Luis Mejia (son) - The first Cat Stevens album, some songs quite left a mark in the 60's era, and even though it's difficult to find it or to tell about it as a Cat Stevens point of reference, it isn't that what makes it so nice, it's just the simple but very well thought rythms, the juvenile and fresh style of the album and the familiar mellodies. The orchestration is also a very nice touch.

Just as I mentioned the rythms of the album are very easy listening (not as a genre), juvenile and fresh, quite a different from his later deep works. Lady, I've Found A Love and Hummingbird are simply sweet and mellodic ballads; the title track, Portabello Road, I Love My Dog and The Tramp are rythmical song with the greatest use of orchestra, possessing a deeper composition (much more alike with his later works) and very cathcy rythms; Here Comes My Baby, Bring Another Bottle Baby, Come On And Dance, Baby Get Your Head Screwed On, Granny, I'm Gonna Get Me A Gun and When I speak To The Flowers are also very catchy songs, not too much that I like them, maybe Granny and Here Comes My Baby, but are also a little bit jazzy and a little bit incoherent but refreshing.

A record for all fans to possess, cause it's always a new point of view by hearng the first cd, though I don't recommend it too much for casual listeners.

For those that are unaware, Cat Stevens is one of the greatest singer/songwriters ever and this is just another stunning example of his abilities.

As for albums, this is not the greatest and is also not the most well-known, but if you are a fan of acoustic guitar and some great lyrics, this is a must own as well as if you are a fan of Cat Stevens or his later Yusef stuff.

I say this album is good, because it shows originality. It was written by a young Cat Stevens at the time when he was in the begining of his music career. It is different from his other newer albums by still a great album. My favorite track is Here comes my baby. If you are a Cat Stevens fan, buy this album considering the fact that it's different with what you're used to.

In 1989, Yusuf Islam came out in support of Ayatollah Khomeini's 1989 fatwa (death threat) on novelist Salman Rushdie for his book, The Satanic Verses.

Wouldn't it just be good old-fashioned ironic fun to attend a Yusuf Islam concert now and yell out requests from his back catalog? "I'm Gonna Get Me A Gun," would be a nice choice. Or how about "Baby Get Your Head Screwed On?"

I'm sure there are some songs that he no longer feels comfortable playing in concert. There's no reason why we still can't enjoy them. These songs represent some of the best in 60's big band pop music made at the time. "Bring Another Bottle Baby" gets me in the mood every time, and I just want to swing, baby, yeah! I'm sure it's one of Austin Power's favorite tunes as well. Great music, but a little dated now. Aren't we all?

If you don't have Matthew and Son, I think you daon't have some great songs. Not that the hits are the best. First song Matthew and Son, A very typical sixties pop song with strigns and trumpets. I love my dog is basically him at his acoustic backed up by orchestration. It sounds very sixties and is quite cute. I quite like Here comes my baby, a cheery sought of rock song, with a different arrangement, electric guitar, piano, and sax. It was a big hit on both sides of the atlantic for the Tremoloes. Then is a great soft jazz song in Bring another bottle, baby. It features what sounds like a marimba, a flute and spanish guitar and the orchestration gradually comes into it. It's great! Then there's a cheery little folk song in Portobello road, a rare opportunity to hear him whistle. I've found a love is a typical sixties teen symphony and despite its meaningless words, has a touching melody. I see a road features a piano intro and the banjo, with a bit of orchestration, though it's a skiffle piece. I don't think much of baby get your head screwed on, it's a typical pop song with orchestration, electric and acoustic guitars. Granny is [changing my mind] quite a good song and is probably best described as Jazz. It's typical sixties with loud trumpets,strings and electric guitar. WHen I speak to the flowers is a bitty poppy, and perhaos would have sounded better without the orchestraiton. Then there's some really good songs. The tramp is a sombre folk song which, is 90% just him and his acoustic, and the bass but it contains a short but sweet trumpet solo. Then there's a rocker in Come on and dance, with sax, organ and electric. It's quite pleasant. Then comes Hummingbird, what I think is one of the best songs of his career. It is like some 1800's song with soft orchestration, beautiful guitaring all the way through and a glockenspiel [metallic xylophone]in the chorus. Lady is a big ballad and he sings it well, though it's more like an E.Humperdink song. School is outisn't bad, good melody and I like the trumpet, it sounds like the one in downtown. I have no good words for I'm gonna get me a gun, a frantic tempoed revenge song full of orchestration but unmelodic. AS I said, the hits aren't all that wonderful but Hummingbird, The Tramp, Bring anothe bottle baby, Lady, Portobello road, I see a road and Here comes my baby I think are well worth a listen.