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I've tended to think of "Tea For The Tillerman" as Cat Stevens' most thoughtful album. While Stevens may not have known the answers, he was writing gorgeous songs about the quest.To that end, there's a great deal of sadness across "Tea for The Tillerman." A somber Cat looks at the pain of "Sad Lisa," wondering what he can do to heal her. It came before the more spiritually minded Teaser and the Firecat, and contained more personal songs. Be it the sorrowful goodbye of "Wild World" or the fractured conversation between "Father and Son," Stevens was trying to find answers in song to questions that tend to confound we mere mortals. He frets about the bleakness of his future on "I Might Die Tonight." Bookending the CD are calls to save the future of our children. There's also joy in the songs "On The Road to Find Out" and the chanting "Longer Boats." His music was approaching the spiritual nature of his later work, but nonetheless, "Tea For The Tillerman" is British folk-rock at its finest and rates with Cat Stevens' best albums.
That was the beginning of the end, because Cat Stevens meant his promise quite literally, unfortunately for the millions of fans who could have used the perfect way of transmission of his simple golden words. Longer Boats24. Hard Headed Woman10. Oh Very Young12. On the other hand, quite frankly, rare are these humans (and it very well may have a lot to do with how unaffected by their so called success they become) whose power of creation doesn't fade away. Rubbylove17. Where Do The Children Play4. Apparently a huge wave came out of nowhere and carried our singer to shore.
Cat Stevens had a huge following because the music of his songs was as powerful as the meaning of his lyrics. However, I respect him as a human being tremendously, and I think that when we pull his songs we used to cover out of new editions of our albums and when we start pretending that he did not exist simply because he switched out of our way of life, that is purely a sign of our insecurity and hypocrisy. The Foreigner, part11. The Wind3. Both were simple and beautiful.
This was Cat Steven's masterpiece and a lot of us had this album recorded on tape with his Teaser And The Firecat on side B. Success followed Cat Stevens and showered him and many around him with riches. Northern Wind22. O Caritas9. I have purchased his music under the Yusuf Islam name and did not find much in it, either. Personally I find a lot of his later albums without the spirit of Tea For The Tillerman.
Remember - we are supposed to be the guardians of freedom.A few years ago I have compiled my favorite songs of Cat Stevens, and I used his words to title this compilation: 'For You Will Still Be Here Tomorrow But Your Dreams May Not':1. Perhaps it was time for him to focus on other things in life. It all seemed to flow straight out of Cat's heart and the inspiration had started after a serious illness tied him down to a London hospital for a period of many months. Where Are You8. Wild World14. Morning Has Broken13. Perhaps I was not able to come up to its level. Trouble23.
Sitting18. That is how we used to listen to music many years ago so we would not damage our albums (just some extra info you can shock your parents with). But I Might Die Tonight16. Lillywhite15.
Monshadow7. Miles From Nowhere19. If I Laugh6. However, Cat Stevens seemed not strong enough to be able to live the life of stardom and not let the emptiness which comes with it to affect his balanced core (as is often the case).The balance had broken, like the morning has broken and one day, while drowning in the Pacific Ocean he asked God for help, and promised to work towards God's glory if saved. On The Road To Find Out21.
Sad Lisa2. Father And Son5. Peace Train20. Lady D'Arbanville
I originally bought this wonderful album in the 70's; the "yellow delanie" has haunted me ever since, to the point that I suggested "Delanie" as a name for my granddaughter to be born next year. Cat Stevens (or Yusuf Islam) writes such beautiful, gentle, joyful music that sounds unlike any other.
I have had the original LP for many years and it was always a favorite. Lately I seldom make the effort to play any of my vinyl and started looking for replacement CD's. This one sounds great and has all the artwork from the original record too.
I grew up with this album and just recently got it on CD. My favorite song is "Where Will the Children Play.", very appropriate for the times we live in.In fact, I believe this song made a huge impact on me and my siblings, as three of the four of us are heavily involved in environmental businesses for the past 20 years.You absolutely cannot go wrong with buying this CD.
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