Record Reviews
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  | CAT STEVENS ~ MATTHEW & SON DERAM 602498108215 (Barcode: 602498108215) ~ UK ~ Classic Pop Recorded: 1966 - 1967 Released: 2003
This is a reissue of the debut album by British singer / songwriter Cat StevensFind albums by this artist. The original album presented fourteen original songs, all by Stevens. This remastered and expanded edition adds eight bonus tracks, mostly mono versions of the album’s tracks, released as singles and two non-album tracks.
The music is absolutely stunning and each of the songs is a Pop gem, typical of the era, when gems like that were created en masse. A few of the songs are just Stevens accompanying himself on guitar, but most have brilliant orchestral arrangement, created by producer Mike HurstFind albums by this artist, who discovered Stevens, and composer / arranger Alan TewFind albums by this artist, little known library music aficionado.
The wonderful aura of creativity and innocence that this music projects, which characterized to “Golden Decade” of 20th Century music, is sadly long gone, but we can enjoy our escapism by revisiting these time capsules, as if the world stood still.
The album marked Stevens as a major songwriting talent, and his idiosyncratic vocal style became one of most powerful British Pop statements over the years. A convoluted career influenced by conversion to Islam did not silence his creative powers and he is still releasing new albums five decades later.
Fifty-five years after this music was recorded it sounds absolutely fresh and timeless, overshadowing almost everything recorded in the last decades, a sad testimony of human Culture simply disappearing.
| Updated: 18/09/2021Posted: 18/09/2021 | CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | CAT STEVENS ~ SATURNIGHT: LIVE IN TOKYO CAT-O-LOG 602468083047 (Barcode: 602468083047) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1974 Released: 2025
This is a reissue of a live album by British singer / songwriter Cat StevensFind albums by this artist, recorded in Tokyo during the 1974 world tour, which supported the release of the “Buddha And The Chocolate BoxFind albums with this title” album. The live album was previously released only in Japan. Stevens is accompanied by a splendid team of British musicians and the sound quality is first class. The album presents twelve tracks, all bar one original songs by Stevens, released on the splendid albums he released over the years and in many respects the album is a “greatest hits live” collection.
Stevens was always an incredible song weaver and many of his beautiful songs are absolute classics. His unique vocal talents added to the charm of the music he created. In retrospect he remains one of the most immediately recognizable voices of the 1970s, but he continues writing wonderful material and releasing albums to this very day, all of which are worth checking out.
Overall, this is a time capsule, which sums up the first decade of his career, and although it offers nothing new as such, it is a rare opportunity to hear Stevens perform live, as it is the only live album recorded before mid-1990s. A great trip down the nostalgia lane!
| Updated: 03/06/2025Posted: 03/06/2025 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | CAT STEVENS ~ TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN (DELUXE EDITION) ISLAND 5178708 (Barcode: 602517870888) ~ UK ~ Classic Pop Recorded: 1970 Released: 2008
4th album by singer / songwriter Cat StevensFind albums by this artist and one of the grand 1970s classic releases, which remains up to this day as an icon of supreme songwriting. Stevens was a most prolific writer at the time and wrote many songs for other singers as well as for his own albums. Recently recovered form tuberculosis, he changed his approach to writing lyrics, which became much more personal and introvert, as well as touching upon themes of social awareness (he was amongst the first songwriters to talk about environmental issues). But his main strength was of course his incredible talent to carve those unforgettable melodies, seemingly simplistic, but exquisitely crafted and touching. This album is full of such great songs, several of which turned into evergreens. Almost 40 years after these songs were written they lost nothing of their beauty, relevance and potency. Same can be said also about his next album "Teaser And The FirecatFind albums with this title", which is also an absolute classic. This Deluxe Edition adds a whole CD of bonus material, with early demos and live performances of the songs included on the album recorded over the years, some as recent as 2006. This is a gem any way you look at it and an essential item in any decent record collection!
| | CD 2 Digipak Slipcase Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | CAT STEVENS ~ TEASER AND THE FIRECAT (DELUXE EDITION) ISLAND 5178709 (Barcode: 602517870918) ~ UK ~ Classic Pop Recorded: 1971 Released: 2008
5th album by singer / songwriter Cat StevensFind albums by this artist, and a brilliant follow up to his previous album "Tea For The TillermanFind albums with this title", and one of the grand 1970s classic releases, which remains up to this day as an icon of supreme songwriting. Stevens was a most prolific writer at the time and wrote many songs for other singers as well as for his own albums. Recently recovered form tuberculosis, he changed his approach to writing lyrics, which became much more personal and introvert, as well as touching upon themes of social awareness (he was amongst the first songwriters to talk about environmental issues). But his main strength was of course his incredible talent to carve those unforgettable melodies, seemingly simplistic, but exquisitely crafted and touching. This album is full of such great songs, several of which turned into evergreens. Almost 40 years after these songs were written they lost nothing of their beauty, relevance and potency. This Deluxe Edition adds a whole CD of bonus material, with early demos and live performances of the songs included on the album recorded over the years, some as recent as 2006. This is a gem any way you look at it and an essential item in any decent record collection!
| | CD 2 Digipak Slipcase Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | YUSUF / CAT STEVENS ~ KING OF A LAND CAT-O-LOG 4050538856903 (Barcode: 4050538856903) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2011 - 2022 Released: 2023
This is the 17th studio album by British singer / songwriter Cat StevensFind albums by this artist (a.k.a. YusufFind albums by this artist), recorded over a period of eleven years at many different studios around the world with many participating musicians and including elaborate orchestral arrangements. The album presents twelve new songs, all by Stevens. The album is packaged in a mini-book like format, which includes the lyrics of all the songs and wonderful illustrations, very much like a children’s book.
Although disguised as a children’s album, it is obviously meant to be heard by children of all ages, offering exquisite, sophisticated Pop / Rock music and deeply meaningful lyrics. For over fifty-five years since Stevens appeared on the music scene, he manages to retain the same level of superb songweaving ability and his vocal performances also remain completely unblemished.
Stevens proves again that the true values of music remain valid regardless of the passing time and they are still valid today. Compared to what is considered as Pop music today, the music on this album certainly sounds as something coming from another planet.
Overall, this is another Masterpiece by an Artists, who believes in what he is doing, both musically and philosophically, blessed by a great gift that enables him to write beautiful songs and sing in a unique voice, which goes straight to the listener’s heart. For his many followers and all people who are still able to distinguish between music and the background noise, this album is a Godsend.
| Updated: 03/07/2023Posted: 03/07/2023 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
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