Customer Reviews

Runaway Boys: Retrospective 81-92

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is the one. If you are only going to get one Stray Cats cd, you won't go wrong with this one. Cool package and great liner notes too.

This is just my humble opinion, but if you are going to get a Stray Cats "Greatest Hits" album - get this one. Why? Because:
All the the tracks - 25 in all! some of them unreleased previously in this country, including a fav of mine "My One Desire". There are covers, all of their hits, and much more.

Hey there, Kats and Kittens. Wanna hear the screaminest hollow-body Gretsch guitar music this side of the Atlantic? Look no further. This should be titled THE BEST OF THE STRAY CATS. Because that's what this collection is all about. The only throw away track may be GIVE IT TO ME. The rest is pure rock-a-billy heaven. I wore my pomp real high in the early 80's when these boys first started slapping wood and I'm here to tell ya, it doesn't get any better than this. I WON'T STAND IN YOUR WAY and LONELY SUMMER NIGHTS are the two best ballads Brian Setzer has ever recorded and they're both included here. Check out the high-octane guitar power of ELVIS ON VELVET and then tell me this doesn't come close to tearing the throat out of any guitar solo by Chris Spedding. When I first bought this CD it never left the player in my ride and when ELVIS ON VELVET comes on, the windows go down, the volume goes up, and accelerator gets floored. GGGGO DADDY-O. The only thing that would make this collection complete would have been the inclusion of LOOK AT THAT CADILLAC and WILD SAXOPHONE. Otherwise, purrrrfect.

P.S. Who are these DIRTY DOGGIES bringing down the reviews of the coolest cats to ever cut a side? Go review your Iron Maiden CD. DRIPS!!

this is an excellent compilation of the stray cats at their best. brian setzer's irresistable vocals on "lonely summer nights," the wonderful harmony in "i won't stand in your way," and their version of "you can't hurry love" alone are worth buying the cd. then there are great shout-along songs like "18 miles from memphis," and "blast off," plus the recognizable "i fought the law" that anyone will love. this album proves that there is more to the stray cats besides just "stray cat strut."

Not as exciting as their powerhouse LP, "Built for Speed," this collection does a so-so job of presenting the best the group had to offer. Big hits like "Rock This Town," "Stray Cat Strut," "(She's) Sexy + 17," and "I Won't Stand in Your Way" as well as concert faves like "Runaway Boys" and "Rumble in Brighton" are all here, as are some unreleased tunes (for U.S. markets) like "Fishnet Stockings," "My One Desire," "Give It to Me" and "I Fought the Law." What hurts this album is the inclusion of their post-1986 reunion material, which lacked the drive and youthful vigor of the early 80's albums (the techno-heavy "Elvis on Velvet" is unforgiveably awful, but the Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent tribute, "Gene & Eddie" makes up for it). Buyers should seek out the hard-to-find original albums, particularly "Built for Speed," which culled the best tracks from the first two releases. All in all, this CD is not too bad, but Stray Cats fans will want more.

This is the perfect compilation for anyone who wants to get into the world of Stray Cats. Perfect sound, good artwork and all the songs you need to hear from them. A must for rockabilly fans.

If you are a Brian Setzer fan get this cd.This cd is filled with that good old rock and roll that you just can't stop playing.

Dont listen to those other reviews...this comp. is an excellent overview of the Stray Cat's music. Although some may call "Elvis on Velvet" and "Bring It Back Again" trash, I see those songs more as examples of the fresher, modern-yet-nostalgic side of the Stray Cats. These songs combine a modern sound with the lyrical subject matter of yesteryear. Not all Stray Cats music need sound the same...those songs are examples of that. True, they do not sound typically rockabilly at all. . .doesn't mean they aren't appealing in their own sense.

I've heard them all and this is their best compilation. It has all the hits "Stray Cat Strut", "Sexy and 17", and "Rock This Town". It's got some of their lesser known great songs "Gene and Eddie" and "Runaway Boys", plus it has some absolute fantastic songs I couldn't find anywhere else. The version of "I Fought The Law" on this compilation is the best version I've ever heard, and "Give It To Me" is now one of my all-time favorite Stray Cat songs. If you're only going to buy one CD from these guys, this is the one!

I have been a Cats fan since the first time I saw the Stray Cat Strut video-back when MTV was good-around '81-'82. This cd covers all of that, plus their later efforts. I like ALL of the songs on this disc, and usually listen to the whole thing when on a road trip. This music is perfect for cruisin down the highway, singin along with every song. I would say for as much as I liked the old stuff (Stray Cat Strut, Rock This Town, etc) I found myself enjoying the newer songs so much that I ended up ordering the Cats entire back catalogue! (Blast Off, Choo Choo Hotfish, etc) Elvis on Velvet, Gene and Eddie, etc, all rock-don't pay no mind to these one star reviews. Besides, you listen with your ears, not your eyes! Setzer is as good as it gets on guitar. This guy could play a tennis racket and make it sound good. Slim Jim and Lee Rocker are excellent musicians, and help give this trio a true wall of sound. They've got horns, piano-whatever it takes to make you think you are sittin outside a malt shop in your 55 Chevy. Buy this CD-you won't be disappointed!