Remember The Stray Cats? Three cute little Rockabilly boys who cracked the pop charts with 'Sexy and Seventeen"and "Rock This Town", nearly unheard of in those ugly '80s it was a squeal to hear this pop on the radio instead of the Bryan Adams and Van Halen that saturated the airwaves.
The band was formed in Masapequa NY, but managed to gain popularity in the UK and across Europe before the filthy Yanks caught on in approximately 1983. I can clearly remember wearing black leather jeans and a ripped up Stray Cats t-shirt to their show. I also lost my shoes at that gig since dancing in five inch heels just wasn't a good idea. There is an excitement and positivity in Rockabilly that was a refreshing and empowering charge back in those days. Being the ridiculous rebel I am I shot down their 'hits' and opted to claim my favorite Cat songs as "Runaway Boys" or "Rumble in Brighton". God Forbid I listen to what the masses approved of.
Where are they now? Well Setzers DA has grown in to a modified mullet and hes the King Bee of the Brian Setzer Orchestra- still cool as hell still making great music. Slim Jim Phantom that snare and bass drum banger owns The Cat Club on Sunset Strip in LA and also has a musical project "Dead Man Walking". Lee Rocker that upright bass dude with great balance and a heart of gold( I had a friend who had a huge crush on him- I made sure they met) did some time on Broadway and organizes a revival fest. Still Rockin that bass too.
So this is what you would have heard in 1982
Baby Blue Eyes
Double Talking Baby
Rumble in Brighton
Drink That Bottle Down
Built For Speed
Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Jeanie Jeanie Jeanie
Stray Cat Strut
Lonely Summer Night
Rev It Up
C'mon Everybody
Runaway Boys
Oh Boy!
Something Else
Fishnet Stockings
Rock This Town
Time machine..take me back, Daddy-O