Rock this town - Stray Cats

These days you don't hear any rock 'n' roll or rockabilly music in the charts anymore, but 40 years ago, while pop music was being taken over by synthpop artists, the Stray Cats still managed to score with this great music style. 'Rock this town' entered the UK singles chart on 2 July 1981 and peaked at number 9 during a chart run of 8 weeks. They also scored in Europe: the single peaked at number 3 in the Netherlands and also made top 10 in several other European countries.

In fact, the Stray Cats kept making music all through the Eighties, despite breaking up a few times in between. After 1992's Dave Edmunds-produced 'Choo Choo Hot Fish', and the cover album 'Original Cool', the group called it quits again. Further reunions happened in 2008 and 2018. 

My collection: 7" single no. 6357
Found: Kringloop Den Haag, 20 March 2021
Cost: 0,5 euro
Tracks: 'Rock this town' / 'Can't hurry love'

Stray cat strut - Stray Cats

'Stray cat strut' is a track on the Stray Cats' debut album, released in 1981 in the UK. Released as the third single from that album, it reached number 13 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 11 in the UK singles chart.

In 1982, the song became a hit in the US, peaking at number 3 in the Billboard Hot 100. Brian Setzer later played this song with his new band, The Brian Setzer Orchestra.

My collection: 7" single no. 4696
Found: All that music, Leiden, March 13, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Stray cat strut' / 'Drink that bottle down'

Runaway boys - The Stray Cats

The Stray Cats formed in 1980 in New York. Brian Setzer, Lee Rocker and Slim Jim Phantom based their style upon the sounds of Sun Records artists and other artists from the Fifties. When they heard rumor that there was a revival of the Fifties Teddy Boy youth subculture in England, the band moved to the UK.

In the summer of 1980 the cats found themselves being courted by the elite of the music world including Virgin Records, Stiff Records and Arista records. Word quickly spread and soon members of the Rolling Stones, The Who and Led Zeppelin were at their shows. Dave Edmunds offered to work with the group, and they recorded their debut album, which was released in early 1981. Ahead of the album, their first hit single 'Runaway boys' was released. It reached number 3 in the Dutch Top 40 and number 9 in the UK singles chart.

My collection: 7" single no. 4594
Found: Velvet Vinyl Outlet, Leiden, February 26, 2010
Cost: 1 euro
Tracks: 'Runaway boys' / 'My one desire'