| Track | Album |
|---|---|
| Runaway Boys | Stray Cats |
| Rock This Town | Stray Cats |
| Stray Cat Strut | Stray Cats |
| Rev It Up And Go | Gonna Ball |
| Built For Speed | Built For Speed |
| Rumble In Brighton | Stray Cats |
| (She’s) Sexy + 17 | Rant n’ Rave … |
| I Won’t Stand In Your Way | Rant n’ Rave … |
| Look At That Cadillac | Rant n’ Rave … |
| Bring It Back Again | Blast Off! |
The Stray Cats were a breath of fresh air in the stale pop landscape of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Formed in Massapequa, Long Island, in 1979 by guitarist and singer Brian Setzer, bassist Lee Rocker (born Leon Drucker), and drummer Slim Jim Phantom (born James McDonnell), they were three teenagers obsessed with the raw energy of 1950s rockabilly. Drawing from the likes of Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, and Elvis Presley, they stripped rock ‘n’ roll back to its essentials: upright bass, twangy guitar, and a relentless beat. But here’s the anomaly – they weren’t from the American heartland or the Sun Records era; they were New York kids who had to flee to England to find an audience. Signed to Arista Records in the UK, their debut album exploded there in 1981, while back home in the US, they were initially dismissed as a novelty. It took a compilation album, Built For Speed, to crack the American market in the following year, blending tracks from their first two UK releases.
Suddenly, they were MTV darlings, with Setzer’s pompadour and the band’s retro style clashing gloriously against the synth-heavy new wave. They scored hits, toured relentlessly, and revived rockabilly for a generation that might otherwise have forgotten it. Internal tensions led to a breakup in 1984, but reunions followed, including a strong 2019 album, 40, proving their sound ages like fine leather. Setzer went on to swing revival with his Orchestra, but the Cats’ core trio remains a symbol of pure, unadulterated rock ‘n’ roll attitude.
Selecting just ten representative songs from their catalogue is a tough call, as they’re such a tight, album-oriented band. Their early work captures that raw, live-wire energy, while later tracks show a polish without losing the edge. I’ve leaned chronological where it makes sense, but these are the ones that define their strut – pun intended. Most readers will know the big hits, but dig deeper and you’ll find the heart of what made them purr.
Starting at the beginning, Runaway Boys from their 1981 self-titled debut is the perfect opener. It’s a high-octane tale of juvenile delinquency, with Setzer’s guitar riff echoing the spirit of Gene Vincent’s Be-Bop-A-Lula. The lyrics paint vivid pictures of restless youth – “We’re the runaway boys, and we don’t care” – backed by Rocker’s slapping bass and Phantom’s minimalist drumming. This was their first UK single, hitting the Top 10, and it set the template: fast, fun, and full of attitude. No frills, just thrills.
No Stray Cats list skips Rock This Town, the explosive track produced by Dave Edmunds that became their signature. From the same debut album Stray Cats (and later the US breakthrough Built For Speed), it’s a celebration of jiving all night, with Setzer channeling his inner Eddie Cochran. The guitar solo is a fireball, and the rhythm section drives like a hot rod. It reached No.9 on the Billboard Hot 100, thanks in part to a killer video that captured their live prowess. If rockabilly had a national anthem for the ’80s, this is it – energetic, rebellious, and impossible not to dance to.
Stray Cat Strut, another from the debut, slows things down to a cool prowl. Setzer’s jazz-inflected guitar licks slink over Rocker’s walking bass, while the lyrics boast of alley-cat cool: “I don’t bother chasing mice around.” It’s their most feline track, hitting No.3 in the US and embodying the band’s swagger. Phantom’s brushwork adds a lounge-y vibe, making it a crossover hit that appealed beyond rockabilly purists. Timeless cool in three minutes.
From their second UK album, Gonna Ball (1981), Rev It Up And Go revs the engine with breakneck speed. It’s a pure adrenaline rush, with Setzer’s vocals urging escape on the open road. The harmonies nod to the Everly Brothers, but the pace is all Cats – frantic bass and drums pushing the limits. Not a massive hit, but it represents their love for hot-rod anthems and the raw edge of their early sound.
Built For Speed, the title track of their 1982 US compilation, is a mission statement. Written by Setzer, it’s about living fast and loving faster, with a chorus that hooks like a fishnet: “Built for speed, baby, that’s all I need.” The guitar work is razor-sharp, and it’s a staple of their live sets. This one bridged their UK success to American radio, peaking in the Top 10 album charts and showing how they packaged rockabilly for the masses.
Rumble In Brighton – to be found on the debut album and Built For Speed – channels the gang-fight energy of West Side Story through a rockabilly lens. Setzer’s storytelling shines – “There’s a rumble in Brighton tonight” – with twangy riffs evoking a seaside brawl. It’s got that ’50s danger vibe but the band’s tight interplay makes it fun rather than menacing. A deep cut that highlights their thematic love for retro rebellion.
Moving to 1983’s Rant n’ Rave With The Stray Cats, (She’s) Sexy + 17 was a controversial hit, reaching No.5 in the US. Setzer’s ode to youthful allure walks a fine line, but the infectious chorus and surf-guitar flourishes make it irresistible. Produced by Dave Edmunds, it has a cleaner sound, showing their evolution while staying true to roots. Critics carped, but fans loved the cheeky energy.
From the same album, I Won’t Stand In Your Way reveals their softer side – a doo-wop ballad with lush harmonies from 14 Karat Soul. Setzer’s croon is heartfelt, lamenting a breakup with grace: “I won’t stand in your way anymore.” It hit No.35, proving they could slow down without losing momentum. A representative pivot to melody over mayhem.
Look At That Cadillac, another Rant n’ Rave gem, is pure car-culture worship. Setzer’s guitar purrs like an engine, and the lyrics drool over chrome and fins. It’s got a swing that’s almost big-band, foreshadowing his later work, but the rockabilly core keeps it grounded. Not their biggest single, but it captures their fascination with ’50s America.
Finally, from 1989’s Blast Off!, Bring It Back Again brings the boogie with a plea for revival. Setzer’s voice pleads over a driving beat, urging a return to roots amid their post-breakup phase. It’s upbeat, hooky, and representative of their enduring spirit – rockabilly as therapy. A fitting closer, as reunions kept the flame alive.
Recently, Setzer devastated fans by suggesting the autoimmune disease he’d been diagnosed with would silence his guitar playing. However, the Stray Cats have announced an American tour later this year (see below). Whether it’s a last hurrah or a sign that Setzer is back on top remains to be seen.
Stray Cats didn’t just play rockabilly; they lived it, injecting it into the veins of a jaded music scene. Their songs are snapshots of a bygone era, updated with punk energy and pop smarts. If you’ve only heard the hits, dive into the albums – the groove is infectious. As for me, they’re a reminder that sometimes, looking back is the best way forward.
Stray Cats Studio Albums
Stray Cats (1981), Gonna Ball (1981), Rant n’ Rave With The Stray Cats (1983), Rock Therapy (1986), Blast Off! (1989), Let’s Go Faster! (1990), Choo Choo Hot Fish (1992), Original Cool (1993), 40 (2019)
The Stray Cats Fan Club Public Facebook Group
Slim Jim Phantom Official Website
David Lewis is Australia’s best jazz mandolinist, unless you can name someone else: then he’s Australia’s second-best. In any case, he’s almost certainly top 100. He is a regular contributor to Toppermost, and also plays guitar, banjo and bass professionally. David is also the co-host of the New Politics Australia podcast, with Eddy Jokovich, and they have produced half a dozen books on Australian Politics based on the podcast.
TopperPost #1,166
Billy Mackenzie
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