Since we announced the release of the Family Cat anthology, Five Lives Left we have been inundated with people asking whether the band would be reforming to promote the release. We spoke to Fred, the lead singer, to find out…
Five Lives Left: The Anthology is available to buy here.
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Release Date: 26th November 2012
Sonic Youth once claimed that The Family Cat were their favourite UK rock band, so it is about time that there was a collection of their finest tracks.
Compiled by Paul Frederick (aka Fred) and John Graves this 2CD set tracks the band’s career from the first single, Tom Verlaine, on Bad Girl through to previously unreleased tracks from the abandoned 4th album.
All the band’s singles feature including the classic Steamroller, and Colour Me Grey and River Of Diamonds which feature PJ Harvey on backing vocals.
Together with BBC session tracks, key album tracks and b-sides this 37 track set is a must for any discerning record collection!
1. Tom Verlaine (12″ Version)
2. Remember What It Is That You Love
3. Thought I’d Died And Gone To Heaven
4. Place With A Name (Single Version)
5. Colour Me Grey (Featuring PJ Harvey)
6. Steamroller (12″ Single Version)
7. Across The Universe
8. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
9. Jesus Christ
10. River Of Diamonds (Featuring PJ Harvey)
11. Airplane Gardens (Single Version)
12. Amazing Hangover (Single Version)
13. Springing The Atom (Single Version)
14. Wonderful Excuse (Single Version)
15. Goldenbook (Single Version)
16. Bring Me The Head Of Michael Portillo
17. Tom Verlaine (Re-Bereted)
1. Sandbag Your Heart (BBC Peel Session) *
2. Slept In Clothes (Album Version)
3. From The City To The Sea (BBC Peel Session) *
4. Endlesss Cigarette (Album Version)
5. Gabriels Wings (Album Version)
6. Too Many Late Nights (Album Version)
7. Furthest From The Sun
8. With A War (BBC Peel Session) *
9. Gameshow (BBC Peel Session) *
10. Fire Music
11. Move Over I’ll Drive (BBC Mark Goodier Session) *
12. Rockbreaking (Album Version)
13. Blood Orange
14. Nowhere To Go (BBC Goodier Session) *
15. If You Think You Know What Love Is
16. Ace Of Cups *
17. Snowplough *
18. Mount Pleasant (BBC Goodier Session) *
19. Taking Your Sister Home *
(* – denotes previously unreleased track)
Fred, lead singer of the Family Cat and Jack Adaptor, has compiled a playlist of his favourite tracks.
From the cool jazz of Miles Davis through pre-punk Stooges and post-punk Orange Juice to the indie-rock of Deerhunter, it’s a discerning listen.
Click here to listen.
Sonic Youth once claimed that The Family Cat were their favourite UK rock band, so it’s about time that there was a collection of their finest tracks.
Five Lives Left: The Anthology has been compiled by Paul Frederick (aka Fred) and John Graves. The 2CD set tracks the band’s career from the first single, Tom Verlaine, on Bad Girl Records through to previously unreleased tracks from the abandoned post-Magic Happens sessions.
Fred said “We chose all the singles and some alternative versions of a lot of the LP tracks, plus unreleased songs from the sessions which would have become the third full LP if the band had carried on after Magic Happens. It’s strange to listen to this music after so many years, but it’s good to hear that unique mixture of power-pop, pyschedelic grooves and heads down, no nonsense, guitar grinding!”
And John added “For me, this brings back a world when Snooker was popular, bands had to starve for their art, and CDs were quite a novelty. Looks like in 2012 we have come full circle.”
The 36 track set includes all the singles including the classic Steamroller, plus Colour Me Grey and River Of Diamonds featuring PJ Harvey on backing vocals. There are also 10 previously unreleased recordings featuring BBC sessions, key album tracks and b-sides.
You can pre-order the album here.
The tracklist is…(* denotes previously unreleased track)
1. Tom Verlaine (12″ Version)
2. Remember What It Is That You Love
3. Thought I’d Died And Gone To Heaven
4. Place With A Name (Single Version)
5. Colour Me Grey (Featuring PJ Harvey)
6. Steamroller (12″ Single Version)
7. Across The Universe
8. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
9. Jesus Christ
10. River Of Diamonds (Featuring PJ Harvey)
11. Airplane Gardens (Single Version)
12. Amazing Hangover (Single Version)
13. Springing The Atom (Single Version)
14. Wonderful Excuse (Single Version)
15. Goldenbook (Single Version)
16. Bring Me The Head Of Michael Portillo
17. Tom Verlaine (Re-Bereted)
1. Sandbag Your Heart (BBC Peel Session) *
2. Slept In Clothes (Album Version)
3. From The City To The Sea (BBC Peel Session) *
4. Endlesss Cigarette (Album Version)
5. Gabriels Wings (Album Version)
6. Too Many Late Nights (Album Version)
7. Furthest From The Sun
8. With A War (BBC Peel Session) *
9. Gameshow (BBC Peel Session) *
10. Fire Music
11. Move Over I’ll Drive (BBC Mark Goodier Session) *
12. Rockbreaking (Album Version)
13. Blood Orange
14. Nowhere To Go (BBC Goodier Session) *
15. If You Think You Know What Love Is
16. Ace Of Cups *
17. Snowplough *
18. Mount Pleasant (BBC Goodier Session) *
19. Taking Your Sister Home *
It’s long, long overdue and details of the Family Cat Anthology are expected any day soon. Rumour has it that it’ll be called Five Lives Left…
During the research and compiling of the album, lead singer Fred found some extremely rare flexi-discs (remember those, kids!) in the Family Cat lock up. It’s from the Magic Happens era and Fred has kindly given us a copy to give away to you – all you need to do is register in the box at the top of the page and the winner will be drawn at the end of October.
If you are already registered, just send an email to info@3loopmusic.com with ‘I Want That There Flexi’ in the subject line.
Good luck!
And from Fred’s current band, Jack Adaptor, here’s a tribute to her majesty on this Right Royal weekend. Possibly.
The 4th Jack Adaptor LP ‘Swimming Pool Lies’ is still available to buy now in record shops, on-line (at Cargo Records, itunes, Amazon etc) or from directly from the jackadaptor on-line record shop!
Visit Jack Adaptor for music from albums old and new.
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