Customer Reviews

Greatest Hits

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As stated on the back sleeve of the album, all tracks have been 24-Bit Digitally Remastered! And what a difference it makes! I bought this release for the upgraded sound quality alone, taking a chance that I wouldn't be disappointed in the sound since I've had a number of Stray Cats hits on a number of compilations with poor to mediocre sound quality. Tracks like "Stray Cat Strut", "Rock This Town", and "I Won't Stand In Your Way" actually have punch, depth, and clarity! You can really hear that bass for the very first time! I've never heard any of these recordings in this high fidelity prior to this release, so it's like listening to these recordings in a whole new dimension. This 2000 EMI/Capitol 'Greatest Hits' release was remastered by Kevin Bartley at Capitol Mastering.

Additionally, I'm surprised at how well the live tracks sound for a 1982 live recording. They've been mastered very well, and sound crisp and fresh for that time. The performances are flawless as well, sounding as good, if not better, than the actual studio recordings. I never knew these guys were so good live! Usually I'm one to complain about the addition of live recordings on a compilation, but they actually work here.

I give this release 4 stars for the excellent sound and solid tracklisting. Included are all 5 of the band's U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charting hits: "Rock This Town" (#9), "Stray Cat Strut" (#3), "(She's) Sexy + 17" (#5), "I Won't Stand In Your Way" (#35), and "Look At That Cadillac" (#68) in addition to the U.K. Top Five hit, "Runaway Boys". My only complaint is that "I Won't Stand In Your Way" was not presented in it's stunning acappella version as well since the 62 minutes of playing time made room for more tracks.

Nonetheless, if you are looking for all the Stray Cats' hits bundled in one package with excellent sound, add this collection to your cart.

I bought this CD for the hits, which were good enough, but if you like the "live" sound of a band, you'll really enjoy the live tracks on this CD.

Some music is simply meant to be heard live, and rockabilly is one of them. The energy just makes you want to get up and hit the floor running.

This is a fun CD.

There's a few "Stray Cats" collections around, but this is one of the better ones. It's not as lengthy as "Runaway Boys:'81-'92", but it's much better than the 10 track Capitol "Best Of". What's essential is here anyway, like "Stray Cat Strut", "Rock This Town", "Rumble In Brighton", and "(She's) Sexy + 17". Everything here though is just good fun rockabilly. It's got a few live tracks too that are pretty cool. My advice, would be to roll up your sleeve, light up a smoke, and put on some "Stray Cats".

Just when we all thought Rockabilly was dead, The Stray Cats arrive.
This compilation is an outstanding collection of their hits.
The songs include, Rock this Town, Stray Cat Strut, Rumble in Brighton, Built for Speed, Runaway Boys, Sexy + 17. Look at that Cadillac and Gene and Eddie.
Brian Setzer has given Rockabilly a very refreshing new look.
We not only get great songs that sound like they are from the 50's, but we also get a virtuoso guitarist playing them.
As with everything Brian Setzer does, we get killer lead guitar, with the hottest Rockabilly licks on record.
If this CD does not get your toes tapping, nothing will.........enjoy

I love the Stray Cats and purchasing this cd reminded me of just how much. You can't listen to them without tapping your feet. They have a way of getting you moving to the beat.

The Stray Cats are probably the best post 50's Rockabilly band and Brian Seltzer is an extremely impressive guitarist. This album features some great material, very 50's rock in style, often warmly nostalgic, and generally, quality listening and very entertaining. The live session at the end proves the band's performance, and the songs hold up well against the studio versions on the earlier part of the disc. Reccomended!

Amid the slew of the synth-pop of the second British invasion, hard rock and heavy metal of the 1980's, came the unmistakable strains of.... rockabilly? Yes, rockabilly. Lead singer and guitarist Brian Setzer, bassist Lee Rocker, and drummer Slim Jim Phantom, were the Stray Cats, and their runtime was very limited, as their Top 40 hits lasted a year. What's also noticeable are influences to early 50's rockers such as Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran, as well as their songs being produced by fellow rockabilly and pub rock musician Dave Edmunds. A nod to their influences can be seen in "Gene and Eddie," which takes some lies and music from "Be Bop A Lula" and "Summertime Blues" from the respective songs. And they even covered Vincent's fast and furious 1956 song "Race With The Devil," which made me wonder if I'd see girls in poodle skirts the moment I opened my blinds.

"Rock This Town" was the opening salvo, with the hard-driving rhythm section of Rocker and Phantom, and Setzer's Cochrane/Vincent-like vocals. It made it to #9 on the charts.

Their next number, "Stray Cat Strut" already had some undertones of blues swing that Setzer would use in the 90's. Not the rippacrackin' tune that "Rock This Town" was, but it strutted up to #3 on the charts, tail in the air "while the lady cats cried." Their next single was more on the upbeat side. "(She's) Sexy +17" has the old juvie rebellion of ditching school to meet up with a girl named Marie. This reached #5.

Their final hit was the slow-dancing ballad "I Won't Stand In Your Way," complete with doo-wop backing vocals, which only got to #35. If this had been released in the 50's, it'd probably been another Top Ten.

Another fast and furious number "Rumble In Brighton" is about a fight which is the neighbourhood attraction. One's reminded of the clashes between the Mods and Rockers per Quadrophenia.

True to the genre, much of early 50's rock focused on girls and cars. Cars are thematic in "Rev It Up and Go," a Chuck Berry-style rocker. Horns predominate on the Little Richard-ish--I'm reminded of "Kansas City" to be more precise-"Look At That Cadillac." Though how much can one work at a liquor store to get that car? Dream on, man. "Built For Speed" is about a 57 Chevy, complete with custom paint, V8 engine with fuel injection. Guys and their cars, right?

"10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 blast off!" "Blast Off" is a late entry for the Cats, when they reunited after doing their own projects, Setzer going solo, the others forming the short-lived Phantom Rocker and Slick. This time, it's a spaceship adventure, with playful lyrics on giving Mr. Spock a pompadour. With that pounding bass by Lee, the Cats had lost none of their energy even though their 15 minutes had long gone.

With Setzer making a comeback in the late 90's swing revival, it's apparent that his thing was for really upbeat music, as he even did a swing version of "Rock This Town" on his Dirty Boogie album. But the Cats' energy and accurate playing could've had them time travel back to the 50's and nobody'd bat an eye, though there may have been a few eyebrows at the 80's technology, but after that, everybody'd be dancing the night away.

I ordered this CD for a Christmas gift. The recipiant plays guitar and is always looking for something new to learn. He heard one of the Stray Cat songs and thought that he would like to try to learn how to play it. He thinks the CD is great just to listen to but also now knows what the songs are supposed to sound like. Thanks for helping me make his Christmas and guitar playing even better.

Loved this album. Great talent. People are always asking me what it is. I just say, "You don't know?!? It's the Stray Cats, Daddyo!" I think I've "sold" three albums this week alone...

It arrived so quickly, as if they put it in the mail right after I ordered it.