Mona Bone Jakon is an album by singer/songwriter Cat Stevens. The album was released in July 1970 on the A&M record label.

This album is notable for the emergence of Stevens's distinctive voice: a rich, variable baritone. Prior to recording Mona Bone Jakon, Stevens had become disillusioned with the music business, then became seriously ill with tuberculosis and spent a year convalescing. He returned with a folksier, more reflective, and emotionally straightforward sound. Three of the songs ("Trouble", "I Wish, I Wish", "I Think I See the Light") were featured in Hal Ashby and Colin Higgins's black comedy Harold and Maude (1971).

Peter Gabriel played the flute in the song "Katmandu", a rare non-Genesis appearance before he launched his solo career in 1977.

"Lady D'Arbanville" was written for his former girlfriend Patti D'Arbanville , who had left for New York.

According to Stevens, the inspiration for the title was a name he created to describe his penis:

""Mona Bone Jakon" is another name for my penis. It's the name I give it. It's not some sort of secret vocabulary, it's just something I made up.

Track listing

1. "Lady d'Arbanville" – 3:45
2. "Maybe You're Right" – 3:25
3. "Pop Star" – 4:13
4. "I Think I See The Light" – 3:55
5. "Trouble" – 2:49
6. "Mona Bone Jakon" – 1:42
7. "I Wish, I Wish" – 3:50
8. "Katmandu" – 3:22
9. "Time" – 1:26
10. "Fill My Eyes" – 3:00
11. "Lilywhite" – 3:41

Personnel

• Cat Stevens – guitar, keyboards, vocals
• Alun Davies – guitar, backing vocals
• John Ryan – bass
• Harvey Burns – percussion
• Peter Gabriel – flute on "Katmandu"

Charts

Certifications

Notes