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.
Wild Saxophone
Stray Cats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bop man bop
I wanna rip it, rock it, really bop it,
Yeah, Davy Crockett
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
I wanna mambo, jambo, do my number
Hold my baby all the summer
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
I wanna rock rock rock
Roll roll roll
Bop man bop
I wanna flip it, flop it, really bop it,
Aaaaah, Davy Crockett
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
The lyrics of Stray Cats' "Wild Saxophone" are bursting with energy and passion for the saxophone. The song's infectious beat and catchy lyrics conjure images of wild dancing and carefree abandon. The repeated phrases "roll roll roll" and "bop man bop" create a sense of urgency and excitement, urging the listener to let go and surrender to the rhythm.
The lyrics are filled with words that are synonymous with dancing, such as "rip it," "rock it," "mambo," and "jambo." The singer longs to spend the summer dancing with his lover to the sound of the "wild saxophone." The song is an ode to the power of music to free the soul and ignite passion.
In conclusion, "Wild Saxophone" is a delightful and energetic celebration of music and dance. The lyrics are filled with enthusiasm and joy, urging the listener to let go and dance. The song is a showcase for the wild and infectious sound of the saxophone, which the singer finds irresistible.
Line by Line Meaning
Roll roll roll
I want to keep rolling and moving to the rhythm of the music
Bop man bop
I want to dance in a cool, jazzy way to the music
I wanna rip it, rock it, really bop it
I want to dance to the music with enthusiasm and energy
Yeah, Davy Crockett
An exclamation of excitement and encouragement for the saxophone player
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
The saxophone playing is so exciting that it makes me want to dance every time I hear it
I wanna mambo, jambo, do my number
I want to dance to the music in my own style
Hold my baby all the summer
I want to dance and hold my partner close for the entire season
I wanna rock rock rock, Roll roll roll
I want to keep moving and dancing with excitement to the music
I wanna flip it, flop it, really bop it
I want to dance with even more enthusiasm and energy
Aaaaah, Davy Crockett
An exclamation of excitement and encouragement for the saxophone player
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
The saxophone playing is so exciting that it makes me want to dance every time I hear it
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
The saxophone playing is so exciting that it makes me want to dance every time I hear it
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
The saxophone playing is so exciting that it makes me want to dance every time I hear it
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pietro Luigi
I wanna mambo, jambo, do my number
Hold my baby all the summer
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
I wanna bip it, bop it, really rock it
Oooooh, Davy Crockett
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
I wanna rock rock rock
Roll roll roll
Bop bop bop
I wanna rip it, rock it, really bop it
Oooooh, Davy Crockett
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
I wanna rock rock rock
Roll roll roll
Bop man bop
I wanna rip it, rock it, really bop it
Yeah, Davy Crockett
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
I wanna mambo, jambo, do my number
Hold my baby all the summer
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
I wanna rock rock rock
Roll roll roll
Bop man bop
I wanna flip it, flop it, really bop it
Aaaaah, Davy Crockett
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
timmygrace1
Great Band!
Pietro Luigi
I wanna mambo, jambo, do my number
Hold my baby all the summer
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
I wanna bip it, bop it, really rock it
Oooooh, Davy Crockett
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
I wanna rock rock rock
Roll roll roll
Bop bop bop
I wanna rip it, rock it, really bop it
Oooooh, Davy Crockett
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
I wanna rock rock rock
Roll roll roll
Bop man bop
I wanna rip it, rock it, really bop it
Yeah, Davy Crockett
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
I wanna mambo, jambo, do my number
Hold my baby all the summer
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
I wanna rock rock rock
Roll roll roll
Bop man bop
I wanna flip it, flop it, really bop it
Aaaaah, Davy Crockett
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
Every time I hear that wild saxophone
SeoulMan
This was used in a chase sequence for an incredible Korean comedic horror film, The Quiet Family.
Maham Farhan
haha i just looked this up because of the movie as well!
Elias
That’s how I got here!!
Emiliano Ortega-Guerrero
the soundtrack our lives... rock n roll yeah
Emiliano Ortega-Guerrero
musicman yeah
Emiliano Ortega-Guerrero
rock n roll yeah
Rolando Juarez
That Wild Saxophone
the rockabillie
I wanna rock, rock, rock...