CATS IN SPACE – Chapter 1 [4xCD Remastered Box Set] (2025) *HQ*

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Esoteric / Cherry Red Records are releasing today ”Chapter 1”, a 4xCD Remastered Box Set featuring the first four albums by acclaimed British retro-rock band CATS IN SPACE. Featuring the albums ‘Too Many Gods’, ‘Scarecrow’, ‘Cats Alive!’ & ‘Day Trip to Narnia’, including six rare bonus tracks.
This special collection features the band’s first four albums with original singer Paul Manzi, gathering together these deleted and sold-out albums in this remastered box which also includes some exclusive bonus tracks.
Announcing this release Cats In Space said: “Our early albums are no longer available, so it made sense to re-release them with our record label team at Esoteric Recordings and Cherry Red Records orchestrating something extra special for fans new and old. Our aim is that this box set will help spread the word about CATS IN SPACE both in Europe and the rest of the world…”
”Chapter 1” is a magical box set and is the ultimate way to introduce yourself to the world of one of the UK’s finest classic rock bands this millennia. Looking back, it is striking to see how the band got into their stride with their sound right from the very start, with all studio albums containing a good handful of essential classics that continue to grace set lists to this day.
It is so good to have ‘Scandalous’ included on this wider release, previously only available on the strictly limited Infinity edition of first album Too Many Gods. What a treat to hear those harmony guitars (and vocals) though, packed with a ridiculous number of layers all performed with pinpoint accuracy.

Too Many Gods kicked everything off. It’s interesting to hear how the songs have developed over the years. Greatest Story Never Told is now much heavier and more epic live. Bonus tracks here are the original cover of How Does It Feel, with Thunder’s Danny Bowes on co-vocals, a different feel from the track recorded as part of 2024’s Time Machine How Does It Feel.

Second album Scarecrow was when we really started to sit up and take notice of how beautifully crafted not just the individual songs, but the album sequencing, artwork, and tour setlists were.
This collection also saw the beginning of the collaboration with artist Andy Kitson, whose pieces have become an integral part of the visuals. This time around, there is an alternate vocal mix of Felix And The Golden Sun alongside an acoustic September Rain.

Cats Alive! is album number three, taken from the desk at their support slot for Thunder at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena in 2017. This does a great job of catching the massive energy of the live show and the reception of the audience.

Daytrip To Narnia is the least rocky of the first three albums. There may be a more mainstream approach in place, but there is a cynicism and world-weary attitude in a number of the songs here that give it an edge.
One half is dedicated to that good old ’70s staple, the concept album. However, The Story Of Johnny Rocket manages to stop well short of being naff by being genuinely charming. It also has the distinction of being the original home of fan favourite Thunder In The Night, making an additional appearance here with the 12-inch mix (remember them!) as one of the bonus tracks along with a tasty cover of Communication Breakdown.

We know that in the second chapter of the story, following the departure of Manzi to join the ranks of Sweet, Cats In Space continue to release bigger, more epic albums, with vocalist Damien Edwards proving to be a match made in heaven for the band.
Even if it had all stopped right here, this is still a remarkably good catalogue to have.

For new fans, or anyone who didn’t get around to buying all of the albums the first time around, this purchase is a no-brainer, a bargain price considering everything it is packed with.
Completists are already likely to have picked up the extras, plus a remastered sound, noticeable especially on the dirst two albums
All in all, a remarkable Chapter 1, and it is hoped that this book is nowhere near written yet.
HIGHLY Recommended

Disc 1 – Too Many Gods
01 – Arrival (2025 Remaster)
02 – Too Many Gods (2025 Remaster)
03 – Stop (2025 Remaster)
04 – Last Man Standing (2025 Remaster)
05 – Mr Heartache (2025 Remaster)
06 – Unfinished Symphony (2025 Remaster)
07 – Thunder In The Night ((12″ Thunder Mix) [2025 Remaster])
08 – Greatest Story Never Told (2025 Remaster)
09 – Only In Vegas (2025 Remaster)
10 – Man In The Moon (2025 Remaster)
11 – Five Minute Celebrity (2025 Remaster)
12 – Velvet Horizon (2025 Remaster)
Bonus Tracks:
13 – How Does If Feel (2025 Remaster)
14 – Scandalous (2025 Remaster)

Disc 2 – Scarecrow
01 – Jupiter Calling (2025 Remaster)
02 – The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (2025 Remaster)
03 – Clown In Your Nightmare (2025 Remaster)
04 – Scars (2025 Remaster)
05 – September Rain (2025 Remaster)
06 – Broken Wing (2025 Remaster)
07 – Two Fifty-Nine (2025 Remaster)
08 – Felix And The Golden Sun (2025 Remaster)
09 – Timebomb (2025 Remaster)
10 – Scarecrow (2025 Remaster)
Bonus Tracks:
11 – September Rain (Acoustic Mix)
12 – Felix And The Golden Sun (Vocal Mix)

Disc 3 – Cats Alive! (Live, Cardiff International Arena)
01 – Too Many Gods (2025 Remaster)
02 – Only In Vegas (2025 Remaster)
03 – Last Man Standing (2025 Remaster)
04 – The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (2025 Remaster)
05 – Mr Heartache (2025 Remaster)
06 – Greatest Story Never Told (2025 Remaster)
07 – Five Minute Celebrity (2025 Remaster)

Disc 4 – Day Trip To Narnia
01 – Narnia (2025 Remaster)
02 – She Talks Too Much (2025 Remaster)
03 – Hologram Man (2025 Remaster)
04 – Tragic Alter Ego (2025 Remaster)
05 – Silver & Gold (2025 Remaster)
06 – Chasing Diamonds (2025 Remaster)
07 – Unicorn (2025 Remaster)
08 – Space Overture (2025 Remaster)
09 – Johnny Rocket (2025 Remaster)
10 – Thunder In The Night (2025 Remaster)
11 – One Small Step (2025 Remaster)
12 – Twilight (2025 Remaster)
13 – Yesterday’s News (2025 Remaster)
Bonus Tracks:
14 – Destination Unknown (2025 Remaster)
15 – Communication Breakdown (2025 Remaster)

Paul Manzi (lead vocals)
Greg Hart (guitar, vocals)
Dean Howard (guitar, vocals)
Jeff Brown (bass, vocals)
Steevi Bacon (drums)
Andy Stewart (keyboards, vocoder)

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www.cherryred.co.uk/cats-in-space-chapter-1-4cd-remastered-box-set