Singing the blues while the lady cats cry…..

Yes! One of my favourite albums of all time, Stray Cats - Built for Speed. Let me just tell you, this album does not collect dust, it is one of my all time favourite albums. I bought it when I was going through my rockabilly phase – I was kinda gender confused at the time though, favouring the look of nicely done D.A.*, cuffed jeans, faux converse and white t-shirt over what a traditional rockabilly girl might look like (had I had access to the Web, I might have known what a rockabilly chick should like and attempted to mirror that image instead!)

This album would have been bought when I was about 14 years old. I bought it at a second hand record store on Rideau Street, downtown Ottawa, and fully admit to buying it because I thought the boys in the band were cute. So infatuated with the Stray Cats was I, that when Sam Taylor on CBC’s Video Hits played the Rock this Town video, I recorded the video on our family VHS, paused it when there was a close-up of the drum set, and set to work drawing the best damn cat on my jean jacket. I created this work of art with red and black jiffy markers and some liquid paper. I cut off the sleeves of the jacket, threw it on over a white t-shirt (sleeves rolled up of course), turned up the collar and I looked awesome – kinda like a pretty boy. The jean jacket disappeared, I suspect because it was so awesome someone else wanted to have it for them self. I still think about that jacket and miss it. It’s one of those things that I wish I could pass down to my girls.

When I was a teenager, I was called a poseur more than once. I tended to adopt the look of the music I into at the time. I’ve had my mod periods, punk rock periods, hippie periods (that wasn’t pretty) and even a little grunge. It hurt my feelings at the time; I didn’t really understand why I had to stick to one look. I have to say though, the rockabilly phase was the most fun phase I went through. I still love the music for it’s ability to make me want to dance, tap my toes, play an imaginary bass. I still love the fashion, the tattoos, and yes, I still have a weakness for a man with some good grease in his hair.

The moment I discovered the Stray Cats, I developed a love for rockabilly music. I guess I worked my way backwards, starting with the Stray Cats, then moving back in time to discover Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochrane, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, etc etc.
I have never seen the Stray Cats in concert, but did see the Brian Setzer Orchestra at Bluesfest last year and did they ever put on a show. I think I smiled the whole time and wore a hole in my boot with all my toe tapping.

Honestly, just try not bopping on the big dance floor…..



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