Matthew and Son (album)

Matthew and Son
Studio album by Cat Stevens
Released	March 10, 1967
Recorded	July 14, 1966 - February 1, 1967, Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London
Genre	Folk-Rock Pop Rock
Length	33:63 (Original) 53:26 (Reissue)
Label	Deram Records
Producer	Mike Hurst
Cat Stevens chronology
Matthew and Son (1967) New Masters (1967)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Matthew and Son is the first album by English singer-songwriter, Cat Stevens. Stevens began writing songs during his early teenage years. His earliest influences included the sound of early British bands, like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, influenced by popular American Rhythm and Blues music. At the same time, folk influences from artists like Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel left a strong mark on him, along with some of the musicals being performed so close to his childhood home in Soho, that often he could hear the songs drifting up through his room. Stevens' brother, David Gordon, attracted the attention of Mike Hurst, (formerly of the The Springfields) in hopes of finding a producer interested in his younger brother's music, and after a demo was recorded, a deal was struck between the two.^[2] The album was not released until 1967; however, recording began on July 10, 1966, with a few advance singles appearing around that time.

Advance singles

Although the album was not released until 1967, the first advance single, "I Love My Dog" was released in 1966. It was initially recorded only by Stevens' guitars, piano & vocals. However, Hurst encouraged Stevens to add a staccato, tympani–and–viola arrangement; something not done before on pop music songs. Bassist John Paul Jones makes his debut on the first singles two years before becoming a member of Led Zeppelin. The B-side of the first single, "Portobello Road", was written by Kim Fowley, who encouraged Stevens to write a melody for the song. The single initially reached #28 on the UK charts, followed by "Matthew and Son", the next single and title track, which soared to #2 on the charts there, propelling Stevens into a popular cleancut teenage crooner.^[3]

Album release

The Album was released in 1967, eventually reaching #7 in the UK. The album track "Here Comes My Baby", as covered by the The Tremeloes, was a smash hit, reaching #4, "I've Found A Love" was covered by British singer David Garrick failed to chart while Stevens' "I'm Gonna Get Me a Gun" reached #6.^[3]

Track listing

All songs by Cat Stevens, except where noted.

British LP and CD releases

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Matthew and Son"	2:46
2.	"I Love My Dog"	2:23
3.	"Here Comes My Baby"	2:58
4.	"Bring Another Bottle Baby"	2:44
5.	"Portobello Road" (Cat Stevens/Kim Fowley)	2:29
6.	"I've Found a Love"	2:32
7.	"I See a Road"	2:11

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Baby Get Your Head Screwed On"	2:22
2.	"Granny"	3:12
3.	"When I Speak to the Flowers"	2:25
4.	"The Tramp"	2:11
5.	"Come On and Dance"	2:10
6.	"Hummingbird"	2:36
7.	"Lady"	3:04

[4] Bonus tracks (1988 CD reissue)
No.	Title	Length
15.	"School is Out"	2:55
16.	"I'm Gonna Get Me a Gun"	2:11

[5] Bonus tracks (2003 CD reissue)
No.	Title	Length
15.	"I'm Gonna Get Me a Gun (Stereo Version)"	2:14
16.	"School is Out (Stereo Version)"	2:59
17.	"I Love My Dog (Mono Single Version)"	2:26
18.	"Portobello Road (Mono Single Version)" (Cat Stevens/Kim Fowley)	2:30
19.	"Matthew and Son (Mono Single Version)"	2:50
20.	"Granny (Mono Single Version)"	3:12
21.	"School is Out (Mono Single Version)"	2:56
22.	"I'm Gonna Get Me a Gun (Mono Single Version)"	2:16

American LP release

[6] Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Matthew and Son"
2.	"I Love My Dog"
3.	"Here Comes My Baby"
4.	"Bring Another Bottle"
5.	"I've Found a Love"
6.	"I See a Road"

Side two
No.	Title	Length
1.	"I'm Gonna Get a Gun"
2.	"School is Out"
3.	"Baby, Get Your Head Screwed On"
4.	"Speak to the Flowers"
5.	"Humming Bird"
6.	"Lady"

Personnel

• Cat Stevens: guitars, Piano, Hammond organ, vocals.
• John Paul Jones, Bass guitar (not credited, except by Stevens' biography)
• All instruments arranged by Alan Tew.
• Mike Hurst: Producer, engineer, liner notes.
• Vic Smith: Engineer.

References

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ Yusuf Islam: The Artist Formerly Known as Cat Stevens. BBC. Interview with Alan Yentob, May 2006.
3. ^ ^{a b} Islam, Yusuf (2008). "Yusuf Islam Website, 1966". Official Website of Yusuf Islam. http://www.yusufislam.com/lifeline/10/48e5b676a73efa662b11fb3a1720d057/. Retrieved 2008-11-09. 
4. ^ "Cat Stevens - Matthew & Son (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1988-07-14. http://www.discogs.com/Cat-Stevens-Matthew-Son/release/898678. Retrieved 2011-11-13. 
5. ^ "Cat Stevens - Matthew & Son (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2004-01-19. http://www.discogs.com/Cat-Stevens-Matthew-Son/release/1245585. Retrieved 2011-11-13. 
6. ^ "Cat Stevens - Matthew & Son (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. http://www.discogs.com/Cat-Stevens-Matthew-Son/release/1661995. Retrieved 2011-11-13. 

External links

• Official Website