There's Something About 1970...: "Tea For The Tillerman: 2CD Deluxe Edition" by CAT STEVENS – November 1970 UK Fourth Studio Album (And Second) on Island Records (January 1971 USA on A&M Records) – Featuring Alun Davies on Guitar, John Ryan on Double Bass, Harvey Burns on Drums, Jack Rostein on Violin, Paul Samwell-Smith on Backing Vocals and Production with Del Newman String Arrangements (4 December 2020 UK Universal UMC/Cat-O-Log/Island Records 50th Anniversary Reissue 2CD Deluxe Edition with 14 Bonus Tracks – Geoff Pesche Remaster)

Thursday 20 January 2022

"Tea For The Tillerman: 2CD Deluxe Edition" by CAT STEVENS – November 1970 UK Fourth Studio Album (And Second) on Island Records (January 1971 USA on A&M Records) – Featuring Alun Davies on Guitar, John Ryan on Double Bass, Harvey Burns on Drums, Jack Rostein on Violin, Paul Samwell-Smith on Backing Vocals and Production with Del Newman String Arrangements (4 December 2020 UK Universal UMC/Cat-O-Log/Island Records 50th Anniversary Reissue 2CD Deluxe Edition with 14 Bonus Tracks – Geoff Pesche Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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To date I've purchased two of these 50th Anniversary Reissues - "Mona Bone Jakon" and "Tea For The Tillerman" - both albums originally issued in 1970.

They are part of an ongoing series of reissues entitled The Yusuf / Cat Stevens Cat-O-Log Collection. But in order to get a lay of the land on this new version of "Tea For The Tillerman", we need to backtrack a little.

Not surprisingly and following on from the bare-bones single CD remaster of 2000, Universal subjected both November 1970's "Tea For The Tillerman" and its popular September 1971 follow-up album "Teaser And The Firecat" (UK release dates) to their chunky 2CD DELUXE EDITION Series in November 2008 – another Ted Jensen Remaster with eleven new Previously Unreleased bonus tracks on CD2 of "Tillerman".

You would therefore think that they would all turn here in December 2020 on this New 2CD Deluxe Edition Remaster along with more for our audio delectation – but actually – no. Six have survived the transfer - Wild World (Demo Version, Recorded 1969), Miles From Nowhere (Demo Version, Recorded 1969), Longer Boats (Live At The Troubadour, Recorded 1970), Into White (Live At The Troubadour, Recorded 1970), On The Road To Find Out (Live at KCET-TV, Recorded in Los Angeles, 1971) and Tea For The Tillerman (Live At The BBC, Recorded 1970 for BBC Radio 1's "Sounds Of The Seventies" at the Playhouse Theatre). Not even the Super Deluxe Edition 5CD Box Set has the remaining five – one live track recorded in Japan in 1976, two from the Majikat Earth Tour of 1976 and two more recorded 2006 at Yusuf's Café.

So any fan wanting the lot will need to keep that 2008 2CD Deluxe Edition – which frankly seems a bit lax. But given the gorgeous new Audio on this 2020 version, new Unreleased actually worth owning and its rather spiffing presentation, there is still oodles to be gleeful about. Let's deal with what we have...

UK released 4 December 2020 - "Tea For The Tillerman: 2CD Deluxe Edition" by CAT STEVENS on Universal UMC/Cat-O-Log/Island Records 0602508395253 (Barcode 602508395253) is a 2CD Reissue and Remaster with 14 Bonus Tracks (on CD2) that plays out as follows:

CD1 "Tea For The Tillerman, 2020 Remaster" (36:51 minutes):

1. Where Do The Children Play? [Side 1]

2. Hard Headed Woman

3. Wild World

4. Sad Lisa

5. Miles From Nowhere

6. But I Might Die Tonight [Side 2]

7. Longer Boats

8. Into White

9. On The Road To Find Out

10. Father And Son

11. Tea For The Tillerman

Tracks 1 to 11 are his fourth studio album "Tea For The Tillerman" - released November 1970 in the UK on Island Records ILPS 9135 and January 1971 in the USA on A&M Records SP-4280. Produced by PAUL SAMWELL-SMITH - it peaked at No. 20 in the UK and No. 8 in the USA.

CD2 "Tea For The Tillerman, Demos, Alternate Versions, Bonus Tracks, Live Recordings" (45:21 minutes):

1. Wild World (Demo)

2. Miles From Nowhere (Studio Demo)

3. But I Might Die Tonight (Deep End Movie Version)

4. Can This Be Love? (Album Out-Take)

5. Honey Man (Duet with Elton John recorded October 1967, first issued October 2001 on the "On The Road To Find Out" 4CD Long Box Set, Reissued June 2008 in a smaller Digibook Format as "Cat Stevens")

6. If You Want To Sing Out Sing out (Demo)

7. Don’t Be Shy (Demo)

8. Wild World (Live At The Troubadour, December 1970)

9. Longer Boats (Live At The Troubadour, December 1970)

10. Into White (Live At The Troubadour, December 1970)

11. On The Road To Find Out (Live at KCET-TV Studios, Los Angeles USA, 8 June 1971)

12. Where Do The Children Play? (Live at KCET-TV Studios, Los Angeles USA, 8 June 1971)

13. Father And Son (Cat Stevens In Concert, 27 November 1971)

14. Tea For The Tillerman (BBC Live Recording, 16 June 1970)

The hardback book with embossed front-cover artwork that precisely mimics the original British LPs that comes with these 2CD Deluxe Editions is gorgeous and of course the same generic artwork will make a row of titled spines stretching right up his last album on Island Records "Back To Earth" in December 1978. To date (January 2022), there have been three (see list below). Unfortunately once the shrink-wrap is torn open, the titled sticker has nowhere to go and worse, the credits page on the rear simply falls off (don't know why they can't simply paste these bloody things on).

But once inside, those minor niggles fade. There is a newly laid out 28-page booklet with notes from Yusuf, guitarist Alun Davies and Producer Paul Samwell-Smith that replaces the 12-page inlay of the old 2000 CD version. Anyone who had the original UK and US LPs on Island and A&M Records will remember fondly the Gatefold Sleeve with that cauldron photo on the inside and the lyrics in tiny print on the rear. The looking down photo is now on the inside flaps and the lyrics smartly abutting text that deals with every song.

There are some tasty touches – the titled US 45-single sleeve for Where Do The Children Play? On A&M Records AM 1291 siding the text for that Side 1 song opener – a French face-profile picture sleeve for Sad Lisa that was backed with Wild World on Island 6014 042 – a rare Dutch picture sleeve for Father And Son with Moonshadow on the flipside on Island 10 485 AT. There are publicity photos, live shots of Cat with his right-hand man Alun Davies on acoustic guitars, two of the British Mastertape Boxes, the album artwork, sheet music and even a rare Dutch split photo issue 45 for Wild World that shows and tells us Jimmy Cliff sings it, while Cat Stevens wrote it (Island 6014 024). It’s very pretty (see photos provided) and well thought out. Let downs (as it is with all these 2CD sets) – those missing tracks - CD2 merely listing its bonuses in the booklet but with no discussion at all – a lazy approach. Also be careful removing the actual CDs (both entirely Pink in colour to reflect the original famous British label on Island Records) – they are tucked in tight into pouches built into the walls of the hardback sleeves so are too damn easy to rip.

Ted Jensen - a long-standing Audio Engineer of WEA catalogue renown – mastered both the 2000 single CD reissue series and the 2CD Deluxe Edition in 2008 – and lovely they were too. Here we get technology advanced by 20 years and GEOFF PESCHE at Abbey Road having another go round in 2020. These '50th Anniversary' Reissues are gorgeous – the liquid watery sound of the piano on "Sad Lisa" (recorded through a Lesley) comes pounding out of your speakers like never before, the acoustic clarity on the opening to "Father And Son" feeling bigger and more spacious. John Ryan and his Double Bass on the flying saucers song "Longer Boats" thumping away like a goodun. All the instruments are in your face and in a clarity-way you would actually want. Impressive...

Not surprising that CD2 opens with the Demo of "Wild World" that first appeared in 2008 – it has huge audio presence and even in its purely acoustic state – packs a serious punch. From there we go to piano for "Miles To Nowhere" – his playing just fantastic and featuring different fills to that of the recording version (it also has Acoustic doubled onto it – great). Things dip dramatically with a seriously overwrought "But I Might Die Tonight" done for the "Deep End" movie – a far heavier and uglier version that you can’t help feel has been dubbed from something other than a mastertape.

But things kick into the stratosphere with a gorgeous unreleased outtake called "Can This Be Love?" – what a discovery – acoustic, piano and double bass, drums – its fully formed and would have been a stunning B-side to say "Father And Son" in both tone and theme. The duet with Elton John "Honey Man" first showed on the 2001 4CD Box Set "On The Road To Find Out" and is probably best forgotten by both great men. Far better is a 2:59 minute Demo Version of "If You Want To Sing Out Sing Out" – a finished version of which recorded in February 1971 made its way onto the "Harold And Maude" film. Another winner from that film is "Don’t Be Shy" (also recorded proper in February 1971) which again turns up here in crystal clear 2:41 minute Demo form – a beautiful little melody fans will thrill too.

Smartly that’s followed by "Wild World" played live at the Troubadour in LA in December 1970 – a month after the album came out in the UK – its audio almost mimicking that of the "Don’t Be Shy" demo. Very well recorded, "Longer Boats" follows which he announces is about spaceships. He carries on with a thing called "Into White" – as pretty and as delicate as the LP version – and again – well recorded for the day. And on it goes...

His first album for Island Records "Mona Bone Jakon" issued in April 1970 was a good start - a three-star effort 'getting' to the genuine five-star greatness of "Tea For The Tillerman". In September 1971 when he issued "Teaser And The Firecat" – there would be no doubt – Cat Stevens became a household name and one of the artists carrying the burgeoning singer-songwriter flag of excellence.

So, despite a few minor whinges, anywhere beneath or around a British ten-spot for this new 2020 "Tea For The Tillerman" 2CD Deluxe Edition and it quickly becomes an absolute must buy for fans and unconverted alike.

Now, if I could only afford that Super Deluxe Box Set, I’d put the kettle on...again...

Titles in The Yusuf/Cat Stevens/Cat-O-Log Collection Series

50th Anniversary Reissues - Geoff Pesche Remasters at Abbey Road

1. Mona Bone Jakon (April 1970 UK Original LP)

All 50th Anniversary Formats UK/EU released 4 December 2020

On Universal UMC/Cat-O-Log Records/Island Records

Single CD Version is 0602508820298

2CD Deluxe Edition Version is 0602508395260

4CD/LP/12”/BLU RAY Super Deluxe Box Set Version is 0602508395178

VINYL LP Version is 0602508820304

2. Tea For The Tillerman (November 1970 UK Original LP)

All 50th Anniversary Formats UK/EU released 4 December 2020

On Universal UMC/Cat-O-Log Records/Island Records

Single CD Version is 06025088203598

2CD Deluxe Edition Version is 0602508395253

5CD/LP/12”/BLU RAY Super Deluxe Box Set Version is 0602508395086

VINYL LP Version is 0602508820311

3. Teaser And The Firecat (September 1971 UK Original LP)

All 50th Anniversary Formats UK/EU released 19 November 2021

On Universal UMC/Cat-O-Log Records/Island Records

Single CD Version is 0602435513188

2CD Deluxe Edition Version is 0602435513126

4CD/BLU RAY Super Deluxe Box Set Version is 00602435949628

VINYL LP Version is 0602435513218

Thursday 20 January 2022

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