The finer details of the left-field choice of Chan Marshall to record Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert lay directly in the path set down in 2000 with her first tribute album The Covers Record. 2008 saw the release of Jukebox, which contained not only covers but two originals. The genuine intention for 2022's Covers was to warm up Marshall's band in the studio and record new material. Those 'rehearsals' segued into another covers album, including a re-work of Marshall's 2006 "Hate" redone as "Unhate."
As Marshall has cross-journeyed through well-documented years of stage fright, mental health issues, alcohol addiction and the birth of her son, she's graduated to that ethereal hemisphere encapsulated by mythological events.
Cat Power Sings Bob Dylan — The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert
The reality check here is that Dylan did not play on May 16,1966 at London's Royal Albert Hall. The mislabeling of a bootleg from that show kept the fable from fading, until finally, the 'official' release in 1998 correctly identified the venue as Free Trade Hall in Manchester.
The historical significance, whereby Dylan split his set in two, first performing acoustically and then 'electric' with his backing band, The Hawks (later to be renamed The Band) cannot be overstated. The UK audience grew exceedingly hostile during the latter half, with one heckler screaming "Judas!" at Dylan. His response was —"I don't believe you", then after a pause, "You're a liar." He turned back to The Hawks and exclaimed "Play it f***** loud!" Captured for posterity, this was the moment that altered the course of rock 'n' roll forever.
Marshall's choice to re-create this show at the Royal Albert Hall in November 2022 speaks to the gravity and love for this performance. While the palpable tension was evident in 1966, Marshall's song-for-song recreation transcends those vibrations with equal parts conviction and grace and a palpable sense of protectiveness. The minutiae relating to an audience member once again yelling out "Judas!" has Marshall instead counter with "Jesus" before launching into a gutsy take of "Ballad Of A Thin Man."
Cat Power - Ballad Of A Thin Man (Live at the Royal Albert Hall)
As with notable releases, it will be available in various formats, including a deluxe 180g clear double vinyl version, complete with embossed gold foil text and gatefold sleeve. And not with any high irony, the man himself will be starting back up, touring North America through the month of October in support of Rough and Rowdy Ways.
Marshall will perform the Royal Albert Hall concert in its entirety at the legendary Troubadour in Los Angeles on November 6 and 7.
Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert tracklist:
She Belongs to Me
Fourth Time Around
Visions of Johanna
It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue
Desolation Row
Just Like a Woman
Mr. Tambourine Man
Tell Me, Momma
I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met)
Baby, Let Me Follow You Down
Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues
Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat
One Too Many Mornings
Ballad of a Thin Man
Like a Rolling Stone
