Buddha and the Chocolate Box

Summary

Buddha and the Chocolate Box is the eighth studio album by Cat Stevens. The title came to Stevens when he was travelling to a gig on a plane with a Buddha in one hand and a box of chocolates in the other.[citation needed] He pondered that if he were to die in the plane, these would be the last objects with him, and he would be caught between the spiritual and the material worlds. The album leans towards the spiritual path and is an indication of the direction his life would follow.[citation needed]

Buddha and the Chocolate Box
Studio album by
Released21 March 1974[1]
RecordedFebruary 1974
StudioSound Techniques Studios, London, England. Mixed at Sound Techniques, AIR Studios, and Morgan Studios, London.[2]
GenreSoft rock, folk rock
Length32:16
LabelIsland (UK/Europe)
A&M (US/Canada)
ProducerCat Stevens
Paul Samwell-Smith
Cat Stevens chronology
Foreigner
(1973)
Buddha and the Chocolate Box
(1974)
Saturnight
(1974)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]
Christgau's Record GuideC−[4]
Rolling Stone(mixed)[5]

The single "Ready" reached number 20 in Canada.[6]

Track listing edit

All tracks composed by Cat Stevens

Side one
  1. "Music" – 4:21
  2. "Oh Very Young" – 2:36
  3. "Sun / C79" – 4:35
  4. "Ghost Town" – 3:10
  5. "Jesus" – 2:14
Side two
  1. "Ready" – 3:18
  2. "King of Trees" – 5:07
  3. "A Bad Penny" – 3:21
  4. "Home in the Sky" – 3:38

Personnel edit

  • Cat Stevens – vocals, synthesizer, guitar, keyboards, production, design, concept, illustrations
  • Alun Davies – acoustic guitar, vocals
  • Bruce Lynch – bass guitar
  • Jean Roussel – keyboards and string arrangements
  • Gerry Conway – drums, vocals, percussion

Additional personnel edit

  • Jimmy Ryan – guitar
  • Mark Warner – guitar
  • Roland Harker – banjo
  • Joanne – vocals, choir
  • Judy – vocals, choir
  • Sunny – vocals, choir
  • Ruby – vocals
  • Barry – vocals
  • Joy – vocals
  • Brigette – vocals, choir
  • Suzanne – vocals, solo
  • Jacqui – vocals, choir
  • Clifford – vocals, choir
  • Danny – vocals
  • Rick McCollum – vocals
  • Jimmy – vocals, choir, chorus
  • Larry – vocals
  • Del Newman – string arrangements
  • Suzanne Cox – vocals

Production edit

  • Paul Samwell-Smith – producer
  • John Wood – engineer
  • Victor Gamm – engineer, mixing
  • Alan Harris – mixing
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Robin Black – mixing
  • Roger Quested – mixing
  • Beth Stempel – reissue co-ordination
  • Bill Levenson – reissue supervisor
  • Vartan – art direction
  • Roland Young – design, concept
  • Mathieu Bitton – package design, reissue package design

Charts edit

References edit

  1. ^ "RIAA".
  2. ^ "Cat Stevens – Buddha and the Chocolate Box (2009, CD)". Discogs.
  3. ^ Ruhlmann, William. Buddha and the Chocolate Box at Allmusic. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  4. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 13 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  5. ^ "Buddha and the Chocolate Box". Rolling Stone. 23 May 1974.
  6. ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - February 8, 1975" (PDF).
  7. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6. Retrieved 26 June 2013. See also: Kent Music Report.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  8. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Cat Stevens – Buddha and the Chocolate Box" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  9. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 5027". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  10. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Cat STEVENS". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 246. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  11. ^ "InfoDisc : Tous les Albums classés par Artiste > Choisir Un Artiste Dans la Liste : Cat Stevens". infodisc.fr. Archived from the original on 6 May 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2012. Note: user must select 'Cat STEVENS' from drop-down
  12. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Cat Stevens – Buddha and the Chocolate Box" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  13. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 16 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "Buddah & the chocolate box".
  14. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Cat Stevens – Buddha and the Chocolate Box". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  15. ^ "Cat Stevens | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Cat Stevens Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  17. ^ "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1974". RPM. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  18. ^ "Les Albums (CD) de 1972 par InfoDisc" (in French). infodisc.fr. Archived from the original (PHP) on 27 October 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  19. ^ "Top Pop Albums of 1974". billboard.biz. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  20. ^ "British album certifications – Cat Stevens – Buddha and the Chocolate Box". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  21. ^ "American album certifications – Cat Stevens – the Chocolate Box". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 11 June 2019.