“Tea For The Tillerman” is one of the greatest albums ever made. Hands down…no arguments! It’s been a part of my life since it came out in 1971 and I just revisited it tonight for the first time in a while and it still speaks to me. From 1970’s “Mona Bone Jakon” album through 1976’s “Buddha And The Chocolate Box,” Cat Stevens released a group of consistently stellar albums that have stood the test of time. Even the “Foreigner” album from 1973 which many didn’t think was very strong still looms large in my collection. In my book, other records that share world-class status with “Tea” are “After The Gold Rush” by Neil Young, “Talking Book” by Stevie Wonder, “Ram” by Paul McCartney, “Mad Dogs And Englishmen” by Joe Cocker, “Blood On The Tracks” by Bob Dylan, “American Beauty” by Grateful Dead, “Pet Sounds” by the Beach Boys, “A Hard Day’s Night” by The Beatles, “Get Happy” by Elvis Costello, “Marquee Moon” by Television, “Eli And The Thirteenth Confession” by Laura Nyro, “Tunnel Of Love” by Bruce Springsteen, “Rain Dogs” by Tom Waits, “A Love Supreme” by John Coltrane, “Face To Face” by The Kinks, “Stand Up” by Jethro Tull, “A Wizard A True Star” by Todd Rundgren, “Court And Spark” by Joni Mitchell, “Coney Island Baby” by Lou Reed, “Aladdin Sane” by David Bowie, “Electric Warrior” by T. Rex and “The Power And The Glory” by Gentle Giant. These are records that cut so deep with me, I could not imagine what life would be like without them. You can best believe there are many others and I could go on naming them. But I’d rather hear what some of yours are…
