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Stray Cats
Studio album by Stray Cats
Released	February 1981
Recorded	1980–1981
Studio	Eden Studios, Chiswick, London; Jam Studios, London N4
Genre	Rockabilly rock and roll
Length	37:11
Label	Arista
Producer	Dave Edmunds Brian Setzer Stray Cats
Stray Cats chronology
Stray Cats (1981) Gonna Ball (1981)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Record Mirror

Stray Cats is the first studio album by American rockabilly band Stray Cats, first released in the United Kingdom by Arista Records in February 1981. It was produced by the band and Dave Edmunds.

The album was successful in Britain, peaking at No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart, and produced the UK Singles Chart top 40 hits "Runaway Boys" (No. 9), "Rock This Town" (No. 9) and "Stray Cat Strut" (No. 11). The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later listed "Rock This Town" as one of the "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll".

The fifth track on the album, "Storm the Embassy" was based on the song "Boys Having Babies" recorded in 1979 by Brian Setzer's previous band The Bloodless Pharaohs. The lyrics were subsequently rewritten about the Iran hostage crisis of 1979–80.

The album was only issued in the United States after the success of the band's first American album, 1982's Built for Speed. However, six of the songs from Stray Cats ("Rock This Town", "Stray Cat Strut", "Rumble in Brighton", "Runaway Boys", "Double Talkin' Baby" and "Jeanie, Jeanie, Jeanie") were already included on Built for Speed.

Track listing

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.

Charts

Certifications

References

1. Mawer, Sharon. "Stray Cats – Stray Cats". AllMusic. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
2. Nicholls, Mike (February 21, 1981). "Triff Quiffs". Record Mirror. London. p. 16.
3. "Stray Cats". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
4. "Brian Setzer's Stray Cats to reunite for first show in 10 years". 4 January 2018.
5. "Rocklist.net...Steve Parker...Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
6. Stray Cats (liner notes). Stray Cats. Arista Records. 1981. STRAY 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. 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.
8. "Dutchcharts.nl – Stray Cats – Stray Cats" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
9. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
10. "Le Détail des Albums de chaque Artiste – S". Infodisc.fr (in French). Retrieved January 18, 2025. Select Stray Cats from the menu, then press OK.
11. "Charts.nz – Stray Cats – Stray Cats". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
12. "Norwegiancharts.com – Stray Cats – Stray Cats". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
13. "Swedishcharts.com – Stray Cats – Stray Cats". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
14. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
15. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1981". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
16. "Top Selling Albums of 1981 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
17. "New Zealand album certifications – Stray Cats – Stray Cats". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
18. "British album certifications – Stray Cats – Stray Cats". British Phonographic Industry.

• 1981 debut albums
• Stray Cats albums
• Arista Records albums
• Albums produced by Dave Edmunds