Two particularly AMAZING things happened yesterday for me - first, my pre-ordered Tea for the Tillerman Deluxe album arrived!!!
Sadly, STILL no mention anywhere as to where I can order Teaser - that includes no mention of its upcoming release date either!
Eventually tho'... it surely must arrive on Australian shores...
The second AMAZING thing - and with warmest thanks to all those involved over the long cumulative years to eventually bring to us, especially us the fans (because, one way or another - be it biologically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually or by any combination of these - we all grow to have the wonder of selective taste in music. And each of us - at a certain time, discovered a certain voice, a melody, and a song! Most of us found and still have a common love and respect for the man many of us affectionately and nostalgically call Cat Stevens and many of us affectionately and familiarly call Yusuf), so, as I was saying before I was interrupted by my bracketed thoughts, the second AMAZING thing is resultant of the first (and those involved etc...) and that is -
I got to LISTEN to the deluxe album!!!
I guess most majicatters have been able to hear the album already - especially U.K. and U.S. residents? but I still felt an urge - a result of my awe - at just how wondrous it's been to taste the extra tea in the tillerman's cup, to write about it here
In fact, it's so fresh that I felt transported back to those years of first discovery!
I listened to the 2nd disc first - some of us have already heard a bit of this album - so, the first song? for sure, Wild World's good!
The 2nd song is Longer Boats... live at the Troubadour!
I was awe-struck... beautifully sung, beautifully played... perfect sound...
Into White - the 3rd track, is from the live troubadour sessions too...
Until these two versions, I'd never heard anything from those sessions.
Today I've searched online - including here at Majicat and there's hardly a mention. Certainly no snippets of songs and if any further info is here, I haven't been able to find any set listings.
There's a paragraph with a small mention about it in the 1970 era of the Lifeline section on yusufislam.com
Oh to hear all of those sessions - or some, or two - one even!
Oddly, the Teaser and the Firecat Deluxe version claims Moonshadow on disc 2 as being live at the Troubadour as well.
Yet from the sample I've heard, it sounds unlike the two from Tillerman.
However, Cat and Alun played there a few nights in November of 1970, so if Moonshadow IS from that time, it may sound different because it was performed on a different night. And the difference in sound might be attributable to a number of variables e.g. mixer settings, sound engineer, mic's/amps etc.
This is the small mention re the Troubadour from Yusuf's site:
'... followed by a few more dates a week at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, with opening act Carly Simon.
www.yusufislam.com/lifeline/14Anyway, wonderful wonderful renditions of Longer Boats and Into White. Easily among my favourites on disc 2!
Miles from Nowhere - a different feel than the last 2 tracks, but with an energy, rhythm and drive that'll take you miles from nowhere (and back) in just over 3 minutes!
One other I want to comment on - On the road to find out. This one sits supremely and comfortably alongside my Troubadour favourites!
Glaucus! I'm in full agreement with you about the above track. It's NOT from the Tea for the Tillerman 'Live' DVD.
Not to say the KCET version isn't any good. It's just that THIS version is SO different from the KCET one that 1. It's obvious, 2. It begs the question - how ever did they get that wrong? 3. WHERE did they get that information and 4. Where (and when) was THIS version performed? The right answer this time please?
Mainly 4. though
Personally, I really love the version of On the road to find out here. The mix is surprisingly but brilliantly different - REALLY nice!
As I said earlier, I don't have Teaser yet, but I know what's coming and what I've heard of the Morgan Studio takes, most of those are great (really really great), but it's a bit sad about what could have been on there and wasn't.
I WILL buy it though, because I'm curious about the re-mastered studio album.
And that's because the re-mastered Tea for the Tillerman album is truly noticeable to me. Yep, it's been remastered with great skill. I compared my original CD with it and was amazed at the warmth and clarity of the new mix! Vocals & Guitars are amazing. I'll take more in on further listens, but all's good here with this album.
If anyone's been hesitant to buy this one? don't be - you're gonna be in wonder all over again...
Peace and cheer folks!
From Jonathan
P.S. If anyone knows anything more about those Troubadour sessions, I'd love to hear about it
I do need to sit and listen with my full attention.
