Stray Cats – 40 (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 35:43 minutes | 852 MB | Genre: Rockabilly
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Surfdog Records
At the start of the 80s while punk, post-punk, new wave and synth pop were taking off around the world, three New Yorkers took the charts by storm with vintage rockabilly and a complete fifties look. Slick quiffs, garish tattoos, guitars and double basses, the Stray Cats approach this no-longer popular genre with a stunning expertise and a respect for the tradition. At the helm, with his dazzling Gretsch, Brian Setzer sings the same way Eddie Cochran crazily plays his guitar. After a 26-year recording silence and to celebrate 40 years of their career, the trio has returned to the studio. We come out of 40 remarking that neither time nor the wrinkles have tainted the energy of these Cats, who are still as wild as ever. Setzer’s voice is a little more burnt, but his playing remains frightening. The same goes for the rhythm of drummer Slim Jim Phantom and double bassist Lee Rocker, who are as lively and punchy as they were at the beginning. No major revolution for this impeccable 60-year-old rockabilly fiesta, but who would want to hear the Stray Cats try their hand at Auto-tune or math rock? – Marc Zisman
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Stray Cats – Built For Speed (1982/2014)
DSD64 (.dsf) 1 bit/2,82 MHz | Time – 35:42 minutes | 1,41 GB
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 35:42 minutes | 771 MB
Genre: Rock | Studio Masters, Official Digital Download – Source: AcousicSounds | Front Cover | © Capitol
It was almost like a fairy tale: three quintessential Americans from Long Island took their brand of rockabilly to England at the height of the synthesizer and eyeliner days of new wave. They did more than just stick out: the Stray Cats triggered a rockabilly revival on both sides of the pond. “Built For Speed”, a North American release, is a repackaging of the best songs from the band’s first two British albums and became their biggest hit. It peaked at number two on the Billboard album chart and yielded two huge singles: ‘Rock This Town’, their first US hit, went to number nine and ‘Stray Cat Strut’ peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982.
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Stray Cats – Rocked This Town: From LA to London (Live) (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 01:21:16 minutes | 1,01 GB | Genre: Rock
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Surfdog Records
Rocked This Town: From LA to London is the upcoming live album by The Stray Cats. This collection of 23 tracks recorded during the band’s critically acclaimed 40th Anniversary Tour in 2020 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.
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, Arctic Monkeys). The album’s career-spanning track listing 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.
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