THE STRAY CATS Set To Release New Live Album!

THE STRAY CATS SET TO RELEASE NEW LIVE ALBUM’ROCKED THIS TOWN: FROM LA TO LONDON’ON SEPTEMBER 11

ROCKED THIS TOWN: FROM LA TO LONDON is the name of the upcoming live album by The STRAY CATS. Available September 11 via Surfdog Records and distributed by BMG (CD, vinyl, digital), this collection of 23 tracks recorded during the band’s critically acclaimed 40th Anniversary Tour in 2019 combines their unparalleled virtuosity and red-hot rock & roll spirit, all raw and completely live–the way it was played on sweaty stages around the world. View the album trailer here and click here to pre-order the album. 

The live album was produced by the multi-platinum band’s guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer, upright bass player Lee Rocker and drummer Slim Jim Phantom–original founding members of the iconic American rock and roll trio–and mixed by Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton, Arctic Monkeys).The album’s career-spanning track listing (below) features their greatest hits as well as several brand-new scorchers from last year’s 40, the band’s first new album in 26 years. 

40 kicked the door open on a fiery new chapter in The STRAY CATS’ career. It entered the charts at #1 on the Current Rock chart; #3 on the Indie chart; and #5 on the Billboard Album Sales chart. This marked the group’s highest entries since 1983’s Built For Speed, which was released 36 years ago. American Songwriter declared “The Stray Cats remain a well-oiled machine, as super charged in 2019 as they were 40 years earlier (5/21/19), while All Music noted: “Comfortable in their skin and still intoxicated by a big rockabilly beat, the Stray Cats sound vigorous and sly…(5/24/19).” 

On the live front, The STRAY CATS performed overseas shows last June and July and then toured America from August 2-September 1 (presented by SiriusXM). As Newsday (New York) noted,”All three are now virtuosos on their instruments, with Rocker and Phantom weaving together intricate rhythms while Setzer delivers wild guitar solos. And Setzer’s rockabilly croon has only deepened and improved with age, as he showed on their breakout hit ‘Stray Cat Strut’ and a gorgeous version of ‘I Won’t Stand in Your Way.’ The simplicity of their setup makes what they do with songs like ‘Rock This Town,’ which becomes an epic anthem live with solos from Setzer and Rocker, all the more stunning” (8/3/19). 

Tracklisting:

1. CAT FIGHT (OVER A DOG LIKE ME)

2. RUNAWAY BOYS

3. TOO HIP, GOTTA GO

4. DOUBLE TALKIN’ BABY

5. THREE TIME’S A CHARM

6. STRAY CAT STRUT

7. MEAN PICKIN’ MAMA

8. GENE & EDDIE

9. CRY BABY

10. I WON’T STAND IN YOUR WAY

11. CANNONBALL RAG

12. MISIRLOU

13. WHEN NOTHING’S GOING RIGHT

14. (SHE’S) SEXY + 17

15. BRING IT BACK AGAIN

16. MY ONE DESIRE **

17. BLAST OFF

18. LUST ‘N’ LOVE

19. FISHNET STOCKINGS

20. ROCK THIS TOWN

21. ROCK IT OFF

22. BUILT FOR SPEED

23. RUMBLE IN BRIGHTON 

**On LP and digital only

Photo credit: Suzie Kaplan

The Stray Cats from L-R: Brian Setzer, Slim Jim Phantom, Lee Rocker,By Russ Harrington

About The STRAY CATS:

The STRAY CATS, the band that put Rockabilly music back on the record charts in the early ’80s, scored several big hits on both sides of the Atlantic thanks to a striking visual 1950’s style brought “up to date” with exaggerated pompadours and colorful tattoos and as well as genuine musical chops that evoked the best players of rockabilly’s original heyday. Formed by guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer, upright bass player Lee Rocker and drummer Slim Jim Phantom in the Long Island town of Massapequa, NY, in 1979, the trio shared a love for Rockabilly music. After banging around New York for a few months, in the summer of 1980, and seeing a pompadoured kid on the cover of UK magazine NME, they hopped a plane to London where a rockabilly revival movement was just beginning to emerge. Their massive hits and videos include “Runaway Boys,” “Rock This Town,””Stray Cat Strut” “(She’s) Sexy + 17,” and “I Won’t Stand in Your Way.”

For more information on TheSTRAY CATS, visit:

Official Website | Facebook

About Louise Swift

I first went to a gig in 1981, Gillan at Leeds University. I've been a regular gig goer ever since. I haven't kept count of how many gigs I've been to over the intervening years, but it's a lot! My favourite bands are AC/DC then, in no particular order, Anti-Nowhere League, Slaughter and the Dogs, Towers of London and Dirt Box Disco. I tend to like Glam/Punk and rude offensive lyrics, not sure what that says about me but as Animal would say 'So What!' The question was recently put to me - did I write for any online publications? My reply - No, but I'd like to! Planetmosh was suggested and I found myself offering to review Aces High Festival. Easy peasy I thought! Well not quite, if a jobs worth doing it's worth doing well! I had sixteen bands to research. I found I actually enjoyed that and it kept me too busy to be making lunatic comments on Facebook! ;) Then I felt a bit inadequately qualified. I mean, who am I to comment on others, when my musical expertise extends to being able to play a mean Greensleeves on the recorder and a passable Annie's song on the flute! Haven't picked up either instrument for years! What I do have, however, is over 30 years of experience as a gig goer, so I can comment on what I like and what I don't! It's only my opinion and, if I don't like a band it doesn't mean they are bad, just not to my own liking. I admire anyone who has the guts to get up on that stage and have a go!