Catch Bull At Four (Ltd. Edition Digi-Pak) [Original recording remastered]

catch bull at four (ltd. edition digi-pak) [original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Celebrated and adored for his sanguine lyrics and irresistible hooks, Cat Stevens was one of the rare singer-songwriters capable of composing genuinely optimistic songs that didn't leave a sappy residue in listeners' ears. However, even a cursory listen to 1972's Catch Bull at Four proves that the Cat had seen darkness, too, and that those darker elements had become more pronounced than they'd been in the past. His vocal style shifts from the cool croon that made Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat top sellers to a harsher, almost growling delivery. The album's standouts--the wistful reverie "Sitting" and the delightfully infectious "Can't Keep It In"--are resolute in lyric and melody. Rambling, mystical odes such as "The Boy with a Moon & Star on His Head," "Angelsea," and "Sweet Scarlet" offer quaintly romantic imagery and lavishly undulating melodies. But it's the mercurial dynamics and driving melody of "18th Avenue (Kansas City Nightmare)" and the bitter conviction of "Ruins" that give the album a backbone and a sense of balance. --Sally Weinbach

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Catch Bull At Four (Ltd. Edition Digi-Pak) [Original recording remastered]

Average customer rating:

cat's got the cream with this album
Excellent service and product!
Cat's Early Seventies' Transition
Undoubtedly one of the Cat's classic albums
Like all of Cat Stevens' albums - about 2/3 superb

Catch Bull at Four
Cat Stevens
Manufacturer: A&M
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Teaser and the Firecat
Tea for the Tillerman
Buddha and the Chocolate Box
Mona Bone Jakon
Foreigner

ASIN: B00004VW0S
Release Date: 2000-07-25

Tracks:

Sitting
The Boy with a Moon & Star on His Head
Angelsea
Silent Sunlight
Can't Keep It In
18th Avenue
Freezing Steel
O Caritas
Sweet Scarlet
Ruins

Amazon.com

Celebrated and adored for his sanguine lyrics and irresistible hooks, Cat Stevens was one of the rare singer-songwriters capable of composing genuinely optimistic songs that didn't leave a sappy residue in listeners' ears. However, even a cursory listen to 1972's Catch Bull at Four proves that the Cat had seen darkness, too, and that those darker elements had become more pronounced than they'd been in the past. His vocal style shifts from the cool croon that made Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat top sellers to a harsher, almost growling delivery. The album's standouts--the wistful reverie "Sitting" and the delightfully infectious "Can't Keep It In"--are resolute in lyric and melody. Rambling, mystical odes such as "The Boy with a Moon & Star on His Head," "Angelsea," and "Sweet Scarlet" offer quaintly romantic imagery and lavishly undulating melodies. But it's the mercurial dynamics and driving melody of "18th Avenue (Kansas City Nightmare)" and the bitter conviction of "Ruins" that give the album a backbone and a sense of balance. --Sally Weinbach

Customer Reviews:

cat's got the cream with this album .......2005-11-28

a beautiful album of folk rock ditty's which send you in a daze of happiness
from the opening track "sittin" you know you're in for something special then comes
"the boy with the moon and stars on his head"
a beautiful song i can see myself in a poppy field watching the sunset whenever i play this song..hell i think i'm gonna do that
angelsea beautiful tear jerking
silent sunlight another class song from the cat
18th avenue [kansas city nightmare] my second favorite track on this album
freezing steel good just not great still the steven's
o'caritas another one of my favorites
sweet scarlet my favorite a beauty
ruins no way this is great

catch bull at four 10/5 steven's and his many highs
god bless you cat stevens

Excellent service and product!.......2005-10-25

Thanks for the great memories every time I play this CD. Delivered promptly and packed well.

Cat's Early Seventies' Transition.......2005-01-28

Cat Stevens' fourth album for A&M records is a definite treat. The first Cat Stevens LP to feature a promotional label: (2 different labels on one record), and I believe the first of those 4 albums to feature electrical instruments. This album contains the top 20 hit "Sitting" as well as the acoustic masterpiece "Boy with a moon and star on his head". Cat's first big rocker was "Freezing Steel" from side 2. Also included are "Angelsea" and "Silent Sunlight" which i think are the best ones on the album. The remastered CD has brilliant sound, just like the LP right out of the shrink wrap. If you are just discovering the sound of Cat Stevens, "Catch Bull At Four" is an excellent first choice. The musical energy will fill you up.

Undoubtedly one of the Cat's classic albums.......2004-10-23

It is unfortunate that many reviewers of `Catch bull at four' have tended to regard it as a poorer quality album than its two predecessors `Tea for the tillerman' and `Teaser and the Firecat'. I feel that this does the album a great injustice; no artist should be expected to remain unchanging in style, and if he had simply stayed with a winning formula after the success of `Teaser' Cat Stevens could rightly have been criticized. However, Stevens demonstrated integrity and vision throughout the early years of the 1970s, with each of his first five Island Records albums showing a clear progression and artistic development, even if on occasions (perhaps most notably `Foreigner') this was not always commercially successful.

After achieving a very focused and concise style on `Teaser', Cat Stevens understandably wanted to experiment with more unusual song structures and ambitious arrangements, and the result is a somewhat more stylistically diverse album than its predecessors. As a result it is, if anything, a stronger, more musically satisfying album, and includes new elements such as electric guitar, synthesizer, female backing vocalists and the accomplished keyboard work of Jean Roussel. At the same time, the album retains much of what made Cat's earlier work appealing, and also includes the welcome re-appearance of the bouzouki to add its distinctive sound to `O Caritas'.

The mood of the album is at times somber, reflecting Stevens' continuing spiritual pilgrimage at this time, and his deep feelings perhaps show through most in the opening track `Sitting' and the bleak closing song `Ruins'. Though there are a couple of weaker tracks (such as `Boy...' which has a pleasant arrangements but a rather tedious, over-long lyric, and `Angelsea' which is perhaps too dominated by synthesizer sounds), these can be appreciated as valid musical experiments, and are more than compensated for by other very appealing up-tempo tracks (such as `Sitting', `Can't keep it in' and `O Caritas'). The album contains several lovely ballads, such as `Sweet scarlet' and the madrigal-like `Silent sunlight', whilst the more complex song structure of `18th avenue', with its orchestral interlude and changing rhythms, hints at the direction Cat would take with his next album `Foreigner'. The whole package is enhanced by the crystal clear remastering, and restoration of the stylish original album artwork. Altogether, `Catch bull at four' can be regarded as a very satisfying album which, along with `Tillerman' and `Teaser' ranks among Cat Stevens' best work.

Like all of Cat Stevens' albums - about 2/3 superb .......2004-09-25

This seems to be a trend and applies to at least his first six A&M releases, except FOREIGNER, which was maybe 1/3 superb. Although "Silent Sunlight" and "Sweet Scarlet" are two of the most beautiful songs Cat Stevens ever recorded, I would recommend CATCH BULL AT FOUR on the strength of "18th Avenue" alone. That song is his studio masterpiece, in my opinion. And listen to the chanted chorus in "Angelsea". Supposedly the voices repeatedly chant "Oh, Carly Simon says, oh, Carly, why?". After all, she did have a romance with Cat Stevens shortly before meeting James Taylor. Could Cat Stevens be the subject of "You're So Vain"? Nahhh. The #1 candidate for that dubious honor is still Warren Beatty. Anyway, buy CATCH BULL.

Average customer rating:

ehh
A voice as smooth as velvet
Ah, but the song carries on...so soulfully

Catch Bull at Four
Cat Stevens
Manufacturer: A&M
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Teaser and the Firecat
Buddha and the Chocolate Box
Mona Bone Jakon
Cat Stevens - Greatest Hits

ASIN: B000002GFY
Release Date: 1993-02-23

Tracks:

Sitting
The Boy With A Moon & Star On His Head
Angelsea
Silent Sunlight
Can't Keep It In
18th Avenue
Freezing Steel
O Caritas
Sweet Scarlet
Ruins

Customer Reviews:

ehh.......1999-07-31

Most of the tracks on this one are kind of chilling/morbid/scary/don't-need-to-hear-it-I-can-watch-the-nightly-news. "Boy With the Moon" and Angelsea" are good.

A voice as smooth as velvet.......1999-02-16

Cat Stevens has one of the best voices in the business. His range is incredible and his folk roots show through beautifully in "Boy with the Moon and Stars on his Head." "Angelsea" is another great track and can make me long for the days of yore. "Can't keep it in" shows his rockin side. Wonderful album for romantic times or any time. If you like this album, check out "Tea for the Tillerman." You won't be sorry.

Ah, but the song carries on...so soulfully.......1998-12-19

A perfect quiet time of day album. Cat Stevens voice is a voice of a father or faviorte uncle who sang over your crib while you were a baby.The words to the songs seem both emotional and in some way, educational. This is a many layered album so Cat Stevens could play many different instruments and also add his own unique background vocals. His 12-string gutar playing seems unparalleled.My favorite song of Cat Stevens is 'Ruins',the last cut on the CD. A sarcastic song about might being right and what it could lead to. All in all a good solid album with good vocals, great song writing and just a cool album to listen to.

Catch Bull At Four (Ltd. Edition Digi-Pak)

Average customer rating:

Another great one
The last truly great Stevens album.
The Best
Catch Bull @ Four Catches Stars
Another classic

Catch Bull At Four (Ltd. Edition Digi-Pak)
Cat Stevens
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Buddha & The Chocolate Box (Ltd. Edition Digi-Pak)
Tea for the Tillerman
Foreigner (Ltd. Edition Digi-Pak)
Teaser and the Firecat

ASIN: B00004VW0T
Release Date: 2000-07-25

Tracks:

Sitting
The Boy with a Moon & Star on His Head
Angelsea
Silent Sunlight
Can't Keep It In
18th Avenue
Freezing Steel
O Caritas
Sweet Scarlet
Ruins

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Another great one.......2000-10-17

Don't know if this is truly his last great album as is said below as I haven't listened to all the subsequent albums, but it's much better than Foreigner which came before and Buddha and the Chocolate Box which came after. I was at first slightly put off by his more scratchy voice on some tracks, but he sings them with such passion and intensity that I've grown to love them. The sound is a bit different from his two acknowledged classics, but this album is just as enjoyable. Highly recommended.

The last truly great Stevens album........2000-10-08

Before his carear tailed off, Cat produced this one last masterpiece. Based more around keyboards than the acoustic guitar, Catch Bull catches fire. From the sanguine opener,Sitting to the Latin cadences of,O Caritas this album is a collection of wonderfull songs. There is one acoustic jewel included; the sublime,Boy with the Moon and Stars. A worthy sucessor to Tillerman and Teaser.

The Best.......2000-10-04

This is the first album I ever purchased in 1973 at the age of 10. It has always remained in my thoughts but haven't listened in quite a while. Based on the VH1 Behind the Music airing I picked it up again and was moved to tears listening to the incredible tracks. Maybe not as light as other recordings, but heart felt, real lyrics you just don't get anymore.

Catch Bull @ Four Catches Stars.......2000-09-25

Although many fans are familiar with Cat Stevens' two blockbuster albums, Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat, CAt Stevens continued his evolutionary musical evolvement and wonderful uniqueness in "Catch Bull at 4". Totally different from his previous albums, but yet distinctively unique & creatively imaginative and musically reverbarative as his previous albums, it is an album that all true previously-enamored Cat Stevens fans, who are not familiar with this one, should run out & get. The melodies/tunes from this album/cd resonate just as memorably as the previous ones ... and, some of the absolutely most memorable (as from all of his albums) are on this package. My favorites are & were (30 years ago almost!!!!) "SiTTING" "ANGELSEA", "RUINS" "CANT KEEP IT IN"

Another classic.......2000-09-12

This may not be as well known as "Tea for the Tillerman", but, I enjoyed all the songs and listened to them many times over. It is a little darker than some of his other albums, but, I like that. It seems more personal than some of his more popular, pop albums. His voice is raw and emotional on most of these songs and not something that you hear from most pop stars today. If you're a Cat Stevens fan, you should definitely add this one to your collection!

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