Tea for the Tillerman

While folk music is not my usual cup of coffee, I find one cannot help but be touched by the poignant material in this album. I think we can all agree this is a classic.

Very good, calming music that was put together well

Very easy to listen to, and I understand the folksy potency of Yusuf very well now after listening to this. That being said, it did dip a few times for me.

Surprisingly good.

Þekkti öll lögin. Svo mér líður bara vel að hafa farið í þessa nostalgíu.

Favourite songs: - Where do the children play - Wild world - Sad Lisa

Gotta love Cat, have this one at home. Very good

What a pleasant listen. Stevens weaves great stories into enjoyable folk melodies so well, it just puts you in a good mood. Really well crafted from start to finish.

Was familiar with this one, my dad likes Cat Stevens. Is a good listen, relaxing.

This album is the embodiment of the good kind of classic rock and folk for me. Hard to wrap my mind around it being 50 years old and still so relevant. Wild World was a favourite before today. The version of Father and Son as a duet between his older and younger selves on the 50th anniversary rerecording hits harder than the original but it's a classic sound.

Very enjoyable

I’m not too familiar with Cat Stevens, but I found this album to be very pleasant. Stevens’ brand of folk is fairly typical of the time being driven by piano and guitar. He has an impeccable sense of melody but for me, this music just doesn’t push the boundaries.

Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens (1970) This is a beautiful album, which I first heard in 1970 or 1971, thanks to my older sister. I’ve listened to it hundreds of times since, and it always inspires. The Austrian composer Anton Bruckner (1824-1896) was once approached by a man after a concert who made a critical observation: “Herr Bruckner, your symphonies are too long!” Bruckner replied, “On the contrary, my good man, it is you who are too short.” It takes patience and a willingness to sit still, if you want to ‘get it’. Any critic (e.g., Robert Christgau, The Village Voice, 6/10/71) who complains that Tea for the Tillerman is ‘repetitive’ and ‘melodically uninteresting’ is merely revealing a similar weakness as a listener. Lovers of music must not have the attention span of a gnat. Singer/songwriter Cat Stevens displayed rare talent on this breakout album that goes far beyond the ‘hits’ “Wild World” and “Father and Son”. Indeed, most people who love this record probably have other more beloved tracks, and there are plenty from which to choose. For me, it’s “Sad Lisa”, but that’s probably due to what some would call my paternalistic and condescending misogyny. Tough. To fully appreciate Tea for the Tillerman, the listener must sit still. Please do. Stevens’ comfortingly baritone voice has a slightly croaky timbre and lacks tonal precision, but is unquestionably authentic—essential for grabbing hold of the penetrating and thoughtful (if sometimes overly didactic) lyrics, like: “The answer lies within, so why not take a look now? Kick out the devil’s sin, pick up a good book now.” (and not just any Book will do, Yusuf). There are some splendid arrangements, with eloquent strings and expressive yet restrained percussion. On “Sad Lisa”, sit still and listen carefully to delicate features such as the suddenly tripled piano arpeggio at 1:07, the violin solo at 1:52, and pizzicato strings at 3:30. And that’s not to mention the deft percussive clicking and barely discernible guitar plucking. Someone paid a lot of attention to arranging this track, even if the performance is minutely flawed by dropped tempo and two stumbles on the piano. I was pleasantly impressed on this listen with the extraordinary contributions of Alun Davies on fingerstyle acoustic guitar and backing vocals, correcting my earlier mistaken assumptions. Davies did much to create the classic ‘Cat Stevens’ sound. I’ll have to give a fresh listen to Teaser and the Firecat this afternoon. Look at irony in the cover art (painted by Stevens himself). Soil-shaping tiller-men are likely not known for taking tea (I dunno; ask the British). Whenever a broad shouldered tiller-man does take tea, however, I suppose he is most suitably pictured with an oversized mug fitted for large rugged hands and beefy fingers. With such an accommodation, he can savor all the delicate sensory pleasures, just like your Aunty. If he sits still. 4/5

I liked the album a lot. It had many really good songs and an overall nice sound. Good album

De va mysigt!!

Pretty folk rock. Not sure how to articulate it but there’s a certain charm that draws me in. Maybe it’s in Stevens’ voice, his words or the instrumentation. Who knows?

Very cool!

Golden hippie music. Sgt Pepper probably got high listening to this album.

One of the most underrated songwriters out there

Good listen

cosa vuoi dirgli a Cat, voto 7.5 ma due singoloni elevano la questione

Arrived at Cat Stevens a long time ago via Harold and Maude and always liked it a lot. There can be a certain preachiness to his lyrics and can maybe err on the side of softness and lightness but I think this album is pretty perfect.

Good stuff, will possibly listen to the odd track again, here and there.

Better than I thought. It grew on me

Nice little acoustic bops. Sad lisa being a highlight.

Honestly a nice listen, not too overwhelming. Father and son is a classic. Little lacking of highs and the voice does get a bit too annoying for 5 Stars

12th November 2021 Listened mainly while getting the front room ready for Jake, jess and the boys to come and stay for the weekend. Love this album, feels like maturing and developing throughout. I imagine it keeps on giving as you move through life.

Good mood, thought out lyrics, FATHER AND SON

Easy, relaxing, chilled. What's not to like?

Never judge an album by its artwork. I was pleasantly surprised by this. Enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Still humming Wild World..

Heard it many times. Foreigner still my favorite Cat Stevens album.

Overall a great album. For me it has some song-making cliches that makes it a bit boring at times, still I believe it's a must listen.

Not my first experience of this album, it's a classic and deservedly so. I like it very much.

Wild World is a classic for a reason. Genuinely calming album. Hard headed woman is my next favorite from this album. Quickly became a favorite and I'm glad I discovered it.

a gem - a bit too earnest at points but some superbly crafted songs. 4.

Prima Yusuf!

4/5

This is very decent. I know this album pretty well and it certainly passes the test of time!

This was quite the nice listen! Very quirky

Float downriver on a boat of pure songcraft, expertly steered by yer man Yusuf/Cat.

Pretty standout folk record. Favorites: Where do the children play?, Wild World, Sad Lisa

Mila odmiana po dog manowym starze, nadal wyspy brytyjskie, ale tym razem o wiele bardziej folkowo, chociaz jest to dosc mocno popularny styl folka, ale nie na tyle populary zebym kojarzyl tytul czy artyste, jak na ignoranta muzycznego przystalo, wiec Cat Stevens lub obecnie grajacy pod pseudonimem Yusuf Islam, z dosc oczywistych wzgledow, to artysta londynski grajacy folka opartego na brzmieniu akustyka oraz klawiszy, dodatkowymi instrumentami pojawiajacymi sie na plycie sa smyczki, kontrabas, drumsy, kongosy czy wiolaczela, ale nigdzie album nie sprawia wrazenia przytloczenia instrumentami, melodycznie i lirycznie jest prosto, a jednak tak bogato, bo proste kawalki, pozostawiaj pole do wolnej interpretacji, glownym motywem beda duchowe poszukiwania, chyba nic dziwnego jak na artyste ktory zmienil imie na islam, ale nawet songi, ktore sie dobrze sprzedaly, to jest wild world, z na pierwszy rzut oka wyglada jak typowy love song, czy raczej after love song, bo bardziej o rozejsciu sie pary, a prawdopobnie traktuje on o przejsciach Cata, ktory rok przed nagraniem tego albumu zdychal na gruzlice i odme plucna i zegnal sie ze swiatem, tak obrocil losy i pewnie tez stad motyw poszukiwania czegos nowego, czy to artystycznie czy duchowo, o ile wild worlda skojarzylem praktycznie po kilku nutkach, tak jeszcze jeden traczek byl mi znany z straznikow galaktyki voliumarza drugiego, na endingu byl father and son, jestem pewien ze jeszcze longer boats gdzies mi sie obil o uszy, ale juz nie zgadne gdzie, chyba od czasu albumu Cohena nie bylo pika ktory tak lirycznie do mnie trafil, ze w kazdym traku mozna cos dla siebie wyluskac, chociaz tylko 36 minut na 11 kawalkow, to nie ma zadnych filerowych miejsc, gdyby tylko troche bardziej surowo byl wyprodukowany, bo jednak slychac spore katowanie overdubowaniem tam gdzie bardziej skomplikowane partie ala smyczki+gitarka z kontrabasem perfekcjonizm wykonania odbiera autentycznosci, ale calosciowo ale jest to przypadlosc tylko we fragmentach albumu, jako calosc przybilbym stempel autentycznosci, glownie przez strone wokalno liryczna, na plejke wrzuce wild worlda i miles from nowhere, a na liste do przesluchania albumow musi zostac dodane Tea for the Tillerman 2, ktore ukazalo sie w tamtym roku na 50lecie, jedynie po okladce widze, ze pan sternikowy z okladki wszedl w ere kosmiczna, tak samo dzieciarnia na drzewach, ciekawe bedzie uslyszec tego samego artyste po 50 latach

Must have been 10 years ago since the last time I listened to this album. The music is easily 5 stars just like any other Cat Stevens album from that period, but -1 for the lyrics.

This was very pleasant. Thought I didn't know any Cat Stevens songs but turns out I knew two of these!

A little more mellow than my usual listening but I enjoy the simplicity and the melody.

Great album!!!

yes

Beautiful music, lovely vocals, gorgeous production, a fine, fine album.

Je n'ai pas grand chose à raconter sur ce projet, étant en proie à une semaine qui s'annonce très éprouvante temporellement, je vous prie de bien vouloir comprendre que je ne peux me permettre de prendre le temps d'écrire des reviews brillantes. J'ai eu Robert au téléphone, il comprend et ne m'en tient pas rigueur. Un album qui ne demande qu'à confirmer donc.

classic

Great songwriting, acoustic mastery

Folk rock lento de Cat Stevens... Dos megahits.

Caught me by surprise - such an easy listen. Very enjoyable

Solid album, could use a bit more variation in flavor maybe.

Pleasant folk rock, nice music and nice songwriting. I think the lyrics were a little heavy-handed at times. 7/10

It has some weird lyrics and follows a lot of musical clichés but it sounds nice. 8

3 1/2

Short and sweet, very nice

I know this album a bit already. where do the children play: nice song./ hard headed woman: good, but not a classic perhaps wild world: a great song sad lisa: miles from nowhere: but i might die tonight: longer boats - bit repetitive. into white - bit too soft on the road to find out: father and son: tea for the tillerman:

"Well, you roll on roads Over fresh green grass For your lorry loads Pumping petrol gas" wild world is so catchy Sad Lisa is an odd song considering he said it was about himself "’Cause I’ll drink to you, my baby I’ll think to that, I’ll think to that" "Be straight, think right" But I might die tonight! super super catchy album longer boats is a banger, I'm a sucker for songs with boats or water you can definitely see this is before his Buddhist part and definitely before his conversion to islam "For you will still be here tomorrow But your dreams may not" had to Google this as I heard the boyzone version obviously it was somewhere deep in the back of my mind "’Cause while the sinners sin The children play Oh Lord, how they play and play For that happy day" really surprised by this album 4 - enjoyed it, will listen again

Nice and relaxing

I'm rounding up from a 3.5 because I'll listen to this again. Few hits on there and songs like Sad Lisa & Miles From Nowhere are worth a listen. Pleasant, mellow, inoffensive.

Remember when this guy advocated for the death of Salman Rushdie via death fatwa

Not gonna lie, I went into this thinking it was gonna be shit hippie music. I was wrong. It is only 10% shit hippie music. The other 90% is pretty rad and chill.

Good chill acoustic

Mooi album

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Hard headed woman, Wild world, Father and son

Amazing songwriting! But a bit chil and slow for my taste

Rolling hills vibes, chill

Soft/Acoustic Rock Favorite Song: Wild World Really enjoyed this album. A nice chill, downtempo listen.

This English folk rock album will transport you to simpler times, where it always feels like summer and the plans for the day include a hike followed by a picnic. Bring some Tea for the Tillerman!

Father And Son will always be close to my heart, such a good song. And discovered some of the other bangers on the album

Relaxing and fun to listen to. You should listen to this album atleast once before you die.

Splendid album! A strong start to this challenge. A relaxing and smart album. Cat Stevens is apparently a lot more than Wild World. Who knew? It's the kind of album you can listen to several times and remember each song. I hear something new each time.

Very good, I liked it quite a lot. The only track I knew so far was Wild World but that turned out to be one of the weakest tracks of the album.

Great. very familiar.

Very good. A little folksy. Good 70s folk rock. Includes some classics i've known for a long time

This was a very chill album. Nice and relaxing. Had a nostalgic feel to it. 4/5 stars

Jack and I lay back and thoroughly enjoyed this one. I've always loved 'Wild World' and 'Father and Son' but this whole album gives me a feeling of transcendence (it's probably because we were laying down in a very relaxed state for the entire album but still). 'Miles From Nowhere' does kick up a bit at times and 'On The Road To Find Out' is a pretty perky tune but generally, it's chilled throughout. The best part of this album, however, is the reminder of Andy Milman and Ross Kemp that we get from Tea For The Tillerman.

Het eerste nummer kwam me ergens bekend voor. 'Wild world' is het meest gekende van dit album, maar niet het beste nummer. Al bij al een goed album

I really like the  hits on this LP and they are not overplayed to the extent that I can't listen to them anymore. The rest of the album is also decent although not well known to me. Hard Headed Woman and Miles From Nowhere stand out favourably among the songs that weren't hits Father and Son is special imo for two reasons. First, I expect we all noticed how the voice he uses when he sings the father's dialogue is different from the voice he uses when singing the son's dialogue. There is more to this than meets the ear. If you want to change the key in which you are singing, you also have to change the key you play the guitar which means changing the chords to be consistent with the different key. Kris Kristofferson does this on The Pilgrim Chapter 33  where he sings and strums the first half of the song in the key of G but just before the second verse he switches things up and starts to strum and sing in the key of D. (This will make even the best Karaoke singers sound foolish once the second verse starts if they don't know what's about to happen.) But I digress. In Father and Son, the chords don't change from verse to verse which means the  key stays the same. Cat Stevens delivers the different voice by singing the Son's dialogue a full octave higher. Having the vocal range to sign a song in two different octaves is impressive. The second reason the song is special relates to how the meaning of the song to his audience has changed in the decades since its release. Initially his audience in the 70s must have  thought "the old man doesn't get how the world works these days" but later in life this may have changed to "the son should accept the wisdom he's being offered." Personally, I now think both father and son were right. This is one of these LPs where his actions outside of music help  justify a high rating.  As a teenager growing up in Sudbury I recall the reaction when he went from being Cat to being Yusuf. The common view was he had succumbed to a cult and / or had gone crazy. In those days the media would not help frame things differently. I think his turning to Islam caused at least  some of his fans to think more freely, become more accepting and by now hopefully hold the view that his name change from Cat to Yusuf is no more deserving of negativity than his name change from Steve to Cat was. 

This is a fine album and has the song "Wild World" but more importantly the titular track is the closing theme from Extras (brings it up at least one full star).

Chill and relaxed. Felt sunny

Cat Stevens is a storyteller who just happens to sing. Solid, well put together album.

I have this one on vinyl, so I put it on the platter and gave it a listen. All in all, a good album. There are some really good tunes on here, “Father and Son” being one of them. I can see how/why this album made this list

Très cool, très posé !

Très bon album, très chouette découverte !

Father and Son 😢

Very relaxing

Didn't think i'd like but some very nice music

No sé... Es un disco bonito. No le puse atención a las letras como de costumbre, pero los sonidos son gentiles y ralajantes. Me aburrió un poco, pudo haber sido mi mood though. Me gustó On the Road to Find Out, creo que es la canción más emocionante del disco. Mood: en un jardín inglés sintiéndome discípulo de Lewis Carroll

Me encanta. Moñas como uno es. Para días de lluvia, para regodearse en la melancolía. Como algo tan moñas puede hacerte sentirte tanto.

Beautiful.

un autre grand bonne voix inspirant son succes en témoigne

Quel album! Je trouve du réconfort dans la voix de Cat Stevens malgré qu'elle soit atypique. Outre le classique Wild World, j'aurai toujours un faible pour la pièce Father and son. Je trouve ça simple et efficace, pas trop de flafla mais pas monotone pour autant.

Ni sé bien qué género sea esto, wiki dice que folk rock, pero suena bien. Me gustó en general y especialmente "Wild World", que al parecer es su canción más popular. Conocía a Cat Stevens sólo de nombre, tons estuvo bien oír este disco suyo. Las otras dos canciones que disfruté mucho son "Miles From Nowhere" y "But I Might Die Tonight". Su voz me agradó, tiene como una energía peculiar y la instrumentación, todo combinó bonito. 8/10.

Bit boring on album level, but likeable songs anyway, nice melancholic vibe.

Bueno

It's very good folk music, perhaps even the best on this list so far. But that can't save it from the fact that it's still folk music and I hate it

I've never really listened much to Cat Stevens in the past, and this album was a pleasant break from some of the stuff I've gotten on this list lately. the lyrics are amazing, accompanied with music that hits you like a truck. I will admit, after listening to this, I am open to listening to more of Cat Steven/Yusuf Islam's work in the future.

i don't love cat stevens, but that was pretty good.

Thought I’d hate it. Then actually enjoyed it lol

Strong start and finish. 1 funky song. Fucking father and son man. I was at work; didn't need to cry at work.

Decent listen but not my cuppa

Echt heerlijk jammen op gitaar

Fantastic.

Also nice. Has one or two songs I will return to.

1. Where do the children play? 2. Hard headed woman 3. Wild world 4. Sad Lisa 5. Miles from nowhere 6. But I might die tonight 7. Longer boats 8. Into white 9. On the road to find out 10. Father and son 11. Tea for the Tillerman Highlights: 2, 3, 4 (melancolía), 5 (happy beat), 9, 10 (reflexión bonita)

Hay un remaster del 2020 porque cumplió 50 años. A veces tengo que repetir la resta para corroborar que 1970 está a 50 años de distancia. La verdad es que hay muchas canciones de Cat Stevens que me gustan y un par de ellas están en este disco, así que de entrada me gustó escucharlo completo (no lo había hecho antes). Creo que como disco del género singer-songwriter es muy bueno: canciones pegajosas, bonitas letras, arreglos interesantes a voces (como en Longer Boats) y harta guitarra. Por otro lado, fuera del género, podría sentirse aburrido y demasiado meloso.

Sweet and gentle, deeply charming songs with hidden depths.

I had only ever heard a handful of Cat Stevens songs before today. Very chill album that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Father and Son is beautiful and heartbreaking

Slower, softer music. Easy listening

Father and Son is an absolute masterpiece of a track. Wild World is also on here, which is amazing. I was going to give this a 3, but there's some strong songwriting here that I really resonate with, so it goes up a star.

Not a big fan but good

I never listened to The Cat much but this album was good. It’s like a stranger James Taylor record.

Really like the art. Love Cat Stevens singing, the guitar is very comforting. I like the almost fantasy-like feeling mixed with almost country vibes. Where do the children play is quite a banger.

I enjoyed it, I saved a couple songs to add to my own personal playlist for 2021. 😄

Cool Cat Stevens.

Excellent, simply excellent.

Många fina bitar.

softy!

Album with some original classics

Pleasant, atmospheric, but a bit on the repetitive side. Ok.

3.5

Enjoy Wild World and familiar with Cat Stevens for that reason, this was a fine listen but nothing I personally connected with beyond that.

Blanding mellom skikkelig fint og kjedelig. Nydelig stemme.

Nice!

Some beautiful and deep songs, but some forgettable.

Heilt grei singersongwritermusikk utan evne til å hekta. Er det litt lett kanskje? Eg likar snillingar, type James Taylor, frå same periode, men der ligg det fleire lag synst eg. Legg eg uvilja til så er det noko litt irriterande, jamesbluntsk, med synginga og.

Virker som en from og velmenende type, Stevens. Kunne han ha vært en bedre politiker enn visesanger? For jeg blir ikke så engasjert av dette her. Synes Sad Lisa stikker seg ut som en fin liten sak, spesielt de strykerne hadde noe gående.

Cat Stevens - Tea for the Tillerman Er det formidlinga? Er det stemma til Cat? Instrumenteringa? Produksjonen? Kvifor elskar eg ikkje denne plata? For låtane er stort sett veldig sterke. Eg meinar… “Father & Son”, “Sad Lisa”, “Wild World” og så bortetter… Alle klassikarar! Det er heilt mystisk kor lite fantastisk eg syns denne plata er. Kva er det som mangler? Er den AI-generert? 6/10

Got no choice but to whizz through these albums now. I like Cat Stevens a lot. Saw him play a great set at Glastonbury where he played a number of these songs. But they're not exciting are they. They're nice. Three stars seems fair.

high 3 bit disappointed by this effort for legendary elm road resident. he's not very good at singing tbh

I always thought Cat Stevens was a bit of a blind spot in my musical knowledge I knew one or two of his better known songs but didn't really know much about him, besides the fact he'd converted to Islam at some point and moved away from secular songwriting. Listening to this I was reminded that he also popularise the hymn Morning Has Broken which was actually a song I remember learning to sing at a very early age in primary school. So rather than being unknown to me, it may be that Cat's version of Morning Has Broken was actually one of the first and most foundational songs I ever listened to. This was very enjoyable to listen to. I'm only familiar with Wild World, Father and Son, and the title track which was used in the closing credits of Extras, but he's got a very calming voice and the arrangements are stellar. It can be a bit samey but it also made me feel things which isn't always the case with folk

A few notes. All different songs feel similar because of the leading presence of the guitar in his melodies. Though this could have become repetitive, every song has its own tune, its own identity. Some melodies take you to older times and some to ones that are still ahead of you. Stories to be told about a long time of absence from the Western World. Although I lack understanding behind his decisions, I can tell that they had a significant effect on himself.

Track one feels like an SNL parody of a Cat Stevens song, which maybe says a lot about the influence of Cat Stevens on pop culture in the last 50 years. Objectively, it deserves more than 3 stars but I can't make myself pretend to care about singer-songwriter albums anymore

A fine album! Fun and catchy.

I had this record long ago, but it’s one of the things that I abandoned when I got older. But ok, I remember these songs. Many of them are a little syrupy for me now, but the tunes were all instantly memorable. Lyrics on a couple of the songs got my attention: “Where do the children play” has an interesting tune and seems rather contemporary, with what seems like its critique of the modern technology of 1970 that applies even more now. “But I Might Die Tonight,” feels like it should be contemporary, since I’d rather live than work, but these days so many people I know are looking for work that it feels wrong somehow. “On the Road to Find Out” is nice - I like the drumming in the background, though I wish it were miked a little louder. He gets a little religious at the end, but that’s ok. I like the “baa, baa, baa” chorus bits. Some of them I didn’t want to listen to. “Wild World” was always a skip track when I had the record when I was 14 years old, and it still gets on my nerves. And “Father and Son” hit me emotionally from the first note, so I shut it off; I guess that means it's a good song, but I didn't want to get all emotional about it.

Slightly nice songs, slightly boring album

Rate: 7.5/10.

So I listened to this a few times on the day it came up, thought it was okay, read some reviews, then decided I needed to revisit. Upon a revisit, definitely better than I initially judged. I just wasn’t paying great attention & I kinda knew it. I’ve known wild world and father & son for some time. This is a very good album. However, I am not particularly struck by it. It has very thoughtful, beautifully written songs, stories, and images, set perfectly over lovely acoustic guitar and minimal “big” sound. It’s really pleasant to listen to, no doubt. Father and son truly is probably one of the greatest songs ever. There were a few other songs that caught me, like where do the children play and miles from nowhere. The full listen is certainly a peaceful vibe, and the songwriting is top notch. To me, it’s not perfection, and I’d probably prefer a different flavor of singer songwriter, but it’s good, and I’m glad I gave it another look. 3.5-.75.

Nie jest to moja ulubiona gatunkowo muzyka, ale dwa kawałki które tak mocno przebiły się na zasadzie megahitów zaskakująco nie pasują do tej minimalistycznej konwencji całego albumu. Jest to też początek przygody z tym 1001 album generator więc ostrożnie z ocenami, ale jako, że nie ma "połówek" zaokrąglam w górę.

I never cared much for Cat Stevens, probably because I had a girlfriend in highschool who was obsessed with him and made me listen to Wild World until I wanted to claw my eardrums out. It's a pity, really, because this album is actually much better than I remembered or expected. Soulful, sometimes even passionate, it avoids most of the pitfalls that often plague the singer-songwriter genre in my opinion (namely, being overly whiny, self-centered and minimalistic). Cat Stevens has a great voice, and the arrangements are powerful. There's an almost psychedelic vibe to some of the songs (and to the cover art), but it never feels as dated or forced as some late 60s / early 70s albums. In many respects, it's a surprisingly modern record. It will never really be my cup of tea - I don't love every track, and the lyrics feel a bit too conservative for my taste. But I did have a good time with this, and I could see myself coming back to it when I'm in the right mood. 6/10

*plays Animal Crossing on the DS* Oooh baby baby it's a Wild World. Album was decent

This was perfectly...fine.

This one has THE song. 3/5, yay

Wild World has a special place in my heart because of Skins. The rest was nice.

Good, but after all these years sounds like renfair Neil Young

Not a whole lot to say about this one Cat Stevens has a very nice voice and there’s a very consistent sound throughout the album 3.5/5 Favorites: wild world, sad Lisa, where do the children play, father and son

3/5

Feels like nostalgia

Mostly kind of boring to me, but the stuff in the middle was pretty great. Loved the drums and piano on this whole thing, though. Stevens' voice was also great. Favorite Track: Miles From Nowhere

Father and Son is a beautiful song.

It's fine, but he has a better album Teaser and Firecat...

Some classics, but didn't really think much of the songs I didn't already know

Another case of a few really solid songs but some filler, it's good but not great in my opinion

Quite a contrast, coming from Digital Underground and headed towards an Alice In Chains album. Delightful, sophisticated, if not a little twee, pop from the late 60s/early 70s era. Wild World is one of those songs you forget about, but then when you hear it are reminded what a great tune it is. Turn it up and sing along!

This record really gave us some classics and I respect that.

3.4, i was lowkey shocked when wild world started playing. Id like it more if i enjoyed the others songs a lil more. Right now it was very much of the same

This is the first album on the list that I already own. I've listened to this album a fair bit already. I like it, though it is a little bit yachtish. I tend to like music with an upright bass (where my regina spektor 11:11 fans at?). I like "father and son" not having much of a chorus. That's based. I'll always remember you like a child 💀 Why's bro asking where the children play 💀 W: father and son, Wild world L: Hard-headed woman 3/5

Klassikko meininkiä kuten wild world.

Nice and chill album. Lots of classics. Caught me in a sleepy time on my life unfortunately so I did nod off towards the end.

It's just not for me...

First listen

Some of the songs are really nice and charming, but a lot of them are just quite boring, and whilst the overall sound is really lush, it does get a bit old, especially on tracks like Longer Boats where the vocals get quite annoying repetitive. I just found this really hit or miss to be honest, with even some of the "classics", like Wild World, being a bit boring. The acoustic guitar parts are nice but the rest of the instrumentation and the song progressions are lacking which doesn't help it from getting boring. Father and Son is really well written, but in terms of execution, I much prefer the Johnny Cash and Fiona Apple version as well as the reinterpretation on The Flaming Lips' Fight Test. Also, the line, "You're still young, that's your fault", really pisses me off, even if that's somewhat intentional. However, I do have to admit the progression of that song is really compelling and well-done. Overall, not a bad album, but there are definite highlights a lot of less interesting songs.

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A folk album that keeps you hooked with its calming atmosphere and lyrical bite. Cat Stevens as a vocalist adds a great layer of quality overall, and it does a whole lot sonically with mainly just a guitar and piano. Not for me, but I do appreciate it.

Blander folk rock than I'd remembered. Nice tunes but forgettable. 3 stars

I’d always thought that Cat Stevens was just another old hippy who struggled with the transition from the 60s into the 70s, but I’m glad that I gave this album a chance. I was also surprised how many of the tracks that I was already familiar with. There is a lot of wistful longing and introspection here, as he muses on ideas of growing and changing from childhood to adulthood, his relationship with his father, and the state of the world obsessed with materialism at the expense of everything else. It’s easy to see the roots of his spiritual journey here that lead him to Islam and changing his name to Yusef Islam. He ended leaving music for some time and was caught up in some controversies (that seem to be down to wilful misquoting out of context by tabloids), but it seems that he has returned to his music in recent years, emphasising the peaceful and moderate side of his faith.

2.5. Some great stuff and some I couldn’t be arsed with

Decent

This is #day733 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… yeah, "Wild World" instantly rang a bell. Otherwise, a pleasant folk rock record for a rainy Tuesday morning like today. This is a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day734.

Great songwriting, not very involving performance.

It was a lovely and quiet album from Cat Stevens. I now some of the tracks, but appreciated the chill vibe of the album.

Not a big folk guy, but this is EXACTLY what I think of when I think of folk music. I don't think I know enough about Cat Stevens (or whatever his name is now) to judge him but I know he's quite controversial. Musically this is quite good; folk isn't my thing but it's catchy. Not sure I'd listen to this a lot.

Quite agreable album, probably the better of the week. It's a 3 but could have been a 4. Favorite songs: Where Do the Children Paly? ; Wild World

En todellakaan ymmärrä miten tällä on näin paljon kuunteluja 3/5

It’s actually quite good music. Three stars…

I went on a walk on a particularly hot day, carefully trying to protect my fresh sunburns. Tea for the Tillerman sounds roughly like what I was expecting: some gentle singer-songwriter primarily built around a guitar and an emotive voice. One of the things I most respect about Cat Stevens' artistry, particularly on this album, is his ability to craft and deliver socially conscious lyrics with a very clear and explicit message, without feeling ham-fisted or clunky. However, this album does also do the lyrical thing which I don't appreciate, where a man sings a love song prominently referring to his partner as a little girl or a child. It's just a weird metaphor and framing device which throws me off of otherwise standard songs. There are certainly some great and emotionally investing highlights here, but a lot of this album leaves me feeling pretty neutral. Highlights: Where Do The Children Play?, Hard Headed Woman, Miles From Nowhere, Longer Boats, Father And Son

1. Where Do the Children Play - a very interesting song with a dichotomy between a nice, easy-listening acoustic duet that feels sweet and bouncy, and lyrics condemning the negative impacts of big machines, development, and industry on our surroundings. An interesting critique on modern development. 2. Hard Headed Woman - seems like someone who is sick of vapid, transactional relationships and wants somebody who is interested in who a person truly is, without conditions attached. Building crescendo at the end. 3. Wild World - This one is a classic. Awesome music and melody. Catchy, and pretty energetic for the vibe of the album so far. Seems like a good-bye song, but a cheery one? 4. Sad Lisa - Pretty piano intro, melancholy vibes. Gives me much less orchestral Eleanor Rigby vibes? Cool piano part, strange, short chorus. Is this Cat Stevens' version of Brick by Ben Folds or something? *Spotify ad break thoughts: Yeah, this sounds pretty much like what I assumed a Cat Stevens album would sound like. Chill guitar vibes, meaningful lyrics (though idk what's going on in Lisa's life). 5. Miles From Nowhere - Ohhhh a little vocal range. The build in the beginning is really cool. This song is really dynamic and is a fun listen. 6. But I Might Die Tonight - The music is fine, lyrics/message feel a bit cliche. Not a bad song, but not my favorite on the album. Short. Feels like "I don't want to grow up to be like you, working a job you hate and wasting my life away" and the promise of a "good job" feels like a death sentence? 7. Longer Boats - This song seems super familiar. Super catchy, sounds like an old spiritual. This song rocks. 8. Into White - Super folky. Not usually my style but I bet this would sound great on vinyl. This reminds me of Simon and Garfunkle. Feels long, and kind of keeps the same form the whole time. 9. On the Road to Find Out - Builds up a bit by the end. Fine, not a highlight, not a lowlight for me. Cool little high guitar part near the end. 10. Father and Son - By far the best song on the album, which is saying a lot! Incredible perspective on the relationship between a father and son, and the different perspectives age brings. Beautiful song, amazing build up. Obvious classic. 11. Tea for the Tillerman - Short, kind of pointless? Why not end on a certified BANGER with Father and Son? Album Highs: Father and Son Wild World Long Boats Miles from Nowhere Where Do the Children Play Album Lows: Into White But I Might Die Tonight Tea for the Tillerman Final Thoughts: Easy to see why this was included, especially for how amazing it probably was at the time. A few timeless classics on it. I'm not a HUGE fan of overly-folky tunes and this album dips into that world a few times, but I do think some of the lyrics are really poignant, and the payoff of Cat's voice turning into a loud, almost scream when singing is a fun treat throughout the album.

3/5

3/5 Favorite Song: Hard Headed Woman

Great songwriting. Not my taste.

I'd heard of Cat Stevens before and knew this was going to be a very mellow album. I know there are lots of covers of his songs but I didn't realize he did "Wild World". I enjoyed his vocals on this as they reminded me of old Genesis and Jethro Tull although this wasn't a prog rock album. Very folksy chill music that didn't do too much for me by the end.

A very solid 3. It doesn’t really do any anything better than any other albums I’ve listened to, but it’s consistently a nice enjoyable listen.

dont like

Good album. I had never listen to Cat Stevens and I was only vaguely familiar with his music. I found this one pretty good. I especially enjoyed the lyrics. It's another album in the range of 3,5 stars for me. Some songs I particularly enjoyed: "Where do the Children Play?", "Wild World", "But I Might Die Tonight", or "Father and Son" (clearly my favourite). Overall, I think it is 3 stars for me, especially since several of the songs are very good, but I found it a bit monotonous when listening the whole album.

3/5 this is weird i dont hate it but im not sure i like it, def too long

Pas mon style

I think I've listened to this album before, but I'm not 100% certain. I don't hate this, but I have also always wondered why people love this so much. To me, it kind of feels like "What if Raffi made music for adults?" It's pleasant enough, and there's certainly a bit of comforting nostalgia around it all. But I feel like it's also too soft.

Like miles from nowhere. Felt a little bit repetitive throughout tho

Classic, I like; wild world, father and son is beautiful and tea for the tillerman

What's with the 70s and finding children sexy? I dunno, but we see more of it here in Wild World - "I'll always remember you like a child, girl" is a creepy thing to say to someone leaving you. That said, it is a solid song that the rest of the album doesn't live up to.

My expectations based on the album art were pretty low. But it was a pretty unique sound and I definitely enjoyed my time with it. Not something I’ll ever seek out

Good album, nice songs

asdsa

Cat Stevens is just all around good vibes unless you happen to have written ”the satanic verses”. ”Wild world” is great, but maybe I shouldn’t listen to the lyrics too intently

Best leuk! Sommige nummers zijn erg mooi.

The first album and artist that I didn’t really have any prior knowledge about. Very nice inoffensive folky singer songwriter album. I don’t think there was a bad track.

Father and Son still hits, even if a bit maudlin.

yusuf's voice is very pleasing, the melodies are nice, but overall the album is just fine

pretty all right singer songwriter stuff, will return to it in the future. Not mind blowing though.

This is surely a classic folk album and for that time it sure was a precious gem. I liked the classic find Wild World, Miles From Nowhere, Sad Lisa and Longer Boats. But I got triggered by But I Might Die Tonight and the star of the album Father And Son, so this turns it down for me, and for the time really. More like a historical listen

After relisten i think i aprichiete more but still IT doesnt quite do i fór me i like few songs so 2 stars seems harsh

assez chill et classique franchement

it’s nice but is a little bit too boring. father and son is a good song. 3/5

Pretty solid, Wild World is surely the top song here.

Really beautiful. Just a top songwriter presenting their songs in nice simple arrangements. I'll probably revise my opinion upwards with more listens

Too smooth, too simple for my taste.

3/5, enjoyable, sparked memories of the songs.

Fint singer/songwriter album. Velproduceret og Stevens er i hopla.

Fathers and Sons is beautiful and makes me tear up. Lovely album but not something I want to listen to

I like the songwriting and story telling in each song. Wasn't an unpleasant listen by any means, just not a sound that I gravitate towards. Rating: 5.5/10 Fave songs: On the Road to Find Out, Miles from Nowhere

Liked this more than I thought I would. Decent 70s folk for background listening

Cute little tunes. It's a bop.

Me gusto. Para pasar el rato es agradable

Het was wel echt een mooi folks album. De stem van de zanger is zo mooi, diep en heel rijk. Je hebt echt het gevoel dat je toegezongen wordt door een wijze oom/vader. Het thema van het album was wel heel erg hippie dus hou van iedereen en doe rustig aan want het leven gaat toch wel door. Niet alle nummers vond ik even speciaal dus zou het een 3.5/ 4 geven

The songs are beautiful and timeless. A bit of quiet contemplation in these turbulent times.

Enjoyable

The bangers are bangers, the rest sounds the same

Kesälevy

All sounds very samey until the end. Enjoyed bits but was slow. 3/5

Three stars

Albums assez sympa pour une après midi au calme, mais après le premier morceau qui m'a mis énormément d'espoirs, et Wide World qui m'a renvoyé au collège quand je regardais Skins, je me suis un peu ennuyé. Très bonne production cependant, qui reste à nu pour nous faire profiter du duo voix / guitare qui marche redoutablement bien par moment, mais qui finit par lasser à mi-longueur.

Good.

It's fine. He can sing but I wasn't drawn in emotionally to his singing style.

This is music from the early 1970s world that was passing as I was born. I listened to this album a lot back in the day. Father and Son is great unassailable cringe, and Wild World is okay. I still admire the sensibility, but these days the tunes seems slight. Still, the world is better for having this album in it.

Really need to be in the mood for Cat Stevens

Eh, it was okay, I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. Probably saved by the first 3 tracks and Father and Son

Has a warm feeling to it, the album cover really matches the vibe of the songs. I think overall it was a nice listen; nothing has me really rushing back but I wouldn’t say that it was bad. Some highlight songs I thought were ‘Hard headed woman’, ‘wild world’, and ‘on the road to find out’.

050626 12:29 3.5

3.5 stars

It made me picture American countryside. It definitely gave me that vibe. There were quite a few songs that i added to my liked list which says something. I don't think I'll listen to it again but still loved the experience

Interesante la experiencia de escuchar a este señor. El folk por lo general me aburre, pero este llega un poco más deep y tiene algo de un dejo de rock medio setentoso improlijo que me gusta. De todas formas, escuchar todo el álbum entero se me hace algo aburrido en base a mis gustos personales. Pero me llevo algo de este señor para otras veces.

Fun and whimsical, 3.5/5

Classic Folk

3/5

it’s fine

Ook weer lowkey een vibe, maar ook een beetje saai ofzo??

Where do the children plaahaeaheaheahayyy

Of course everyone knows Wild World, but I really enjoyed some of the other songs that were more unfamiliar to me.

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH BABY BABY ITS A WILD WORLDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Really on the cusp of 3 and 4. Really wish I could give it a 3.5. At the end of the day, it doesn't quite meet my requirement for a 4, so 3 it is.

Better than I expected. Great storyteller. Not extraordinary voice but he tells the story of the music via vocals and lets the instrumentals come in and out of view. I rock with it.

Ooh baby, baby! It's a wild world! Some good, classic songs on this album. I never would have chosen to listen to it on my own, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. As a note, I started listening to it on my laptop and moved over to my noise-cancelling headphones. This album sounds fabulous in noise-cancelled stereo sound. I added a few songs from this album to my liked songs and would be happy to listen to this album again in the future.

Where do the children play? Far away from anywher what's playing Cat Stevens' music

I like Yusuf. Nothing unexpected when I listened though.

Toch wa braafjes

Nice middle of the road album....very long.

I read about Cat Stevens and truly admire his personality. My favourite song from the album was 'Wild World' and 'Sad Lisa'. I breezed past through the rest of the album.

Cat Stevens is a name I am familiar with - when I listened to this album I know I have heard several of the songs - but I think always covers. I don't recall hearing any of these original versions, with the POSSIBLE exception of Wild World. Largely I quite enjoyed them or there are some slightly odd, dated elements. Not sure about his craving for a hard-headed woman? Father To Son is a nice poignant song.

Miles from nowhere hits home Father and son ma ładny tekst Poza tym to raczej nie dla mnie

It’s a nice mellow album. Certainly fits a mood. It’s pretty good. 3/5 Might listen again

I like the second half alot better. First half 2/5 second half 5/5

This has some melodic folk pop songs with some lovely melodies. "Wild World" is the one that stands the most to me regarding melodies. I recognised "Father and Son" as the song where lots the original melody was used in "Fight Test" by Flaming Lips, very interesting debacle that lawsuit is. I believe "Fight Test" does a lot more with the melody than the original song does, and I simply like a lot more; it's more colourful. However I still have appreciation for "Father and Son", similar to how I might I prefer a cover version over the original, but I will still like the original at some level (e.g I prefer the Banshee's version of "Dear Prudence" over the original Beatles version.) Not sure if I would return to this album, not a fan of Steven's opinions in general, so that puts me off a bit. Though I don't like him as a person, this rating of this album reflects my opinion strictly on the album and not his extreme views and who he is deep down. Highlight Song/s: "Wild World" and "Father and Son"

I don't usually like singer songwriter artists. But this guy wrote some great songs.

Pleasant instrumentals, calming vocals. Not too much stood out to me but definitely worth taking a listen. Favorite song: wild world

It was fine not really my kinda music, but was a short record and was fine background music to driving. 3.

I don't really care for Cat Stevens but my favorite Cat Stevens song, Father and Son, is on this album. Wild World is the hit and is one of my least favorite of his songs. I am not loving this album. Miles From Nowhere is an improvement. Longer Boats is good too, kind of a hit or miss album. Father and Son is a great song though. It's not just a great Cat Stevens song, it's a great song. When the kid is basically pleading to be free....amazing.

good calm music.

Liked some it....he had sime good tunes but was never a huge fan. Does bring back childhood memories...

Very nice acoustic album served its purpose well, although long boats is genuinely a dreadful song unfortunately. 7.5 outta ten

Господи наконец-то не прогрессив рок с детским плачем. КАЙНДА МИЛО!!! Но всё такое прямо... чертовски спокойное. Ну ладно, 3 звезды. Но я бы поставила 3,5 звезды!!

Ooh! Yusuf! I’ll take it! I had AP US History exams today so I didn’t get to this for a second, but I like this album enough. Yusuf’s voice is alright, and the songs are invariably well-recorded. The songs are pretty boring at times though. “Hard Headed Woman” isn’t really all that great, and “Sad Liza” isn’t well-written enough to justify how boring of an arrangement it is. That’s kind of the album’s problem. It’s pleasant, but it’s not really like something that is that nice to listen to. It’s too boring. Obviously the highs are incredible, but I can’t believe how invariable inoffensive it all is! It doesn’t feel personal in any way, and that really pisses me off. It doesn’t feel as if our dear singer is a real person, as much as he is just some vessel for these more often than not unimpressive folksongs. Thankfully, on songs like “Longer Boats” and “Into White,” this problem is less existent. Actually the B-side is waaaaaay better than the A-side. I don’t know though. The songs don’t really go anywhere. I can’t say I really love it. 6.7/10

Great lyrics, some songs didn't feel like they matched musically

A nice listen, though nothing mind blowing.

Favorites: - Wild World - Miles from Nowhere - Father and Son

The big Cat Stevens stuff I knew going into this I was hit-or-miss on, and the album as a whole felt the same way, and his annoying British hippie mysticism shit was beginning to annoy me, but the arrangements and production are solid.

I don't hate it but on the other hand I wanted to kms

The Office using the title track reminded me to go back to this album. I wasn’t a fan at the time, but this album and that run of three are brilliant.

Cute songs with a lot of variety, one or two great ones ! Cover : Love it, very original and makes sense with the overall tone !

I used to have a Cat Steven’s compilation years ago, which I enjoyed. I have to be in the mood for his music, but this is a good album. Exactly as I expected it to be.

I have of course known "Wild World" and "Father and Son" basically my entire life, but don't think I was familiar with anything else on this album. I had never noticed it before, but a lot of Chris Thile's music reminds me of Cat Stevens. Especially his voice. I liked this. Loved parts.

Decent album, a lot of the songs sound the same though. Good listen to just have on in the background.

Very pleasant sounding; kind of the platonic ideal of this sort of singer-songwriter-y folk stuff.

I'm not sure what to say. Decent I suppose. Being a father of two boys, Father and Son definitely resonates with be though. I'd listen again.

Gonna need to listen more but right now Cat Stevens doesn’t super do it for me but I can also picture myself being a Cat Stevens super fan if I listen to enough of his music. I feel like I can’t be alone in this feeling.

Just a fantastic album with a handful of his hits

Good to finally listen to a whole album by Cat Stevens. This is classic singer songwriter material. These songs are really well written and performed. There’s a feeling of great sentimentality here. Although I’ve heard his songs over the years and not thought much about them, it’s possible I’m connecting with it more now as I age. Seems to be worth checking out all his other albums.

Good album.

Nice

It’s nice

it was nice! kinda half-listened on the drive back from oklou. wild world and father & son are both such beautiful songs. don't have a lot to say about the rest but it was pleasant. 3.5

i mean. why not. my lowk nonce libertarian washington [REDACTED]s fan high school music teacher loved (the fucking cover version of) wild world. yeah you fucking look it m8. the thing about some of these folk artists is that. y'know. all the figurative language work they put in can't compete with the (downright clinical) efficiency of kid a era yorke (along with other artists etc. yada). you're not outworking "there are two colors in my head." cat stevens ain't half bad at it though. i did need to hear this. but i'm only moved sometimes. predominantly instrumentally. lyrically by the album cuts. "father and son" is an all timer. 3.1-3.6

its fine

I very much like the old country sounding albums, although this one didn’t have quite enough bangers to justify a 4 star

It's Cat Stevens. I didn't hate it as much as I was expecting. I really don’t have anything to say.

I liked it. Ive already known of Wild World and Father and Son, but still. I appreciate its simplicity and timelessness of the message being sent.

La verdad que es lindo de escuchar, y tiene un temon. Es como dulce, tranquilo, un poco mimo al alma.

6/10

Sad Lisa 4 ever

He has a beautiful voice, and some of the songs are really stirring. Still an uphill climb for folk to really bowl me over though.

It was pretty solid. My favorites were probably Sad Lisa, Miles from Nowhere, and Father and Son. Overall, I would give this a 3.6/5! 🫤!

I couldn't tell you why. Maybe my elementary school music teacher played this album in class? But I always associate this album with children music. Not bad by any stretch but it's a weird dichotomy in my head.

Yeah it's 70s hippie folksy stuff. There're a few things I'm always a sucker for on this album. Nice rhodes melodies, interesting chord progressions (even though a few times it falls into that monotonous 1-4 thing for too long), evocative lyrics that get complex emotions from me even if I can't place my finger on what they are totally. That said, there are some things that chugged along as well. Hard Headed Woman ends up kinda aimlessly wandering, the lyrics in Wild World aren't bad but kinda strangely placed rhythmically. Miles from Nowhere has a sort of lame groove. Die Tonight and On the Road are almost skips, they're so generic classic 1970s rock. I liked all the ones I didn't just mention a lot for their depth and emotional melodies and lyrics, but that leaves the album half and half for me. I guess the highest I can give it is a 3.

It was good, but a bit too soft genre wise for me!

As singer - songwriters go, Cat Stevens or Yusuf Islam is up there. I prefer Teaser and the Firecat to this album though. But 'Father and Son' is one of those timeless songs that stands out on a solid album. The rest, apart from maybe 'Sad Lisa', don't quite have the same impact, even though some are pretty famous. As a side note, The Flaming Lips adaption of it (Fight Test) is worth a listen alongside Yusuf's.

Acoustic

Yusuf agradable