 3 "Wild World" (5/5) 4 "Sad Lisa" (3/5) 5 "Miles from Nowhere" (3/5) Side two 6 "But I Might Die Tonight" (3/5) 7 "Longer Boats" (4/5) 8 "Into White" (4/5) 9 "On the Road to Find Out" (4/5) 10 "Father and Son" (5/5) 11 "Tea for the Tillerman" (4/5) Total - 44 Average - 4.0 398/1001 208/398 albums reviewed were new to me.
Fijn album
Super mooie folk liedjes. Wild World is een all-timer.
Great little album. RYM: N Saved a song: N
quite cheesy at times but also reminds me of being small and listening in me mum's car so it gets a pass. Very nice and pleasant and calming and tbh the songwriting holds up and boy howdy does he have a smooth and lovely voice
Yeah I like it. Probably had some profound lyrics but I want paying attention. Has a cool chill vibe, songs to the point and none of the usual 60's extra instrumental bullshit. Father and Son actually a good song, has always hated it before
some lovely acoustic guitar and songwriting 7.5/10 standout song - into white
Love Cat Stevens
Nice and easy to listen to!
Good
I like Cat Stevens and unsurprisingly I like this album.
Very nice
Miellyttävää kuunneltavaa. Myös satukirjamainen kansikuva saa hyvälle tuulelle. Wild World oli ainoa biisi, jonka tunnistin.
4,5
I grew up listening to my mom's copy of Cat Stevens' Greatest Hits album. There were 12 songs on the Greatest Hits album and three came from this LP. So I was ready for this to be a great album, and it mostly is. Each song is its own little gem of songwriting--subtle but significant chord changes that carry the storytelling into the necessary emotional direction. The songs that made the Greatest Hits album are indeed the best, but they're all good. I can't judge that compilation 5 stars (which it is) and give this more than 4 stars.
Another example of an artist that creates good music in a genre I don't like.
Like Nick Drake and Fleetwood Mac had a baby
Acknowledging this is the cornerstone of my taste in music - and that if it wasn't for a Cat Stevens 'Best of...' playing in the early 90s, I'd never have taken the path into indie folk and beyond. But it also strikes me just what someone could get away with in the early 70s and still have a hit record. There's always a bit of hokey jaunty filler plugging the gaps. But then he drops a song like 'Into White' or 'Father and Son'. That said, I'm not rushing to add any of this to my frequent listening rotation or anything.
While I was familiar with several of the classic songs on this album, I've never listened to the album as a whole before, and a lot of the songs were new to me. I've never been a big fan of some of the singer/songwriter folk musicians from the 60s and 70s. I just didn't grow up around that music and never really got into it. But, I really enjoyed this album. The songs on this album were much more complex and musical and, therefore, interesting to me. Some really beautiful songs and I find Stevens much more enjoyable to listen to then some others. Solid album!
I love Cat Stevens’s voice, and the songwriting is great. A nostalgic listen that still holds up. Favorites: Wild World Father and Son Longer Boats (mostly because it was a surprise - never heard it before and it was different from the rest) I’ll listen to this one again.
I hadn’t listened for a long time, forgotten how moving yet lively these songs are
Heartfelt, tuneful folk and effectively a Cat Steven’s greatest hits collection. Nothing monumental here but simple, well written acoustic guitar music of the highest order
144. Tea for the Tillerman - Cat Stevens (1970) 7.16.26 Variety: 3 Adequacy: 4 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 3 Emotionality: 5 = 4.0 What if the super annoying dude who brought his guitar to the party actually turned out to be pretty damned good? That's Cat Stevens for me. Leaving aside any of his interesting public relations issues over the past several decades, I've always found his brand of acoustic pop to be on the whole very pretty, sometimes moving , always well crafted, and earnest almost to a fault. It's a bit more commercially pop ready than the folkiest of folk, and a little too soft and contemplative to fall within spitting distance of being rock n roll. I heard a lot of his bigger hits as a kid and they have been peppered over a ton of movie soundtracks 9 Harold and Maude, Rushmore) over the years. It's been a while since I listened to this one, but I remember liking it a bit more than Teaser and the Fire Cat, and quite a bit more than Catch Bull at 10. "Here Comes My Baby" and "The Wind" both make regular appearances in my five star list, along with at least one of the songs from here. "But take your time, think a lot; why, think of everything you've got/ For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not" THE TRACKS Side one "Where Do the Children Play?" - A very pretty, soft and gentle piece that is one long awesome melodic hook. There's a bit of an oblique environmental reading here if one wishes, but I think it's got way more of a nostalgic, yearning for the pastoral than it does any sort of message about saving the planet. Deceptively simple, and charming stuff. "Hard Headed Woman" - I think this was a hot for him, but aside from it being capable and having a decent string melody, there's not much for me to grab on to here. The idea here is pretty damned nebulous, like enough that the quote "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means" comes to mind. Maybe Stevens means a woman who won't take any of his bullshit? I guess that works. Even the explosive ( for him anyway) bridge leaves me kind of cold. "Wild World" - Probably the track I heard the most of his growing up. Maybe even more than "Peace Train". The undeniably great, catchy sing-a-long chorus is the bedrock here, but the verses themselves are pretty danged memorable as well. Something that never really hit me til more recent listenings of the song is how it hits as just a bit more patronizing with all the infantilization in the lyrics, and even a sinister note on the last line of each verse. "Sad Lisa" - Another very pretty song with some very hummable bits, this time piano driven, with a fine violin solo that swings this way over into more elaborate, almost too ornate territory that ultimately lands just on this side of tastefulness. Again though, we get some very cloudy and possibly condescending lyrics. Instrumentally and arrangement-wise this reminded quite a bit of some similarly arty, pretty, sad sack stuff by Kate Bush. Wonder if she was a big Stevens fan. "Miles from Nowhere" - Stevens turns up the reverb on his voice, and the volume in general as we get an almost Who-lite bit of gospely piano pop rock at least for the chorus that seems miles from anything else on here so far. While I appreciate the swing, this was otherwise unmemorable, and felt more than a little off brand. Side two "But I Might Die Tonight" - We'll get a better examination of this material a bit later on the album, but this very short number seemed to touch upon the tension between between outside expectation and personal desire, and was interesting enough musically, splitting the difference between the more bombastic piano driven "Miles from Nowhere" and he softer approach on everything else, but it felt more like a warm up for what's to come than anything that can stand by itself. "Longer Boats" - A very big swing with a sort of calypso-influenced opening, and rhythm that didn't blend very well with the rest of the acoustic balladry on display here. A bit of a hot mess compared to everything we've heard previously. "Into White" - Things get back on track with a beautifully crafted ode to the simple country life. I think anyways. This seemed to touch just a bit on the historical folk tradition that we recently visited with Donovan. Would like to hear more of this from Stevens. "On the Road to Find Out" - This was a bouncy, fun little song that ( at least instrumentally) put me in mind of some of the stuff that Fleetwood Mac would do after Lindsey Buckingham joined up. This compares favorably to their "Never Going Back Again" from Rumours, though that is MUCH more of an earworm than the Stevens track. "Father and Son" - What a tearjerker, right? Maybe this one hits a lot harder having kids, but I still remember liking it quite a bit before then. I can totally see how some people might see this as the worst sort of emotionally manipulative "wisdom" songs that polluted the airwaves in the post hippy comedown days. This one sails way beyond that though in having a sort of genuine earnestness in the delivery that makes it land a lot more smoothly than some. Another beautiful track, and one that ends on an ambiguous note that adds just the right amount of bittersweet. "Tea for the Tillerman" - The title track functions more as a coda than any sort of real song, but that's mainly due to the length rather than any sort of effort as it's nice enough. HIGHLIGHTS - "Where Do the Children Play?" - "Wild World" - "Sad Lisa" - "Into White" - "On the Road to Find Out" - "Father and Son" MIDLIGHTS - "Hard Headed Woman" - "Miles from Nowhere" - "But I Might Die Tonight" - "Tea for the Tillerman" LOWLIGHTS - "Longer Boats" FINAL THOUGHTS This was a pleasant experience all told, and served as a nice reminder of how underrated Stevens is as far as the talents from the era who are still very much lauded today. I think his reputation may have taken a few hits, so that's a bit understandable, but when he's on, man is he on. I found a lot of this much more emotionally affecting than I had remembered it being, and even the lesser stuff didn't drag it down so much as add a bit of chop to the smooth sailing. This felt a lot like a musical storybook in may ways, but I wish it had just ended right after "Father and Son" to hammer that feel home, as I think it would have tied in thematically with the opener. Stevens will never be at the top of my list of musicians, but a LOT of his songs will hover up there in the mid to high range for me. A greatest hits artist for sure. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - All those highlights are worthy of keeping around FURTHER LISTENING - Bryter Layter by Nick Drake - Déjà Vu by Crosby, Stills & Nash - Tapestry by Carole King - Teaser and the Firecat by Cat Stevens - Sweet Baby James by James taylor
[16th of July, 2026] Fave Song: Sad Lisa Very nice, very cinematic. Definitely not my first choice but greatly appreciated nonetheless.
Lots of good stuff on this one.
- It's a really lovely folk album with sentimental lyrics and melodies. - The guitar fingerpicking fits the feeling of the songs, too. The instrumentals don't really stand out, but I think that it works having them as support to the songs. - I feel like the album kind of loses steam on the second half (especially the last couple of songs), but the rest is really great. - Also appreciate that it's short and sweet.
It’s pretty. Could use a little more oomph, but after a few listens the lyrics do get into your head. I underestimated it the first time through. A good album for an autumn day looking at the pretty foliage. Pleasant, in a somber thoughtful way. At first listen in would have given it there stars and in now debating between a 4 or 5!
Another artist that I haven’t paid much attention to. This is good. He has a way with words and a melody and the musicianship is also very good. Find the dynamics slightly jarring at times. I’ll be revisiting this one, so thanks generator!
Loved this, always knew the title track as the theme song from Extras, and obviously Father and Son, but loved the opening track, seems weirdly prescient for a song 50 years old
Struggling to believe this isn’t just Jack Black under a different pseudonym Really easy listening beautiful tracks, knew wild world and father and son already but this whole thing is really nice 4
This was a great listen. For some reason I was getting Cat Stevens and Elvis Costello mixed up (no idea why as they are quite different!) so I wasn't looking forward to it. But guess what, it wasn't Elvis Costello! solid 4 stars
Quite liked this album
Nice songs.
I love this album as a whole but wild world and father and son put it in a class of its own.
8/10 reminded me of genesis a bit liked the instrumental experimentation
Top notch storytelling. Sad Lisa will now officially be my anthem whenever I'm faced with a minor inconvenience
This album has a few of the best CS songs, and several that are pretty forgettable. I don’t know why it is but as much as I’ve always loved Cat Steven’s I can’t listen to that much of him.
Cover to cover this album is jammed full of powerful, well written folk songs that entice you to sing along. You could keep a CD of it in your car for family road trips.
Świetne piosenki
Maybe a little twee at times..?
Really great songwriting for the most part
Great album, deeply wholesome and uplifting - well constructed through basic but well thought out instrumentals
Heel lang getwijfeld tussen een 4 & een 5, maar ik denk dat die twijfel misschien juist bewijst dat het nog net dat beetje mist. Beetje activisme op een heel chille manier, maar daardoor juist een gemiste kans om scherper te zijn.
Very good rainy morning album
They work hard too, so this is a good gesture.
Very nice
Enjoyed this, although I can't quite get gushing about it, maybe I have some weird Boyzone/The Office reflex. Undeniably good songs, and everything is well purposed length without giving in to the 60s album itch of being too indulgent. Really liked the production of it too, 60s stereo panning at it's best and most interesting without being gimmicky, felt like the piano was sitting at the top of my forehead. This is 7.5, maybe put half a point down for purely unknown/subconcious reasons, and then another point down for realising some of these songs now sound a tiny bit too religious or condescending, but whateves!
Really good, chill album. Some amazing songs on here.
2 songs really carry it
Calm vibes. Cat Stevens has a way with his arrangements and melodies. I don't usually vibe with a fully-acoustic and overall chim album, but Tea for the Tillerman is soothing in a way that never gets boring. Favorite: Hard Headed Woman, Wild World, Sad Lisa, Longer Boats, Into White
Cat Stevens has a voice I didn't know I knew. Such a staple of folk music and his voice is so distinct! The album felt light and was an easy listen. Sometimes with folk I find myself wanting just a little bit more - like some type of uptempo or jazzier break (I know this is dumb but it's just how my ear is tuned). Either way this kept me interested front to back. Feels like a 3.7. Highlights: Hard Headed Woman, Wild World
Absolutely fantastic album. Tbh all his best songs. Really enjoyed this.
very pretty. i love the piano especially in sad lisa
Mjög fín og þægileg plata hjá Högna Stefáns. Ljúfur lagasmiður. 4,5
a genuinely wholesome album with bangers
So nostalgic
Quite good actually
It's a good album, I see why it's popular. I like it, although it doesn't ensnare me. Maybe in a few years!
i love folky stuff like this, I've lap been seing him everywhere now that I know he exists
stunning - wept a bit at Father and Son
An absolutely gorgeous album. I've loved Wild World for a long time and Father & Son is a classic, but I wasn't expecting to enjoy the majority of this just as much as I did. Really nice vocals and lyrically great. Where do the children play, hard headed woman, but I might die tonight and into white are all fantastic songs.
I enjoyed this a good amount, but it left me still wanting a bit. Sad Lisa is actually a good microcosm for how I felt about this record. Cat's voice sounds really clear on this and he does an excellent job of adding more to his voice when the music is simultaneously becoming more robust, which shows excellent musicality. That said, while this track starts to build, it never fully crescendos in the way you might expect with a truly loud/full sound. This is a lot like other songs on the album and really the entirety of the collection - they generally don't pay off as thoroughly as they could. All the same, there are a wealth of songs to like on here. Where Do the Children Play is an excellent opener. Cat’s voice is so crystal clear in the low register, it’s astonishing. Wild World and Father and Son, the two most known songs, are very good tracks as well. Meanwhile, some of the others don't live up to the rest of the album. Net result is a very good effort, but not one worthy of 5 stars.
7/10 Recognized this one as something my dad used to listen to, it made it all the more special as the first album of this challenge. Very nostalgic, especially Wild World which my dad played a lot. I definitely liked it a lot but I don’t think I’m going to reach for it again (maybe!)
Good listen
Really liked this album but needs to be in the right setting. Lyrically a very good album but musically it needs more concentration if you treat it as background music you'll forget it's on. Had to listen to this one twice. It has 3 or 4 truly great songs though.
I groaned out loud when initially presented with the album after the below average week we had. But wow this had so many bangers!
Like a lovely woolen blanket
Some really lovely lil songs on this.
7/10 no soy aun de escuchar albumes asi d densos en su estructuración, además el deluxe duraba 3 horas nmms
Yeah okay
Cat Stevens was on a tear in the early 70s, a stream of hit songs and albums, some included in movie soundtracks. Rock/Pop with folk flavor, piano/keys, acoustic guitar and of course, his distinctive voice. This has the hits "Wild World", "On the Road to Find Out", "Where Do the Children Play?", and "Father and Son", but really all of the songs are beautiful, wondrous, reflective - sometimes complex but also familiar, melodious.
Great chill songs, poignant lyricism, lovely voice.
Ooh 💛💛💛 Sounds like sunshine... ☀️ Nice and calming... I just felt so happy while listening 😊😊😊Songs to keep you company after a long day... ☕☕ Thank you sooo much 💚💚💚💚
Not really my thing but it wasn’t bad
This album has the feel of an aged man giving his heart out to a life he’s lived. And it’s all written by a 22 year old. This is a wonderful album with a meditative quality to it!
Perfect for the Summertime Cat Stevens’ Tea for the Tillerman hits every emotion—heartbreak, melancholia, nostalgia, optimism, and joy. The songwriting is strong, and his voice is gentle and earnest. You cannot tell me that John Frusciante wasn’t ripping it front to back while recording Curtains.
Ah, the 70s. It's a sign of the devolution of the human spirit that there was a time not so long ago when a deeply weird, subdued, mystical, and philosophical album could be a major hit. Who is the modern corollary to Yusuf/Cat Stevens? Who is our popular seeker? Can we all honestly say that our bodies have been good friends? Does anyone care where the children play? I am blessed by a hard headed woman! I want to build my house from water ice! Please, God, help me, always and forever, kick out the devil and pick up a good book! I had never listened to CS before today, but now I am locked in, baby.
Lovely little album. Cat Stevens is a talent.
That's nice!!
So good!
4.5 favs: where do the children play?, wild world, father and son
The kind of music i will be playing for my future children during roadtrips
Beautiful. Simple. Meaningful.
Strong 3,5
Unfamiliar artist, but many familiar songs. Great album.
It’s a very nice album. I love folk instrumentation and the songs are all very well written. Cat Stevens has a very nice voice. I’d recommend listening to this album outside in nice weather, it really benefits the sound in my experience. 4/5
Shh, I’m listening again. And again… Admittedly it goes soft in the middle, but recovers strongly. This is the music of my youth, of Harold and Maude, of sunshine and peace in the 70s. I will return again, and again…
i’m not sure why this works for me where neil young doesn’t. i thought cat stevens was a jazz guy. i really liked this.
Short folk ditties that remind me of children's songs. Its short runtime and consistent sound make it a nice afternoon nap type of album, or maybe that's because I've been putting songs on Kacey's new album on speed dial (3.5-4).
So much joy in this album. Made me feel like a child listening to it. It was wonderful