The group, whose style was based upon the sounds of Sun Records artists and other artists from the 1950s, were heavily influenced by Eddie Cochran, Carl Perkins, Gene Vincent and Bill Haley & His Comets. The Stray Cats quickly developed a large following in the New York music scene playing at CBGB and Max's Kansas City as well as venues on Long Island. When the Cats heard a rumor that there was a revival of the 1950s Teddy Boy youth subculture in England, the band moved to the UK. They then spearheaded the nascent rockabilly revival, by blending the 1950s Sun Studio sound with modern punk musical elements. In terms of visual style the Stray Cats also blended elements of 1950 rockabilly clothes such as wearing drape jackets, brothel creepers and western shirts with punk clothes such as tight black zipper trousers and modern versions of 1950s hair styles.
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. After a gig in London, Stray Cats met producer Dave Edmunds, well known as a roots rock enthusiast for his work with Rockpile and as a solo artist. Edmunds offered to work with the group, and they entered the studio to record their self-titled debut album, Stray Cats, released in England in 1981 on Arista Records. They had three hits that year with "Runaway Boys", "Rock This Town", and "Stray Cat Strut". The UK follow-up to Stray Cats, Gonna Ball, was not as well-received, providing no hits. Yet the combined sales of their first two albums was enough to convince EMI America to compile the best tracks from the two UK albums and issue an album (Built for Speed) in the U.S. in 1982. The record went on to sell double platinum in the US and Canada and was the #2 record on the Billboard album charts for 26 weeks
Musical and personal conflicts began to emerge in the ways that the individual members handled their new-found success; Phantom married actress Britt Ekland, while Setzer made guest appearances with stars like Bob Dylan and Stevie Nicks and became the concert guitarist for Robert Plant's Honeydrippers side project. In late 1984, the band added former BMT's guitarist and Long Island native Tommy Byrnes on second guitar and harmony vocals, and after a European and US tour which ended at the New Orleans World's Fair, parted ways.
Rocker and Phantom formed a trio called Phantom Rocker & Slick (the "Slick" being former David Bowie guitarist Earl Slick) which contained the single "Men Without Shame", guest musicians on this record included both Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones and Nicky Hopkins on the piano. Setzer went on to a solo career, retaining Byrnes and exchanging his rockabilly focus for a more wide-ranging roots rock/Americana sound on albums such as 1986's The Knife Feels Like Justice. In 1986, the Stray Cats reunited in Los Angeles, and recorded the covers-heavy Rock Therapy. In 1989, they reunited once again for the album Blast Off!, which was accompanied by a tour with US blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. No longer with EMI America, they entered the studio with Nile Rodgers for the record titled Let's Go Faster, issued by Liberation in 1990. After 1992's Dave Edmunds-produced Choo Choo Hot Fish, and after another covers album, 1993's Original Cool, the group called it quits again.
In 2004, the Stray Cats reunited for a month-long tour of Europe. A live album culled from those concerts, Rumble In Brixton, included one new studio track, "Mystery Train Kept A Rollin'." In 2007, they reunited once again for a successful and long awaited US tour with ZZ Top and The Pretenders. This was their first North American tour in over 15 years. In the 2000s, the band toured Europe as part of their Farewell Tour, although the band has performed concerts intermittently in the ensuing years.
In 2008, for the first time in 18 years, the Stray Cats visited Australia and New Zealand which included several consecutive sold out shows of their Farewell (Australia) Tour.
In April 2009 the band reunited for a single show to celebrate Brian’s 50th birthday at the Fine Line Music Café in Minneapolis, MN.
Can't Help Falling In Love
Stray Cats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you.
Shall I stay ? Would it be a sin ?
If I can't help falling in love with you ?
Darling so it goes, some things are meant to be.
Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you.
Well like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling so it goes, some things are meant to be.
Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you
For I can't help falling in love with you.
The song "Can't Help Falling in Love" by the Stray Cats is a beautiful love ballad that speaks of the feeling of a person falling in love uncontrollably. The lyrics begin by acknowledging the commonly held belief that wise men say only fools rush in. However, the singer can't help but fall in love with their lover. They ask if staying in love with them would be a sin as the feeling is so strong that they cannot help but follow their heart.
The singer of the song then draws upon the metaphor of a river that flows surely to the sea, indicating that some things are meant to be, including their love for their partner. The chorus further repeats the idea that the singer cannot help but fall in love with their partner, and they are ready to give their whole life to be with them.
The beautiful melody and the deeply uplifting lyrics of this classic make it a timeless piece that people can connect with on a spiritual level. The song was covered by various artists and became massively popular after it was featured in the 1993 movie 'Sliver'. The powerful vocals of the singer, coupled with the gentle guitar strums, make their way into the listener's heart and evoke emotions like no other.
Line by Line Meaning
Wise men say only fools rush in
Experienced individuals advise against impulsive decisions
But I can't help falling in love with you.
Despite the advice, I cannot help myself from falling in love with you
Shall I stay ? Would it be a sin ?
Is it wrong to stay in this relationship?
If I can't help falling in love with you ?
Since I cannot control my feelings for you
Like a river flows surely to the sea
Just like a river flows inevitably towards the sea
Darling so it goes, some things are meant to be.
Some things in life are bound to happen
Take my hand, take my whole life too
I offer you my complete commitment and devotion
For I can't help falling in love with you.
Because my love for you is beyond my control
Well like a river flows surely to the sea
As previously mentioned, like a river flows inevitably towards the sea
Darling so it goes, some things are meant to be.
Once again, reiterating that some things are bound to happen
Take my hand, take my whole life too
Once again, offering complete devotion and commitment
For I can't help falling in love with you
Just like before, my love for you is beyond my control
Contributed by Kaelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@skudaarkaat1
These guys not only play the 1950's, they honor them so respectfully. It's refreshing to see modern musicians pay hommage to their past instead of ridiculing it. GO, CATS!!!
@spectrelfc1152
Every Stray Cats cover is always better than the original. One, you have the best guitarist and vocalist, then you have the best stand-up bass player in Lee Rocker, then Slim Jim's drums are fantastic and unique. The most underrated band ever.
@A.BondGirl
Luke Schroeder TOTALLY AGREE!!!
@pacoorts7438
P
@korgulltheexecutioner9780
No one like Elvis
@spectrelfc1152
@@korgulltheexecutioner9780 hundreds of millions would disagree
@dannyherrera2163
Yes! I've always said Stray Cats are probably the only band who can cover another song and make it better than the original. There will never be a other Brian Setzer. Lee Rocker is also my fav bassist and Slim Jim is really good too! Brian Setzer's guitar skills are out of this world and his vocals are amazing as well!
@scat1a
This is my favourite version of this song. I like the country feel of it and Setzers silky voice. Brilliant.
@karenbooker2311
Jeff Spencer m
@DavidChristenson
YOU LIKE THIS TUNE MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL ElVIS VERSION. THat is saying something. I didn't realize until recently that the Stray Cats did this one,But It is not surprising since I have their covers of songs from the 50's and 60's An they did them all very well. It is a nod to the greatness of the songs from those two decades.