Teaser and the Firecat [Deluxe Edition] [Box set, Extra tracks, Original recording remastered]

There's something wrong here and it needs to be pointed out.

As I played this supposedly 'new' 2009 remaster, I began to compare the suspiciously similar sound and playing times to my old 2000 version and to my amazement, they're exactly the same (32:56 minutes for both). There is - in other words - no sound improvement whatsoever on this version over the one you can pick up on line for less than three pounds. It's the same disc. I mean literally to the second...

How are they able to fool us? Slyly. When you look at the liner notes on Page 23 of the booklet, it rather craftily states, "digitally remastered by Ted Jensen", but it doesn't tell you "when". The notes on Page 7 do the same thing, 'recently' it tells you, but again no date. You go back to the booklet of the 2000 version and there's his name. Amazing how Universal missed that...

Worse, the sticker on the outside wrap-around plastic (which is all you can see when you're buying it) leads you to believe that this a fresh remaster - it isn't. And the bad news doesn't stop there - the 2008 DELUXE EDITION of "Tea For A Tillerman" is the same - a 2000 version by Ted Jensen masquerading as something new (with one or two notable exceptions (the two superb demos), Disc 2 is full of dispensable live versions).

Deceptions aside, let's be clear about this - the sound on the 2000 remaster of this album in particular is LOVELY. So why bitch about it? Because until you've heard an upgraded version, you don't know how fabulous it 'could' have sounded...what you've been denied.

If you want an idea, go to iTunes and catch a snippet listen to the "On The Road To Find Out" track by Cat Stevens on the May 2009 "Meet On The Ledge" 3CD Island Records Folk-Rock Anthology Box Set. It's Track 2 Disc 2 and has a new 2009 Denis Blackham remaster - the sound quality is ASTONISHING - just glorious - a huge improvement in clarity over the 2000 version. It's how this DELUXE EDITION and the "Tillerman" one should have sounded.

However, for rabid fans, the good news is that Disc 2 (34:36 minutes) has some genuinely stunning tracks on it actually worthy of the title 'bonus'. "Rubylove", "If I Laugh", "Changes IV", "How Can I Tell You" and "Morning Has Broken" are all Vocals/Acoustic demo versions recorded in Morgan Studios in London in February 1971 (a month before the album was recorded) and they're beautiful. Stripped down and bare, the almost fully formed melodies come shining through. The famously superb piano work by Rick Wakeman of Yes on the finished version of "Morning Has Broken" is replaced here with an acoustic guitar, which makes for a fascinating listen.

"Moonshadow" was recorded live at the Troubadour Club in Los Angeles in 1971 and features album session-man ALUN DAVIES on Guitar and Vocals - it's well recorded and a lovely version. "Bitterblue" is a Royal Albert Hall performance from 1972, but it's not great because the sound quality is rubbish. Better is the World-Music Meets-Acapella version of "Peace Train" from 2003, which throws a new slant on an overly familiar song.

The booklet reproduces lots of full colour stills from the Teaser animation film, lyrics to the songs, reminiscences from producer Paul Samwell-Smith and guitarist Alun Davies - and so on - but none of it takes the bad taste of Disc 1 out of my mouth.

What a disappointment - especially given the excellence of the bonus material.

Given that the DELUXE EDITION of "Tea For A Tillerman" is the same - a 2000 version you already own pretending to be something new - I feel these titles should be withdrawn.

I don't know how Yusef can rabbit on about truth when these two reissues fundamentally lie to his fans and newcomers to his music. Pretty packaging or not - docked 2 stars for misrepresentation...

The beautifully presented deluxe edition series has once again enticed me to invest in a classic from yesteryear. The packaging is top notch, with wonderful design work and an informative and clear (and isn't it nice to be able to read the notes comfortably) booklet. Really enjoyed reading their recollections of the recording process. The original CD, his most rounded work, sounds great. Stand-out highlights for those who dont know the album are 'Morning has broken', 'Peace Train' and 'Rubylove', although in truth there are no weak tracks here. The additional CD is a combination of simple demo's(just guitar and voice) plus some cracking live recording (see Bitterblue & Tuesday's dead)with a superb reworking of 'Peace Train'. My only gripe would be the length of the CD's. Both discs are quite short and I would have expected a little more. I guess its quality not quantity in this case. Anyway its must-have in my opinion, along with the excellent 'Tea for the Tillerman' CD - PS if you like his older material you might like to try his recent 'An Other Cup'.

An excellent re master of cat stevens teaser and the firecat but the
samples of his latest work live from the Porchester show he has lost none
of his skills and stays faithful to original works. The full dvd of this
live performance is a masterpiece,from the man himself, the backing musicians, including original lead guitarist.The finished recording is
Quality. This man is a true artist and prefectionist.