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Stray Cats (album)

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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.

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Runaway Boys"Dave Edmunds3:03
2."Fishnet Stockings"Setzer
  • Setzer
  • Stray Cats
2:25
3."Ubangi Stomp"Charles Underwood
  • Setzer
  • Stray Cats
3:14
4."Jeanie, Jeanie, Jeanie"
Edmunds2:21
5."Storm the Embassy"
  • Setzer
  • Phantom
  • Setzer
  • Stray Cats
4:08
6."Rock This Town"SetzerEdmunds3:28
7."Rumble in Brighton"
  • Setzer
  • Phantom
  • Setzer
  • Stray Cats
3:16
8."Stray Cat Strut"SetzerEdmunds3:16
9."Crawl Up and Die"
  • Brian Feli
  • Jim Feli
Edmunds3:13
10."Double Talkin' Baby"Danny WolfeEdmunds3:05
11."My One Desire"Dorsey BurnetteEdmunds2:57
12."Wild Saxophone"
  • Setzer
  • Stray Cats
3:01

Personnel

[edit]

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[6]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[15] Platinum 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[16] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  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.
  6. ^ Stray Cats (liner notes). Stray Cats. Arista Records. 1981. STRAY 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 297. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  8. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Stray Cats – Stray Cats" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  9. ^ "Charts.nz – Stray Cats – Stray Cats". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  10. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Stray Cats – Stray Cats". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  11. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Stray Cats – Stray Cats". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  12. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  13. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1981". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
  14. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1981 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  15. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Stray Cats – Stray Cats". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  16. ^ "British album certifications – Stray Cats – Stray Cats". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 3, 2020.