I really enjoyed listening to your raking of favorite Cat Stevens albums. He is such an interesting artist and person and I really admire him. You brought up a lot of interesting points. I never knew the story of how the title Buddha and the Chocolate Box was conceived. Thanks for that. Also, I rank Catch Bull at Four as my favorite as well. It often falls lower in other fans rankings. I also really liked your comments and enthusiasm for Numbers. I really like this album as well and still enjoy playing it. Like you, I find the whole numbers (no joke intended there) concept quite interesting and I love the art work. After hearing your comments I plan to give it another good listen. I love Cat Steven's art as well. I actually had his painting of the bear from Foreigner framed and it hangs in my office where I see it everyday. A very enjoyable 40 plus minutes, thank you for sharing.
I'm a huge Cat Stevens fan. I listened to Matthew and Son when it first came out. I agree with your selections. Also, your number one selection is spot on. I'm presently 69 years old, and I play my acoustical Ovation guitars well. The only reason that I started playing guitar; was that I wanted to play Cat Stevens songs. Thanks for taking your time and posting this great video. Take care my friend.
Grew up with Cat. Still have my mum's vinyl copies of Buddha and the Chocolate Box, Catch Bull at Four, Teaser and the Firecat and T for the Tillerman. The gatefold and pull out sleeves, the artwork, and the printed lyrics really makes me think about what we gave up when CDs took over from vinyl. And now of course it is just streaming, so you miss out on the accompanying artwork and poetry that made albums so special. I remember as a teenager drawing the picture of Cat from the pull out sleeve included with Teaser. I totally agree with Catch Bull at Four as number one. It has a real depth to it, and a touch of darkness in 18th Avenue and Ruins. The electric piano and the drums are stand outs. Also, I think Alun Davies deserves recognition for his guitar work and backing vocals, that really shaped the sound of the great Cat Stevens albums from the 70s. I am not familiar with Numbers, so that is exciting to have a new Cat album to explore. To any Cat Stevens fans that are not familiar with the work of Richard Thompson, give Pour Down Like Silver a listen. You will not be disappointed.
Awesome reference to Richard Thomas. I enjoyed the soundtrack he did for the Grizzly Bear movie! I think he messes around with Arabic influenced guitar, too! Thanks for watching the channel. All those Cat Stevens albums are great. Catch Bull at Four is such a great album, in part because it was so progressive in terms of trying new styles and moods, yet also firmly grounded in organic acoustic folk music. Truly a masterpiece! Thanks for watching
Dan Fogelberg was also great. VERY underrated. How could such a versatile musician, poet, composer and philosopher fall under your radar?? He had a substantial following. Many of us still here.
Thank you for posting, really enjoyable 40 mins. Great to see ‘Catch Bull At Four’ at the top - my favourite too. Hope it get’s the ‘deluxe re-issue’ 50th Anniversary treatment next year. Good to see the love for ‘Buddha and the Chocolate Box’ and ‘Numbers’ which would be in my top 5.
One of my fav 70sfolk rock artists best albums from “Mona Bone Jakon”-“Numbers”, even though he tried to go orig with “Forigner” when you mentioned other folk rock artists there was one you didn’t mention. Now I’m wondering what are your thoughts on Jim Croce?
Truly love Jim Croce. I don't have any of his vinyl anymore, but I used to have Photographs and Memories and know most of his "greatest hits" quite well. You're inspiring me to do something with Jim Croce!!! RIP to one of the best. So sad, still to this day! Thanks for watching the channel.
As a longtime CS fan, I enjoyed your thoughtful commentary. I could have been persuaded to rank CBA4 number one, if not for "The Boy ..." It's six minutes long, got the number two spot in the order, and is dull and repetitive in my opinion. But overall the album is brilliant. Sweet Scarlet is my favorite.
Sorry I’m just getting to this now. Yeah, he maybe should have made it like The Wind or one of the little Tea for the Tillerman acoustic songs. I guess he wanted to tell the story. Sweet Scarlet is definitely one of his best songs, period. Thanks for watching the channel
Izitso last, oh no....I love it so much, it's my number three. Catch Bull At Four is my number two, fantastic album. And number one..... Mona Bone Jakon, with the sad songs.
Thank you, people don't usually agree with me, lol. I guess we all have different tastes and we probably know Cat's music better than this reviewer does.@@KentWalkerFullCircle
I agree with your list for the most part. Catch bull at 4 is his most well rounded album but its tied with Mona Bon Jakon. Katmandu in my opinion is his most brilliant. Hard decision.
Hi. I just focused on the Cat Stevens albums, not his Yosef albums. Plus, I must admit that I’m not as familiar with his Yusuf material. Thanks for watching the video
I might miss one cause I’m doing this off the top of my head. Here’s from worst to best in my opinion. Keep in mind I like them all at least decently so if one you like is near the bottom it’s not cause I hate it. As you get closer to the best ones they’re so neck n neck I could see rearranging them completely if I was in a different mood. Back to Earth Matthew and Son New Masters Izitso Numbers Tea for the Tillerman 2 An Other Cup Tell ‘Em I’m Gone Buddha and the Chocolate Box Foreigner Catch Bull at Four The Laughing Apple King of a Land Mona Bone Jakon Roadsinger Teaser and the Firecat Tea for the Tillerman
Awesome that you included the Yusef stuff. I must admit I know little from the newer albums. And I totally get not being sure how to rank that patch of really good seventies albums he did. I put down Catch Bull at Four as my #1, but still not sure. I actually think Buddha and the Chocolate Box is one of his best albums, and sometimes gets overlooked
Hi, yeah, I’ve had several comments that I’m underrating Izitso. He never did a bad album and I know it’s got some very fine work on it. I also think Numbers is underrated. Thanks for watching the channel
You might be right. I change my mind by the day, lol. They’re all great albums. Buddha and the Chocolate Box is actually an underrated album, IMHO. I keep coming back to Catch Bull at Four though. Great album and it has many good associations for me. Thanks for watching the channel
Mathew and Son "Here Comes My Baby" is a classic! I cannot stomach "The First Cut is the Deepest". Of all of his albums, the aforementioned song is the worst, in my opinion. Everything else Cat Stevens has created is golden.
I always thought The First Cut is the Deepest shows how the arrangements on those early pop albums clouded the quality of the underlying songs. I wouldn’t have never listened to First Cut is the Deepest original version but the Rod Stewart cover is one of my favorite songs. Just shows how arrangements can make or break a song. Thanks for watching the channel
@@davidleinweberpersonally, I love the tender sound of First Cut. Still I agree the production is the main thing that keeps me from returning to those albums as much as others.
Sorry I’m just now getting to this. Yes, I’m a huge Gordon Lightfoot fan!!! I’ve uploaded a few GL videos since this one. Thanks for watching the channel
When you're going to crtiique an artrist, Especially one of Cat Stevens' stature, and evaluate and rate their work, then you need to be more knowledgable and have a better grasp of the facts. His constant saying of "I don't know" "I think it might have been" etc... got to wear pretty thin and I wound up fast forwarding because he was just rambling on and being repetitive, and it appeard he was talking just to hear himself talk. . His knowledge is not that good, spotty at best, and some statements he made were not at all accurate. This was a terrible review, and I disagree with his rankings--almost everyone of them.
Hope you're doing well. I appreciate you posting this. It's nice to see I'm not the only Cat Stevens fan out here.
My favorite song is "I want to live in a wigwam"
I really enjoyed listening to your raking of favorite Cat Stevens albums. He is such an interesting artist and person and I really admire him. You brought up a lot of interesting points. I never knew the story of how the title Buddha and the Chocolate Box was conceived. Thanks for that. Also, I rank Catch Bull at Four as my favorite as well. It often falls lower in other fans rankings. I also really liked your comments and enthusiasm for Numbers. I really like this album as well and still enjoy playing it. Like you, I find the whole numbers (no joke intended there) concept quite interesting and I love the art work. After hearing your comments I plan to give it another good listen. I love Cat Steven's art as well. I actually had his painting of the bear from Foreigner framed and it hangs in my office where I see it everyday. A very enjoyable 40 plus minutes, thank you for sharing.
I'm a huge Cat Stevens fan. I listened to Matthew and Son when it first came out. I agree with your selections. Also, your number one selection is spot on. I'm presently 69 years old, and I play my acoustical Ovation guitars well. The only reason that I started playing guitar; was that I wanted to play Cat Stevens songs. Thanks for taking your time and posting this great video. Take care my friend.
So glad you enjoyed the video. I’m going to do some more Cat Stevens content in the near future. What a great artist. Thanks for watching the channel.
Please a Don McLean album ranking/ review. His first album is sublime! Brilliant video, you gained a sub!
Grew up with Cat. Still have my mum's vinyl copies of Buddha and the Chocolate Box, Catch Bull at Four, Teaser and the Firecat and T for the Tillerman. The gatefold and pull out sleeves, the artwork, and the printed lyrics really makes me think about what we gave up when CDs took over from vinyl. And now of course it is just streaming, so you miss out on the accompanying artwork and poetry that made albums so special. I remember as a teenager drawing the picture of Cat from the pull out sleeve included with Teaser.
I totally agree with Catch Bull at Four as number one. It has a real depth to it, and a touch of darkness in 18th Avenue and Ruins. The electric piano and the drums are stand outs. Also, I think Alun Davies deserves recognition for his guitar work and backing vocals, that really shaped the sound of the great Cat Stevens albums from the 70s.
I am not familiar with Numbers, so that is exciting to have a new Cat album to explore. To any Cat Stevens fans that are not familiar with the work of Richard Thompson, give Pour Down Like Silver a listen. You will not be disappointed.
Awesome reference to Richard Thomas. I enjoyed the soundtrack he did for the Grizzly Bear movie! I think he messes around with Arabic influenced guitar, too! Thanks for watching the channel. All those Cat Stevens albums are great. Catch Bull at Four is such a great album, in part because it was so progressive in terms of trying new styles and moods, yet also firmly grounded in organic acoustic folk music. Truly a masterpiece! Thanks for watching
Dan Fogelberg was also great. VERY underrated.
How could such a versatile musician, poet, composer and philosopher fall under your radar??
He had a substantial following. Many of us still here.
No doubt. I love Part of the Plan, as the Raven Flies, Place in the World for a Gambler!!
Thank you for posting, really enjoyable 40 mins. Great to see ‘Catch Bull At Four’ at the top - my favourite too. Hope it get’s the ‘deluxe re-issue’ 50th Anniversary treatment next year. Good to see the love for ‘Buddha and the Chocolate Box’ and ‘Numbers’ which would be in my top 5.
No doubt Buddha and the Chocolate Box deserves more attention than it gets. Truly awesome album. Thanks for watching the channel!
One of my fav 70sfolk rock artists best albums from “Mona Bone Jakon”-“Numbers”, even though he tried to go orig with “Forigner” when you mentioned other folk rock artists there was one you didn’t mention. Now I’m wondering what are your thoughts on Jim Croce?
Truly love Jim Croce. I don't have any of his vinyl anymore, but I used to have Photographs and Memories and know most of his "greatest hits" quite well. You're inspiring me to do something with Jim Croce!!! RIP to one of the best. So sad, still to this day! Thanks for watching the channel.
Anche per me "Catch bull at four"" è l'album piu bello che C.S. abbia mai scritto.
Grazie!
Do you rate his live album 'Magicat?'
I wasn’t familiar with it. Is that from his 1976 tour?
Good taste✌️
Back To earth is a great album too. My favourite one is Catch a Bull at four.
Mona Bon Jakob, too
As a longtime CS fan, I enjoyed your thoughtful commentary. I could have been persuaded to rank CBA4 number one, if not for "The Boy ..." It's six minutes long, got the number two spot in the order, and is dull and repetitive in my opinion. But overall the album is brilliant. Sweet Scarlet is my favorite.
Sorry I’m just getting to this now. Yeah, he maybe should have made it like The Wind or one of the little Tea for the Tillerman acoustic songs. I guess he wanted to tell the story. Sweet Scarlet is definitely one of his best songs, period. Thanks for watching the channel
Boy With The Moon and Star is the best track on the album for me!
Izitso last, oh no....I love it so much, it's my number three. Catch Bull At Four is my number two, fantastic album. And number one..... Mona Bone Jakon, with the sad songs.
I agree with you more than this diletente reviewer--his rankings are way off in my book.
Thank you, people don't usually agree with me, lol. I guess we all have different tastes and we probably know Cat's music better than this reviewer does.@@KentWalkerFullCircle
I agree with your list for the most part. Catch bull at 4 is his most well rounded album but its tied with Mona Bon Jakon. Katmandu in my opinion is his most brilliant. Hard decision.
Yeah, tough choices. I actually think Buddha and the Chocolate Box isn’t always given enough love. It’s a really great album. Thanks for watching
Why didn’t you include his newer albums?
Hi. I just focused on the Cat Stevens albums, not his Yosef albums. Plus, I must admit that I’m not as familiar with his Yusuf material. Thanks for watching the video
I might miss one cause I’m doing this off the top of my head. Here’s from worst to best in my opinion. Keep in mind I like them all at least decently so if one you like is near the bottom it’s not cause I hate it. As you get closer to the best ones they’re so neck n neck I could see rearranging them completely if I was in a different mood.
Back to Earth
Matthew and Son
New Masters
Izitso
Numbers
Tea for the Tillerman 2
An Other Cup
Tell ‘Em I’m Gone
Buddha and the Chocolate Box
Foreigner
Catch Bull at Four
The Laughing Apple
King of a Land
Mona Bone Jakon
Roadsinger
Teaser and the Firecat
Tea for the Tillerman
Awesome that you included the Yusef stuff. I must admit I know little from the newer albums. And I totally get not being sure how to rank that patch of really good seventies albums he did. I put down Catch Bull at Four as my #1, but still not sure. I actually think Buddha and the Chocolate Box is one of his best albums, and sometimes gets overlooked
I believe Child For A Day was co-written by Cat Stevens’ brother.
@@davidleinweber I am indeed! :) Not many people spot that!
Yes-David Gordon-- and he had a co-writer as well. This guy waffled back and forth and never definitively stated the fact of WHO mwrote the song.
Izitso is right up there !!
Hi, yeah, I’ve had several comments that I’m underrating Izitso. He never did a bad album and I know it’s got some very fine work on it. I also think Numbers is underrated. Thanks for watching the channel
I love any his album. But when I think to his music, and I'm on the road, I specially think to "Longer boats" and "Daytime".
@@davidleinweberNumbers Is beautiful, completely magic.
What a wonderful analysis. My favorites are: 1. Numbers 2. Foreigner 3.Catch Bull 4. Buddha 5. Teaser to this bloody day..
I would definitely rate "Tea for the Tillerman" as #1, "Teaser and the Firecat" as #2, and you left out one, "Very Young and Early Songs".
You might be right. I change my mind by the day, lol. They’re all great albums. Buddha and the Chocolate Box is actually an underrated album, IMHO. I keep coming back to Catch Bull at Four though. Great album and it has many good associations for me. Thanks for watching the channel
@@davidleinweber Pleasure, thank you for posting the video. Cheers.
Very young and early songs is a compilation album.
Mathew and Son "Here Comes My Baby" is a classic! I cannot stomach "The First Cut is the Deepest". Of all of his albums, the aforementioned song is the worst, in my opinion. Everything else Cat Stevens has created is golden.
I always thought The First Cut is the Deepest shows how the arrangements on those early pop albums clouded the quality of the underlying songs. I wouldn’t have never listened to First Cut is the Deepest original version but the Rod Stewart cover is one of my favorite songs. Just shows how arrangements can make or break a song. Thanks for watching the channel
@@davidleinweberpersonally, I love the tender sound of First Cut. Still I agree the production is the main thing that keeps me from returning to those albums as much as others.
Have you ever been a fan of Gordon Lightfoot? Talk about a sensitive singer-songwriter!
Sorry I’m just now getting to this. Yes, I’m a huge Gordon Lightfoot fan!!! I’ve uploaded a few GL videos since this one. Thanks for watching the channel
When you're going to crtiique an artrist, Especially one of Cat Stevens' stature, and evaluate and rate their work, then you need to be more knowledgable and have a better grasp of the facts. His constant saying of "I don't know" "I think it might have been" etc... got to wear pretty thin and I wound up fast forwarding because he was just rambling on and being repetitive, and it appeard he was talking just to hear himself talk. . His knowledge is not that good, spotty at best, and some statements he made were not at all accurate. This was a terrible review, and I disagree with his rankings--almost everyone of them.
Do you play guitar?