Cat Stevens - Teaser and the Firecat LP

Cat Stevens' Teaser and the Firecat, released in October 1971 on Island Records, stands as one of the defining albums of the singer-songwriter era. Surpassing even the success of its celebrated predecessor Tea for the Tillerman, it reached number two in both the UK and the United States, topped the Australian charts for fifteen weeks, and achieved triple-platinum certification in the US. With three singles that have endured as timeless classics — "Moonshadow," "Peace Train," and "Morning Has Broken" — the album cemented Cat Stevens as one of the most important artists of his generation.

About the Album

Recorded between July 1970 and March 1971 at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles and Morgan Studios in London, Teaser and the Firecat was produced by Paul Samwell-Smith and showcases the warmth and intimacy that defined Cat Stevens' acoustic style. The album features notable contributions from guitarist Alun Davies, drummer Gerry Conway, and keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who plays piano on "Morning Has Broken" — an arrangement of a traditional hymn with lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon. Linda Lewis provides backing vocals on "How Can I Tell You," while Del Newman contributed orchestral string arrangements across the record.

AllMusic awarded the album five stars, describing it as "the Cat Stevens album that gave more surface pleasures to more people." The record's combination of folk, pop, and spiritual reflection captured a mood of quiet introspection that resonated with audiences worldwide and has lost none of its appeal in the decades since.

Track Listing

• Side One
• 1. The Wind
• 2. Rubylove
• 3. If I Laugh
• 4. Changes IV
• 5. How Can I Tell You
• Side Two
• 6. Tuesday's Dead
• 7. Morning Has Broken
• 8. Bitterblue
• 9. Moonshadow
• 10. Peace Train

All tracks written by Cat Stevens, except "Morning Has Broken" (traditional, arranged by Cat Stevens, lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon).

This Pressing

This is the 2025 UK reissue on Island Records, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and presented in a gatefold sleeve. The audio has been remastered, with earlier anniversary remaster work overseen by original producer Paul Samwell-Smith at Abbey Road Studios. It is supplied factory sealed.