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.
Look at That Cadillac
Stray Cats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Brush my teeth and comb my hair.
Well, wake up in the morning,
Brush my teeth and comb my hair.
Well, there's a big black Cadillac parked in the street over there
Well, it's the finest lookin' car that ever rolled off the line
Any other car, you'd just be wastin' your time
Well, one fine day I'm gonna make a Cadillac mine.
[Chorus:]
I gotta get a Cadillac
Look at that Cadillac, look at that
Look at that Cadillac, look at that
Rollin' down the avenue
I'm gonna get me a Cadillac, too, if it's the last thing I do.
Well, I got a job down at the liquor store
Well, I got a job down at the liquor store
Whoa, I ain't lazy but I don't want to work no more
When I get my pay-cheque put it right in the bank
I'm puttin' all my money straight right in the bank
Well, I'm a half way to gettin' my big black Cadillac tank!
[Chorus]
Whoa, sittin' in a bar knockin''em back, up pulls a big black Cadillac
Out steps a kitten, stand back cats, 'way I go in that Cadillac!
Look at that,
[Chorus]
I gotta get a Cadillac
Look at that Cadillac, look at that
Look at that Cadillac, look at that
Rockin''n' rollin' down the avenue
I'm gonna get me a Cadillac too, if it's the last thing I do.
The song “Look at That Cadillac” by Stray Cats is about the singer's dream of owning a big black Cadillac. The song talks about how he wakes up every morning, brushes his teeth, combs his hair, and then goes outside to look at the big black Cadillac that's parked on the street. The singer describes the Cadillac as the finest car he has ever seen, and he is determined to own one.
The chorus of the song, “I gotta get a Cadillac, look at that Cadillac, look at that…” emphasizes the singer's desire to own the car. The verses describe the singer’s plans of making money to buy the Cadillac. He has a job at a liquor store and puts all his money in the bank to save up for the Cadillac. He believes that with his hard work and savings, he is halfway there to get his big black Cadillac tank.
In the end, the singer finally gets his chance to ride in a big black Cadillac. When he is sitting in a bar, a kitten (a beautiful woman) steps out of the Cadillac, and he declares, “'Way I go in that Cadillac!” The song ends with the singer still determined to own a Cadillac no matter what it takes.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, wake up in the morning,
Starting my day, getting ready
Brush my teeth and comb my hair.
Performing basic hygiene and grooming
Well, there's a big black Cadillac parked in the street over there
Noticing an impressive and desirable car nearby
Well, it's the finest lookin' car that ever rolled off the line
Recognizing the outstanding quality and appearance of the car
Any other car, you'd just be wastin' your time
Believing that no other car is as good or worth having
Well, one fine day I'm gonna make a Cadillac mine.
Determined to obtain a Cadillac someday
I gotta get a Cadillac
Expressing the strong desire to own a Cadillac
Look at that Cadillac, look at that
Emphasizing the impressiveness of the car
Rollin' down the avenue
Seeing the Cadillac driving by
I'm gonna get me a Cadillac, too, if it's the last thing I do.
Committed to making owning a Cadillac a priority, no matter what it takes
Well, I got a job down at the liquor store
Working to earn money and save up for a Cadillac
Whoa, I ain't lazy but I don't want to work no more
Feeling the desire to quit working once the goal of getting a Cadillac is achieved
When I get my pay-cheque put it right in the bank
Saving money earned from work to put towards buying a Cadillac
Well, I'm a half way to gettin' my big black Cadillac tank!
Getting closer to owning a Cadillac with each paycheck saved
Out steps a kitten, stand back cats, 'way I go in that Cadillac!
Seeing an attractive woman getting out of a Cadillac and wanting to be with her in the car
Rockin''n' rollin' down the avenue
Envisioning oneself driving a Cadillac down the street
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN SETZER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johnfranklin5277
I have my parents 1958 cadillac they bought in 1960 from a Doctor friend of theirs. I was 1 year old. Mom knew I always wanted it, so in 1982 she titled it over to me. Lifelong Southern California, she still on the road, in good shape. and I get a kick playing this song in her....GOING DOWN THE AVENUE! LOL. SHES 65 NOW ILL BE 64 SOON, we're growing old together. I also have a very nice 83 Eldorado too. Gotta love the Stray Cats, we're a good group.
@jackieschmidt43
The look so CUTE in those Zoot Suits!! This is they're best song!
@itgrrrlofsfbay
@jackieschmidt43 Ikr❣️❣️❣️❣️
@airamj.cruz.7711
Than you Pat B...I have enjoyed so much your voice, performance and talent! Thank you God because I am 52 now I got lucky to have the best 🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵 music 70"s , 80',s and 90's!!!!
@AnitaVickers-ey2nw
Go go stray cats. Yes they are legends in their own rights. The package no competition at all. Love u still from 1980.
@avalleygirl
My kids introduced me to The Stray Cats. I loved them. Still do. I've seen Brian Setzers band a couple of times. It was nearly impossible for me and my daughter to remain seated!
@itgrrrlofsfbay
This is 100% Coool & they're looking sharp with their outfits on❣️❣️❣️❣️
@millardwhite1110
I have had ALOT of caddy's over the course of my life and all I can say is those are the best cars I have driven, and by the way, love this tune since I first heard it. Of course all their other song's are awesome. What can I say,STRAY CAT fan 4 LIFE.😇code 4.
@boofdfast
Me too. My 1st car a 73 Coupe de Ville, had a 76 Coupe de Ville, that was broadsided by an 18 wheeler and totalled... I lived because it was a solid car, Thank Goodness. My last Caddy was a mint 75 Sedan de Ville, blew the engine racing a Road Runner. It had a 500V8, but it wasn't for performance like the Mopar's V8 was. I was a stupid 19yo, at the time. Lol
@takaz2
the best rockabilly group ever