Cat Power - 'The Greatest' (20th Anniversary Pink Foil Cover / Pink Vinyl)
Stream 'The Greatest' / Pre-order HERE.
On July 10, Matador will release a 20th anniversary edition of Cat Power’s soul-soaked classic, The Greatest. This reissue will feature a limited re-print of the album’s original pink foil cover art, as well as pink-colored vinyl.
Cat Power (Chan Marshall) will tour the world this summer and fall performing the record in its entirety, including dates in North America, the EU, and UK. Find a complete itinerary below. Earlier this year, Marshall and her band, Dirty Delta Blues, released a three-song EP, Redux, via Domino Records. Redux features new recordings of songs by Prince (“Nothing Compares 2 U”) and James Brown (“Try Me”) along with a brand-new rerecording of The Greatest song, “Could We.”
On The Greatest, Marshall traveled to Memphis, pursuing the slinky Hi Records sound of the 70s, famed for its sensuous feel and beguiling rhythms. She got Al Green’s guitarist and songwriting partner, Mabon “Teenie” Hodges, to play guitar on the whole album (Teenie co-wrote “Love and Happiness” and “Take Me to the River,” among other soul classics).
With Teenie came his Hi Rhythm bandmate (and brother) Leroy “Flick”Hodges, who plays on half of the album (Memphis A-team bassist Dave Smith supplements). Anchoring the band is Steve Potts, whose reputation on drums was solidified when the surviving members of Booker T. and the MG’s asked him to replace their late drummer, Al Jackson. Other top Memphis musicians guest on key-boards, horns and strings.
Cat Power went right to the sources and created her own paean to the songs and styles she grew up on. The Greatest adds to Cat Power’s singular sound all the elements that make an Al Green record great: Memphis horns, funky string arrangements, smooth background vocals. “Lived in Bars” is a hypnotic song that seems to start in the middle of the night and flow backward like water upstream to the source of a good time.
Many songs hearken back to earlier in Cat Power’s career, like the surface simplicity of “Willie” — much more complicated upon deeper listen— and like “Where Is My Love,” which sounds like it could be the first song she ever wrote, and also the one to which she has always aspired. “Living Proof,” on the other hand, has an almost gospel-like swing that stands in contrast to the quieter songs.The ethereal title track is the missing link between Big Star 3rd and the 21st century.
Cat Power 'The Greatest' Tour Dates
Thursday July 16, Zeyzey Miami, Miami, FL
Friday July 17, The Ritz Ybor, Tampa, FL
Saturday July 18, The Beacham, Orlando, FL
Sunday July 19, Charleston Music Hall, Charleston, SC
Tuesday July 21, Haw River Ballroom, Saxapahaw, NC
Wednesday July 22, The Broadberry, Richmond, VA
Friday July 24, District Music Hall, Norwalk, CT
Sunday July 26, The Music Hall Historic Theater, Portsmouth, NH
Monday July 27, Theatre Beanfield, Montreal, QC
Wednesday July 29, Smith Opera House, Geneva, NY
Thursday July 30, Mr. Smalls Theatre, Pittsburgh, PA
Friday July 31, Headliners Music Hall, Louisville, KY
Saturday August 1, Deluxe at Old National Centre, Indianapolis, IN
Monday August 3, Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder, CO
Tuesday August 4, Strings Music Pavilion, Steamboat Springs, CO
Thursday August 6, The Elm, Bozeman, MT
Friday August 7, The Palace Theatre, Calgary, AB
Monday August 10, Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
Tuesday August 11, Capital Ballroom, Victoria, BC
Thursday August 13, McMenamins Grand Lodge, Portland, OR
Friday August 14, Knitting Factory Concert House, Boise, ID
Monday August 17, The Guild Theatre, Menlo Park, CA
Tuesday August 18, Libbey Bowl, Ojai, CA
Friday September 11, Pappy & Harriet’s, Pioneertown, CA
Sunday September 13, Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA
Wednesday October 7, House of Culture, Helsinki, FI
Friday October 9, Fallan, Stockholm, SE
Saturday October 10, Sentrum Scene, Oslo, NO
Sunday October 11, Vega, Copenhagen, DK
Monday October 12, Docks, Hamburg, DE
Wednesday October 14, Stodola, Warsaw, PL
Thursday October 15, Huxleys, Berlin, DE
Saturday October 17, Live Music Hall, Cologne, DE
Monday October 19, Wiener Konzerthaus, Vienna, AT
Tuesday October 20, Muffathalle, Munich, DE
Wednesday October 21, La Laiterie, Strasbourg, FR
Friday October 23, Les Docks, Lausanne, CH
Saturday October 24, Le Radiant, Lyon, FR
Sunday October 25, Le Bikini, Toulouse, FR
Monday October 26, Le MeM, Rennes, FR
Wednesday October 28, De Roma, Antwerp, BE
Thursday October 29, Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL
Friday October 30, Philharmonie Luxembourg, Luxembourg, LU
Saturday October 31, Salle Pleyel, Paris, FR
Monday November 2, Bristol Beacon, Bristol, UK
Tuesday November 3, Roundhouse, London, UK
Wednesday November 4, Albert Hall, Manchester, UK
Thursday November 5, Barrowland, Glasgow, UK
Saturday November 7, Vicar Street, Dublin, IE
Monday November 9, Salle Pleyel, Paris, FR
Tuesday November 10, Le 106, Rouen, FR
Wednesday November 11, La Carene, Brest, FR
Friday November 13, Sages Campo Pequeno, Lisbon, PT
