I first bought this album when it came out in 1970, at the ripe and geeky age of 14. The album stuck out like a sore thumb to my friends amongst all my Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Alice Cooper albums, but has remained a special favorite forever. While some people put Cat Stevens into that folky, James Taylor category, they obviously haven't heard this album, surely Cat's finest moment. Lyrically and musically, this album is simply stunning in its composition, from one magical song to the next. I hate to use the word "dark" or "melancholic" about such an uplifting album, but in comparison to the other singer-songwriters of the day, this album is simply in a different league - just listen to the poignancy in a song like "Sad Lisa" or the simple poetic beauty of "Into White". Timeless because we can all relate to the pain and pleasure of discovering what life is about during the volatility of youth, and that's what this album so eloquently paints on songs like "On the road to find out" and "Miles from nowhere". And the newly remastered sound is phenomenal - like the music and lyrics itself, it sounds like it was recorded yesterday. I'm so glad I had the pleasure of growing up with such a masterpiece.

I had previously reviewed this CD, but I'll have another shot at it, as I now feel that my previous review does not do this terrific album justice. So here is my new review for Cat Stevens' "Tea For The Tillerman":

Cat Stevens' "Tea For The Tillerman" is truly a classic album, and they don't come any classier than this. Stevens was a talented musician, and was not afraid to make music that came from the heart - a quality many musicians nowadays lack (see Limp Bizkit). Stevens had the ability to write memorable tunes and pen intelligent, thought-provoking lyrics, which made him the top of his game in the early 70's, and has gained him successions of new fans year after year, even if he isn't Cat Stevens anymore (I believe he is now known as Yusuf Islam). "Tea For The Tillerman" is in my opinion, Stevens' finest album, and one of the most perfect albums ever recorded. Although most people are only familiar with the albums' hit singles ("Wild World", "Father And Son" and "Where Do The Children Play") - each one a classic in its own right, the other eight songs on the album are equally as great. The songs are not overly produced, and comprise largely of acoustic guitar, bass, keyboards and drums, with the odd string arrangement here and there (arranged by Del Newman). The album kicks off with "Where Do The Children Play?" and although it may strike the average listener as a nice, simple tune, the lyrics present a social commentary that is as relevant today as it was almost thirty years ago (in a world dominated by materialism, technology and want, is there any room for children to play and carry on with their simple untinctured lives?). "Hard Headed Women" is another simple tune, floating mainly on acoustic guitar and strings, but the lyrics about needing a serious woman rather than superficial "fancy dancers" are lyrics that quite alot of men (including myself) can relate to. "Wild World", the song that "broke" Cat Stevens in America remains a timeless pop tune. "Sad Lisa", with its plaintive piano and string arrangement is one of Stevens' overlooked masterpieces. Stevens' singing of wanting to comfort a girl when she is sad is touching, and the violin solo never ceases to send shivers up my spine. "Miles from Nowhere" is a terrific rocker, and from the lyrics, we can sense that Stevens is one a spiritual quest of some sort (and we all know where this quest would lead him, don't we?). "But I Might Die Tonight" is another great rock song, and one of my favourite Cat Stevens' songs. The song is quite short but almost everyone can relate to its lyrics about the monotony of everyday life. "Longer Boats" is quite a weird one, with some really strange lyrics (I suspect the song is about UFOs - but this is just a personal observation), but its a good song nonetheless. "Into White" has a more traditional folk sound. Its psychedelic lyrical content reminds me alot of the Beatles' "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds". In the 5 minute-long "On The Road To Find Out", Stevens tells us more about his spiritual voyage. The tune may not be as catchy as "Miles from Nowhere", but it is by no means a bad song. The classic "Father And Son", a moving commentary on the generation gap of Stevens' generation is still relevant today, as not all parents and children get on well with each other. "Tea For The Tillerman" sees a return to the themes explored in "Where Do The Children Play" and Stevens reminds us that "while the sinners sin the children play" - that innocence will forever exist in a monotonous material world.

Well, there you have it. Keeping in mind the thought-provoking lyrics and the catchy tunes, it is no wonder that "Tea For The Tillerman" has become a staple in folk and rock record collections since the day it was released. Stevens was a true master and this album is a testament to his genius.

First off - the music itself is beautiful, absolutely love the album.

I've been a Cat Stevens fan for many years and enjoy getting the best version of the music when options are available. In ~2000 when I got the 'Best Of' collection and later this album, I sensed something not quite right with the remastering - it sounded crystal clear but harsh and on a good sound system, very fatiguing. More recently I got a copy of the old 1988 Mobile Fidelity remaster CD and compared the two.

Big difference folks! I think on an average sound system / car / iPod, this CD can sound quite good since it emphasizes the treble and adds some 'zing' to the music. But on a good full-range sound system, this album sounds like how an oversharpened picture looks; harsh and annoying, lacking the subtlety which to me is a large part of the beauty in Stevens' music.

To make matters worse, when I import the WAV file into Adobe Audition, I see there are a number of clipped samples; objective signs of compression and casualty of the loudness wars.

Bottom line: This CD sounds okay, and may be preferable on lower end sound systems. The more discerning fan / collector / audiophile should spend the extra bucks (can be quite expensive unfortunately) to get the superior Mobile Fidelity release.

For lots of people listening to popular music several decades ago, one of the most enchanting albums of all was Cat Stevens' "Tea for the Tillerman." The eponymous song closed out a musical treasure of reflective, thoughtful, and insightful songs. Song after song lures the listener in, trying to make out the lyrics as the stories spin out.

The CD starts off with the wonderful "Where Do All the Children Play." Key lines that typify this song:

"I know we've come a long way,

We're changing day by day.

But tell me, where do the children play?"

These innocent lines are juxtaposed with signs of progress, such as jumbo jets, "roads over fresh green grass," skyscrapers filling the air. Simple instrumentation that supports the words and singing.

Then, the marvelous "Hard Headed Woman." The opening lines:

"I'm looking for a hard headed woman,

One who will take me for myself.

And if I find my hard headed woman

I will need nobody else."

This kind of partner Stevens longs for, as opposed to "I know many fine feathered friends, but their friendliness depends on how you do."

Again, rather spare instrumentation, with Stevens himself on guitar and keyboard. A marvel of a song.

Perhaps my favorite cut on the CD--"Longer Boats." There is the hypnotic recurring line:

"Longer boats are coming to win us,

Coming to win us, they're coming to win us."

This is a song that stays in your mind, reverberating, long after you have heard it.

And so many other fine songs, such as "Wild World," "Sad Lisa," "Miles from Nowhere," "But I Might Die Tonight," "Father and son," and so on.

One of the finest albums of its time--and it still wears well, sounding fresh after all these years.

I was a little skeptical having read on forums mixed views on this disc. I have the MFSL gold disc and compared it to this SACD. No question that the SACD is warmer and has more presence to it. I listened to both discs several times and am really glad I purchased the SACD. Here's hoping that Analogue Productions remasters Teaser and the Firecat :)