Tea for the Tillerman

Tea for the Tillerman
Studio album by Cat Stevens
Released	23 November 1970
Recorded	July 1970, Morgan Studios, London
Genre	Folk rock, pop
Length	36:40
Label	A&M (U.S.) Island (UK)
Producer	Paul Samwell-Smith
Professional reviews
Allmusic link Rolling Stone link
Cat Stevens chronology
Mona Bone Jakon (1970) Tea for the Tillerman (1970) Teaser and the Firecat (1971)

Tea for the Tillerman is an album by singer-songwriter Cat Stevens. This album, Stevens' second during 1970, includes many of Stevens' most well-known songs including "Where Do the Children Play?," "Hard Headed Woman," "Wild World," "Sad Lisa," "Into White" and "Father and Son." Four of the tracks ("Where Do the Children Play?", "On the Road to Find Out", "Tea for the Tillerman" and "Miles from Nowhere") were featured in the Hal Ashby and Colin Higgins' black comedy film entitled Harold and Maude, in 1971. The track "But I Might Die Tonight" was featured on another 1971 film: Deep End by Jerzy Skolimowski. Stevens, a former art student, created the artwork featured on the record's cover.

With "Wild World" as an advance single, this was the album that brought Stevens world-wide fame.^{[citation needed]} The album itself charted into the top 10 in the United States, where he had previously had few listeners.^{[citation needed]}

On 18 November, 2003, Rolling Stone Magazine included this album in its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list at number 206.^[1]

In 2006, the album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In 2007, the album was included in the list of "The Definitive 200 Albums of All Time", released by The National Association of Recording Merchandisers and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In November 2008, a 'Deluxe Edition' was released featuring a second disc of demos and live recordings.

Track listing

All tracks written by Cat Stevens

Side one

	"Sad Lisa" (1970) Sample of "Sad Lisa", performed by Cat Stevens live on the "Earth Tour".
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1. "Where Do the Children Play?" – 3:52
2. "Hard Headed Woman" – 3:47
3. "Wild World" – 3:20
4. "Sad Lisa" – 3:45
5. "Miles from Nowhere" – 3:37

Side two

1. "But I Might Die Tonight" – 1:53
2. "Longer Boats" – 3:12
3. "Into White" – 3:24
4. "On the Road to Find Out" – 5:08
5. "Father and Son" – 3:41
6. "Tea for the Tillerman" – 1:01

Deluxe Edition

Disc Two

1. "Wild World" Demo – 3:14
2. "Longer Boats" Live at the Troubadour – 2:51
3. "Into White" Live at the Troubadour – 3:37
4. "Miles from Nowhere" Demo – 3:14
5. "Hard Headed Woman" Live in Japan – 3:57
6. "Where Do the Children Play?" Majikat Earth Tour 1976 – 3:20
7. "Sad Lisa" Majikat Earth Tour 1976 – 3:13
8. "On the Road to Find Out" Live at KCET-TV – 4:57
9. "Father and Son" Yusuf's Café Sessions – 4:25
10. "Wild World" Yusuf's Café Sessions – 3:03
11. "Tea for the Tillerman" Live at the BBC – 0:50

Personnel

• Cat Stevens – guitar, keyboards, Vocals
• Alun Davies – guitar
• Harvey Burns – drums
• John Ryan – bass

Additional personnel

• Del Newman – string arrangements
• John Rostein – violin

Charts

Album

Single

Certifications

Cover versions

Songs from this album have been covered by a diverse range of artists, which include:
Jimmy Cliff ("Wild World")
Boyzone ("Father and Son")
36 Crazyfists ("Sad Lisa")
Mr. Big ("Wild World")
The Nerve Agents ("But If I Might Die Tonight")
Rod Stewart & Sheryl Crow (The First Cut is the Deepest)

"Extras" television program

The title track is used by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant for the closing credits of Extras. The fourth episode of the second series of the show features a cover of "Tea for the Tillerman" performed by Chris Martin of Coldplay.

References