10 Greatest Acoustic Rock Albums
9. Cat Stevens - Tea for the Tillerman
Yusuf Islam, then Cat Stevens, is very much the folkster’s folkster. His fourth album, arguably his best, is packed with songs rich in acoustic instrumentation, positive messages, words of caution and joy. It’s a giddy, packed sound which compliments some career-best songwriting.
"Miles from Nowhere" shows Stevens and his band in full force, as he grows from a calm vocal low in the mix to a belting performance as the track swells around him. Opener “Where Do The Children Play?” is particularly lovely, with sparkling keys punctuating the chorus.
The album is best remembered for its two downtempo tracks, “Wild World” and “Father And Son”. The songs touch on similar themes, family and the fear of the unknown. The former has an incredible chorus and riff combo, a proper earworm. The latter is nakedly, almost ludicrously emotional, but Stevens sells it so well that it stops short of being corny.
He ends it all with the title track, a beautiful and strange snippet of a song. It’s a minute of Stevens, a deftly played piano, and the record’s most oblique lyrics, a playfully arty diversion in an otherwise straightforward album.