Peak
3
Weeks
19
Score
3,256
Chart Year
1983
"Stray Cat Strut" is the third single by American rockabilly band Stray Cats, released April 17, 1981 by Arista Records in the UK, where it peaked at No. 11 on the Singles Chart.[2] It was taken from the band's 1981 debut album, Stray Cats. That same year, as an import, it peaked at No. 78 on the US Disco Top 80 chart.[3] In the US, the song was released as a single by EMI America on late 1982, and included on the Built for Speed album released that same month. During its initial release, "Stray Cat Strut" failed to crack the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 109 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in August 1982.[4] When the band's next single, "Rock This Town", made the top 10, the record company decided to re-release "Stray Cat Strut", this time with much more success. Debuting at number 43, it was the highest new entry on the Hot 100 chart dated December 25, 1982, eventually peaking at number 3 in March 1983.[5] The music video for the song received extensive airplay on MTV during the channel's early days.[6] The video consisted of band members (and extras) performing in an alley while an irate resident throws things at them. It also featured scenes from the 1949 MGM cartoon Bad Luck Blackie. In the October 1998 issue of Guitar World magazine, Brian Setzer's solo from "Stray Cat Strut" ranked No. 92 on the "Top 100 Guitar Solos of All Time" list
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh Black and orange stray cat sittin' on a fence Ain't got enough dough to pay the rent I'm flat broke but I don't care I strut right by with my tail in the air Stray cat strut, I'm a ladies cat I'm a feline Casanova, hey man, that's that Get a shoe thrown at me from a mean old man Get my dinner from a garbage can Meow Yeah, don't cross my path I don't bother chasing mice around I slink down the alley, looking for a fight Howling to the moonlight on a hot summer night Singin' the blues while the lady cats cry "Wild stray cat, you're a real gone guy I wish I could be as carefree and wild But I got cat class and I got cat style" I don't bother chasing mice around I slink down the alley, looking for a fight Howling to the moonlight on a hot summer night Singin' the blues while the lady cats cry "Wild stray cat, you're a real gone guy I wish I could be as carefree and wild But I got cat class and I got cat style" Meow
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dec 25, 1982 | 43 | 83 |
| 2 | Jan 1, 1983 | 43 | 83 |
| 3 | Jan 8, 1983 | 31 | 95 |
| 4 | Jan 15, 1983 | 25 | 101 |
| 5 | Jan 22, 1983 | 23 | 103 |
| 6 | Jan 29, 1983 | 16 | 110 |
| 7 | Feb 5, 1983 | 12 | 114 |
| 8 | Feb 12, 1983 | 9 | 117 |
| 9 | Feb 19, 1983 | 4 | 122 |
| 10 | Feb 26, 1983 | 3 | 123 |
| 11 | Mar 5, 1983 | 3 | 123 |
| 12 | Mar 12, 1983 | 3 | 123 |
| 13 | Mar 19, 1983 | 11 | 115 |
| 14 | Mar 26, 1983 | 21 | 105 |
| 15 | Apr 2, 1983 | 22 | 104 |
| 16 | Apr 9, 1983 | 37 | 89 |
| 17 | Apr 16, 1983 | 64 | 62 |
| 18 | Apr 23, 1983 | 68 | 58 |
| 19 | Apr 30, 1983 | 88 | 38 |