Stray Cats (album)

Stray Cats
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 1981
Recorded1980–1981
StudioEden Studios, Chiswick, London; Jam Studios, London N4
Genre
Length37:11
LabelArista
Producer
Stray Cats chronology
Stray Cats
(1981)
Gonna Ball
(1981)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Record Mirror[2]

Stray Cats is the first studio album by American rockabilly band Stray Cats, first released in the United Kingdom by Arista Records in February 1981. It was produced by the band and Dave Edmunds.

The album was successful in Britain, peaking at No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart, and produced the UK Singles Chart top 40 hits "Runaway Boys" (No. 9), "Rock This Town" (No. 9) and "Stray Cat Strut" (No. 11).[3] The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later listed "Rock This Town" as one of the "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll".[4][5]

The fifth track on the album, "Storm the Embassy" was based on the song "Boys Having Babies" recorded in 1979 by Brian Setzer's previous band The Bloodless Pharaohs. The lyrics were subsequently rewritten about the Iran hostage crisis of 1979–80.

The album was only issued in the United States after the success of the band's first American album, 1982's Built for Speed. However, six of the songs from Stray Cats ("Rock This Town", "Stray Cat Strut", "Rumble in Brighton", "Runaway Boys", "Double Talkin' Baby" and "Jeanie, Jeanie, Jeanie") were already included on Built for Speed.

  1. ^ Mawer, Sharon. "Stray Cats – Stray Cats". AllMusic. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  2. ^ Nicholls, Mike (February 21, 1981). "Triff Quiffs". Record Mirror. London. p. 16.
  3. ^ "Stray Cats". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "Brian Setzer's Stray Cats to reunite for first show in 10 years". 4 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Rocklist.net...Steve Parker...Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-10-24.