Customer Reviews

Tea for the Tillerman [VHS]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This review is rather biased because I am a huge Cat Stevens fan and there is just not enough of his concert video out there. If you enjoy Cat Stevens music, then I highly suggest you acquire this video. It will satiate your appetite to see him sing his songs in person. The setting of this video is a sound stage with a small group of fans sitting on the floor. I was fortunate to see his Majikat Tour in Germany in 1976, this will be your chance to see him perform "Live!" Enjoy.

I bought this video out of curiosity and was very pleasantly surprised. My only complaint was that it was too short in length so it seemed more like a demo tape from a struggling wannabe singer submitted to a record company for consideration. Anyway, Cat Stevens performs some of his hits like "Father and Son", "Wild World", "Hard Headed Woman", etc. maybe six or seven songs in all in an informal acoustic presentation that lasts no more than half hour. It was actually filmed at KCET educational television studio in front of a small audience maybe fifty people tops. The camera pans the audience extensively and they show their appreciation of the mini-concert with looks of childlke wonderment and plain old kickback relaxed appearances. Historically, as this video was shot in the early 70s, we see the style of dress, hairstyles and general appearances of the predominant 20 to 30 year old people in the audience of that era and recognize a passage of time to today, yet realize a sameness that still remains as Cat Stevens fans will always be Cat Stevens fans even when they are baby-boomers ready to retire. Anyway, if you are a Cat Stevens fan, this is probably the only chance one has to view this artist outside of having seen him in concert which I never did...

I bought this video just for the "Teaser and the Firecat" animated film that is on it. Well worth it....I love it.
For anyone who's wondering, this video is the only way to get rare cartoon film. The performance is great as well.

What a wonderful video! Anyone familiar with the true philosophy of the Hippie movement can't help falling in love with this performance. Looking like an Orthodox Christ from a Greek Icon, Cat delivers the fine texture of his inspired songs, made of subtle rhytmic motives on his string guitar and beautiful harmonic lines on the bass part, with a profound conviction and, one could say, with a sincere, prayerfull attitude. There is true poetry in his lyrics and a peaceful, contemplative spirit in the intimate audience. Young ones, erratic consumers of globalized trash, you, the "Oh very young" ones of this 21st century: please watch this! This is catharsis; this is true message and communion in popular music; this is true art and the spirit of the sixties and seventies ALIVE AND WELL! Cat (Yusuf), you really saw the light!

One of the few opportunities to see Cat Stevens playing some of his hit songs from "Tea for the Tillerman" and "Teaser & the Firecat". Acoustic setting, recorded in a radio station studio with a very 70's audience. Just Stevens, Alun Davies + bass player, right after he had hit the charts in the US. Other than the VH1 behind the music, this is the only video I've seen from him. Downside: They missed an opportunity to release a longer video, with some more songs, footage, interviews, etc. but still, if you are a fan: BUY IT!!

If you grew up listening to Cat Stevens you will appreciate this short video. This is when "Wild World" became "a hit", as he says. The video is a must for any Cat Stevens fan. It is nicely arranged and the quality is excellent.

Recorded at the KCET studios in L.A. on June 8, 1971, it's a very good performance. May be that's not what you're expecting of a live recording, it's only Cat singing and playing lead guitar(and piano on Miles from nowhere) with Alun Davies on the second guitar/backing vocals, and Larry Steele on the bass, but anyway you have to see it!!!... the quality of the film is very very good, (though it's an old recording). Also I have to say that there was not to much people invited to enjoy this performance, they were sitting on the floor!!!, just in front of him!!!...and at the end he asked "...do you have any request, anybody wanna hear something?...", and somebody said "Hard headed woman"... then he played it!!!. This film iclude the "Teaser and the firecat - cartoon" Sadly this is the only live recording that you can find from Cat in the stores, so you should have this one in your collection...

Gerardo Román B.

It`s a good singer.