Cat Stevens, Catch Bull At Four (1972)

I am happy I have this album for one reason. For one song. Sitting. Hearing it – as the opening track, side one of this, the most successful album Cat Stevens ever had in America, is a revelation. It is my favourite Cat Stevens song. And there it is – just plonked there on an album I didn’t register much interest in initially. Ah, but wasn’t it such an amazing, phenomenal/productive/prolific period for him. This album arrived after three great records in a row. When I bought it about 15 years ago (for $1, to try something beyond the obvious Cat classics) I didn’t think much of it. But it’s pretty good. The other big hit from this is Can’t Keep It In  (spot the Joni Mitchell-ripoff intro)– I don’t like that one so much. But the album plays through nicely enough – and it’s far more enjoyable for me (a handful of times a year) to play an actual album from Cat Stevens rather than an over-played compilation. I first heard the song Sitting as part of this Greatest Hits album. I liked it then – I love it now. Funny that when I first heard this record I didn’t (instantly) click that my favourite song was on it. That happens sometimes though.

 Sample Track: Sitting

The Vinyl Countdown is a document of every LP I listen to, brand new discoveries and old-old favourites; extremely pre-loved, previously abandoned or with the shrink-wrap having just been removed it’s all here at The Vinyl Countdown