Things were on a rapid uphill climb for those kooky 50's crooners known as Stray Cats. Though their first and second albums were limited to where they were released, based on their sales, the compilation Built For Speed was put together, creating their first official US release.
Built For Speed went multi platinum, boosting the Cats popularity across the globe, and launching them into stardom. Looking to capitalize, the boys returned to the studio to record and release their third studio album, but only second in the US, Rant N' Rave With The Stray Cats (1983).
Despite going platinum, Rant failed to perform to the level expected, underperforming Built For Speed. It did, however, spawn the top ten hit, (She's) Sexy + 17, and the top forty hit, I Won't Stand In Your Way.
The problem with playing back to back albums from a band is that fatigue starts to set in. The ears can only take so much. It's because of this that my review of the album may be a bit biased.
Overall, it's just more of the same. There doesn't appear to be any "growth" from the band in their three years of working together. Though, I may not be the only one to feel this way.
Upon hearing it, Robert Christgau of The Village Voice stated that despite his improved guitar playing, Brian Setzer was a poor songwriter and "A preening panderer, mythologizing his rockin' '50s with all the ignorant cynicism of a punk poser". Well, that's not very friendly.
Overall, I take (She's) Sexy + 17 with a grain of salt. It's not among my favorites, but rather falls more so in the category of, "Yeah, I know that song." As for the rest of it, it's passable for me. In fact, at this point, I'm also going to take a bit of a break before diving into the groups remaining albums from the 80's. Of course, for you, the reader, that means nothing. Despite the time I take away from them, tomorrow will still see me diving into the next album.
As for Stray Cats, success started to take its toll on the band, resulting in conflict amongst the individual members. Slim Jim Phantom would get married around this time, while Brian Setzer went on to work with other notable acts, such as Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, and Robert Plant. They'd come back together in 1984, adding new member, Tommy Byrnes on guitar and harmony vocals.
However, after completing a tour of the US and Europe, Setzer would make the decision to disband the group, resulting in animosity from the other members. Setzer would frequently attempt to justify his decision in the interviews which followed, stating that while he had enjoyed the five years with the Cats, he, "Got bored with it. In the last year I stopped getting that feeling, that great kick that twisted in my gut."
Setzer would embark on a solo career, forming a new band, Brian Setzer & the Radiation Ranch. Meanwhile, Phantom and Lee Rocker would join up with David Bowie Guitarist, Earl Slick to form Phantom, Rocker & Slick. Despite this, things weren't done and over for Stray Cats. They would reunite in 1986 to record the album, Rock Therapy, which as noted above, we'll talk about tomorrow, despite my taking my own hiatus from the band.
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| THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS September 15, 1984 |
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