The Greatest

Cat Power | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 12, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Matador Records
• ASIN: B000HKCUI8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (87 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #128,255 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Greatest

2. Living Proof

3. Lived in Bars

4. Could We

5. Empty Shell

6. Willie

7. Where Is My Love

8. The Moon

9. Islands

10. After It All

11. Hate

12. Love & Communication

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If you are an artist at a crossroads/ "maturing point" in your career, it's a great idea to seek out the original musicians who played on music you adore and that inspire you greatly–it's the opposite of what Rick Rubin does with the old folks. The results, however, are often lackluster; it can just be too hard to forge a connection in a short period of time with studio dudes twenty to thirty years older than you. Chan Marshall, who took just three years between albums this time, returned to Memphis to record with many of the architects of Southern soul music at Ardent Studios on The Greatest. And from the first and titular tune, a mournful and gorgeous ballad with swelling strings, backing singer and shimmery guitar accompaniment that tells the tale of a boy who wants to become a great boxer, it's clear that the results of this experiment are uniformly awesome. The sultry-voiced artiste sounds fully at home within these songs, these lovely analog Southern sounds that bridge black and white musics. It's not like she's on a trip of trying to be Aretha or anything; besides, the arrangements on all the songs are different. The loping, fiddle-accented "Empty Shell" sounds like the Unholy Modal Rounders backing Bobbie Gentry. All the songs are pretty, slow and melancholy; there's nothing like "He War" on here. We are not in the habit of quoting press releases, but it's hard to beat this line from the Matador one-sheet: "If Alex Chilton were today a beautiful young woman, he'd sound like this." Amen, or something. –Mike McGonigal

Product Description

This is not a greatest hits album, despite the title. It contains all-original songs written by Chan Marshal (professionally known as Cat Power), and features the great Memphis session musicians Teenie Hodges on guitar, Leroy Hodges on bass (Al Green, Hi Rhythm Section), drummer Steve Potts, and more. The combination of Marshall's superbly evocative and flexible voice plus some of the greatest Southern soul players, has produced a masterpiece. These songs explore themes of Southern loss, longing, and marginality. The limited first digipak pressing and regular single vinyl contain a bonus track. After the first pressing sells out, the regular jewelcase version will not contain a bonus track.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Never heard of Cat Power before this one ...., September 9, 2006

By 

desmond "barrow. marketplace." (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Greatest (Audio CD)

... So the other reviews here, necessarily, have me baffled.

I just found out about Cat Power via this CD. So my impression as a first-timer, completely ignorant of her previous works:

Wonderful.

Of course, I grew up in the South, hearing Janis Joplin, Dylan, Van Morrison, and other "blues/gospel-inflected" music (even if these artists are mostly "before my time," and not necessarily from my area).

So I, personally, was thrilled to find this album. And I can honestly say -- in a "scene" where I am constantly bombared with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Killers, etc. -- Cat Power is the only musician that has had me personally excited in a few years.

So take it for what it's worth. I guess my next step will be to check out Chan's other albums.

But those other albums don't matter to me, at the moment.

I give this a very happy and enthusiastic 5 Stars.

45 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cat Power Goes Memphis with "The Greatest" (4.5 stars), February 27, 2006

By 

Juan Mobili (Valley Cottage, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Greatest (Audio CD)

Cat Power's output will never be accused of being very emotive or lyrically overwrought, yet her latest album goes beyond the austere boundaries of prior releases. This is not to say that Marshall has gone over the edge in any way, yet in The Greatest her voice seems to reach for new tender corners and there's a certain compassion for her songs' characters in this album which- at least to me-have never been this apparent in the past.

This is the case with the title song and opener, a moving piece about a boxer, which already showcases some key musical choices that give The Greatest its particular feel. Whether it's the subtle guitar work, the way the strings and piano unfold its melody, or the drums-which I don't recall being present as often or featured as they are throughout these tracks-ease you into a different kind of Cat Power album.

A similar feel to the opener returns in "Living In Bars," "Where Is My Love" and "Willie," yet not all songs comply to this formula, by the way, songs like Living Proof," "Could We," "After It All" or "Islands" are-in their own ways and by Cat Power' standards-more accessible, more willing to reach out than past material.

Still, this is a Cat Power album, "The Moon"-one of my favorite songs-as well as "Empty Shell" or "Hate," each in its own way, proved this and may remind you of prior albums.

So, enjoy and be moved by a special singer and interesting songwriter who's still willing to explore the music outside her usual world, and had the shy observer she's always been, step out into new moods.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Album, June 18, 2006

By 

Gary Peterson (San Diego, California USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Greatest (Audio CD)

I met Chan Marshall on the internet about three years ago. We were both listed in the Yahoo Membership Directory and, of course, in disguise. I remember her listing saying that she was concerned about the melting of the polar ice caps and running low on toilet paper. Amused, I dropped her a note telling her that the polar caps would probably hold for a while, but to keep a close eye on the toilet paper. First thing you know, we were chatting and developed an internet friendship. Nice lady. Pleasant. Friendly. Funny. Interesting. We ultimately revealed our true identities to one another. I looked up Cat Power on Amazon.com, bought the "You are Free" disc and liked it from the first listen. Later, I purchased "The Covers Record" CD and liked it too. At about that time, Cat Power came through San Diego. A couple friends and I went downtown for a listen. When we got to the venue, there was a good-sized crowd milling around and looking somewhat disgruntled. It seems the concert was sold out. What a disappointment! I then took out a very small piece of paper, wrote a note to Chan explaining our difficulties and asking if there was anything she could do. I gave it to a venue worker and he took it in to her. About five minutes later, all three of us were admitted without tickets and at no cost. What a nice thing for her to do! We enjoyed the concert and I thought "Good Woman" was the best song of the evening. My only regret was in not getting to meet Chan in person.

I bought "The Greatest" CD the week it came out. I listened to it once and put it away. Somehow, I have to be in the right mood to listen to Cat Power Music, and the time wasn't right.I was too hard pressed with too many things. Now, six months later I'm listening again. It's a splendid and elegant CD. Chan's voice is in beautiful form and she`s backed by a terrific band. Strings, guitar, slide guitar, sax, piano, organ, bass drums and voices lightly and skillfully fill in the backdrop behind Chan's vocals, but they never intrude. The arrangements are exquisite. All of the songs are excellent (I seem to have an extra bonus track) and the quality and style is much more uniform than on the "You are Free" CD. The music is slower, softer, generally more melodic and with a slightly countryish or folkish slant. The arrangements and production are elegant and the songs are of such uniform and high quality that I'm hard-pressed to come up with favorites. OK, I'll try. I'd say "Empty Shell," "Willie," "Islands," and "Love & Communication" might be the best, but only by a tiny margin. IWith a slightly different mood, I might have another list.

I enjoy listening to Cat Power music, but I have difficulty interpreting the songs. On this particular CD, all the lyrics are printed on the inside of the cover, so I can follow along line by line, but I still have trouble interpreting the songs. It seems strange that I'd enjoy the music so much and even get a bit teary eyed in places, even though I don't understand the song. Evidently, Chan is very skilled in conveying deep emotions through her voice alone. Then along comes a song like "Hate." Chan, Hon, we all love you; don't hate yourself and want to die.

Gary Peterson