The Stray Cats - Live at Montreux 1981
Eagle Rock Entertainment
www.eaglerockent.com

Rating: B

The Stray Cats were riding high on the hog with three singles on the UK charts when they rolled into Montreux in 1981. Led by charismatic vocalist and guitarist Brian Setzer, the Cats took the usual mellowed out jazzy audience and got them on their feet, twisted and shouting the entire evening.

The set list is very cool for Stray Cat fans as it includes the major hits, ala “Stray Cat Strut,” “Rock This Town” and “Rumble in Brighton,” as well as fun live tunes including “Ubangi Stomp,” “Be Bop A Lula,” “Double Talking Baby” “Fishnet Stockings.”

The Cats look like babies during this show, adding to charm. They were young men who lived only to blast out their own brand of rockability to the masses.

If you watch this one and want to pull the shades and do the Twist…it’s okay. Really, do it, we won’t tell.

By Jeb Wright