Brian Setzer - Guitar/Vocals
Lee Rocker - Upright Bass
Slim Jim Phantom - Drums
In 1980 The Stray Cats released their self-titled debut to high praise on the other side of the ocean. It contained such classic rockabilly songs as "
Rock This Town", "
Stray Cat Strut" and "
Rumble In Brighton" and was an excellent rockabilly record, regardless of era. The problem with the follow up 'Gonna Ball'? It was none of those things.
Gonna Ball is
NOT a rockabilly record. And that's why it's so reviled. The critics panned it, fans wretched and the band moved on.
Over 20 years later since it's original release and still the average Stray Cat fan hasn't heard more then a few of these songs. (They don't play many of them live, and the 'best-of' comps tend to ignore them, and 'Gonna Ball' has never
really been released here.) But, if you like Rock music and aren't afraid of a rockabilly band playing more than
just rockabilly music, this is a stellar record. It takes some time for it to grow on you, but when it does, it's fantastic.
I'm also gonna mention 'Built For Speed' a lot in this review as it's essentially a "best-of" of the self-titled album and 'Gonna Ball', so mentioning it is unavoidable.
1. Baby Blue Eyes - 2:48
'
Baby Blue Eyes' is the closing song on 'Built For Speed', but here it opens the record. This is a slow bobbing rockabilly song, with great sounding guitar and poppy drumming, complete with Lee Rockers nice bassline, this song is a great opening tune. It might take awhile for it to feel 'right' as the opening song, but soon you'll find yourself singing along and playing air-guitar like a true rockabilly cat. Also, this is a Johnny Burnette cover, one of the few on this album. Great song, nonetheless.
2. Little Miss Prissy - 3:01
Punkabilly at it's finest. A hard guitar, loud beat and bassline drag this song along and with lyrics like "
She don't need no ones opinion, don't need no interruptions, Just shuts up long enough to reapply the suction Well she's little miss prissy, and she love you, but she ain't worth the time..." You'll feel like rocking out yourself. This is one of The Cats early attempts at harder stuff, and still one of their better attempts. This song later made 'Built For Speed' sandwiched between '
Stray Cat Strut' and '
Rumble In Brighton', how apt.
3. Wasn't That Good - 2:45
This is the song where most people would tell you the album falls apart. Those people would be wrong. It sounds like early rock and roll with a catchy sax and guitar part, this song is a lot different than usual Stray Cats stuff. The bassline is very cool here, almost jazzy sounding, and the drums just flow with the song, this song is definately one that you will need to grow on you to fully appreciate it. Naturally, because of how different it is, it's not on any other release in North America. It sounds like what The Brian Setzer Orchestra would later be.
4. Cryin' Shame - 3:30
The best song on the album, '
Cryin' Shame' is a blues piece. With a fun beat, killer harmonica, great bass, fun lyrics and awesome blues guitar, this is definately one of The Cats most underrated songs. The song also has a great mini-blues jam in the middle of the song. "
Well I miss you girl and I love you love And I hope you're doin' fine Just leave me alone darling Stop sniffin' around my door Or else I'm gonna leave you behind..." the chorus is extremely catchy which leads into the end of the song which wraps everything up with a gosepel-esque 'Ohhhh' by the guys, and ends the song in a typical blues style
dun-dun.... Another forgotten gem.
5. (She'll Stay Just) One More Day - 3:42
Very jazzy. The bassline is very cool, and the sax in this song is very mellow, as well as the guitar and the drums. Lee Rocker sings this one, one of the very few songs written by Rocker and Phantom without Setzer. Although this song has many of the same elements as '
Wasn't That Good', this song is much slower and crawls along at a different pace, and is very catchy. Yet another forgotten song, the song ends in a fade out that's much deserving, as it makes the song seem as if it's floating away. It feels right for this song.
6. You Don't Believe Me - 2:58
Another blues piece. This one is not as catchy and memorable as '
Cryin' Shame', yet this song actually did make 'Built For Speed' as an album track. But the song IS good. Catchy lyrics like "
I don't think you know you've done me wrong, But still I've been in love now oh so long, But I try and I try and I try, and you don't believe me" help this song stand out from the crowd. The guitar sounds very southern here (it's a good thing) the drums gallop along nicely and the bass is as good as ever. Just another great song by the Cats.
7. Gonna Ball - 3:15
A rockabilly song, with usual catchy bass and drum beats the cats usually deliver, this is
probably the weakest song on this album, but that doesn't make this song bad. This song is great with another excellent vocal preformance from Setzer and great playing by the other guys. The problem is that this album tries different styles, so hearing a trad rockabilly song in the middle of it is kinda disheartening, it's not so much the songs fault, as it's placing on the tracklisting. Another great song.
8. Wicked Whisky - 2:17
Psychobilly?
Kinda.... This is the first instrumental on the album and what a delight it is! With hard as nails guitar playing from Setzer and a galloping beat, and a heavy bassline, this song is definately another overlooked classic. The song builds up in a such a great way, leading to a quick bass solo in the middle, before the guitar slips back in for more fun, when the song suddenly just..... Stops. This one'll leave you wanting more.
9. Rev It Up And Go - 2:28
This one starts off with a Chuck Berry riff and leads into a classic rock 'n roll sounding song. Chances are, if you know The Stray Cats, this is the song you'll recognize in the tracklisting. So it goes without saying that this one made 'Built For Speed'... Basic bass and drums drive this song along, as well as 50s sounding piano and and guitar from Setzer. "
Well, 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'" are just example of the lyrics Setzer uses. Just like '
Hot Rod Gang' and '
Look At That Caddilac', Setzer writes another one about cars, one of his passions. The song ends with a chant of '
Rev It Up And Go!!!' by the guys until the song ends in a classic rock 'n roll way.
10. Lonely Summer Nights - 3:20
Continuing with the 50s theme, The cats over up a slow smooth ballad that wouldn't sound out of place on a 50s compilation. A smooth sax and acoustic guitar guide this song along, as well as 50s style playing from Setzer on his guitar, and quiet drumming from Phantom and slow and silky bass playing from Rocker. "
All those long and lonely summer nights, I guess they're all in vain, Just thinking of you don't make dreams come true, When you're so far away..." This song makes you think of all the nights you've ever spent alone, and also makes you sing along. Another classic Stray Cats song. This is the last song on here to make 'Built For Speed', and it's well earned.
11. Crazy Mixed-Up Kid - 2:38
Now this is hard music. This song is very strange and twisted with
barely intelligible singing from Setzer near the end, with lyrics such as "
I got a crazy mixed up kid, I got rolled up jeans and muds in my hair, I got a crazy mixed up kid, Cause I don't know what to do, I'm a crazy mixed up crazy mixed-up kid..." The rest of the song is very punk-esque. With a hard, distorted guitar and a great bassline from Rocker. Phantom also lays down a punk-ish beat which makes this song feel very different from any other song on this album. (Except
maybe '
Wicked Whisky') It's a very fitting strange end, to a very strange - yet fitting album.
Basically, if you like Rock music, or are willing to expect more from a rockabilly band, then you should give this album a chance. This album crosses various rock styles almost effortlessly. It's a stellar and extremely over-looked album, it may take awhile for it to grow on you... But when it does, you won't let it leave your player.
