Choo Choo Hot Fish

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Choo Choo Hot Fish
Studio album by
Stray Cats
Released1992
RecordedPyramid Recording Studios, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee
GenreRockabilly
Length43:05
LabelJRS[1]
ProducerDave Edmunds
Stray Cats chronology
Let's Go Faster
(1990) 		Choo Choo Hot Fish
(1992) 		Original Cool
(1993)

Choo Choo Hot Fish is an album by the American rockabilly band Stray Cats, released in 1992.[2][3] The first single was "Elvis on Velvet".[4] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[5]

The album was named for a soul food fish restaurant, since demolished, at Market and Main streets in Chattanooga, Tennessee, near what is now the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel.[citation needed]

Production[edit]

The album was produced by Dave Edmunds.[6] The band had started an album with Nile Rodgers, but returned to Edmunds to capture their usual sound.[7] Stray Cats used electronic drums and bass on some tracks.[8]

"Jade Idol" is an instrumental.[9] "Can't Go Back to Memphis" was written by Randy Bachman.[10] "Sleepwalk" is a cover of the Santo & Johnny song.[11]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[12]
Calgary HeraldC+[13]
Vancouver Sun[14]

The Calgary Herald wrote that "it's hard to figure out what exactly is being revived ... Are they trying to remind us of the traditional days of rock 'n' roll or just their own 14 1/2 minutes of fame?"[13] The Vancouver Sun opined that "the band flies through tunes at hopped-up rockabilly speed with passion and style."[14]

The Chicago Tribune concluded that Stray Cats' "trademark rockabilly is less derivative and static, and to it they add some eerie 'Blue Velvet'-styled rock ballads, a smart dash of swing and a touch of lively country rock."[15] Guitar Player determined that the guitars "spit and howl with unabated intensity."[16]

Track listing[edit]

  1. "Elvis on Velvet" (Monty Byrom, Tom Kimmel) - 4:25
  2. "Cry Baby" (Michael Lanning, Rick Bell) - 3:51
  3. "Please Don't Touch" (Heath, Robinson) - 3:06
  4. "Sleepwalk" (John Farina, Santo Farina) - 3:32
  5. "Lust 'n' Love" (Bill Carter, Brian Setzer, Ruth Ellen Ellsworth) - 3:47
  6. "Beautiful Blues" (Setzer, Larson Paine) - 3:03
  7. "Cross of Love" (Setzer, Paine) - 4:15
  8. "Can't Go Back to Memphis" (Randy Bachman) - 4:54
  9. "Jade Idol" (Setzer, Lee Rocker, Slim Jim Phantom) - 3:18
  10. "My Heart Is a Liar" (Setzer, Rocker, Phantom) - 3:49
  11. "Mystery Train" (Junior Parker) - 5:06

Personnel[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Heim, Chris (May 29, 1992). "Also back this week were early-'80s rockabilly rebels...". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. O.
  2. ^ "The Stray Cats are back...". USA Today. May 5, 1992. p. 1D.
  3. ^ "Stray Credit". Onward. Austin American-Statesman. May 21, 1992. p. 4.
  4. ^ Erskine, Evelyn (June 13, 1992). "Stray Cats Choo Choo Hot Fish". Ottawa Citizen. p. H3.
  5. ^ D'Agostino, John (August 15, 1992). "Stray Cats Tear Up the House". Los Angeles Times. p. F1.
  6. ^ Charest, Paul (June 7, 1992). "Cats haven't strayed too far from rockabilly". Edmonton Journal. p. C2.
  7. ^ Robins, Wayne (June 7, 1992). "The Stray Cats Strut Again". Fanfare. Newsday. p. 15.
  8. ^ Sculley, Alan (July 17, 1992). "STRAY CATS CONTINUING WILY WAYS WITH ROCKABILLY". Splash. Daily Press. Newport News. p. 13.
  9. ^ Burliuk, Greg (June 25, 1992). "Choo Choo Hot Fish Stray Cats". Entertainment. The Whig-Standard. p. 1.
  10. ^ Harrison, Tom (June 30, 1992). "Stray Cats Choo Choo Hot Fish". The Province. p. C6.
  11. ^ Lannert, John (July 10, 1992). "STRAY CATS STILL STRUTTING CLOSE TO ROCKABILLY ROOTS". Features Showtime. Sun-Sentinel. p. 31.
  12. ^ "Choo Choo Hot Fish". AllMusic. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  13. ^ a b Obee, Dave (May 31, 1992). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. C2.
  14. ^ a b Mackie, John (July 11, 1992). "Rock/Pop". Vancouver Sun. p. D19.
  15. ^ Heim, Chris (July 31, 1992). "The Stray Cats, Tuesday at Cabaret Metro". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. N.
  16. ^ Gore, Joe (September 1992). "Choo Choo Hot Fish by Stray Cats". Guitar Player. 26 (9): 127.
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