Tea for the Tillerman 2

by Cat Stevens, Yusuf

Overview

In 2019, Yusuf, the artist who was known in the '60s and '70s as Cat Stevens, realized that the 50th anniversary of his 1970 breakthrough album Tea for the Tillerman was on the horizon, and he began pondering how to best celebrate the occasion. He struck upon the idea of re-recording the original album's 11 songs in new and updated arrangements. With original producer Paul Samwell-Smith back at the controls and guitarist Alun Davies invited to play on the sessions, they repaired to the South of France for a week of recording, and the result is 2020's Tea for the Tillerman 2. The reimagined album puts the material into a different musical context, though beyond a short, rap-influenced section in "Longer Boats" and the remake of "Wild World" that suggests a jazzy tango, this time around the songs have evolved from early-'70s folk-rock to a soft rock sound that recalls the late '70s and early '80s more than contemporary pop. The songs hold up well in their pastoral optimism and cautious tone about the state of the busy world, strongly reflecting the era in which they were written, while most of the themes remain relevant in 2020. The voice of 22-year-old Cat Stevens was strong and versatile; by comparison, the 72-year-old Yusuf sounds a bit fragile and weary, and has lost a bit of his upper range. That said, he sounds emotionally committed to the material throughout, and the elder Yusuf's instrument suggests a burnished wisdom that comes with maturity. Tea for the Tillerman 2 isn't as satisfying as the original album -- it's an enduring classic that hardly needed to be improved -- and 2009's Roadsinger and 2017's The Laughing Apple proved that Yusuf is still capable of writing fine songs and making them work in the studio. But many longtime fans will find it interesting to see the new directions Yusuf has taken this material in the 21st century. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	09/18/2020
Label:	A&M
UPC:	0602508886959

Tracks

1. Where Do the Children Play?
2. Hard Headed Woman
3. Wild World
4. Sad Lisa
5. Miles From Nowhere
6. But I Might Die Tonight
7. Longer Boats
8. Into White
9. On the Road to Find Out
10. Father and Son
11. Tea for the Tillerman

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Cat Stevens   Primary Artist,Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Yusuf   Primary Artist,Piano,Vocals,Keyboards,Spanish Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String)
Alun Davies   Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals (Background)
Paul Samwell-Smith   Vocals (Background)
Andy Caine   Vocals (Background)
Mary Carewe   Vocals (Background)
Pete Vettese   Organ,Keyboards,Synthesizer,Synthesizer Pads,Vocals (Background)
Jim Cregan   Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
Martin Allcock   Bass,Piano,Guitar (Bass)
Janet Ramus   Vocals (Background)
Brother Ali   Rap
Michael Henry   Vocals (Background)
Bruce Lynch   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Eric Appapoulaye   Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background)
John Ashton Thomas   String Conductor
Kwame Yeboah   Drums,Keyboards,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Andreas Andersson   Clarinet
Yusuf Islam   Piano,Vocals,Keyboards,Harpsichord,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Guitar (12 String Acoustic)

Technical Credits

Paul Samwell-Smith   Producer
Nick Ingman   Arranger
Cat Stevens   Composer
Pete Vettese   Arranger
Yusuf   Design,Composer,Producer,Illustrations
David Hefti   Mixing,Engineer
John Ashton Thomas   Arranger,Recording Arranger,String Arrangements
Mazen Murad   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Christopher Nightingale   Vocal Arrangement
Julien Gauthier   Studio Work,Studio Assistant
Yoriyos Adamos   Photography
Yusuf Islam   Producer
Daniel Cayotte   Studio Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Rhys Fagan   Photography