Information about Stray Cats
The Stray Cats are a rockabilly band formed in 1979 by guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer (Bloodless Pharaohs/Brian Setzer Orchestra) with school friends Lee Rocker (born Leon Drucker) and Slim Jim Phantom (born James McDonnell) in the Long Island town of Massapequa, New York.
After a gig in London, Stray Cats met producer Dave Edmunds, well known as a roots rock enthusiast for his work with Rockpile and as a solo artist. Edmunds offered to work with the group, and they entered the studio to record their self-titled debut album, Stray Cats, released in England in 1981 on Arista Records. They were popular immediately, scoring three straight hits that year with "Runaway Boys", "Rock This Town," and "Stray Cat Strut."
Helped by extensive airplay on the newly-launched MTV, "Rock This Town" and "Stray Cat Strut" both hit the American Top Ten, over a year after their British chart peaks. As a result, Built for Speed was a left-field smash, and Stray Cats was seen as an avatar of retro style. Their second American album, Rant N' Rave With The Stray Cats, appeared in 1983 and produced another Top Ten hit in "(She's) Sexy + 17," as well as a minor Top 40 entry in the doo wop-styled ballad "I Won't Stand in Your Way."
Rocker and Phantom formed a trio called Phantom Rocker & Slick (the "Slick" being former David Bowie guitarist Earl Slick), while Setzer went on to a solo career, exchanging his rockabilly focus for a more wide-ranging roots rock/Americana sound on albums such as 1986's The Knife Feels Like Justice.
In 1986, Stray Cats got back together in Los Angeles, and recorded the covers-heavy Rock Therapy, which sold poorly. In 1989, they reunited once again for the album Blast Off, which was accompanied by a tour with Stevie Ray Vaughan. No longer with EMI America, they entered the studio with Nile Rodgers for the lackluster Let's Go Faster, issued by Liberation in 1990. 1992's Dave Edmunds-produced Choo Choo Hot Fish also attracted little attention, and after another covers album, Original Cool, the group called it quits again.
However, after a dozen years apart, Stray Cats reunited for a month-long tour of Europe in 2004. A live album culled from those concerts, Rumble In Brixton, included one new studio track, "Mystery Train Kept A Rollin'."
As of August 2007, they are currently touring the USA with ZZ Top and The Pretenders.[1]
Setzer is still part of his 1990s swing-revival band The Brian Setzer Orchestra. Rocker and Phantom went on to form Swing Cats as well as releasing some solo material. Slim Jim Phantom also plays the drums in another rockabilly band 13 Cats, as well as the Rock and Roll band The Head Cat with Lemmy (Motörhead) and Danny B. Harvey (13 Cats)
Brian Setzer has played a number of Gretsch guitars in various stages of modification and customization throughout his career including a signature model produced by Gretsch in the 1990s.He has Seven Grammy nominations.
They were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame[1]on October 15, 2006.
This article may contain original research or unverified claims.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
Formation and rapid UK success
The group, whose style was based upon the sounds of Sun Records artists from the 1950s and heavily influenced by Bill Haley & His Comets, had little initial success in the New York music scene, and had to move to England before they saw any success at all within the nascent rockabilly revival there. The group had several hit singles in the UK and the U.S. during the early 1980s.After a gig in London, Stray Cats met producer Dave Edmunds, well known as a roots rock enthusiast for his work with Rockpile and as a solo artist. Edmunds offered to work with the group, and they entered the studio to record their self-titled debut album, Stray Cats, released in England in 1981 on Arista Records. They were popular immediately, scoring three straight hits that year with "Runaway Boys", "Rock This Town," and "Stray Cat Strut."
Return to the U.S.
The follow-up to Stray Cats, Gonna Ball, was not as well-received, and was stung by the negative reviews. Stray Cats returned to the United States, signed with EMI America, and in 1982 released Built for Speed, a combination of their earlier LPs. "Rock This Town" and "Stray Cat Strut" hit the top of the American charts thanks to MTV airplay. The follow-up, Rant N' Rave With The Stray Cats, was almost as successful.Helped by extensive airplay on the newly-launched MTV, "Rock This Town" and "Stray Cat Strut" both hit the American Top Ten, over a year after their British chart peaks. As a result, Built for Speed was a left-field smash, and Stray Cats was seen as an avatar of retro style. Their second American album, Rant N' Rave With The Stray Cats, appeared in 1983 and produced another Top Ten hit in "(She's) Sexy + 17," as well as a minor Top 40 entry in the doo wop-styled ballad "I Won't Stand in Your Way."
Break-up and subsequent reunions
Personality conflicts began to emerge in the ways that the individual members handled their new-found success; Phantom married actress Britt Ekland, while Setzer made guest appearances with stars like Bob Dylan and Stevie Nicks and became the concert guitarist for Robert Plant's Honeydrippers side project. In late 1984, Setzer broke up the band amid much bad blood.Rocker and Phantom formed a trio called Phantom Rocker & Slick (the "Slick" being former David Bowie guitarist Earl Slick), while Setzer went on to a solo career, exchanging his rockabilly focus for a more wide-ranging roots rock/Americana sound on albums such as 1986's The Knife Feels Like Justice.
In 1986, Stray Cats got back together in Los Angeles, and recorded the covers-heavy Rock Therapy, which sold poorly. In 1989, they reunited once again for the album Blast Off, which was accompanied by a tour with Stevie Ray Vaughan. No longer with EMI America, they entered the studio with Nile Rodgers for the lackluster Let's Go Faster, issued by Liberation in 1990. 1992's Dave Edmunds-produced Choo Choo Hot Fish also attracted little attention, and after another covers album, Original Cool, the group called it quits again.
However, after a dozen years apart, Stray Cats reunited for a month-long tour of Europe in 2004. A live album culled from those concerts, Rumble In Brixton, included one new studio track, "Mystery Train Kept A Rollin'."
As of August 2007, they are currently touring the USA with ZZ Top and The Pretenders.[1]
Band members' follow-on careers
Stray Cats have reunited periodically for live performances.Setzer is still part of his 1990s swing-revival band The Brian Setzer Orchestra. Rocker and Phantom went on to form Swing Cats as well as releasing some solo material. Slim Jim Phantom also plays the drums in another rockabilly band 13 Cats, as well as the Rock and Roll band The Head Cat with Lemmy (Motörhead) and Danny B. Harvey (13 Cats)
Brian Setzer has played a number of Gretsch guitars in various stages of modification and customization throughout his career including a signature model produced by Gretsch in the 1990s.He has Seven Grammy nominations.
They were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame[1]on October 15, 2006.
Discography
Albums
- Stray Cats (1981)
- Gonna Ball (1981)
- Built for Speed (1982)
- 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)
- The Swing Cats (1996)
- Greatest Hits (2000)
- Rumble in Brixton (2004)
Singles
- 1980 "Runaway Boys" - #9 UK
- 1981 "Rock This Town" - #9 UK
- 1981 "Stray Cat Strut" - #11 UK
- 1981 "The Race Is On" - #34 UK
- 1981 "You Don't Believe Me" - #57 UK
- 1983 "(She's) Sexy And 17 - #29 UK
- 1989 "Bring It Back Again" - #64 UK
References
External links
- Official website
- Brian Setzer's website
- Lee Rocker's website
- Slim Jim Phantom's website
- Myspace page for The Head Cat
- Jackslacks website
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, and emerged in the early-1950's.
The term "rockabilly" is a portmanteau of "rock," from rock and roll, and "hillbilly", the latter a reference to the country music (often called "hillbilly music" in the 1940s
..... Click the link for more information.
The term "rockabilly" is a portmanteau of "rock," from rock and roll, and "hillbilly", the latter a reference to the country music (often called "hillbilly music" in the 1940s
..... Click the link for more information.
-1979- 1980 . 1981 . 1982 1983 . 1984 . 1985 . 1986 . 1987 . 1988 .
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
Brian Setzer (born April 10, 1959 in Massapequa, Long Island, New York) is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter.
..... Click the link for more information.
History
In the 1980s, Setzer fronted the popular rockabilly band, Stray Cats...... Click the link for more information.
The Brian Setzer Orchestra (sometimes going by the acronym BSO) is a swing and rockabilly band formed in 1990 by Stray Cats frontman Brian Setzer. The group had success covering Louis Prima's "Jump Jive an' Wail", which appeared in Prima's 1957 album The Wildest!.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
Lee Rocker (born August 3, 1961 in Long Island, New York) is a rockabilly double bass player. He is best known for his time as a member of Stray Cats. He is now a solo musician.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
Slim Jim Phantom is the legendary drummer for the Stray Cats. Alongside band mates Brian Setzer and Lee Rocker, he spearheaded the neo-rockabilly movement of the early 80s.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
Long Island is an island in southeast New York, USA. It has an area of 3,567 square miles (10,377 km²) and a population of 7,448,618 as of the 2000 census, with the population estimated at 7,559,372 as of July 1, 2006, making it the largest island in the 48 contiguous U.S.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
Massapequa, New York
Seal
Motto:
Coordinates:
Country United States
State New York
County Nassau
Area
- CDP 4.0 sq mi (10.
..... Click the link for more information.
Seal
Motto:
Coordinates:
Country United States
State New York
County Nassau
Area
- CDP 4.0 sq mi (10.
..... Click the link for more information.
Bill Haley & His Comets was an American rock and roll band that was founded in 1952 and continued until Haley's death in 1981. The band, also known by the names Bill Haley and The Comets and Bill Haley's Comets
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
worldwide view of the subject.
Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page.
Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page.
This article may contain original research or unverified claims.
Please help Wikipedia by adding references.
..... Click the link for more information.
Dave Edmunds (born 15 April, 1943 in Cardiff, Wales) is a singer, guitarist and record producer. Although he was primarily associated with pub rock and New Wave, and had numerous hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, he was steadfastly devoted to pre-Beatles rock and roll music.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
Rockpile was a British rock group of the mid-to-late 1970s, noted for its strong rockabilly and power pop influences. The group was central to the rise of New Wave music and appeared on six albums as a featured act, although three of them were released as Dave Edmunds solo albums,
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
Stray Cats is the first album from the rockabilly band Stray Cats. It was released in England and was very successful, with hits such as "Runaway Boys," "Stray Cat Strut," and "Rock This Town.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
19th century - 20th century - 21st century
1950s 1960s 1970s - 1980s - 1990s 2000s 2010s
1978 1979 1980 - 1981 - 1982 1983 1984
Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI
..... Click the link for more information.
1950s 1960s 1970s - 1980s - 1990s 2000s 2010s
1978 1979 1980 - 1981 - 1982 1983 1984
Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI
..... Click the link for more information.
Arista Records is an American record label that is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony BMG, and operates under the RCA Label Group.
..... Click the link for more information.
History
Background
After being fired from CBS Records, Clive Davis was hired by Columbia Pictures to be a consultant for the..... Click the link for more information.
The Runaway Boys was the band that The Living End guitarist, Chris Cheney, and bassist, Scott Owen, formed in the early 1990s. The band played covers of 50's rock and rockabilly bands, such as the Stray Cats. The name of the band came from the Stray Cats song "Runaway Boys".
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
B-side(s) "Can't Hurry Love"
Released 1981
Genre Rockabilly/New Wave
Label Arista
Writer(s) Brian Setzer
Producer(s) Dave Edmunds
Peak chart positions
..... Click the link for more information.
Released 1981
Genre Rockabilly/New Wave
Label Arista
Writer(s) Brian Setzer
Producer(s) Dave Edmunds
Peak chart positions
- #9 Billboard Hot 100 (U.S.
..... Click the link for more information.
B-side(s) "Drink That Bottle Down" (U.K.) "You Don't Believe Me" (U.S.) "What's Goin' Down (Cross That Bridge)" (Japan)
Released April 16th, 1981 (U.K.) December 28th, 1982 (U.S.)
Genre Rockabilly
Length 3:15
Label Arista (U.K.
..... Click the link for more information.
Released April 16th, 1981 (U.K.) December 28th, 1982 (U.S.)
Genre Rockabilly
Length 3:15
Label Arista (U.K.
..... Click the link for more information.
Gonna Ball is the second album from the rockabilly band Stray Cats. It was released only in England and was not as successful as Stray Cats.
..... Click the link for more information.
Track listing
- "Baby Blue Eyes"
- "Little Miss Prissy"
- "Wasn't That Good"
- "Cryin' Shame"
..... Click the link for more information.
EMI America Records was started in 1978 by EMI as a second US label next to Capitol Records. It absorbed Liberty Records in 1984. EMI America was closed in the late eighties in a consolidation with Manhattan Records to form EMI Manhattan Records.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
-1982- 1983 . 1984 . 1985 1986 . 1987 . 1988 . 1989 . 1990 . 1991 .
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
Built for Speed is the first American album from the rockabilly band Stray Cats. It is perhaps the most successful record for the band, with songs such as "Rock This Town," and "Stray Cat Strut" reaching MTV status.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
Rant 'N Rave With The Stray Cats is the fourth album from the rockabilly band Stray Cats. The album features the hits "(She's) Sexy + 17," and the Doo-Wop hit "I Won't Stand In Your Way.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV Channel 331
Dish Network Channel 160
Cable
Available on many cable systems Check local listings for channels
MTV (Music Television) is an American cable television network based in New York City.
..... Click the link for more information.
Satellite
DirecTV Channel 331
Dish Network Channel 160
Cable
Available on many cable systems Check local listings for channels
MTV (Music Television) is an American cable television network based in New York City.
..... Click the link for more information.
__NOEDITSECTION__ A record chart, also known as a music chart, is a method of ranking music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of record charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
Built for Speed is the first American album from the rockabilly band Stray Cats. It is perhaps the most successful record for the band, with songs such as "Rock This Town," and "Stray Cat Strut" reaching MTV status.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
19th century - 20th century - 21st century
1950s 1960s 1970s - 1980s - 1990s 2000s 2010s
1980 1981 1982 - 1983 - 1984 1985 1986
Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII
..... Click the link for more information.
1950s 1960s 1970s - 1980s - 1990s 2000s 2010s
1980 1981 1982 - 1983 - 1984 1985 1986
Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII
..... Click the link for more information.
Top Forty or Top 40 is a music industry shorthand for the currently most-popular songs in a particular genre. When used without qualification, it typically refers to the best-selling or most frequently broadcast pop music songs.
..... Click the link for more information.
..... Click the link for more information.
For the Lauryn Hill single, see Doo Wop (That Thing).
Doo-wop is a style of vocal-based rhythm and blues music, which was started in the black community and became popular in the mid-1950s to the early 1960s in the United States[1]...... Click the link for more information.
Britt Ekland
Birth name Britt-Marie Ekland
Born 6 September 1942
Stockholm, Sweden
Years active 1962 – present
..... Click the link for more information.
Birth name Britt-Marie Ekland
Born 6 September 1942
Stockholm, Sweden
Years active 1962 – present
..... Click the link for more information.
This article is copied from an article on Wikipedia.org - the free encyclopedia created and edited by online user community. The text was not checked or edited by anyone on our staff. Although the vast majority of the wikipedia encyclopedia articles provide accurate and timely information please do not assume the accuracy of any particular article. This article is distributed under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.
Herod_Archelaus
