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Stray Cats — Stray Cat Strut
Album: Stray Cats
Avg rating:
7.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3204









Released: 1981
Length: 3:13
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

Black and orange stray cat sittin' on a fence
Ain't got enough dough to pay the rent
I'm flat broke, but I don't care
I strut right by with my tail in the air

Stray cat strut, I'm a (Ladies' cat)
I'm a feline Casanova (Hey, man, that's where it's at)
Get a shoe thrown at me from a mean old man
Get my dinner from a garbage can

Meow
Yeah, don't cross my path

I don't bother chasing mice around, oh, no
I slink down the alley looking for a fight
Howling to the moonlight on a hot summer night
Singin' the blues while the lady cats cry
"Wild stray cat, you're a real gone guy
I wish I could be as carefree and wild
But I got cat class, and I got cat style"

I don't bother chasing mice around
I slink down the alley looking for a fight
Howling to the moonlight on a hot summer night
Singin' the blues while the lady cats cry
"Wild stray cat, you're a real gone guy
I wish I could be as carefree and wild
But I got cat class, and I got cat style"

Meow
Comments (213)add comment
Christmas at our house just isn't complete without the Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas show....or Jimmy Stewart running through the streets filled with potato flakes yelling "Merry Christmas you old town!"

Denny G
From Down in the Honey Creek Valley
Posted 3 months ago by pamking    [ Reply ]
This tune makes my day every time I hear it.  Its the coolest dance song i know.
Posted 6 months ago by gregerigeraldine    [ Reply ]
this song will NEVER NEVER NEVER get old. 
Posted 7 months ago by onemorebyte    [ Reply ]
 renegade_X wrote:

They produced the 60s sound and many other bands followed years later.



60s?
Posted 7 months ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]
Pure fun 😎 👍🏽 
Posted 8 months ago by xc.farmer.antoine486    [ Reply ]
This is one of the best songs!! woah
Posted 1 year ago by TDS513    [ Reply ]
They produced the 60s sound and many other bands followed years later.

Posted 1 year ago by renegade_X    [ Reply ]
This song will forever be tied to a gymnastics routine I did in an elementary school talent show.  I wish I was still that healthy and flexible!

Great song too! 
Posted 1 year ago by gratefulgator    [ Reply ]
 drewd wrote:
Top Cat Classic Cartoon GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY


Top Cat!
Posted 1 year ago by bimmerfan739    [ Reply ]
I saw the cats 40th anniversary tour show.  One of the top 5 concerts I have ever seen in my life.  (and I've seen a few)
Posted 1 year ago by LPCity    [ Reply ]
Saw a funny movie last night: Keanu.  It was about a cat strutting through a big adventure.
Posted 1 year ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
This was a super fun song when it came out so many years ago and it is still a great one.
Posted 1 year ago by FatPants2    [ Reply ]
 drewd wrote:
Top Cat Classic Cartoon GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY



I wondered if someone had given props to Top Cat here...
Posted 1 year ago by ice-9    [ Reply ]
 noe.architecte169 wrote:


Cat class


Pussy galore.
Posted 2 years ago by dougalbumski    [ Reply ]
Still kicks ass!
Posted 2 years ago by virwill7    [ Reply ]
Great Tune!
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
I watched the "Big Interview" Dan Rather did with Setzer. My goodness, what a cool guy! Very sweet & humble. We need more like him!
Posted 2 years ago by tompoll    [ Reply ]
 balinor wrote:


Cat class
Posted 2 years ago by noe.architecte169    [ Reply ]
Top Cat Classic Cartoon GIFs - Get the best GIF on GIPHY
Posted 3 years ago by drewd    [ Reply ]
Brilliant clean crisp jazz alluring as it’s meant to be ! 20/10 a gin’ y’all .., 🎉
Posted 3 years ago by Matt_Maurer    [ Reply ]
Quite well composed this song....!
Posted 3 years ago by rock_a_rolla    [ Reply ]
stroke that bass!
Posted 3 years ago by aneal300    [ Reply ]
Boulder Theatre...maybe 1983?
Posted 3 years ago by STLBubbles    [ Reply ]
 jmsmy wrote:
that must have taken a long time to get right

 

Posted 3 years ago by jmsmy    [ Reply ]
 balinor wrote:
 

Posted 3 years ago by jmsmy    [ Reply ]
great lyrics
Posted 3 years ago by jmsmy    [ Reply ]
These guys sound really good.
Posted 3 years ago by mariodrv    [ Reply ]
Posted 4 years ago by balinor    [ Reply ]
i just notice i have that on vinyl, thx for reminding me !
Posted 4 years ago by stickyconnection    [ Reply ]
Such a great record🎸🏍🐹
Posted 4 years ago by Easyrider    [ Reply ]
More rockabilly please!  Link Wray "Rumble".
Posted 4 years ago by macadavy    [ Reply ]
Ah, the theme song from my birthday celebration in Portland, Maine, last winter! Great memories 
Posted 4 years ago by costoonces    [ Reply ]
 ToddyWoddy wrote:
So cool they reformed...
 
and re-formed  
Posted 5 years ago by 2MD4J1F    [ Reply ]
So cool they reformed...
Posted 5 years ago by ToddyWoddy    [ Reply ]

  Love this tune!  
Posted 5 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 kingart wrote:
Next

A song by Cat Stevens. Or Cat Power. 
or Year of the Cat
or that song from the movie Cat People, sung by Bowie. 
 
 

 
Good guesses - ended up being The Love Cats by The Cure!
Posted 6 years ago by Cannon    [ Reply ]
 kgage wrote:
PSD.

 




                             TRAUMATIC?




. 
Posted 7 years ago by sfyi2001    [ Reply ]
Cat-day? :)
Posted 7 years ago by trenkla    [ Reply ]
{#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 8 years ago by markybx    [ Reply ]
Next

A song by Cat Stevens. Or Cat Power. 
or Year of the Cat
or that song from the movie Cat People, sung by Bowie. 
 
 
Posted 8 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
PSD.
Posted 8 years ago by kgage    [ Reply ]
Haven't heard this in forever!
{#Lol} {#Cheesygrin}{#Bananajam} {#Bananapiano}
Posted 8 years ago by onelittlemoose    [ Reply ]
{#Bananajam}{#Dancingbanana} Ab Fab! {#Clap} Live they were amazing!
Posted 8 years ago by VH1    [ Reply ]
Saw them twice at the Back Room in Austin in the mid-late 80s: Positively flawless, first rate musicians, rock solid, steeped in Rock-n-Roll heritage (think Eddie Cochran, Carl Perkins, among many others...). Only downside was they stuck to the playlist and didn't play my fave tune of theirs—How Long You Wanna Live—Anyway?
Posted 8 years ago by Kev_Mo    [ Reply ]
the Cure 'Love Cats'
followed by this
please no Tom Jones 'Pussycat' next 
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
 wgsu_1978 wrote:
This is still OK, but The Broadcasters, an NYC area band who did the three-piece, stand-up bass thing around the same time as The Stray Cats, blow them out of the water.
 
who said success and quality go hand in hand?    Trump is a good example.     
Posted 9 years ago by stunix    [ Reply ]
This is still OK, but The Broadcasters, an NYC area band who did the three-piece, stand-up bass thing around the same time as The Stray Cats, blow them out of the water.
Posted 9 years ago by wgsu_1978    [ Reply ]
 deepwoodskev wrote:
Brian Setzer = Underrated

 
agreed
Posted 9 years ago by daveesh    [ Reply ]
Brian Setzer = Underrated
Posted 9 years ago by deepwoodskev    [ Reply ]

Posted 9 years ago by melzabutch    [ Reply ]
Haven't heard this one in a long while.  Got my head bobbing!
Posted 9 years ago by grahamdillabough    [ Reply ]
{#Bananasplit}
Posted 9 years ago by Peter_Bradshaw    [ Reply ]
This is my favorite song in which a band name-checks themselves... just slightly better than "Killer Queen" and "Hey, Hey we're the Monkees"
Posted 9 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
 scraig wrote:
Who'd uh thunk it. Brian Setzer has certainly aged well.

 
Classic...still a fav.
Posted 9 years ago by oldsaxon    [ Reply ]
 2tfrut wrote:
Gurt lush my luvers{#Dancingbanana}

 
Can guess which part of the SW you come from - has to be BrizzleEE
Posted 9 years ago by Boy_Wonder    [ Reply ]
For years I thought "Wild stray cat, you're a real gone guy" was 'Wow stray cat, you're a real dog guy'....which I rather like.
Posted 10 years ago by dc_zee    [ Reply ]
So cool...even after all these years!
Posted 10 years ago by Emwolb    [ Reply ]
Who'd uh thunk it. Brian Setzer has certainly aged well.
Posted 10 years ago by scraig    [ Reply ]
Stray cats are cool. they have nothing on Gus the Fox, though.

https://www.gusthefox.com/ 
 
Posted 10 years ago by oldsaxon    [ Reply ]
O  h.... W h y...  D e e..

(oh your deity)

I am 12 again.
Posted 11 years ago by sajitjacob    [ Reply ]
Gurt lush my luvers{#Dancingbanana}
Posted 12 years ago by 2tfrut    [ Reply ]
 I think this band was out around 1983, when I was reading Fabulous Furry Freak Bros., and Wonder Warthog
glad they don't get played very often, not good, imho

fredriley wrote:
Nice segue from Love Cats. Mrowl! Purr, purr, purr. Lick, slurch. Ah, that's better - now for another prowl :o)

Fat Freddy's Cat

 


Posted 12 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 ofanansky wrote:
definitely came out well before 1996
 
Yes, I've seen a lot of "older" albums listed as having been released fairly recently. Not sure if the "reissue" date is is what is being used here.
Posted 12 years ago by drife    [ Reply ]
definitely came out well before 1996
Posted 12 years ago by ofanansky    [ Reply ]
no likey then, no likey now...ruff, ruff !!!

Posted 12 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
I was fortunate to see the Cats way back (before they hit the big time) in a very small venue. They were HANDS DOWN one of the best acts I have ever seen to this day. My ears rang for a week.... Setzer was the shit. What an entertainer that guy is.
Posted 12 years ago by Troutnskibum    [ Reply ]
Ahh, a proper song about felines.
Posted 12 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
9  —> 10 because I was fortunate enough to have this as part of my youth along with Casey Kasem and American Top 40.
Talk about throwing a wrench into things. 
Posted 13 years ago by panlad    [ Reply ]
ROWRLLLLLL!
I'm putting mom's boots on again.
Posted 13 years ago by Ceili    [ Reply ]
Takes me back to middle school
Posted 13 years ago by Krispian    [ Reply ]
This song does not do it for me,
the "CATS" are great anyway - of course!

ESPECIALLY LIVE!!!
Posted 13 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
Love the Stray Cats sound, great stuff.
Posted 14 years ago by Merritt    [ Reply ]
 FrankMc wrote:
I'll never forget seeing Stray Cats perform this on American Bandstand. A couple of my friends and I were watching (waiting for the kickoff of a football game; we didn't regularly gather to watch AB but there we were) and they basically said, "What is this crap and who are those weirdos." I thought, way to go Dick Clark, and told my buddies these guys were heading up the charts with a bullet. They thought I was crazy.

They became Republicans. I vote Democratic. I am willing to accept something slightly different on its merits. I didn't read all the previous commentary, but it looks like it was suggested that the Cats were "commercial." They definitely did not immediately strike main stream ears as anything like commercial. Future Republicans immediately rejected them.
 

The US Festival was hysterical.  Great big stage, 3 tiny guys makin a whole LOTTA noise.
Posted 14 years ago by SuzG    [ Reply ]

-because we share life- by `fangedfem
Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
{#Motor} nice  guitar .for a long journey
  what do  you think cathenley ?/?


Posted 14 years ago by ratman    [ Reply ]
{#Yes}
Posted 14 years ago by cathenley    [ Reply ]
 FrankMc wrote:
I'll never forget seeing Stray Cats perform this on American Bandstand. A couple of my friends and I were watching (waiting for the kickoff of a football game; we didn't regularly gather to watch AB but there we were) and they basically said, "What is this crap and who are those weirdos." I thought, way to go Dick Clark, and told my buddies these guys were heading up the charts with a bullet. They thought I was crazy.

They became Republicans. I vote Democratic. I am willing to accept something slightly different on its merits. I didn't read all the previous commentary, but it looks like it was suggested that the Cats were "commercial." They definitely did not immediately strike main stream ears as anything like commercial. Future Republicans immediately rejected them.
 
Cool story FrankMc — love the political drift — I get it.
Posted 15 years ago by ronbellaz    [ Reply ]
I'll never forget seeing Stray Cats perform this on American Bandstand. A couple of my friends and I were watching (waiting for the kickoff of a football game; we didn't regularly gather to watch AB but there we were) and they basically said, "What is this crap and who are those weirdos." I thought, way to go Dick Clark, and told my buddies these guys were heading up the charts with a bullet. They thought I was crazy.

They became Republicans. I vote Democratic. I am willing to accept something slightly different on its merits. I didn't read all the previous commentary, but it looks like it was suggested that the Cats were "commercial." They definitely did not immediately strike main stream ears as anything like commercial. Future Republicans immediately rejected them.
Posted 15 years ago by FrankMc    [ Reply ]
 vit wrote:
Medeski, Martin & Wood - Sugar Craft —> Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut

Worst segue ever?
 
Well, anything that includes MM&W has to suck, by definition.
Posted 15 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Still a 10.  It was a 10 the first time I heard it, and it's a 10 today.
Posted 15 years ago by TJS    [ Reply ]
 fredriley wrote:
Nice segue from Love Cats. Mrowl! Purr, purr, purr. Lick, slurch. Ah, that's better - now for another prowl :o)
 
Also the two songs are musically similar, with slinky upright basslines and fat jazzy rhythm guitar - nice one!
Posted 15 years ago by alaken    [ Reply ]
Nice segue from Love Cats. Mrowl! Purr, purr, purr. Lick, slurch. Ah, that's better - now for another prowl :o)

Fat Freddy's Cat

Posted 15 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
Yea like Bill plays the Stray Cats everyday, holy crap I rarely hear them on here and no they weren't commercial, they played Rockabilly when most people weren't into it but did it so good they became popular. Brian has allways done what he does for the love of the music and is a great guitar player. His big band idea was almost suicide but he pulled it off.
Posted 15 years ago by stkman    [ Reply ]
These guys were TERRIBLE! Please stop playing them. UGH! {#Frustrated}
Posted 15 years ago by splooge    [ Reply ]
{#Dancingbanana}{#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 15 years ago by DaMoGan    [ Reply ]
Make that Gretsch howl, Brian!    {#Cool}
Posted 15 years ago by ICHawk    [ Reply ]
Love me some rockabilly. Stray Cats do it the best. 10!
I also love Brian Setzer's big band stuff too. Gotta get some swing.
Posted 15 years ago by bugleboy624    [ Reply ]
Medeski, Martin & Wood - Sugar Craft —> Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut

Worst segue ever?
Posted 15 years ago by vit    [ Reply ]

Exactly ! But good melody & groove, no ?

 bobcat1963 wrote:

{#Bananajam}
 


Posted 15 years ago by stefflechien    [ Reply ]
{#Dancingbanana}{#Bananajam}{#Bananajam}
that guitarsolo in the middle, wow LOVE IT!

Posted 15 years ago by bobcat1963    [ Reply ]
yawn
Posted 16 years ago by jjbix    [ Reply ]
love his Big Band too
Posted 16 years ago by jpfueler    [ Reply ]
While this tune brought the band recognition, It's definitely not one of Setzer's better works. Love him, love this band but there are lots of much better Stray Cats and Setzer pieces out there. 6
Posted 16 years ago by HarrO    [ Reply ]
 curufinwe wrote:
Sorry, I always found them gimmicky and musically uninteresting.
 
Gimmicky yes, uninteresting no. More Stray cats please.
Posted 16 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
 reason06 wrote:
I always wondered why this band was not bigger.
Love this song!
 
Me too! Awesome guitar work!


Posted 16 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
I always wondered why this band was not bigger. Love this song!
Posted 16 years ago by reason06    [ Reply ]
I'm pretty sure this band recorded more than one song...
Posted 16 years ago by rrmusicguy    [ Reply ]
curufinwe wrote:
Sorry, I always found them gimmicky and musically uninteresting.
I guess gimmicky would explain Brian Setzer's nearly unwavering love of this genre for the last 20 odd years.
Posted 16 years ago by CafeRacer    [ Reply ]
'I get my dinner from a garbage can'


Posted 16 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
curufinwe wrote:
Sorry, I always found them gimmicky and musically uninteresting.
Posted 16 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
EssexTex wrote:
Great song...ok quite commercial but like others have posted,it makes people happy and gets their toes tapping..only a stuffy music snob would have a problem with that..lighten up!
Exactly. Sometimes songs get overplayed for a good reason.
Posted 16 years ago by rtrudeau    [ Reply ]
Their best song, in my opinion. Much better than "Rock This Town", which was a bigger commercial hit, and others that I've heard.
Posted 16 years ago by Danimal174    [ Reply ]
Great song...ok quite commercial but like others have posted,it makes people happy and gets their toes tapping..only a stuffy music snob would have a problem with that..lighten up!
Posted 16 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
I was living in Los Angeles at the peak of the Rockabilly movement in the late '80s. Some of the most amazingly fun live music you will ever see.
Posted 16 years ago by burdell    [ Reply ]
Setzer
Posted 16 years ago by Beez    [ Reply ]
prickelpit96 wrote:
(click here)
Posted 16 years ago by Nabla    [ Reply ]
Nabla wrote:
(showed a cat)
(click here)
Posted 16 years ago by prickelpit96    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by Nabla    [ Reply ]
Sorry, I always found them gimmicky and musically uninteresting.
Posted 17 years ago by curufinwe    [ Reply ]
Yes, keep them both. I turned this up at work, and my coworkers were dancing and happy and reminiscing about this song. What's wrong with that? meydele wrote:
No no! Keep them both!
Posted 17 years ago by Krispian    [ Reply ]
This song is severely over-played on the airwaves and bandwidth of the world. It needs to go away for a long while. Maybe come back for the 30th Anniversary Release of "Swingers" or something.
Posted 17 years ago by joshfm    [ Reply ]
boober wrote:
I love RP...but this is one of those rare times they played a very popular song from a very popular album.I'd like to hear anything BUT this song from the Stray Cats.
Dude. Can't you feel your feet a tappin?
Posted 17 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]
DeliBoy wrote:
Why, Radio Paradise, why? Fun, but double-plus ungood, like "Turning Japanese". Scrap it.
No no! Keep them both!
Posted 17 years ago by meydele    [ Reply ]
I love RP...but this is one of those rare times they played a very popular song from a very popular album.I'd like to hear anything BUT this song from the Stray Cats.
Posted 17 years ago by boober    [ Reply ]
Why, Radio Paradise, why? Fun, but double-plus ungood, like "Turning Japanese". Scrap it.
Posted 17 years ago by DeliBoy    [ Reply ]
Cool.....
Posted 17 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by rangersfan    [ Reply ]
I have to admit Brian Setzer has been a lot of fun over the years. And yes I do love that hollow body guitar sound
Posted 17 years ago by Deadwing    [ Reply ]
Great answer to the comments about the previous song. Ya got cat class and style! (enjoyed both songs...)
Posted 17 years ago by psykick    [ Reply ]
Nice transition! From screaming cats in the Medeski Martin & Wood song to stray cats
Posted 17 years ago by Atombender    [ Reply ]