This article was
found in the Cleveland Free Times
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CAT STEVENS
TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN
A&M (1970) Published November 17 - 23, 1999
Here’s a
perfect example of how popular misconceptions can translate directly into dogmatic
ignorance. There are two main arteries of hubbub on Cat Stevens, both stemming from the
same Western tendency to confuse profound unconventionality with legitimacy. To wit: Many
folks remember Cat Stevens as a good-looking hippie with an uncanny poetic knack. Others
know him as an eccentric, disillusioned aging pop icon who turned to Allah for
fulfillment. Obviously, neither of these descriptions befits the common man; and
unfortunately, our undying fetishes for gimmicks and labels have sequestered Stevens into
these uncomfortable niches.
While Tea for the
Tillerman may expose brief glimpses of the aforementioned misconceptions, these barely
scratch the surface of this elaborate album. Weaving casually through 11
sublimely-orchestrated anthems, Stevens plays a multitude of roles. He is at once a
self-righteous social critic and self-deprecating lovelorn drifter, employing dozens of
voices betwixt. From the initial open-letter-to-the-establishment, "Where Do the
Children Play," to the inspirational gospel of the album’s title (and final)
track, he investigates a multitude of personal, social and religious issues.
Sounds commonplace,
yes, but Cat Stevens’ nakedly unpretentious, soul-stirring delivery casts a
transcendent light on his themes: the ever-shrinking world, love gone awry, the inherent
flaws of mortality and discordant father/son relations, among scores more. The overall
effect is at once uplifting and sobering — psychologically stirring a la some
heretofore-undiscovered hyperspiritual reggae on amphetamine. Tea for the Tillerman is,
among the 10 million other pop albums since its release, a uniquely inquisitive take on
the virtues and tragedies of humanity, made possible only by Stevens’ undying quest:
"On and on we go, the seconds tick the time out/But there’s so much left to
know, and I’m on the road to find out." — Nicholas Raymond |
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