101 Reel-To-Reel Tapes 4: Cat Stevens ~ Teaser & the Firecat

Cat Stevens ~ Teaser & the Firecat

reel-to-reel tape box cover detail

detail photo by Styrous®

In addition to my vinyl collection I'm selling, I have hundreds of reel-to-reel, pre-recorded tapes. This is an entry about one of them that was for sale on eBay (see link below for others). I have the vinyl LP version as well. Interested? Contact me.

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This is by far my favorite album by Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam). My favorite songs from it are Morning Has Broken, Moonshadow and Peace Train. One of loveliest songs ever written, Morning Has Broken is a popular and well-known Christian hymn first published in 1931. The words are by Eleanor Farjeon and is set to a traditional Gaelic tune known as "Bunessan"; it is often sung in children's services. The beautiful piano arrangement was performed by Rick Wakeman, a classically trained keyboardist best known for his tenures in the English progressive rock band Yes (see: Yes ~ Tales from Topographic Oceans). The song became identified with Stevens when it reached number six on the US pop chart and number one on the US easy listening chart in 1972.

Cat Stevens ~ Teaser & the Firecat

reel-to-reel tape box cover

photo by Styrous®

Cat Stevens ~ Teaser & the Firecat

reel-to-reel tape box cover detail

detail photo by Styrous®

Cat Stevens ~ Teaser & the Firecat

reel-to-reel tape box cover back

photo by Styrous®

Cat Stevens ~ Teaser & the Firecat

reel-to-reel tape box cover detail

detail photo by Styrous®

Cat Stevens ~ Teaser & the Firecat

reel-to-reel tape

photo by Styrous®

Cat Stevens ~ Teaser & the Firecat

reel-to-reel label detail

detail photo by Styrous®

Track listing

All songs were written by Cat Stevens, except for "Morning Has Broken".

Side one:

1. "The Wind" – 1:42
2. "Rubylove" – 2:37
3. "If I Laugh" – 3:20
4. "Changes IV" – 3:32
5. "How Can I Tell You" – 4:24

Side two:

1. "Tuesday's Dead" – 3:36
2. "Morning Has Broken" (Traditional, arr. Stevens; words Eleanor Farjeon) – 3:20
3. "Bitterblue" – 3:12
4. "Moonshadow" – 2:52
5. "Peace Train" – 4:04

Personnel:

• Cat Stevens – guitar, keyboards, vocals
• Alun Davies – guitar
• Larry Steele – bass guitar, congas
• Gerry Conway – drums
• Harvey Burns – drums
• Andy Roberts (uncredited) - Kriwaczek string organ (on 5)
• Rick Wakeman – piano on "Morning Has Broken" (uncredited)
• Andreas Toumazis – bouzouki
• Angelos Harzipavli – bouzouki
• Del Newman – string arrangements

Teaser & the Firecat on YouTube

Morning Has Broken (with lyrics) on YouTube

reel-to-reel listings on eBay

more reel-to-reel tapes on the Styrous® Viewfinder:
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Teaser and the Firecat was released in 1971; it was a gentle and peaceful album from a simpler time and age that vanished far too quickly.

Styrous® ~ October 25, 2013

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