Product Description

Following in the tradition of his previous effort, with a similar cover design and feel, Cat continued his painful journey through life. Even then, there was a sadness linked to his happy songs such as "Moonshadow", "How Can I Tell You" and "Tuesday's Dead". Our favourite school hymn was also giventhe treatment - how did he manage to make such a happy verse sound so sad? The answer, as we have all seen, was in himself; he was a rare songwriter but he was mostly a very troubled soul, something he seems to have resolved through his conversion to the Muslim faith. He won, we lost him.

Track Listing

1. The Wind
2. Rubylove
3. If I laugh
4. Changes IV
5. How Can I Tell You
6. Tuesdat's Dead
7. Morning Has Broken
8. Bitterblue
9. Moonshadow
10. Peace Train

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3635 in Music
• Released on: 2000-05-29
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Running time: 33 minutes

Customer Reviews

Hot Cat
Three great albums in one year is some going. 'Teaser' may be the last of the trio but is no pile of leftovers. Cat Stevens was on a roll, possessed by the knack of marrying simple, but beautiful guitar arrangements to lyrics that tugged at humanity, and sung by a voice that felt as if it was in the room with you. If it's inferior to 'Tea for the Tillerman,' it's only because there isn't as much of it, running to just thirty-two minutes.

The brief, reflective 'The Wind' is classic Cat, as is the bashful 'If I Laugh.' 'Rubylove' is a joyous, bouzouki-led love song, whereas 'How Can I Tell You' is poignant. All of these songs possess fine melodies. Only 'Changes IV' of the songs in the first half is aggressive, though its menacing shadow is effective. This, together with 'Peace Train' is a reminder of the naive, Utopian dream of perfect freedom and harmony so many songs of the era professed. Still, it's a warm thought.

In the second half, the simple philosophy of the hit 'Moonshadow' stands out, the pleading 'Bitterblue' and 'Peace Train' give it a run for its money. For all its pleasantries and memorable piano riff, 'Morning Has Broken' reminds me of cold school assembly mornings, while I could never quite grasp 'Tuesday's Dead,' even if it does sound great.

After this, Stevens continued to make good quality albums, but forsook the simple arrangement in favour of a band with a drummer, and the results were never quite as impressive. Any Cat Stevens collection should start with this and 'Tillerman.'

What a Cool Cat!
I had this on vinyl when it came out and really loved it. It was quite strange because my friends and I were really into progressive and heavy rock but Cat Stevens still had his place.

I was not sure how this would have aged, so it was with some anxiety that I bough this and Tea For The Tillerman. I must say that I was a bit underwhelmed when I first listened to it but as I persisted I really got into it. Then my son and I started watching the Ricky Gervais series Extras which had Tea for the Tillerman as the title music. With him wanting tohear more I got a few other albums and discovered that there was much more to him than I remembered, a true genius.

This is my favourite Cat Stenes abum but they all have something to offer, although the earlier, over arranged albums should be approached with caution. Like David Bowie's early stuff Cat Stevens early albums are noewhere near his later triumphs, although I do have a soft spot for the title track on Mathew and Son.

Buy Teaser and the Firecat it is excellent!

Another gem to go with 'Tea for the Tillerman'
I just reviewed 'Tea for the Tillerman' and the same comments apply to this album too. If I could only own 2 of his albums, it would be this and 'Tea for the Tillerman'. I wasn't so keen on 'Tuesday's Dead' or 'Bitterblue', but still give it 5 stars as they're not bad tracks at all - they just don't stand out as individually for me within the album.

"How can I tell you" and "The Wind" are beautiful songs, emotional, with lyrics we can all relate to.

A friend bought me the "Greatest Hits" which I have to say I found mildly disappointing. It was like reading a favourite book in disjointed segments . You're expecting page one - and you get page four - whether that makes sense or not I don't know - but the songs don't flow as nicely or as entirely as on these 2 albums, which are complete in themselves.

Just stop thinking about it and buy it. You won't regret it.