Catch Bull at Four
1972 studio album by Cat Stevens
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Catch Bull at Four is the sixth studio album by Cat Stevens. The title is taken from one of the Ten Bulls of Zen.[4]
Château d'Hérouville, Hérouville, France;
Morgan Studios, London
| Catch Bull at Four | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 27 September 1972 | |||
| Recorded | May 1972 | |||
| Studio | The Manor Studio, Oxfordshire; Château d'Hérouville, Hérouville, France; Morgan Studios, London | |||
| Genre | Folk rock, soft rock | |||
| Length | 39:40 | |||
| Label | Island (UK/Europe) A&M (US/Canada) | |||
| Producer | Paul Samwell-Smith | |||
| Cat Stevens chronology | ||||
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| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | C[2] |
| Rolling Stone | (Favorable)[3] |
In the United States the album spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard 200. It also reached number one in Australia and Canada and became Stevens's second consecutive album to reach number two on the UK Albums Chart. The song "Sitting" was released as a single in July 1972, reaching 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Critical reception
Catch Bull at Four was well received both commercially and critically. Rolling Stone was satisfied with the "gorgeous melody and orchestration", while simultaneously disappointed by the lack of a single track comparable to "Morning Has Broken" from Teaser and the Firecat.[5]
Record World described "Sitting" as a "magnificently produced up-tempo tune" that is "one of [Stevens'] best."[6]
Track listing
All songs written by Cat Stevens except as noted.
Side one
- "Sitting" – 3:14
- "Boy with a Moon & Star on His Head" – 5:57
- "Angelsea" – 4:30
- "Silent Sunlight" – 3:00
- "Can't Keep It In" – 2:59
Side two
- "18th Avenue (Kansas City Nightmare)" – 4:21
- "Freezing Steel" – 3:40
- "O Caritas" (Andreas Toumazis, Jeremy Taylor, Stevens) – 3:41
- "Sweet Scarlet" – 3:49
- "Ruins" – 4:24
Personnel
- Cat Stevens – lead and backing vocals, Grand piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, RMI Electra piano, Böhm Diamond organ, synthesizer, Spanish guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric mandolin, pennywhistle, drums, percussion
- Alun Davies – acoustic guitar, Spanish guitar, backing vocals
- Jeremy Taylor – Spanish guitar, (assisted in translating "O' Caritas" into the Latin language used in the song).[5]
- Andreas Toumazis – bouzouki on "O Caritas"
- Alan James – bass, backing vocals
- Jean Roussel – piano, Hammond organ, Electric piano
- Gerry Conway – drums, percussion, backing vocals
- C.S. Choir – backing vocals on "Freezing Steel" and "O Caritas"
- Linda Lewis – backing vocals on "Angelsea"
- Lauren Cooper – backing vocals on "Angelsea"
- Del Newman – string arrangements
Production
- Paul Samwell-Smith - producer
Chart positions
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[20] | Platinum |