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"...Listen To The Wind Of My Soul..."
Already a four-album veteran
by the time he reached 1971 (2 Sixties efforts for Decca and two more mature
outings for Island Records) – Cat Stevens launched "Teaser And The
Firecat" in September of 1971 in its tactile matt gatefold sleeve. As
lovely as albums get – "Peace Train", "Moonshadow" and the
almost Gospel-ancient "Morning Has Broken" number only three of its
many charms.
And like the albums
"Mona Bone Jakon" and "Tea For The Tillerman" from 1970
that preceded it (April and November) – the new LP from the handsome Greek
Troubadour only cemented what many already knew in bedsits all around the world
– here was a singer-songwriter with massive crossover appeal hitting his
stride. "Jakon" was good with moments of brilliance (a step away from
the sheer Pop of "Matthew And Son") while only six months later
"Tillerman" showed huge progress in "Sad Lisa",
"Longer Boats", "On The Road To Find Out" and the
cross-generational song "Father And Son". But you could argue that
"Teaser" is his first 'perfect' album - it's all good - and much of
it way better than you remember.
The single CD remaster came
in 2000 as a bare-bones 10-track reissue and that was sweet too – but given
their huge and acknowledged popularity - it's hardly surprising then that
Universal has chosen both 1970's “Tea For The Tillerman" and 1971's
"Teaser And The Firecat" as Cat Stevens catalogue candidates for
'Deluxe Edition' superstardom. And they've done a sweet job on the pair. Here
are the Moonshadows...
UK released 25 May 2009 –
"Teaser And The Firecat: Deluxe Edition" by CAT STEVENS on
Universal/Island 060251 7870918 (Barcode 602517870918) is a 2CD Remaster with
10 Bonus Tracks that plays out as follows:
Disc 1 "Teaser And The
Firecat" Album (32:56 minutes):
1. The Wind
2. Rubylove
3. If I Laugh
4. Changes IV
5. How Can I Tell You
6. Tuesday's Dead [Side 2]
7. Morning Has Broken
8. Bitterblue
9. Moonshadow
10. Peace Train
Tracks 1 to 10 are his 4th
studio album "Teaser And The Firecat" – released September 1971 in
the UK on Island Records ILPS 9154 and October 1971 in the USA on A&M
Records SP 4313 – it peaked at No. 3 and No. 2 on the UK and US album charts.
Disc 2 "Deluxe
Extras" (34:36 minutes)
1. Moonshadow (Live At The
Troubadour)
2. Rubylove (Live At The
Troubadour)
3. If I Laugh – Demo Version
4. Changes IV – Demo Version
5. How Can I Tell You – Demo
Version)
6. Morning Has Broken – Demo
Version
7. Bitterblue (Live At The
Royal Albert Hall)
8. Tuesday's Dead (From The
Majikat Earth Tour)
9. Peace Train (Live At The
Royal Albert Hall 2003)
10. The Wind (From Yusef's
Café)
Produced by Paul
Samwell-Smith - the LP featured his house band of Alun Davies on Second Guitar,
Larry Steele on Bass and Congas and Gerry Conway on Drums – Andreas Toumazis
provides the Greek Bouzouki.
The gatefold inner flaps
have stills from the "Teaser" cartoon and live shots of Cat from the
period while the beautifully rendered 24-page long booklet reproduces
reminiscences from producer Paul Samwell-Smith, guitarist Alun Davies and of
course Cat Stevens himself - all nestled within lots of full colour stills from
the Teaser animation film and lyrics to the songs. The colour stills give it an
almost childlike feel - very nicely done.
The Remaster by TED JENSEN
is analogue warm and full of presence. This is a gorgeous sounding album on any
format and one of the finest examples of singer-songwriter you can get your
grubby mitts on. Check out the beautiful fidelity on "The Wind" as he
sings “...I listen to the wind...the wind of my soul...” – it feels a friend
calling to your door just when you need it the most. Soothing music from a
heart wanting to spread solace through song. Other examples include the
wonderfully uplifting "Rubylove", the aching "If I Laugh",
the flick-strum "Bitterblue" and the real longing in "How Can I
Tell You" - all album secrets you need on your Hi Fi hub.
The good news for rabid fans
is that Disc 2 (34:36 minutes) has some genuinely stunning tracks on it actually
worthy of the title 'bonus'. "Rubylove", "If I Laugh",
"Changes IV", "How Can I Tell You" and "Morning Has
Broken" are all Vocals/Acoustic demo versions recorded in Morgan Studios
in London in February 1971 (a month before the album was recorded) and they're
beautiful. Stripped down and bare, the almost fully formed melodies come
shining through. The famously superb piano work by Rick Wakeman of Yes on the
finished version of "Morning Has Broken" is replaced here with an
acoustic guitar, which makes for a fascinating listen.
"Moonshadow" was
recorded live at the Troubadour Club in Los Angeles in 1971 and features album
session-man ALUN DAVIES on Guitar and Vocals - it's well recorded and a lovely
version. "Bitterblue" is a Royal Albert Hall performance from 1972,
but it's not great because the sound quality is rubbish. Better is the
World-Music Meets-Acapella version of "Peace Train" from 2003, which
throws a new slant on an overly familiar song.
He'd return in 1972 and 1973
with equally superb "Catch Bull At Four” and "Foreigner"
stretching his songmanship to a whole side on the latter – but for many the
sheer simplicity and warmth of "Teaser" feels like the kid within –
laughing – heading home to a better place.
"...Leaping and hopping
on a moon shadow..." – let this one follow you home.
PS: I've also reviewed the
2CD Deluxe Edition of “Tea For The Tillerman", the single discs of
"Mona Bone Jakon" and "Foreigner" and the 4CD Box Set
"On The Road To Find Out" (aka "Cat Stevens")...
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