Buddha & The Chocolate Box - CAT STEVENS***

Music/Oh Very Young/Sun C79/Ghost Town/Jesus/Ready/King Of Trees/A Bad Penny/Home In The Sky

Buddha & The Chocolate Box was the first Cat Stevens album to contain a disappointing number of sub par tracks. If they had been to a similar standard as the US top ten hit Oh Very Young his consistency would have been maintained. (US:2 UK: 3)

"Buddha & The Chocolate Box was the weakest of Cat Stevens' albums so far, and many found it a letdown. It's obvious that, for lovers of old, Oh Very Young is the track that stands out the most.”

“It's a real let down for me, there are a few good songs but others seem uninspired. However, Oh Very Young is one of Cat's best.”

“This is an album which is the very definition of workmanlike. There's not one bad track but then, other than the pretty Oh Very Young, there's nothing which really grabs the attention.”

“Throughout the album, Steven's voice and guitar work are still as hardy and resilient as ever and the lyrics are up to his usual standard. I guess what Buddha & The Chocolate Box lacks is great tunes, something to hook you and keep dragging you back. It doesn't offer a huge amount in re-play value, as there's nothing here which is particularly memorable.”

“The music remains a monument to early seventies consciousness, a pillar to the edifice of the whole notion that we could change the world and make it a better, more tolerant, and more humane place to live in. All the music here is wonderful, and I can listen to the album without missing a lovely beat.”

“Containing one of Cat's best songs in Oh Very Young, the album overall demonstrates that Cat had not lost his ability to write beautiful songs. The gorgeous King Of Trees and Home In The Sky would have sat nicely on his more acclaimed albums.”

“Cat Stevens opts for a standard rock band format, playing keyboards for the most part. King Of Trees is outstanding, lyrically and musically, sad but incisive, opening with a beautiful, extended instrumental passage. Oh Very Young is the nearest he gets to his Tillerman/Teaser days, a gentle, wistful song. Unfortunately, most of the remaining tracks are less impressive.”