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.
Rev It Up & Go
Stray Cats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, I got a big old bomb and it won't be around for long,
Well, it's a big old bomb but it gets me where I'm goin'
I got a thirty nine Ford, this only just won't die,
But I got a thirty nine Ford, this old heap just won't die,
Well, this thirty nine Ford might outlive you and I
Having a beer and listening to the radio
Having a beer and listening to the radio
It's got a worn back seat and a steamed up rear window
I got a big old bomb and it won't be around for long
Well, I got a big old bomb and it won't be around for long,
Well, it's a big old bomb but it gets me where I'm goin'
Well, Rev it up and go
Rev it up and go
Rev it up and go go go
Rev it up and go
Rev it up and go
Rev it up and go
Rev it up and go go go
Rev it up and go
I got a big old bomb and it gets me where I want to go
The lyrics of Stray Cats' song "Rev It up and Go" is about the joy of driving a car that may be old and worn-out, but still gets the job done. The song talks about the singer's trusty thirty-nine Ford which, despite its age, remains reliable and sturdy enough to outlast him/her. The song is all about freedom and adventure that comes with hitting the open road, enjoying the rush of driving and discovering new places while having a beer and listening to the radio in the car.
The chorus of the song is an expression of excitement and the thrill of driving. The line "Rev it up and go go go" is a call to step on the gas and take off, to go on a ride with the singer and enjoy the journey. The lyrics paint a picture of an old car that may not look like much, but still has a lot of life left in it, just like the driver.
The mention of the "big old bomb" in the song might seem like a reference to a weapon, but it is actually a term used to describe a car that is in bad shape but still runs. It's a slang term that was popularized in the 1950s by young people who were passionate about automobiles. The song showcases the Stray Cats' musical style, combining rockabilly and retro elements with contemporary rhythms.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I got a big old bomb and it won't be around for long,
I have a vehicle that may not last very long.
Well, it's a big old bomb but it gets me where I'm goin'
It's not the best, but it does the job.
I got a thirty nine Ford, this old heap just won't die,
My 1939 Ford has been around for a while and survived.
Well, this thirty nine Ford might outlive you and I
This 1939 Ford will definitely outlast us both.
Having a beer and listening to the radio
Relaxing inside the car while drinking a beer and listening to music.
It's got a worn back seat and a steamed up rear window
The car's internal settings aren't great, the seat is worn and the window steams up.
I got a big old bomb and it won't be around for long
I'm repeating that my car may not last very long.
I got a big old bomb and it gets me where I want to go
Despite the car's flaws, it still manages to take me where I need to go.
Well, Rev it up and go
Starting up the car and getting moving.
Rev it up and go go go
Accelerating with full force and a sense of urgency.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN SETZER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@xbrandi12345x
I was born in 1985 and I am so grateful that my parents had a huge album, 8 track and cassette collection. The Stray Cats are one of many bands I found in their collection of music that I absolutely love. The Honeydrippers too!! Rev It Up and Go and Stray Cat Strut are 2 of my favorite songs by The Stray Cats. I really hope today's generation of kids stumbles upon them here on YouTube or maybe in their parents collection of music like I did. I honestly think if they rereleased a few of these songs again today that they would be huge all over again, maybe even bigger than they were the first time around.
@danielvelazquez7885
Rockability!!!
@nascimentosilva6957
Vamos dançar 💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃💃
@esotericsage6914
Total B side, but I loved it.
@crystalfelch4628
😂love it