Coinciding with Stevens' U.S. tour, his latest LP is a beauty in melody and understatement, thanks to superb arrengements and production. "Sad Lisa," "Longer Boats," "Into White," "Where Do the Children Play" and "Hard Headed Woman" should enjoy considerable airplay and create consumer demand.

- Billboard, 1970.

Bonus Reviews!

Further reading on Super Seventies RockSite!: Album Review: Teaser And The Firecat Album Review: Buddha And The Chocolate Box Album Review: Greatest Hits Cat Stevens: In His Own Words

My big problems with this record are no doubt why it's a hit: the artificially ripened singing, which goes down like a store-bought banana daiquiri, and the insufferable sexist condescension of "Wild World." B-

- Robert Christgau, Christgau's Record Guide, 1981.

Tea for the Tillerman is like a musical collection of children's tales by Stevens. The delicacy of the arrangements, Paul Samwell-Smith's brilliant otherworldly production, and Stevens's entrancing melodies and images easily make this his best work. "Wild World" was a huge hit, but emotive tracks like "Father and Son," "Where Do the Children Play?," and the haunting "Into White" and "Sad Lisa" make this a must-own for fans of singer/songwriter pop. * * * * *

- Rick Clark, The All-Music Guide to Rock, 1995.

Even though he'd had a few hits, Tea for the Tillerman blasted Stevens into international superstardom. "Wild World," "Father and Son," "Where Do the Children Play," "Hard Headed Woman" and others made Stevens an album-rock radio staple. The album's cartoon cover art and the innocence expressed in the songs were perfect for the flower child ethos. * * * * *

- Lawrence Gabriel, Musichound Rock: The Essential Album Guide, 1996.

Perfect to curl up with on a rainy day, this fine, thoughtful album brings back memories of a gentler time when hippiedom ruled and Cat was a favored son. A lost teller of tales, he wrote wistful melodies punctuated by playful tunes, leaping from "Wild World" to the melancholy "Sad Lisa." While some wonder why he left music to become a Muslim cleric at the height of his career, cynics suspect the clues were all here in this "icky treacle." * * * *

- Zagat Survey Music Guide - 1,000 Top Albums of All Time, 2003.

With its chamber-pop arrangements, Tea for the Tillerman is one of the British folkie's most ambitious albums. Both the hit single "Wild World" and the bleak ballad "Hard-Headed Woman" find him condemning his ex, Patti D'Arbanville -- who later shacked up with Mick Jagger.

Tea for the Tillerman was chosen as the 206th greatest album of all time by the editors of Rolling Stone magazine in Dec. 2003.

- Rolling Stone, 12/11/03.

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