ROCKED THIS TOWN: FROM LA TO LONDON is the name of the upcoming live album by The STRAY CATS. Available September 11 via Surfdog Records and distributed by BMG (CD, vinyl, digital), this collection of 23 tracks recorded during the band’s critically acclaimed 40th Anniversary Tour in 2019 combines their unparalleled virtuosity and red-hot rock & roll spirit, all raw and completely live–the way it was played on sweaty stages around the world. View the album trailer here and click here to pre-order the album.
The live album was produced by the multi-platinum band’s guitarist/vocalist Brian Setzer, upright bass player Lee Rocker and drummer Slim Jim Phantom–original founding members of the iconic American rock and roll trio–and mixed by Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton, Arctic Monkeys).The album’s career-spanning track listing (below) features their greatest hits as well as several brand-new scorchers from last year’s 40, the band’s first new album in 26 years.
40 kicked the door open on a fiery new chapter in The STRAY CATS’ career. It entered the charts at #1 on the Current Rock chart; #3 on the Indie chart; and #5 on the Billboard Album Sales chart. This marked the group’s highest entries since 1983’s Built For Speed, which was released 36 years ago.American Songwriter declared “The Stray Cats remain a well-oiled machine, as super charged in 2019 as they were 40 years earlier (5/21/19), while All Music noted: “Comfortable in their skin and still intoxicated by a big rockabilly beat, the Stray Cats sound vigorous and sly…(5/24/19).”
On the live front, The STRAY CATS performed overseas shows last June and July and then toured America from August 2-September 1 (presented by SiriusXM). As Newsday(New York) noted, “All three are now virtuosos on their instruments, with Rocker and Phantom weaving together intricate rhythms while Setzer delivers wild guitar solos. And Setzer’s rockabilly croon has only deepened and improved with age, as he showed on their breakout hit ‘Stray Cat Strut’ and a gorgeous version of ‘I Won’t Stand in Your Way.’ The simplicity of their setup makes what they do with songs like ‘Rock This Town,’ which becomes an epic anthem live with solos from Setzer and Rocker, all the more stunning” (8/3/19).
