Choo Choo Hot Fish Explained

Choo Choo Hot Fish
Type:Album
Artist:Stray Cats
Cover:Stray Cats Choo Choo Hot Fish.jpeg
Released:1992
Recorded:Pyramid Recording Studios, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee
Genre:Rockabilly
Length:43:05
Label:JRS[1]
Producer:Dave Edmunds
Prev Title:Let's Go Faster
Prev Year:1990
Next Title:Original Cool
Next Year: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.

Production

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

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?" The Vancouver Sun opined that "the band flies through tunes at hopped-up rockabilly speed with passion and style."

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."[12] Guitar Player determined that the guitars "spit and howl with unabated intensity."[13]

Track listing

  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

Notes and References

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