Tea for the Tillerman

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.

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

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.

Enjoyed it. Some great tracks.

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

One long singer/songwriter acoustic slog.

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

What a great fucking album.

Ohhh baby baby it's a wild album

This was a huge, pleasant surprise. In my mind I scoff at Cat Stevens, I don’t really know why. Just do. But I liked this!

Damn, this hits pretty hard for Folk music. I have always like what I heard from Cat Stevens. I had never listened to an entire album though. I remember being surprised when he became Muslim and denounced all of his music. It has really held up well.

Folky calm music. Wild World in a lot of soundtracks

Some classics in there but not my style. Some lyrics are icky. Ballad-wise, King Crimson did it better.

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

Great album, easy listen, Brumar listened at camp. 8.8/10

# Playlist Track - Father and Son # Notes - Pretty pleasant throughout. "Wild World" and "Father and Son" are certified, all-time classics. - A couple of dull tracks, but nothing egregious. - Even though it's not really my tune, I did enjoy it a lot.

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

Saved this from a 1 bc it does have some musical merit, it's just not for me

I only listened passively; it was non-offensive.

Great album!

Beautiful performance by Stevens & co. All around lovely music.

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

Quite boring

yeah this was a nice collection of tracks, really well written and presented and sequenced

A little too mellow for my tastes. Might be good to help someone go to sleep at night.

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

I enjoyed it!

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

Yay, all the songs sound like 'Wild World'! A little funny, but also comforting. I like it. Just very clear vocals, zippy but un-noisy guitar, folky vibes but the actual content is kinda fluffy. It IS a wild world. Dare I say, shades of Children's Favorites. But I wish I were having a wee nap right now and these charming lullabies aren't helping. Still I haven't given a 4 in forever, so let this be the one.

Great

I woke up early today, put on this album, and started my day. It was perfect.

2.7 2x

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

Old time hippie Cat Stevens…meh…I never much cared for this boring stuff.

Some classic bangers but generally speaking, not for me.

Good

Cat stevens is certified halal music.

3-4

okay bangers??

Few goood songs

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

Ah man. Some great hippy dippy shit! I still cry over a few of these songs.

Very, very, very boring

He’s so great

Damn good album really good vibes

Of its time, some excellent tracks but not as good as Tim Buckley or Niro young

Emotionally powerful, well-written, and well-sung. Even if I am not usually a fan of this style of music (ballads, acoustic guitar) this album is still full of bangers

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

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

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

Tranqui, aunque no es muy mi estilo.

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

A few all-timers, and a few boring or forgettable ones. Wild World, Father and Son, and Tea for the Tillerman are the natural standouts, and I liked Where Do The Children Play? too. Very well-made or crafted album. Lots to like, but Longer Boats was a bit dull. I agree that not everything lands well.

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

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

Joa, ganz nett

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

Solides Album. Kannte ab der Mitte zu viele Songs ausm Radio, dadurch wurde es mir Mainstream, zu langweilig. Wie als wäre ich auf Arbeit

Hab mich nie mit ihm beschäftigt....aber gefällt mir sehr! Ich mag seinen Gesang. Alles sehr entspannt zu hören, super angenehm, warm, ohne langweilig zu sein, weil das musikalisch einfach sehr gut ist. Werde ich mir öfter mal geben.

Bonitinho. Eu acho que escutaria novamente, mas não me pegou tanto.

Great album

Mellow listen.

Boring music, so- so lyrics, beautiful voice.

Oooooo baby baby it's a wild world - a little beauty

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

Shirt but sweet

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

Certified hood classic

Rv

Great album all round

Not great. Not even very good.

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.

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

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

This was made for walking through the pdx airport

Acoustic guitar goes crazy, all time goat instrument. Favorite Track: Longer Boats

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

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

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

Haven’t heard Father and Son in a long time, a real heartstring tugger for anyone who’s had a nuanced relationship with their dad. Really thoughtful album and from an amazing singer-songwriter.

Определённо претендует попасть в список интересных альбомов. Слушается легко. 7 из 10.

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.

Awesome album. So many good songs.

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

Gorgeous album. Beautifully written and performed.

V nice

It's a banger, ok. Poetic, calming, beautiful

Cool folk jams

Soothing vocals. Easy melodies.

This was thoroughly enjoyable!

Litt for religiøst. Wild workshop er en hit

melancholic

classic 1970's folksy mellow rock with a few familiar songs mixed in.

This album would be at home in any coming-of-age movie from the 1970s-1990s. Very nostalgic and peaceful, fantastic road trip music.

A pleasant surprise. Wild world and Father & Son are the obvious standouts, but it's a really well realised slice of 70s folk rock throughout. Not quite at a level of mind-blowing - if you know the two songs above, you know what to expect. That said, for an album I didnt have high hopes for, it was very enjoyable.

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

A few of his most familiar songs on this album

Alright

Love Cat Stevens. I was introduced to most of his music by an ex gf who adored the movie "Harold and Maude". Father and Son is an all-timer.

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.

Oh baby, it is a wild world

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

Cat Stevens has such a sad sound. Every time I listen to his songs it sounds like he is remember a time / moment that has passed that he wanted to get back. Father and Son is good song from this album.

Rather enjoyable album. Chill and easy listening but still catchy at times. 4/5

Allez, hop, au boulot. Aujourd'hui, le Grand Livre a décidé de me tester, de mettre ma patience, ma tolérance et mon armure de cynisme post-punk à rude épreuve. Sur le banc d'essai : Cat Stevens et son "Tea for the Tillerman". Rien que le nom, on sent déjà l'odeur du patchouli, le pull en laine tricoté main et les discussions au coin du feu sur la nécessité de retourner à la terre. Pour être honnête, en voyant ce nom apparaître sur ma liste, j'ai poussé un soupir qui aurait pu éteindre les bougies d'un gâteau d'anniversaire à trois étages. Cat Stevens... Pour le disquaire que j'étais durant les années 90, c'était le genre d'album qu'on classait entre James Taylor et Simon & Garfunkel, dans le bac "Folk pour parents sensibles". C'était la musique de l'autre camp, la bande-son des babas cool que le punk avait voulu, à juste titre, trucider à coups de Doc Martens. Je m'attendais à une mièvrerie dégoulinante, une sorte de barbe à papa acoustique qui allait me coller aux tympans et me donner une crise de diabète auditive. Bref, j'étais prêt à détester, à ricaner, à écrire 150 lignes sur la vacuité de l'ère hippie finissante. Et puis... merde, il faut bien l'avouer, les premières notes de "Where Do the Children Play?" tombent et je me tais. La production est claire, chaude, précise. La voix de Stevens, douce mais incroyablement présente, se pose sur une mélodie qui, en trente secondes, s'ancre dans ton cerveau pour ne plus jamais en partir. Le mec sait écrire une putain de chanson, c'est indéniable. Et cet album, ce n'est pas une collection de chansons, c'est une putain de collection de tubes interplanétaires. On va évacuer le sujet tout de suite : oui, il y a "Wild World", et oui, il y a "Father and Son". Des monuments qui ont été joués jusqu'à l'écoeurement dans tous les feux de camp, toutes les scènes de films tire-larmes, toutes les pubs pour assurances-vie. On les a tellement entendues qu'on ne les écoute plus. Et c'est là le piège, car en les réécoutant dans leur contexte, sur cet album, on est forcé de constater la perfection de leur écriture. "Father and Son", c'est le dialogue de sourds générationnel le plus brillant jamais mis en musique. C'est simple, direct, et ça touche au cœur, que tu sois le père ou le fils, tu ne peux pas lutter. Mais l'album ne se résume pas à ça, il y a une sorte de mélancolie douce-amère, une quête spirituelle qui suinte de chaque sillon. Ce n'est pas la joie naïve et béate des hippies de 67, on est en 1970 et la gueule de bois post-Woodstock commence à se faire sentir. Stevens parle d'écologie avant l'heure ("Where Do the Children Play?"), de la difficulté de trouver sa place, de la spiritualité sans le dogme. C'est la bande-son d'un type qui se pose des questions existentielles, mais qui a le talent monstrueux de les transformer en mélodies pop imparables. La production de Paul Samwell-Smith (ex-Yardbirds, excusez du peu) est un modèle du genre. C'est organique, ça respire, chaque instrument est à sa place, de la guitare acoustique, évidemment centrale, aux arrangements de cordes subtils qui ne tombent jamais dans le pompeux, en passant par le piano délicat et la basse toute en rondeur de John Ryan. Ça sonne avec une chaleur analogique qui fait un bien fou à mes oreilles habituées aux productions rêches et froides du post-punk. Alors, comment un type comme moi, dont le panthéon personnel est peuplé de prophètes du chaos et de déconstructivistes sonores, peut-il tomber sous le charme de ce chaton persan de la folk ? La réponse est simple : le talent, le putain de talent brut car au-delà des genres, des postures et des chapelles, il y a l'artisanat. Et Cat Stevens, sur ce disque, est un orfèvre, il n'y a pas un gramme de gras. Onze chansons, trente-six minutes, et une densité de mélodies qui rendrait jaloux un Paul McCartney au sommet de sa forme. C'est un disque d'une honnêteté désarmante, porté par une voix qui, même dans ses moments les plus doux, a une fêlure, une fragilité qui la rend profondément humaine. Alors ce sera un 4 sur 5, et pourquoi pas 5 ? Parce que mon ADN m'en empêche. C'est un poil trop poli, trop... gentil pour décrocher la timbale suprême dans mon système de valeurs. Il manque l'odeur de soufre, le danger, le sentiment que tout peut s'effondrer à la seconde. Ici, tout est parfaitement maîtrisé, presque trop. C'est un disque qui a gagné sa place, il a forcé le respect du vieux con cynique que je suis. Il m'a rappelé qu'avant de vouloir tout déconstruire, il faut savoir construire quelque chose de solide. Et "Tea for the Tillerman", c'est une cathédrale de mélodies, rien de moins.

Simple, whimsical acoustic guitar vibes. I felt myself instantly relaxing into my seat while I was listening to this. Cat Stevens feels like a cozy storyteller.

I was working from home and found in this album an apt companion for the dreary day. Stevens' voice is versatile and neatly underpins the emotional highs and lows. Father and son is a beautiful song with timeless lyrics.

Mellow

gentle, tender, and rather dull

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

Album 923 of 1089 Cat Stevens - Tea for the Tillerman (1970) Rating : 4 / 5 Today’s album was Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens. An awesome singer-songwriter who, I think, sometimes gets lost in the shuffle when people talk about great artists from his era. His voice has such a calming, distinctive tone, and his songs always carry a gentle wisdom that sneaks up on you. Ironically, when I went to Spotify to play the album, Wild World was just finishing up from being the last song I heard yesterday — a nice little coincidence to start this listen. This album is filled with beautiful, heartfelt songwriting - Father and Son, Where Do the Children Play?, Hard Headed Woman - all timeless tracks that show how effortlessly Stevens could blend melody and meaning. It’s a fine album that lets you just relax and drift for a while. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys honest songwriting and a peaceful listen.

Folky, very seventies, mellow, slightly too soft, good songs

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

Better than most singer-songwriter folky stuff from the same era.

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

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

I have a soft spot for Cat Stevens and there is a lovely quality to a lot of his songs, although it can tip into the saccharine. It’s all nicely produced, folksy but in an accessible way. For the sentimental out there, Father and Son is a lovely song. However, it all sounds quite same-y and despite considering myself to like a fair number of his songs it failed to fully hold my interest on a first listen. However, having revisited it charmed me more and a 3 feels criminal. Suspect the stalwarts will think it’s brilliant and the nonbelievers will think it boring.

You are treated to a sequence of tracks that feel less like individual compositions and more like variations on a theme. An exercise where the speed and volume are the only variables. The closest to a shift is "On the road to find out" which has a more angry energy which finally made me wake up. Mildly entertaining blandness. The components are all there, but they rarely cohere into anything that transcends the calculated comfort. Is this folk pop? Not sure it was ever going to win me over.

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.

This one surprised me in every sense of the word. I’m not generally fond of Folk and Singer Songwriter albums. They’re usually fine and well written, but aren’t my cup of tea. So, it was unexplainable to me why I ended up liking this one so much. It’s slow, it’s as Folk as you can get, melodic, and somewhat depressing. But man, that voice is angelic. Something about the sheer passion you can tell went into this just makes every song really stand out. It’s very real, and I don’t think picking a favorite is going to be easy here, but if I had to it would be “Hard Headed Woman”. The way everything comes together, builds up and just blows you away is nothing short of impressive. I would actually come back to this one. At 36 minutes, this is the perfect length for an album and does a good job of having no filler. With this album alone, I can see why this guy is in the Rock Hall. Well deserved. Pretty difficult not singing “Wild World” out loud.

I don't hate this. But there's something about this era's folksy stuff that, if I didn't already know it as a child, and it doesn't contain any nostalgia - it's just not great for the ears. The vocals are rough in some spots, which is probably what people are looking for. Raw, bad vocals. And The story telling in some song is very basic and boring. This isn't for me beyond on the hits Cat Stevens had. None on this album.

6/10

A nice easy listening album.

AHHHHH Father & Son always hits me hard since I lost my dad :(

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

Had forgotten how much I enjoyed Sad Lisa.

Some very good songs

Just didn't like the sound of this one at all. I'm giving it a two because I imagine if you're the right kind of person, you'd love an album like this. I'm not one of those people.

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)

I haven't listened to Cat since my mum dies a couple of years back. I probably should listen to him some more.

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

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.

I hated this

Didn't expect to like this as much as I did.

Bisschen lahm, aber 2 Hits drauf

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

listened to this during my heavy metal phase and thought it was not very good. now nearly 40 years later ...still think the same. Two good songs

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

Cool, rainy day album

Day632 - what an easy to listen to beautiful album

Not bad

What a beauty. One of The Ones. One of the special albums. Stunning songs, great instrumentation and powerful vocals. Musical balm.

Alright, another 70s record and I am not complaining, well aware of Cat/Yusuf Stevens. 2 songs from this album I already knew Wild World and Father and Son. Yet the album opener is very nice as well. Clearly this is a good folk record, still not sure if I will only give these 3 stars or round up to 4 because for RYM I'm thinking 3.5/5.0. Listened a few times now and it seems like this def deserves 4 stars, a few songs I really love from here, but other songs do not pale much in comparison and def don't take away from the experience.

great

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

Pure uncut boomer sentimental schlock. 35 minutes of lullabies for adult babies. Hey, it works - a real snoozefest!

Eh, fine. Probably one of those situations where it influenced a lot of stuff that came to follow, but is kind of boring because of that.

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. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

8/10

Timeless.

Still a beautiful album. I sometimes don't connect Cat Stevens with the actual work so I spent a lot of time going, "Oh yeah! I forgot this was a Cat Stevens song too." 4/5 album cover. Love and illustrated cover and someone understood composition!

Fun to hear the roots of inspiration to since of my favorite musicians.

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

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

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.

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

Great album! Really enjoyed listening to this one!

Really cute cover that I could easily see belonging to a twee pop album, but the music itself doesn't do much for me. Folkiness is always nice, but there's bits where his voice gets more forceful and they really don't work imo.

Based on genres and descriptors, I wasn't expecting to enjoy this, but I was very pleasantly surprised. A lot of these folk-adjacent singer-songwriter albums tend to be pretty boring to me. They’re vocal-focused and put the instrumentation on the back burner (sometimes to the point of only utilizing a single instrument). They’re made for people who want to listen to calm, sensual, emotion-driven songs about the author’s personal feelings and musings. Which is completely fine, by the way, but as a person who likes complexity and much prefers the sound of instruments over vocals, not what I look for in music. This album, however, while also having the above-stated characteristics in some parts, doesn’t shy away from going loud and letting the instruments breathe. In my unbiased and scientifically tested opinion, every composition can be improved by a crescendo that is three times louder than the rest of the song—and these album has plenty. This approach to the genre is so much more satisfying to me. As someone who doesn’t like folk nor pop, a folk pop album that is written like it’s hard rock (minus the abrasive nature) is so much more enjoyable.

There’s something about the sincerity and simplicity of the lyrical content that I find to be a bit juvenile. That’s not really fair, and I think it’s actually just representative of his self actualization. The instrumentation, if applied to different subject matter, would be a perfect recipe for me.

Ik vond dit niet heel erg spannend

Entspanntes Album viel Gesang aber gibt einen angenehmen vibe banger im Hintergrund Hippie vibes und sehr cozy Best Song: Wild World Rating: 4/5

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

Makes me happy

Very nice bit painfully uncool

Of all the singer-songwriters that emerged in the 70s, Yusuf might have been the most earnest. He wears all his emotions in his songwriting, pressing toward a better, happier, cleaner world and always inspiring. His singing is just gorgeous, and he has a beautiful play with lyrics and dynamics that others have tried to imitate ever since. This isn’t a “complete” record by any measure, but it’s so poignant and powerful it makes up for most of its flaws. I’m a sucker for his songwriting, and he just feels like a friend in the darkness clawing toward a brighter hope.

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.

Beautiful folk album

Going into this I only knew father and son. I was pleasantly surprised by the rest of the album. Not anything super amazing but just really good stuff.

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

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.

Nostalgic album that I heard a lot growing up. Extra points for Yusaf coming to Chch after the terror attack - all round good guy

Almost a greatest hits album! I do find him a little over earnest at times but you can’t argue about the quality of the songs.

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.

Ohh baby baby it's a folk record

Nice

Fine.

Watered down music for people who like going to church.

This was pretty calming

It’s pleasant enough but doesn’t really grab or hold attention. 2/5

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!

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

Some good, some bad.

Quiet, calm but with bursts of urgency, it's Cat Stevens' voice that makes this album work so well. Some absolute classics here, musically augmenting both Cat's voice and lyrics perfectly. The last song on the album, the title track, remains one of my all-time favourite songs. It starts so small, with the fragmented piano piece. It feels like you're in a tiny room with Cat Stevens sitting at his piano right across from you, noodling, improvising, trying to figure out a new song. And then out of nowhere it swells into this huge, emotional burst. All in the space of a single minute. It grabs you straight away and then just keeps building until it suddenly cuts off, leaving you kind of stunned. Very close to 5 stars. Let's call this 4.5 stars.

Lowkey heartfelt.

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

Ok

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

meh 2/5

A pleasant book to read on the train.

Great now I want to watch Extras again

Surprisingly boring. Even with wild world and Fight Test, sorry, I mean Father and Son, on there.

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

Calm, beautiful folk rock ... a nice collection of songs.

Beautiful, calm, soft, several iconic songs.

Great album with Greta production for the time of its release

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

This album was such a let-down. "Wild World" is one of my favorite songs of all time, and "Father and Son" always makes me cry, so I was eager to listen to the full album for the first time. Let me tell you, there is a reason this album is not as acclaimed as other folk-rock records from the early 70s: it is not that good.

Pretty darn good, I don't like some of the musical ideas on the later half of the album tho

Really good, almost 5.

Brilliant.

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

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 one really grew on me. Bonus points for the office closing song

This album is a warm hug that I keep coming back to. It's a 5!

Great vocals and story telling. Production and music were great too! Didn’t add many songs from it but glad I listened.

Very enjoyable album, Cat Stevens continues to overshoot my expectations every time I listen to his music. No skips.

Good classic stuff

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

I can’t deny he’s a pretty good songwriter, but I was never much of a fan. Cat? Too cute for my tastes. And he looks a bit like Jeffrey Epstein now. Pass.

Interessant , nicht ganz mein Musik Geschmack aber für ein Klassiker sehr gut, sogar ein Lied , dass ich kannte

Emotive writing & some beautiful instrumental sections just don’t personally do enough to salvage the album for me.

He couldn’t do what he was trying to do with this album any better. Really interesting arrangements that still feel exciting. Beautiful stuff.

Apparently it's supposed to be a nice folk album from before the guy went insane with his Islam ramblings. However, I'm not into folk, so apart from the Wild World there's really nothing to look forward to.

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

I can understand why people love Cat Stevens. I'm not one of them.

freaking classic

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

Zuhause, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Fantastisches Album.

- Entspannter rockiger Vibe - würde das ganze Album nochmal hören Topsong: Father And Son

Even some nice arrangements, complete with piano and string sections, can never distract from the lack of variety on this record. If you like what Cat generally does with his songwriting and vocals then that's not a huge problem. But I had trouble picking standout moments on this record. The most noteworthy tracks come at the end of the record with Father and Son and then the title song, which finishes just as it threatens to get going. Serviceable, quaint but a little tedious. The cover art was apparently painted by Cat himself; it's terrible.

very soothing

I enjoyed the album more than I thought I would.

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

Cat Stevens is not my favorite singer/songwriter of this era, but this album is a classic. Some really good tunes on this one.

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

Would give it a 6 if I could. Beautiful.

Not usually my bag but really enjoyed this. Perfect album for a sunny Sunday morning.

Banger of the Album: Wild World What a great morning coffee album

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

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

I like folk, so this was good!

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.

Yeh

Classic aber auch bisschen langweilig

Meh

Light and charming

Really enjoyed this. Recognised a few but even the new to me ones were a pleasure

This is great, I learned Sad Lisa is what my dad would play all the time on the piano

Good, classic songwriting.

Chill. Easy going. Enjoyable.

Nice cozy album to listen while you snuggle a cat

Cat Stevens is such a unique musician - instantly recognizable, with a voice that feels both fragile and powerful. I feel like everyone knows at least one of his songs, even if they don’t always realize it’s him. Tea for the Tillerman is probably his most beloved record, packed with some of his biggest hits like Wild World and Father and Son. It’s a beautifully intimate album, easy to put on and just lose yourself in the emotions. The stripped-down arrangements make it timeless, while the lyrics wrestle with themes of growing up, change, and spiritual searching. At the time, it solidified Stevens as one of the defining singer-songwriters of the early ’70s, standing alongside artists like James Taylor and Joni Mitchell. Decades later, it still resonates. Proof that simple, heartfelt songwriting can be as powerful as any elaborate production.

82/100. Tea for the Tillerman is a great folk-rock album, showcasing fantastic songwriting and production. The emotional depth in the lyrics makes it a heartfelt and engaging listen. With standouts like "Father and Son" and "Wild World," this album delivers timeless melodies and thoughtful storytelling. A well-crafted classic that certainly isn’t a miss.

Good background music for work. Recognized “Wild World.”

Not really a huge fan of this album. I think it's more of a personal taste thing though. The specific style of rock here just doesn't do it for me.

This is the definition of a comfort album. Its nostalgic, its friendly, its warm. It almost feels like it was made for children which I mean in the best way possible. "Where Do The Children Play?", "Hard Headed Woman", and "Wild World" is a pretty insane three song run. After that it kinda loses some steam but comes back in the end with "Father And Son". Overall a lovely album that was a treat to revisit. Favorite track: Where Do The Children Play?

How quaint! This album was full of surprise hits and enjoyable guitar alongside some heartfelt lyrics. Something about the album cover conveys the message of the album so well, and was such a pleasant listen. 4/5! I wish Tea For the Tillerman was longer, and a couple songs weren't as strong, but the recognition of Wild World and the songwriting of Father & Son really shone.

Into it but not in love with it

This is the kind of music that makes you want to fall in love with a 79 year old woman

6/10 Favorite: Miles From Nowhere

Super chill, laid back, easy to listen to. When I think of the sound of the 70’s, it’s pretty much this album

An okay Folk album.

Album Art Review - looks like a children's book cover - tracks for Yusuf/Cat Yusuf/Cat Stevens - great singer songwriter. Kind of a right of passage to get into Cat Stevens at some point early in one's musical journey. This album has a couple of classics Hard Headed Woman and Wild World. I don't think Cat knew what a wild world it really would become. Father and Son is another. I'm pretty much over Cat Stevens, been there, stuck in a time in my life that is long gone. Thanks though

Lovely easy-listening folk album. Incredible vocals.

Wild world!!! Really enjoyed hard headed woman, will bring this into the CS rotation.

oh hell yes. edit: this was awesome. sad songs within the album, but a very enjoyable and reflective listen. i enjoyed the songs on it that i haven't heard before. and the art work! awesome.

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

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.

This is a rather soft acoustic pop album with pleasing vocals and arrangements. The lyrics have a healthy bit of social commentary, but are sugar coated with good pop hooks and soft acoustic guitar.

Ma foi, pourquoi pas.

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

Solid album! This album proves that voice isn’t everything. As a teenager I didn’t get Cat Stevens. But I get it now.

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

ummmmm this puts me to sleep but it's not terrible! LMAO

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

Perfectly fine, mellow and somewhat serious, but probably not as deep or wise as it aspires to be. Vocals are good but there's an undeniable meh factor going on. One always wonders how he feels about his conversion to Islam.

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

Yussuf is life

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

I generally despise folk rock - plug your fucking guitar into an amp, FFS. This is worse than most, but it gets a bonus star because that one song worked really well in one of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.

Not my cup of tea, but this album is mastered incredibly. The use of negative space is excellent.

nista spec

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

(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.

It's totally fine

Nudges a 4. I'll definitely listen again.

The best Cat Stevens' album.

Wild World is a popular song I didn't know was by cat stevens. Good soft rock.

Ahh great old album! And one that I've not heard the whole thing of but had a very good experience listening to! I was just enthralled with it!

Lowkey kinda great. Solid buildup in every song.

1. play - 1 2. uuoman - 1 3. uuorld - 2 4. Lisa - 1.5 5. Miles - 1 6. Tonight - 1 7. Boats - 0 8. White - 1 9. Road - 1 10. Father - 2 11. Tea - 1.5

Je l'écoute maintenant...

Very very good. Leaves you wanting more.

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

Ja

could not finish listening to it. not my vibe.

Heartfelt and sweet

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

An American dad, with a big beard, emotionally strong vibing and singing in his red rusted pick-up driving in a Forest of « conifères »