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.
Something
Stray Cats Lyrics
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Friday night and I'm ready to rock
Hit the switch, spin the dial
Can't find nothing with a rockin' style
Something's wrong with my radio
It says slow down, I say go
They might stare, but baby I don't care
We're gonna rock rock rock
Tell that D.J. where to go
Try to listen for a little while
But long-haired music it cramps my style
Something's wrong with my radio
It says slow down, I say go
They might stare, but baby I don't care
We're gonna rock rock rock
Well hunk my horn in jumps my gal
Just one look and it straightens her curls
Radio is off I have a hunch
Radio station is out to lunch
Something's wrong with my radio
It says slow down but I say go
They might stare, but baby I don't care
We're gonna rock rock rock
Something's wrong with my radio
Something's wrong with my radio
Oooh, there is something wrong with my radio
Something's wrong with my radio
They might stare, but baby I don't care
We're gonna rock rock rock
In the song “Something's Wrong with My Radio” by Stray Cats, the singer feels a desire to rock and roll, yet cannot find the proper music on the radio. The lyrics describe the singer eagerly clocking out of their work shift on Friday evening, ready to kick off the weekend with some rock music. However, upon searching through different radio stations, they cannot seem to find anything with a "rockin' style". The singer is disappointed with the current music selection and becomes increasingly frustrated with the slow music on the radio. Even though the radio tells them to slow down, they want to accelerate the pace and enjoy their night. They end up turning the radio off and going with their own flow, not caring what anyone else thinks.
The song is not only about the desire to listen to rock music, but it also has a sense of rebellion and standing up for oneself. The singer is not afraid to go against the norms and listen to long-haired music, despite it not being popular or widely accepted. They have a confidence in themselves and their own choices, confident that they can indeed “rock rock rock.” While the audience may stare, the singer does not care because they are enjoying themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, punch my card at five o'clock
I just finished work for the week and it's time to party
Friday night and I'm ready to rock
I'm excited to let loose and have a good time
Hit the switch, spin the dial
I turn on the radio and start searching for a station to play some music
Can't find nothing with a rockin' style
I can't seem to find a station playing the type of music I want to hear
Something's wrong with my radio
There's an issue with the radio, as it's not playing the songs I want to hear
It says slow down, I say go
The radio is playing slow music, but I want to hear something more upbeat
They might stare, but baby I don't care
Others may look at me strangely for my taste in music, but I'm not bothered by it
We're gonna rock rock rock
I'm determined to find a station that plays the music I want and have a good time
Grease my hair count my dough
I want to look cool and I'm ready to spend money on a good time
Tell that D.J. where to go
I'm frustrated with the radio station and want to voice my opinion
Try to listen for a little while
I attempt to listen to the current station, but it's not playing what I want to hear
But long-haired music it cramps my style
I don't enjoy the type of music the radio station is currently playing
Well hunk my horn in jumps my gal
My partner joins me in the car and we're ready to have fun together
Just one look and it straightens her curls
My partner is excited and energized by the prospect of a fun night out
Radio is off I have a hunch
I suspect that there's an issue with the radio
Radio station is out to lunch
The radio station isn't playing the type of music I want to hear
Oooh, there is something wrong with my radio
I'm still having issues with the radio, as it's not playing what I want to hear
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN SETZER, JAMES MC DONNELL, LEON DRUCKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marcosfranca8706
Lyrics:
Stray Cats- Somethin' Else
Hey lookee there. Here she comes
Here comes that girl again.
Wanted to date her since I don't know when
But she don't notice me when I pass,
she goes with other guys that are outta my class
But that can't stop me from a-thinkin' to myself
She's sure fine lookin' man, uh.
She's somethin' else
Hey lookee there across the street
there's a car made just for me
To own a car would be a luxury.
But right now I can't afford the gas.
A brand new convertible is outta my class.
But that can't stop me from a-thinkin' to myself,
That car's fine lookin' man, uh, it's somethin' else.
Hey lookit here, just wait and see
Work hard and save my dough
I've got the car that I've been wantin' so
Get me the girl we'll go ridin' around
We'll look real sharp with the white top down
I'll keep right on a-dreamin' and a-thinkin' to myself
When it all comes true man, wow! That's somethin' else
Hey lookit here, what's all this?
Never thought I'd do this before
Here I am knockin' down your door
My car's out front and baby it's all mine
A '41 Ford not a '59.
I got that gal and I'm a-thinkin' to myself
She's sure fine lookin' man, wow! She's somethin' else
@coldshot1723
Such an underrated group. So unique and so talented.
@Zzz-iz6jk
There probably won't be another rockabilly singer/guitarist this talented for many, many decades to come, if ever again.
@OCDASDA
Too old to party, i stay in every Friday night drinking and playing tunes, this has made my night so much
@Rocksite1
A few more you might enjoy: Rush "Finding my way" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLoUGYxR0uM - just white hot; and the Beatles "I'm down" with the real Paul: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_I8-FUdUWI. Of course, not really Americana. Styx "Rocking the Paradise" deserves at least honorable mention in that category, IMHO, tho I think there must be a better early live vid out there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYLr-yNuyDU. The words are more relevant today than ever. It starts slow, but be patient. It really kicks in.
@Rocksite1
Wait, no, this version of "Rocking the Paradise": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjD4oc2WWX8; but the intro before it is important, too.
@ferdinandog.8814
Never too old for party ! Let’s go out ! 💪🏻🌟
@zekehess4659
Guess you could say its “somethin else”
@donb3557
Eddie Cochran is smiling down on these guys from Rock'N'Roll heaven so much energy so much talent!
@gazfisher7391
Pure rock 'n' roll chaos.
Beautifully performed.
Saw them in the Great Hall at Lancaster University UK in 1981.
I was 13 years old.
Magnificent.
@johnnyj1561
One of the absolute greatest rock n roll bands ever. Up there with the Stones and the Clash.