The Stray Cats:
Posted: Sat May 29, 2004 6:18 pmIn my opinion they were very good,but in no way shape or form would I consider them the best Rockabilly band in the 80's.Here are some of my favorites who I liked alot more.
The Polecats-Well with Dave Edmunds as their producer how can you really go wrong? And their "Polecats Are Go" album is a real classic too.The CD has a few bonus cuts including their smash "Make A Circuit With Me" which I always liked alot.I really don't consider that song Rockabilly though.It sounds more New Wave then the rest of their songs.I love their song "Little Pig" too as well.
The LeRoi Brothers-I absolutely love their song,"Pretty Little Lights Of Town" it was so upbeat and very catchy,and would always find myself singing along to the song.Are thier any other fans of The LeRoi's?
The Elvis Brothers-Well from what I ahve and heard I can only say that their first album was more or less along the lines of Rockabilly.Anything else after "Movin' Up" is more like New Wave and Power Pop.But not even all of "Movin' Up" is all that Rickabilly either,because at times they sound like the early 60's Beatles and at other times like Squeeze.But then again Squeeze did do quite a few songs that were Rockabilly anyway. Well The Elvis's song "Fire In The City" I would definately consider that Rockabilly.Great song too.
The Jets-Featuring The Cotton Brothers.Their 100% Cotton was a great example of great 80's Rockabilly.Unfortunately,I really don't think too many people remember them today.A show of hands please? Did anyone like any of their albums.I would have to say that they were a very obscure bunch of talented Rockabilly musicians.At times sounding alot like The Everly Brothers,and had The Everlys made their mark instead of in the 60's,in the 80's boy they would have blown the roof off.They did a ton of import albums.I wish I had them all in my collection,because they were that good.Good luck right?
Dave Edmunds-Always a talented musician.Can't say anything bad about his music.Just wish he would put out some new material more often these days.
Nick Lowe-The same can be said of Nick Lowe as well,but right after his "Party Of One" album he headed completely downstream and turned himself into more of a Country artist.I wish he would go back to where he once was.
Rockpile-Only that one album "Seconds Of Pleasure" and they never continued on after that.What a shame too,because I have always liked "Teacher Teacher" alot.
Moon Martin-He boarded himself right on the boardline between 80's Rockabilly and New Wave,but he too put out some great albums.If you ever see any of his albums in the used bins,if you don't have them already,I reccomend to pick them up.He was that good.
Buzz And The Flyers-At the time that their one album came out as an import,nobody ever knew that Dig Wayne,(post JoBoxers) was also the lead singer in this band first.They too also did a great cover of The Polecats song "Little Pig" as well.
The Beat Farmers-Well,I always dug their style with great songs such as "California Kid" and Happy Boy.It's too bad that their l;ead singer and drummer Country Dick Montana or whatever his last name was,had died awhile back,and it happened right on stage too I read.Can you imagine fans witnessing something like that at the time? Anyway getting off topic and back on topic again.I liked these guys alot.
Rank And File- Well I wouldn't really call The Kinman Brothers all that Rockabilly.At least not 100% pure Rockabilly.Now their first album started out that way to an extent,but the other half was more like Country.And forget their next album,it was all Country,and not a single Rockabilly song to be found on it either.But I did love their first one called "Sundown" with their song "Rank And File" on the album,as well as some other great songs.I added them onto this list,only because quite a few people back then,labeled them as an 80's Rockabilly band.
The Rockats-Make That Move was a real classic,and to this day that song and the EP really are what I would call obscure 80's Rockabilly,although I do recall at least one Ska song on that EP too.Does anyone like The Rockats in here?
The Cramps-Why of course I can't leave them off of this list.With such early classics like Garbage Man,and their cover of the old Trashmen hit,Surfin' Bird.Plus,"Can Your Pussy Do The Dog" and also "Ain't Nothin' But A Gorehound" I wasn't a huge fan of the Cramps,like alot of fans tend to be.Although,I did like enough of their material.
X-Bordering on the borderline between Rockabilly,Punk,and New Wave they seemed to get lost in the shuffle for quite sometime.Although,I still consider their "Los Angeles" album to be a real classic.It really wasn't until the mid 80's when they started to leave more of an impression with most fans of their music.A show of hands please for X
Violent Femmes-Basically anything on the Slash label seemed to be Rockabilly,and they were the biggest name on that label back then.I always liked their weird style and sound.Their song American Music is my favorite of their hits."Gone Daddy Gone" comes in second,as I still like it alot.Although I like "Blister In The Sun" still it is my least favorite of their hits,due to being overplayed quite a bit.Who else likes The Femmes? Has anyone ever heard their cover of the Jetsons song "Oop Ork Eep Uh Uh" I hope that I got the title right?
Other great 80's Rockabilly artists,too many to go into great detail on were the following.
Pearl Harbour-Her solo album was pretty good,but nowhere near as good as her band The Explosions.And they were New Wave.
The Kingbees-What can I say but all 2 of their albums were great,and they were reissued onto Cd as well as a 2 on one pack.
The Pirates-What I have of their late 70's,and early 80's albums,I know that I liked because they did leave a big impression on me.
Matchbox- I know that I have two of their albums and both were very good.Has anyone ever heard either of their albums before?
Robert Gordon-What can I say but he is defiantely one of the best Rockabilly artists around.His version of "Someday Someway" is still the better version of the two versions of this song.Although,I still like Crenshaw's version quite a bit as well.And Robert's version of "Red Hot" still nobody has ever done it better then him.Rockabilly Boogie is also one of his all time favorites of mine as well.
The Blasters-Another great 80's Rockabilly band.
Honorable mentions also go out to the following bands as well.
The Bopcats
The Blue Cats
Shakin' Stevens(I called him the new Cliff Richard of Rockabilly,and teen pop in the 80's,minus Cliff's non Rockabilly style.They just reminded me alot of each other,even though Shakin' Stevens had a different style than Cliff's,just that they both were very popular around the same time,and Stevens seemed to have same type of a fanbase that Cliff had back then.The only difference the two was that Clif was more of a teen pop idol then Shakin' Stevens was,but there are those who are going to say that he also had the same kind of an image as well.
Alvin Stardust-Caught between 80's Rockabilly,,and 70's Glam rock and a little bit of New Wave,he is another artist who is quite forgotton today.But his classic "A Wonderful Time Up There" is what I would call a real 80's Rockabilly classic.You just never really hear it today.Unless of course you live over in the UK,where Alvin,is still considered a real legend over there.
Jimmy And The Mustangs,Jason And The Scorchers,and The Fabulous Thunderbirds,although the Thunderbirds mixed Rockabilly sometimes with some Blues.If I have forgotton anyone,or left anyone out,please feel free and add to this list.Oh and last but not least I will also add to this list Roman Holliday.Can't forget them either.Thanks.
The Polecats-Well with Dave Edmunds as their producer how can you really go wrong? And their "Polecats Are Go" album is a real classic too.The CD has a few bonus cuts including their smash "Make A Circuit With Me" which I always liked alot.I really don't consider that song Rockabilly though.It sounds more New Wave then the rest of their songs.I love their song "Little Pig" too as well.
The LeRoi Brothers-I absolutely love their song,"Pretty Little Lights Of Town" it was so upbeat and very catchy,and would always find myself singing along to the song.Are thier any other fans of The LeRoi's?
The Elvis Brothers-Well from what I ahve and heard I can only say that their first album was more or less along the lines of Rockabilly.Anything else after "Movin' Up" is more like New Wave and Power Pop.But not even all of "Movin' Up" is all that Rickabilly either,because at times they sound like the early 60's Beatles and at other times like Squeeze.But then again Squeeze did do quite a few songs that were Rockabilly anyway. Well The Elvis's song "Fire In The City" I would definately consider that Rockabilly.Great song too.
The Jets-Featuring The Cotton Brothers.Their 100% Cotton was a great example of great 80's Rockabilly.Unfortunately,I really don't think too many people remember them today.A show of hands please? Did anyone like any of their albums.I would have to say that they were a very obscure bunch of talented Rockabilly musicians.At times sounding alot like The Everly Brothers,and had The Everlys made their mark instead of in the 60's,in the 80's boy they would have blown the roof off.They did a ton of import albums.I wish I had them all in my collection,because they were that good.Good luck right?
Dave Edmunds-Always a talented musician.Can't say anything bad about his music.Just wish he would put out some new material more often these days.
Nick Lowe-The same can be said of Nick Lowe as well,but right after his "Party Of One" album he headed completely downstream and turned himself into more of a Country artist.I wish he would go back to where he once was.
Rockpile-Only that one album "Seconds Of Pleasure" and they never continued on after that.What a shame too,because I have always liked "Teacher Teacher" alot.
Moon Martin-He boarded himself right on the boardline between 80's Rockabilly and New Wave,but he too put out some great albums.If you ever see any of his albums in the used bins,if you don't have them already,I reccomend to pick them up.He was that good.
Buzz And The Flyers-At the time that their one album came out as an import,nobody ever knew that Dig Wayne,(post JoBoxers) was also the lead singer in this band first.They too also did a great cover of The Polecats song "Little Pig" as well.
The Beat Farmers-Well,I always dug their style with great songs such as "California Kid" and Happy Boy.It's too bad that their l;ead singer and drummer Country Dick Montana or whatever his last name was,had died awhile back,and it happened right on stage too I read.Can you imagine fans witnessing something like that at the time? Anyway getting off topic and back on topic again.I liked these guys alot.
Rank And File- Well I wouldn't really call The Kinman Brothers all that Rockabilly.At least not 100% pure Rockabilly.Now their first album started out that way to an extent,but the other half was more like Country.And forget their next album,it was all Country,and not a single Rockabilly song to be found on it either.But I did love their first one called "Sundown" with their song "Rank And File" on the album,as well as some other great songs.I added them onto this list,only because quite a few people back then,labeled them as an 80's Rockabilly band.
The Rockats-Make That Move was a real classic,and to this day that song and the EP really are what I would call obscure 80's Rockabilly,although I do recall at least one Ska song on that EP too.Does anyone like The Rockats in here?
The Cramps-Why of course I can't leave them off of this list.With such early classics like Garbage Man,and their cover of the old Trashmen hit,Surfin' Bird.Plus,"Can Your Pussy Do The Dog" and also "Ain't Nothin' But A Gorehound" I wasn't a huge fan of the Cramps,like alot of fans tend to be.Although,I did like enough of their material.
X-Bordering on the borderline between Rockabilly,Punk,and New Wave they seemed to get lost in the shuffle for quite sometime.Although,I still consider their "Los Angeles" album to be a real classic.It really wasn't until the mid 80's when they started to leave more of an impression with most fans of their music.A show of hands please for X
Violent Femmes-Basically anything on the Slash label seemed to be Rockabilly,and they were the biggest name on that label back then.I always liked their weird style and sound.Their song American Music is my favorite of their hits."Gone Daddy Gone" comes in second,as I still like it alot.Although I like "Blister In The Sun" still it is my least favorite of their hits,due to being overplayed quite a bit.Who else likes The Femmes? Has anyone ever heard their cover of the Jetsons song "Oop Ork Eep Uh Uh" I hope that I got the title right?
Other great 80's Rockabilly artists,too many to go into great detail on were the following.
Pearl Harbour-Her solo album was pretty good,but nowhere near as good as her band The Explosions.And they were New Wave.
The Kingbees-What can I say but all 2 of their albums were great,and they were reissued onto Cd as well as a 2 on one pack.
The Pirates-What I have of their late 70's,and early 80's albums,I know that I liked because they did leave a big impression on me.
Matchbox- I know that I have two of their albums and both were very good.Has anyone ever heard either of their albums before?
Robert Gordon-What can I say but he is defiantely one of the best Rockabilly artists around.His version of "Someday Someway" is still the better version of the two versions of this song.Although,I still like Crenshaw's version quite a bit as well.And Robert's version of "Red Hot" still nobody has ever done it better then him.Rockabilly Boogie is also one of his all time favorites of mine as well.
The Blasters-Another great 80's Rockabilly band.
Honorable mentions also go out to the following bands as well.
The Bopcats
The Blue Cats
Shakin' Stevens(I called him the new Cliff Richard of Rockabilly,and teen pop in the 80's,minus Cliff's non Rockabilly style.They just reminded me alot of each other,even though Shakin' Stevens had a different style than Cliff's,just that they both were very popular around the same time,and Stevens seemed to have same type of a fanbase that Cliff had back then.The only difference the two was that Clif was more of a teen pop idol then Shakin' Stevens was,but there are those who are going to say that he also had the same kind of an image as well.
Alvin Stardust-Caught between 80's Rockabilly,,and 70's Glam rock and a little bit of New Wave,he is another artist who is quite forgotton today.But his classic "A Wonderful Time Up There" is what I would call a real 80's Rockabilly classic.You just never really hear it today.Unless of course you live over in the UK,where Alvin,is still considered a real legend over there.
Jimmy And The Mustangs,Jason And The Scorchers,and The Fabulous Thunderbirds,although the Thunderbirds mixed Rockabilly sometimes with some Blues.If I have forgotton anyone,or left anyone out,please feel free and add to this list.Oh and last but not least I will also add to this list Roman Holliday.Can't forget them either.Thanks.