Catch Bull at Four

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]

Catch Bull at Four
Studio album by Cat Stevens
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
Teaser and the Firecat (1971) Catch Bull at Four (1972) Foreigner (1973)

Professional ratings

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

1. "Sitting" – 3:14
2. "Boy with a Moon & Star on His Head" – 5:57
3. "Angelsea" – 4:30
4. "Silent Sunlight" – 3:00
5. "Can't Keep It In" – 2:59

Side two

1. "18th Avenue (Kansas City Nightmare)" – 4:21
2. "Freezing Steel" – 3:40
3. "O Caritas" (Andreas Toumazis, Jeremy Taylor, Stevens) – 3:41
4. "Sweet Scarlet" – 3:49
5. "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 Weekly chart performance for Catch Bull at Four Chart (1972) Peak position Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)[7] 1 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[8] 1 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[9] 2 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[10] 10 French Albums (SNEP)[11] 4 Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi)[12] 8 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[13] 3 UK Albums (OCC)[14] 2 US Billboard 200[15] 1 West German Media Control Albums Chart[16] 17

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for Catch Bull at Four Chart (1972) Position Australian Albums (ARIA, 1972)[7] 12 French Albums (SNEP, 1972)[17] 21 US Albums (Billboard, 1973)[18] 14 West German Albums (Offizielle Top 100, 1973)[19] 37

Certifications

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Certifications for Catch Bull at Four

Region	Certification
United States (RIAA)[20]	Platinum

External links

• Album details
• Album information at catstevens.com
• Album review