Album Review: Yusuf/Cat Stevens – Catch Bull At Four 50th Anniversary Edition Remaster

Colorful, Dynamic, Powerful

Catch Bull At Four came out in 1972 and was remastered in 2022 to honor the album’s 50 year anniversary. In terms of sound, it is a combination of all things ‘70s with folk, classic rock and Latin influences. The album feels like a push and pull between energetic, upbeat songs and sedate, emotion-driven ballads that alternate each track. The instrumentals on each song are entrancing and create a clear direction for the album as a whole. 

The first track “Sitting” sets the tone for the album with its ardent piano introduction. Cat Stevens’ tone is forceful in order to emphasize the incredibly poetic lyrics. The entire instrumental is piano based which will be seen throughout the album. 

The second song “The Boy with A Moon and Star On His Head” takes a calmer approach and is mostly guitar based. As the song progresses, so does the intensity but it is not as prevalent as the previous and following tracks. The lyrics contain immense amounts of visual imagery to truly paint the picture of what Stevens is writing about. The background vocals are similar to those heard on songs by artists like The Mamas and Papas enabling it to fit in perfectly with its acquaintances. 

The third track “Angelsea” returns back to the energetic and upbeat vibe seen on the first track. This is where the pattern between the upbeat and slow songs begins. An overdriven and crunchy synth can be heard in the bass line which is quite unusual compared to the other tracks on the album. The layered background vocals are prominent on this song as well. This is the first track where Latin elements can be heard with the use of a clave that blends beautifully into the rest of the percussion. The Latin influences can also be heard through guitars in songs such as “Can’t Keep It In” and “O’ Caritas.”

“Freezing Steel” is where the classic rock influence is mostly heard. With the use of electric guitars instead of acoustic, Stevens emulates the rise of classic rock in the ‘70s. He blends his traditional sound with classic rock in a euphonious way making it a stand out song on the album. 

Remastering the album allowed the incredible production and performances to be heard in a clearer way. Catch Bull At Four is mesmerizing in its sound and reminds the music community of how impactful the music of the ‘70s was.