Rant n' Rave with the Stray Cats

Rant n' Rave with the Stray Cats
Studio album by Stray Cats
Released	August 1983
Genre	Rockabilly
Length	30:37
Label	EMI America
Producer	Dave Edmunds
Stray Cats chronology
Built for Speed (1982) Rant N' Rave with the Stray Cats (1983) Rock Therapy (1986)

Rant n' Rave with the Stray Cats is the third album from the rockabilly band Stray Cats, released in 1983 (see 1983 in music). The album featured the No. 5 hit "(She's) Sexy + 17" and Top 40 hit "I Won't Stand in Your Way." The album is out of print on CD in the U.S.

Critical reception

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 is an improvement over "Built for Speed's prettification", but felt that, despite his improved guitar playing, Brian Setzer is a poor songwriter and "a preening panderer, mythologizing his rockin' '50s with all the ignorant cynicism of a punk poser."^[1] In a retrospective review for Allmusic, Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars and 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".^[2]

Track listing

All tracks composed by Brian Setzer; except where indicated

1. "Rebels Rule"
2. "Too Hip, Gotta Go"
3. "Look at That Cadillac"
4. "Something's Wrong With My Radio" (Setzer, Slim Jim Phantom, Lee Rocker)
5. "18 Miles to Memphis"
6. "(She's) Sexy + 17"
7. "Dig Dirty Doggie"
8. "I Won't Stand in Your Way"
9. "Hotrod Gang"
10. "How Long You Wanna Live, Anyway?" (Setzer, Slim Jim Phantom, Lee Rocker)
11. "Lucky Charm (Ooh Wee Suzy)" (Japan Release Bonus Track)

Personnel

• 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

Album - Billboard (United States)

Year	Chart	Position
1983	The Billboard 200	27

Singles - Billboard (United States)

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1983	"(She's) Sexy + 17"	The Billboard Hot 100	5
1983	"I Won't Stand in Your Way"	The Billboard Hot 100	35
1984	"Look at That Cadillac"	The Billboard Hot 100	68

References

1. Christgau, Robert (November 11, 1983). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
2. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Rant N Rave with the Stray Cats - Stray Cats". Allmusic. Retrieved July 3, 2013.