You can hear Stevens finding his distinctive voice and sound on the first few bars of “Lady D’Arbanville” in all its baroque, emotive glory. It’s interesting to note that his disavowal of the biz (wryly commented upon in the song “Pop Star”) coincides with his increasing popularity. Though previous releases showcased his sticky burr of a voice and flashes of his songwriting brilliance, it was on Mona Bone that Stevens became disillusioned enough with the music industry to write more deeply introspective and personal songs. Mona Bone Jakon marked the beginning of the Cat Stevens we know and love, forming alongside Teaser & the Firecat and Tea for the Tillerman the creative heart of Stevens’s oeuvre.