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.
Wicked Whisky
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 only 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 Stray Cats' song "Wicked Whisky" is a classic rockabilly tune about a man and his trusty old car. The singer of the song boasts about his "big old bomb," a car that may not look like much, but gets him where he needs to go. He also speaks about his 1939 Ford, a car that seems to have a life of its own and will never die. The lyrics are simple and straightforward, but they paint a vivid picture of life on the road, with a beer in hand and the radio playing.
The repeated phrase "Rev it up and go" is a call to action, a request to rev the engine and hit the road with all the speed one can muster. The song captures the freedom and independence that comes with having a car, especially one that may not be much to look at but can take you wherever you want to go. It is a celebration of the American love affair with the open road and the vehicles that take us there.
Overall, "Wicked Whisky" is a simple but effective rockabilly anthem, with catchy guitar riffs and a driving beat. The lyrics capture a sense of joy and freedom, as well as the pride that comes with having a trusty car that can take you anywhere you want to go.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I got a big old bomb and it won't be around for long,
I have a powerful car that will not last forever, but I am enjoying it while I can.
Well, it's a big old bomb but it gets me where I'm goin'
Although my car may not look fancy, it gets me to my desired location just fine.
I got a thirty nine Ford, this only just won't die,
My 1939 Ford may be old, but it still runs well and may even outlast me and you.
It's got a worn back seat and a steamed up rear window
My car's back seat is well-used and the rear window often fogs up.
Having a beer and listening to the radio
I am enjoying a beverage and the sound of music coming from the car radio.
Rev it up and go go go
Step on the gas and accelerate quickly!
I got a big old bomb and it gets me where I want to go
My car may not be flashy, but it takes me where I need and want to go just fine.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN SETZER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bollweevil1976
It's fast as hell I'll give them that 🤘
@walkrslayer1305
Damn this is good.