Rant n' Rave with the Stray Cats is the third studio album by American rockabilly revivalist band Stray Cats, released in 1983 by EMI America.[1] It was produced by Dave Edmunds. The album featured the No. 5 hit "(She's) Sexy + 17", Top 40 hit "I Won't Stand in Your Way" (#35) and "Look At That Cadillac" (#68).
| Rant n' Rave with the Stray Cats | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 15, 1983 | |||
| Genre | Rockabilly | |||
| Length | 30:37 | |||
| Label | EMI America | |||
| Producer | Dave Edmunds | |||
| Stray Cats chronology | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |   [1] |
In a contemporary review for The Village Voice, music critic Robert Christgau gave the album a "B−" and said that its "bigger and rawer" sound was an improvement over "Built for Speed's prettification", but felt 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".[2] In a retrospective review for AllMusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine said that the album "sounded identical" to Built for Speed and was just as strong because of the hits "(She's) Sexy + 17" and "I Won't Stand in Your Way".[3]
Track listing
editAll tracks composed by Brian Setzer; except where indicated
- "Rebels Rule"
- "Too Hip, Gotta Go"
- "Look at That Cadillac"
- "Something's Wrong With My Radio" (Setzer, Slim Jim Phantom, Lee Rocker)
- "18 Miles to Memphis"
- "(She's) Sexy + 17"
- "Dig Dirty Doggie"
- "I Won't Stand in Your Way"
- "Hotrod Gang"
- "How Long You Wanna Live, Anyway?" (Setzer, Slim Jim Phantom, Lee Rocker)
- "Lucky Charm (Ooh Wee Suzy)" (Japan Release Bonus Track)
Personnel
edit- Brian Setzer - guitar, vocals
- Lee Rocker - bass, vocals
- Slim Jim Phantom - drums
- 14 Karat Soul - background vocals
- Mel Collins - saxophone
- Geraint Watkins - piano
- David Thurmond - background vocals
- Russell Fox II - background vocals
- Gavin Cochrane - Photography
Charts
edit| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] | 28 |
| United Kingdom (Official Charts Company) | 51 |
| US Top LPs & Tape (Billboard) | 27 |
References
edit- ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 678.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (November 11, 1983). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Rant N Rave with the Stray Cats - Stray Cats". Allmusic. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 297. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.