Catch Bull at Four

Catch Bull at Four
Studio album by Cat Stevens
Released	27 September 1972
Recorded	May 1972, 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)Teaser and the Firecat1971 Catch Bull at Four (1972) Foreigner (1973)Foreigner1973

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Rolling Stone	(Favorable)

Catch Bull at Four is the sixth studio album by Cat Stevens. In the United States it spent three weeks at number one on Billboard's album chart. The title is taken from one of the Ten Bulls of Zen.

The song "Sitting" was released as a single in 1973, reaching 16 on the Hot 100 Charts. It's a song about meditation, and the apprehensions that may result from the experiences involving Self-Realization.

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

6. "18th Avenue (Kansas City Nightmare)" – 4:21
7. "Freezing Steel" – 3:40
8. "O Caritas" (Andreas Toumazis, Jeremy Taylor, Stevens) – 3:41
9. "Sweet Scarlet" – 3:49
10. "Ruins" – 4:24

Personnel

• Cat Stevens – lead and backing vocals, piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, minimoog, Böhm Diamond organ, Spanish guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric mandolin, RMI Electra piano, synthesizer, penny whistle, drums, percussion
• Alun Davies – acoustic guitar, Spanish guitar, backing vocals
• Alan James – bass, backing vocals
• Jean Roussel – piano, Hammond organ
• Gerry Conway – drums, percussion, backing vocals
• Andreas Toumazis – bouzouki on "O Caritas"
• C.S. Choir – backing vocals on "Freezing Steel" and "O Caritas"
• Linda Lewis – backing vocals on "Angelesea"
• Lauren Cooper – backing vocals on "Angelesea"
• Del Newman – string arrangements
• Jeremy Taylor – Spanish guitar, who assisted in translating "O' Caritas" into the Latin language used in the song.

Production

Producer – Paul Samwell-Smith

Reviews

Catch Bull at Four was well received both commercially and critically. Rolling Stone Magazine 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.

Charts

Chart positions

Chart (1972)	Peak position
Australian Kent Music Report Albums Chart	1
Canadian RPM Albums Chart	1
Dutch Mega Albums Chart	2
French SNEP Albums Chart	4
Italian Albums Chart	8
Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart	3
UK Albums Chart	2
US Billboard 200	1
West German Media Control Albums Chart	17

Year-end charts

Chart (1972)	Position
Australian Albums Chart	12
French Albums Chart	21
Italian Albums Chart	44
Chart (1973)	Position
U.S. Billboard Year-End	14

Certifications

Region	Certification
United States (RIAA)	Platinum

External links

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

References

Preceded by Slade Alive! by Slade	Australian Kent Music Report number-one album 23 October – 10 December 1972	Succeeded by Slayed? by Slade
Preceded by Never a Dull Moment by Rod Stewart	Canadian RPM 100 number-one album 11 – 18 November 1972	Succeeded by Old Dan's Records by Gordon Lightfoot
Preceded by Super Fly by Curtis Mayfield	US Billboard 200 number-one album 18 November – 8 December 1972	Succeeded by Seventh Sojourn by The Moody Blues