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.
Stray Cats | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | February 1981 | |||
Recorded | 1980-1981 | |||
Studio | Eden Studios, Chiswick, London; Jam Studios, London N4 | |||
Genre |
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Length | 37:11 | |||
Label | Arista | |||
Producer |
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Stray Cats chronology | ||||
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Record Mirror | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Runaway Boys" | Dave Edmunds | 3:03 | |
2. | "Fishnet Stockings" | Setzer |
| 2:25 |
3. | "Ubangi Stomp" | Charles Underwood |
| 3:14 |
4. | "Jeanie, Jeanie, Jeanie" |
| Edmunds | 2:21 |
5. | "Storm the Embassy" |
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| 4:08 |
6. | "Rock This Town" | Setzer | Edmunds | 3:28 |
7. | "Rumble in Brighton" |
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| 3:16 |
8. | "Stray Cat Strut" | Setzer | Edmunds | 3:16 |
9. | "Crawl Up and Die" |
| Edmunds | 3:13 |
10. | "Double Talkin' Baby" | Danny Wolfe | Edmunds | 3:05 |
11. | "My One Desire" | Dorsey Burnette | Edmunds | 2:57 |
12. | "Wild Saxophone" |
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| 3:01 |
"Rock This Town" was featured in the 2006 video games Guitar Hero II, Cars[6] and Elite Beat Agents.,[7] and in the TV show The Americans (2013).
On the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars, Rocco DiSpirito and Karina Smirnoff danced a foxtrot to "Stray Cat Strut". William Levy and Cheryl Burke also danced a foxtrot to this song on the 14th season of the show.
"Ubangi Stomp" was featured in the 1998 South Korean film The Quiet Family, and in the 2005 Russian film Dead Man's Bluff (Жмурки).
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[8]
Stray Cats
Additional musicians
Production
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Design
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Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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New Zealand (RMNZ)[17] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] | Gold | 100,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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Singles | |
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