Track Listing

1. New York
2. Ramblin' (Wo)Man
3. Metal Heart
4. Silver Stallion
5. Aretha, Sing One for Me
6. Lost Someone
7. Lord, Help the Poor & Needy
8. I Believe in You
9. Song for Bobby
10. Don't Explain
11. Women Left Lonely
12. Blue

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1595 in Music
• Released on: 2008-01-21
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Jukebox is a sure sign that the Cat Power we once knew–-the reluctant performer, too shy to get onstage without a bellyful of whiskey–-is dead and buried. Best understood as a sort of mix of two previous albums, 2006’s The Greatest--a real coming of age record, lush and powerful, recorded with some of the greats of Memphis soul–-and 2000’s sparse set of reinterpretations The Covers Record, Jukebox finds an assured, husky-voiced Chan paying tribute to some of the songs that inspired her, backed by her new ensemble, the Dirty Delta Blues band. This is by no means a predictable set, however: the opening "New York, New York" is reinterpreted as a sultry, smouldering blues number, fulsome in instrumentation but stark in its lack of show; while James Brown’s broiling Live at the Apollo cut "Lost Someone" is pared back into a swaying lover’s exhortation led along on jazzy drums. The picks veer towards the classic rock end of the spectrum--Dylan, Janis Joplin, Hank Williams, Joni Mitchell–-but there seems little urge here to gain some novelty laughs from a sudden flash of recognition. Rather, Marshall seems to dig right into the heart of the lyrics, looking for aching hearts and emotional epiphanies. It's worth a dime or two of anyone’s money. –-Louis Pattison

Customer Reviews

Sympathy for the cover version
The cover version has unfortunately become much maligned over the years. Whereas bands were once judged by how well they could perform certain blues, R&B, Lennon/McCartney or Dylan songs and could gain kudos from picking up early on an up and coming songwriting talent, the rise of the singer/songwriter (and the extra profits from the publishing royalties) has meant the proliferation of home-grown material to the near total exclusion of pre-existing songs.

Thankfully, Cat Power, though with a proven pedigree as an accomplished songwriter, notably on her previous album of original songs The Greatest, has always peppered her live appearances and recording sessions with songs that she has felt a connection with, regardless of who wrote them, and began a whole album of them a decade ago, The Covers Record, released in 2000.

This album was conceived as a sequel, and was originally going to be called Covers 2 (and still is, on the CD Text of my copy at least). Its final title Jukebox still modestly places the emphasis on the song rather than the singer, but its major difference from The Covers Record, which was mostly Cat Power on her own, is the presence of a band, the Dirty Delta Blues Band, featuring major players including Judah Bauer from the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Jim White from the Dirty Three. The sound of the band, fleshed out on some tracks by guests of the calibre of Mabon Hodges (an integral part of The Greatest) and Spooner Oldham, session veterans from Memphis and Muscle Shoals respectively, is not a million miles from that on The Greatest, though there is a deliberate ragged informality in the proceedings here that sets it apart.

It would be quite a jukebox, too, if it featured the versions that inspired Chan, with artists ranging from Frank Sinatra to Jessie Mae Hemphill. Not all the songs were known to me, but favourites such as James Brown's Lost Someone and Joni Mitchell's Blue, a brave choice, become revitalized through her translucent performances. A Woman Left Lonely, too, is wonderful, and as it was written by Spooner Oldham and Dan Penn, that is presumably Spooner that we can hear on it. The shortlist for this album included the Dan Penn-Chips Moman song Dark End Of The Street, and I cannot be alone in thinking how wonderful that must have sounded, and as Spooner Oldham was the pianist on James Carr's original version, it is likely he would have played on that one, also. I'm not familiar with George Jackson's original of Aretha, Sing One For Me, but as it was recorded for Hi Records back in 1972 it is quite likely that Mabon Hodges was the guitarist on it, and it is good to see Chan recognizing and acknowledging the heritage these guys bring to her record.

I don't see Cat Power as a keen follower of rules and regulations, so on this album it is no surprise to find, on this album of covers, two of her own songs. I suppose one of these, Metal Heart, is technically a cover, since she had previously recorded it on Moon Pix. The other, Song To Bobby, an album highlight, neatly follows Dylan's I Believe In You.

A reviewer in (I think) Mojo, wrote of The Covers Record that Cat Power doesn't cover songs, she uncovers them, and despite the less sparse settings of this album this happily remains the case.

A limited edition of this CD exists with a second 5-track disc, which you may wish to consider as an alternative.

Interpretations

These interpretations are more than covers; every one is transformed into something unique and special. In addition there are two of her own compositions: Song To Bobby and Metal Heart, both great songs. My favorites include Blue (Joni Mitchell) that Chan makes into a torch song, I Believe In You (Bob Dylan), Breathless (Nick Cave), Ramblin' Person (Hank Williams) which sounds different but equally desperate, Noo Yawk (Frank Sinatra) which becomes introspective and Joplin's A Woman Left Lonely which gets a soulful treatment. The familiar is made new again in a blend of blues, country, soul and even a bit of jazz, for a most enjoyable listening experience. If you like this one you'll also enjoy here Covers album.

Good, but not "The Greatest"
Riding the crest of a wave, commercially at least, after the fantastic The Greatest album, it's not particularly suprising that Chan Marshall would be somewhat contrary and follow it up with a covers album (the second of her career). Even the one new song on the album is very much inspired by Bob Dylan. And she's also one of the few musicians who would cover one of their own songs in the midst of such a project!

Her previous effort, The Covers Album, proved that Cat Power can certainly be relied on for some great "interpretations" of famous songs and there are a number of tracks on Jukebox that back that up.

New York, New York is transformed into a slinky blues number, and her take on Hank Williams Rambling Woman is, quite simply, breath-taking. A crack at another legendary Country act with the Highwaymen's Silver Stallion is similarly excellent

Sadly however the album as a whole doesn't quite match up to the sum of it's best moments, with a few too many obvious moments. You can see why Marshall would want to attempt Joni Mitchell or Janis Joplin songs, but she plays them too straight and injects too little of herself into these tracks.

There's also a slight disappointment that there has been little change in pace since The Greatest. As, well, great as that was Marshall is usually a girl for new tricks. Here she's trod the same path again.

This is a good album, no question, but falls a little short of greatness. For those already in love with Cat Power this is an album you'll want to hear and you will enjoy. Those looking for an entry point might want to check out The Greatest first.