Stray Cat Strut

Stray Cats

About Stray Cat Strut

"Stray Cat Strut" is the third single by American rockabilly band Stray Cats, released April 17, 1981 by Arista Records in the UK, where it peaked at No. 11 on the Singles Chart. It was taken from the band's 1981 debut album, Stray Cats. That same year, as an import, it peaked at No. 78 on the US Disco Top 80 chart. In the US, the song was released as a single by EMI America on June 11, 1982, and included on the Built for Speed album released that same month. During its initial release, "Stray Cat Strut" failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 109 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in August 1982. When the band's next single, "Rock This Town," made the top 10, the record company decided to re-release "Stray Cat Strut," this time with much more success. Debuting at number 43, it was the highest new entry on the Hot 100 chart dated December 25, 1982, eventually peaking at number 3 in March 1983. The music video for the song received extensive airplay on MTV during the channel's early days. The video consisted of band members (and extras) performing in an alley while an irate resident throws things at them. It also featured scenes from the 1949 MGM cartoon Bad Luck Blackie. 


Year:
2006
3:54
207 

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Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

Black and orange stray cat sittin' on a fence
I ain't got enough dough to pay the rent
I'm flat broke but I don't care
I strut right by with my tail in the air

Stray cat strut, I'm a ladies cat
I'm a feline Casanova, hey man that's that
Get a shoe thrown at me from a mean old man
Get my dinner from a garbage can

Don't go crossing my path

I don't bother chasing mice around
I slink down the alleyway looking for a fight
Howling to the moonlight on a hot summer night
Singin' the blues while the lady cats cry
"Wild stray cat, you're a real gone guy"
I wish I could be as carefree and wild
But I got cat class and I got cat style

I don't bother chasing mice around
I slink down the alleyway looking for a fight
Howling to the moonlight on a hot summer night
Singin' the blues while the lady cats cry
"Wild stray cat, you're a real gone guy"
I wish I could be as carefree and wild
But I got cat class and I got cat style

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Stray Cats

The Stray Cats are an American rockabilly band formed in 1980 by guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer (Bloodless Pharaohs/Brian Setzer Orchestra), upright bassist Lee Rocker and Slim Jim Phantom (drums) in the Long Island town of Massapequa, New York. The group had numerous hit singles in the UK, Australia and the U.S. including "Stray Cat Strut", "Sexy and 17", "Look at That Cadillac," "I Won't Stand in Your Way", "Bring it Back Again", and "Rock This Town", which the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has listed as one of the 500 most important songs in the history of rock and roll. more »

1 fan

Written by: BRIAN SETZER

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Songwriting
"Stray Cat Strut” was written and performed by Stray Cats frontman, Brian Setzer. As a signature song of both the band and Setzer, it is considered one of the highlights of their songwriting and performance repertoire.
Release Date
The song was first launched in the United Kingdom in 1981 and later in the United States in 1982. It was the eleventh track from their debut self-titled album "Stray Cats."
Chart Performance
“Stray Cat Strut” made it into the top 10 on US and Australian charts. It reached #3 in the U.S Billboard Hot 100, which acknowledged the international influence of the band.
Genre
The song is an example of the genre known as rockabilly revival. It combines modern rock with the classic rock and roll style of the 1950s. Stray Cats is largely credited for popularizing this genre in the 1980s.
Music Video
The music video of “Stray Cat Strut” is a standout. It showcases the Stray Cats' retro 50s look, complete with thick-soled shoes, tattoos, sideburns, and quiffs. Setzer is shown in the video playing his iconic Gretsch White Falcon guitar.
Subsequent appearances
The song was later included in the compilation album "Rock This Town: The Collection" in 2013 and continues to be one of the most loved songs from the album today.
Live Performances
Despite many changes in the group's lineup and hiatuses over the years, "Stray Cat Strut" has remained a fixture in their live performances.
Cultural Influence
The song has become a cultural icon, frequently played on rock and oldies radio stations. It has also been covered by many other artists and has appeared in several film soundtracks, such as "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" and "Desperately Seeking Susan."
Musicians
“Stray Cat Strut” features Brian Setzer on vocals and lead guitar, Lee Rocker on double bass, and Slim Jim Phantom on drums, creating the unique sound of the Stray Cats.
Lyrical Theme
The lyrics of "Stray Cat Strut" mirror its title, describing the life and attitude of a stray cat who is independent, self-assured, and cool, a reflection of the band's rock and roll persona.
Unique Instrumentation
The song is unique for its absence of a rhythm guitar, a staple in most rock music. Instead, Setzer's playing intertwines lead and rhythm, while Rocker's strong bass lines and Slim Jim's minimalist drumming provide the perfect backing.

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    Stray Cat Strut

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1983

    Billboard #3


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