Built for Speed (Stray Cats album)
Built for Speed | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 1982 | |||
Recorded | 1981-1982 | |||
Genre | Rockabilly | |||
Length | 36:15 | |||
Label | EMI America | |||
Producer | Dave Edmunds (tracks 1, 4, 7, 9, 11), Stray Cats and Hein Hoven (track 2), Stray Cats (tracks 3, 5-6, 8, 10, 12) | |||
Stray Cats chronology | ||||
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Built for Speed is a studio album by American rockabilly band Stray Cats, released in June 1982 by EMI America as the band's first US album.
Built for Speed is essentially a compilation of 12 songs taken from the band's first two UK album releases: six from Stray Cats (February 1981) and five from Gonna Ball (November 1981), plus the title track, "Built for Speed", which had not previously been released in the UK.
It was the most successful record for the band, earning platinum certification, and with the videos for songs such as "Rock This Town" and "Stray Cat Strut" reaching MTV regular rotation status.
Critical reception
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Village Voice | B−[2] |
In a contemporary review for The Village Voice, music critic Robert Christgau said that, despite Brian Setzer's exotic, modernistic guitar touches, "the mild vocals just ain't rockabilly. You know how it is when white boys strive for authenticity—'57 V-8 my ass".[2] In a retrospective review, Mark Deming of AllMusic wrote that the melodies and playing are strong enough to withstand datedness on what is "song-for-song the group's strongest album, despite the cut-and-paste manner in which it was created".[1]
Track listing
All tracks written by Brian Setzer except as indicated.
Side 1
- "Rock This Town" – 3:24
- "Built for Speed" – 2:53
- "Rev It Up & Go" – 2:27
- "Stray Cat Strut" – 3:15
- "Little Miss Prissy" – 2:59
- "Rumble in Brighton" (Setzer, Slim Jim Phantom) – 3:11
Side 2
- "Runaway Boys" (Setzer, Phantom)– 2:58
- "Lonely Summer Nights" – 3:16
- "Double Talkin' Baby" (Danny Wolfe) – 3:02
- "You Don't Believe Me" (Setzer, Phantom, Lee Rocker) – 2:54
- "Jeanie, Jeanie, Jeanie" (George Motola, Ricky Page) – 2:18
- "Baby Blue Eyes" (Paul Burlison, Johnny Burnette)– 2:47
Note: "Jeanie, Jeanie, Jeanie" is often miscredited as having been written by Mike Chapman, who recorded a song of the same name with his band Tangerine Peel. However, Chapman's "Jeanie, Jeanie, Jeanie" is a completely different song from the one the Stray Cats recorded; they just happen to share the same title. The Stray Cats' "Jeanie, Jeanie, Jeanie" was originally performed by Eddie Cochran, and was written by George Motola and Ricky Page (regardless of what the original Built for Speed album or other various Stray Cats collections may claim).[3]
In popular culture
The title track was featured in the 1984 film Surf II.
Personnel
- Stray Cats
- Brian Setzer – guitars, lap steel guitar, vocals
- Slim Jim Phantom – drums, vocals
- Lee Rocker – bass, electric bass, vocals
- Additional personnel
- Charles Novick Studios - design
- Gavin Cochrane - photography
Charts
Album
Year | Chart | Position |
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1982 | Billboard Top LPs & Tape | 2 |
1982 | Cash Box Album Charts | 1 |
Single
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
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1981 | "Rock This Town"/"Runaway Boys" | Billboard Disco Top 100 | 35 |
1981 | "Stray Cat Strut" | Billboard Disco Top 100 | 78 |
1982 | "Rock This Town" | Billboard Hot 100 | 9 |
1982 | "Stray Cat Strut" | Billboard Top Rock Tracks | 4 |
1983 | "Stray Cat Strut" | Billboard Hot 100 | 3 |
1983 | "Stray Cat Strut" | Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1983 | 42 |
References
- ^ a b Deming, Mark. "Built for Speed – Stray Cats". AllMusic. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert (November 30, 1982). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
- ^ https://secondhandsongs.com/performance/55641