The Cat Empire (album)
Encyclopedia
The Cat Empire is the eponymous studio debut album of Melbourne
band The Cat Empire
. Released in October 2003 in Australia, it went platinum in Australia in February 2004.
with Kate Ceberano
and appearing at the Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival in April 2003. The band was nominated in two categories at the Australian Jazz Awards. The band successfully applied for an International Pathways grant from The Australia Council for the Arts.
The band was featured in a BBC Television 4 on the 2003 WOMAD Festival where the band appeared. Their track "Two Shoes" was placed on high rotation on BBC Radio 1
in August 2003. The band's growing live and critical reputation put them in a great position to approach record companies for a record deal for their self-financed, self-titled debut album in the middle of 2003. The band signed a deal with EMI's Virgin Records
subsidiary.
" was released in October 2003 with a film clip that was Channel V's
clip of the week ahead of Justin Timberlake
. The Cat Empire was released in November 2003, debuting in the top 20 of the ARIA
Top 50 album chart with Triple J
nominating it as their album of the week in November. High profile appearances on Rove (Live) with Rove McManus
and The Panel
on Network Ten
helped raise the profile of the album helping it to go gold in Australia by December 2003.
"Hello" finished at number 6 on the Triple J Hottest 100
for 2003, one of the biggest music polls in the world with album track "Days Like These" at number 37 and "The Chariot" at number 100.
"Days Like These
" was the second single reaching the top 40 of the ARIA singles charts in early 2004. Their debut album went platinum in February 2004. Their third single "The Chariot" debuted in the ARIA top 40 in May 2004.
This album has been released with the Copy Control
protection system in some regions.
The tracks in the promotional release are all earlier, more 'raw' mixes and have very subtle differences, yet they contribute greatly to the depth of each track. A few examples include extra background percussion throughout "How to Explain?", and different voice samples in "Days Like These" (for example, the "one two" sample, and Will's Mexican voice).
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
band The Cat Empire
The Cat Empire
The Cat Empire are an Australian ska and jazz band formed in 1999. Core members are Harry James Angus , Will Hull-Brown , Jamshid "Jumps" Khadiwhala , Ollie McGill , Ryan Monro and Felix Riebl...
. Released in October 2003 in Australia, it went platinum in Australia in February 2004.
Recording of the album
The band recorded its debut studio album in seven months during 2003 with producer Andy Baldwin in Melbourne. They recorded the album in-between touring Australia, playing at the St Kilda FestivalSt Kilda Festival
The St Kilda Festival is a popular community festival held in the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda. Traditionally held on the second Sunday in February, the festival is about showcasing live Australian music, family and children's entertainment, beach activities and much more all presented in a...
with Kate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano is an Australian singer. She achieved success in the soul, jazz and pop genres as well as in her brief forays into musicals with Jesus Christ Superstar and film...
and appearing at the Byron Bay Blues & Roots Festival in April 2003. The band was nominated in two categories at the Australian Jazz Awards. The band successfully applied for an International Pathways grant from The Australia Council for the Arts.
The band was featured in a BBC Television 4 on the 2003 WOMAD Festival where the band appeared. Their track "Two Shoes" was placed on high rotation on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
in August 2003. The band's growing live and critical reputation put them in a great position to approach record companies for a record deal for their self-financed, self-titled debut album in the middle of 2003. The band signed a deal with EMI's Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
subsidiary.
Chart and Live Success
The first single "HelloHello (Cat Empire song)
"Hello" was the first single taken from The Cat Empire's 2003 debut album. It was only released as a CD single in New Zealand, where it peaked at #12 in the singles chart. It is considered by many to have been the break-through single for the band, although the song never saw commercial release in...
" was released in October 2003 with a film clip that was Channel V's
Channel V
Channel [V] is the brand name for multiple international music television networks owned by STAR TV and Fox International Channels, fully owned subsidiaries of News Corporation.-Channel [V] International:...
clip of the week ahead of Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
. The Cat Empire was released in November 2003, debuting in the top 20 of the ARIA
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
Top 50 album chart with Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
nominating it as their album of the week in November. High profile appearances on Rove (Live) with Rove McManus
Rove McManus
John Henry Michael "Rove" McManus is an Australian comedian, television presenter, producer and media personality. He was the host of the self-titled variety show Rove, and is the owner of the production company Roving Enterprises...
and The Panel
The Panel
The Panel was an Australian television talk show broadcast by Network Ten and its affiliates; it was also simulcast on the Triple M radio network...
on Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
helped raise the profile of the album helping it to go gold in Australia by December 2003.
"Hello" finished at number 6 on the Triple J Hottest 100
Triple J Hottest 100
The Triple J Hottest 100 is an annual music poll, based on the votes of national Australian radio station Triple J listeners, in order to determine their favourite song of the year. Voting is conducted by the internet and begins roughly two weeks prior to the new year for the previous year's songs...
for 2003, one of the biggest music polls in the world with album track "Days Like These" at number 37 and "The Chariot" at number 100.
"Days Like These
Days Like These (song)
"Days Like These" was the second single taken from The Cat Empire's 2003 debut album. It was their first CD single released in their native Australia, where it peaked at #37 in the singles chart.-Track listing:#"Days Like These " - 3:49...
" was the second single reaching the top 40 of the ARIA singles charts in early 2004. Their debut album went platinum in February 2004. Their third single "The Chariot" debuted in the ARIA top 40 in May 2004.
This album has been released with the Copy Control
Copy Control
Copy Control was the generic name of a copy prevention system, used from 2001 until 2006 on several digital audio disc releases by EMI Group and Sony BMG Music Entertainment in several regions...
protection system in some regions.
Track listing
- "How to Explain?" – 3:37
- "Days Like TheseDays Like These (song)"Days Like These" was the second single taken from The Cat Empire's 2003 debut album. It was their first CD single released in their native Australia, where it peaked at #37 in the singles chart.-Track listing:#"Days Like These " - 3:49...
" – 4:07 - "The Lost Song" – 3:15
- "The ChariotThe Chariot (song)"The Chariot" was the third single taken from The Cat Empire's 2003 debut album.. It peaked at #34 in the Australian singles chart.A promotional DVD featuring The Chariot music video was given to members of the official 'Street Team' in 2004.-Track listing:...
" – 5:34 - "HelloHello (Cat Empire song)"Hello" was the first single taken from The Cat Empire's 2003 debut album. It was only released as a CD single in New Zealand, where it peaked at #12 in the singles chart. It is considered by many to have been the break-through single for the band, although the song never saw commercial release in...
" – 3:44 - "One Four Five" – 3:24
- "The Rhythm" – 3:24
- "The Wine Song" – 7:22
- "Nothing" – 3:39
- "Beanni" – 2:19
- "The Crowd" – 5:13
- "Manifesto" – 2:34
- "All That Talking" – 6:54
Versions
A different version of The Cat Empire has been released in some European countries under the Universal Music Group. It adds the rare track "Feline" (as found on "Touring Europe and the UK, 2004") as track number 7, effectively pushing the other tracks down. "The Chariot" and "Beanni" also trade places. A promotional advance release of the album also exists (labeled 'PR337', pressed by Virgin Records), called Oct 2003 Album and was sent to reviewers before the album was released. It contains the same track listing as the European version. Another advance release exists, again, pressed by Virgin Records, and labeled 'PR343', which has the same track listing as the 'PR337' release, albeit with correct spelling of track 3 on the disc.The tracks in the promotional release are all earlier, more 'raw' mixes and have very subtle differences, yet they contribute greatly to the depth of each track. A few examples include extra background percussion throughout "How to Explain?", and different voice samples in "Days Like These" (for example, the "one two" sample, and Will's Mexican voice).
- How to Explain? - 3:37
- Days Like These - 4:07
- The Lost Song - 3:15 (incorrectly named as 'The Last Song' on 'PR337' promotional release)
- Beanni - 2:18
- Hello - 3:44
- One Four Five - 3:24
- Feline - 2:36
- The Rhythm - 3:24
- The Wine Song - 7:22
- Nothing - 3:41
- The Chariot - 5:35
- The Crowd - 5:16
- Manifesto - 2:34
- All That Talking - 6:53