Ready: Cat Stevens’ “Buddha and the Chocolate Box” Returns to CD, LP, Digital Formats
Cat Stevens’ Buddha and the Chocolate Box, originally released in 1974, is the latest title in the singer-songwriter’s venerable cat-o-log to get the remastered reissue treatment. One of Yusuf’s four consecutive LPs to reach the top three in both the United States and Great Britain and his sixth A&M release overall, Buddha returns September 4 on CD, vinyl, and digital formats.
In many respects, Buddha and the Chocolate Box was a homecoming for Stevens. After retreating to Jamaica to self-produce the R&B-influenced Foreigner (also reissued as part of the Cat-o-Log series), he returned to old colleagues Paul Samwell-Smith and Alun Davies (producer and acoustic guitarist, respectively) to recapture the feel of their earlier efforts together. Supported by bassist Bruce Lynch, keyboardist Jean Roussel, and drummer/percussionist Gerry Conway, Stevens crafted the album’s nine songs to reflect upon both the material and spiritual worlds.
The gentle “Oh Very Young” returned him to the higher reaches of the singles charts, peaking at No. 10 Pop and No. 2 AC – his highest placement on both charts since “Morning Has Broken” from 1972’s Teaser and the Firecat. (Like “Peace Train” from the same album, “Morning” reached No. 1 on the AC survey.) The bright, upbeat “Ready” made it to No. 26 on the Hot 100. The album itself spent three weeks at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, kept from the top spot by Marvin Hamlisch’s soundtrack of Scott Joplin adaptations to The Sting. It’s since been certified Platinum, and “Oh Very Young” experienced a recent renaissance when it appeared in the Netflix film The Thursday Murder Club, based on U.K. author and television quiz show presenter Richard Osman’s best-seller. The song re-entered the U.K. charts and goosed sales of Stevens’ Greatest Hits LP, as well.
Cat/Yusuf reflected in his recent memoir On the Road to Findout, “Buddha and the Chocolate Box reopened the doors of my familiar melodious soft delivery and sentiments. Although still experimental in compositional terms, it was what most of my fans desperately wanted to hear next. Following on from Foreigner, the Buddha album proved – especially to those who had no faith – that the missing Cat had simply wandered away from home for a while. My principle of independence was asserted as with most cats, don’t ever dare think you own them! As far as the critics were concerned, album-wise, it marked my heralded return to ‘Cat Stevens’ form.”
While no bonus tracks have been included, Buddha and the Chocolate Box has been remastered for this release from the original Island Records U.K. production tapes. The original artwork has been “refreshed,” as well. In addition to CD, Buddha will be available on 180-gram black vinyl and both high-res and standard digital formats. An exclusive “chocolate brown” vinyl pressing is up for pre-orders at Cat’s official storefront. Look for all editions on September 4 from A&M/UMe/Cat-o-Log. You’ll find the track listing and pre-order links below; we’ll update with Amazon links as soon as they are available. (As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.)
Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Buddha and the Chocolate Box (A&M SP 3623, 1974 – reissued A&M/UMe/Cat-o-Log, 2026) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)
All Formats: Official Store (U.S.)
Exclusive Chocolate Brown Vinyl: Official Store (U.S.)
- Music
- Oh Very Young
- Sun / C79
- Ghost Town
- Jesus
- Ready
- King of Trees
- A Bad Penny
- Home in the Sky
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No bonus tracks is a no go for me. Prior reissues had a whole second disc of extras. Is there just nothing in the vaults that could have been added?