Cherry Red Records Five Lives Left: The Anthology

3 Loop Music / Cherry Red / Essential are proud to announce the re-release of the Five Lives Left: The Anthology, the best of The Family Cat.
Record Collector – 4/5: “a comprehensive package – (this set) makes abundantly clear, quality control was never the issue”
Sonic Youth once claimed that The Family Cat was their favourite UK rock band, so it is about time that there was a collection of their finest tracks.
This is the first ever Family Cat Best Of and includes:
- 36 tracks on 2CDs
- all the singles including the classic Steamroller, Tom Verlaine, Place With A Name, and Amazing Hangover
- singles Colour Me Grey and River Of Diamonds both feature PJ Harvey on backing vocals
- key album tracks and b-sides
- 10 previously unreleased recordings featuring BBC sessions, demos and previously unheard songs.
- tracks from the never released 4th studio album, abandoned when the band split in 1995
The band, based in London, but from across the South Coast, signed to independent Bad Girl Records following their trademark, blistering live shows. They released acclaimed singles – debut single Tom Verlaine was NME Single Of The Week – and mini-LP Tell ‘Em We’re Surfin’ clawed its way up the indie charts. Major labels came knocking and the five piece signed to Dedicated Records, releasing two albums, Furthest From The Sun and Magic Happens.
Five Lives Left, compiled by lead singer Paul Frederick (aka Fred) and bassist John Graves, is a 2CD set tracking the band’s career from Tom Verlaine through to previously unreleased tracks from the album abandoned when the band split in January 1995.
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, psychedelic grooves and heads down, no nonsense, guitar grinding!”
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.”