1982 Songs: Rock This Town
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (86681)
United States
July 15, 2022 10:50am CST
Here’s some confusion for you. Here’s a song that’s 40 and 41 years old. 
While it was released in Europe in 1981, it didn’t see the light of day in America until 1982. Things like that happen. Here’s today’s song for you to sing along with.
Rock This Town - Stray Cats
The rockabilly revival had been going on in England for a few years by the time it made its way to the US. It became known as “roots rock,” which meant one of two things: a return to the simplicity of rock and roll instruments (bass, guitar, drums), or people who wanted a time machine back to the 50s. (Robbie Fulks did a song about the latter, “Roots Rock Weirdoes.”)
The Stray Cats are an American band, but they had to go overseas to find success. And find success, they did, thanks to this great salute to older music.
I got to see these guys in concert, too. 
Rock This Town
Written by Brian Setzer
Recorded by the Stray Cats
From Built for Speed, 1982
(Today’s 1972 song: “Saturday in the Park”)
He looked at me once:
While it was released in Europe in 1981, it didn’t see the light of day in America until 1982. Things like that happen. Here’s today’s song for you to sing along with.
Rock This Town - Stray Cats
The rockabilly revival had been going on in England for a few years by the time it made its way to the US. It became known as “roots rock,” which meant one of two things: a return to the simplicity of rock and roll instruments (bass, guitar, drums), or people who wanted a time machine back to the 50s. (Robbie Fulks did a song about the latter, “Roots Rock Weirdoes.”)
The Stray Cats are an American band, but they had to go overseas to find success. And find success, they did, thanks to this great salute to older music.
I got to see these guys in concert, too.
Rock This Town
Written by Brian Setzer
Recorded by the Stray Cats
From Built for Speed, 1982
(Today’s 1972 song: “Saturday in the Park”)
He looked at me once:
RewardsTop suggestions for rock this townStray CatsRock This TownStray Cats VimeoStray CatsRock This TimeTop suggestions for rock this townRock This TownLiveStray Cats Greatest HitsThe Stray CatsRock This TownBrian SetzerRock This TownRock This TownGuitar
8 people like this
9 responses
@FourWalls (86681)
• United States
15 Jul 22
Nah, just dance around the mess. That’s what I do. 
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (4427)
•
16 Jul 22
The Stray Cats had a good little string of hits! I was 17 when "She's Sexy + 17" came out, so of course much was made of that, lol. I liked "Stray Cat Strut", which is so much fun to sing!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86681)
• United States
16 Jul 22
They did some good hits. Brian Setzer went on to form that “Brian Setzer Orchestra,” doing swing!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86681)
• United States
17 Jul 22
@AliCanary — Joe Jackson did an album of swing in 1981. Loved it.
1 person likes this
@AliCanary (4427)
•
17 Jul 22
@FourWalls Yes! I remember "Jump, Jive and Wail" very well. There was a trend for swing music for a while, too - The Cherry Poppin' Daddies rode that wave, as well, with "Zoot Suit Riot".
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Jul 22
@FourWalls I come from a figure skating background, so I'm fine with all eyes on me when it comes to dancing . . . but singing, ahem, I don't even wanna hear me sing . G whiz !
. G whiz !1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86681)
• United States
16 Jul 22
That’s okay. They say to dance as if no one is watching. Sing as if no one is listening! (I usually sing in the key of G whiz….)
(I usually sing in the key of G whiz….)1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
15 Jul 22
I remember that song but I doubt I heard it in 1982 because I was busy with other things.. It makes me wonder though.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86681)
• United States
16 Jul 22
It still gets played a lot, so you’ve had ample opportunity to hear it since.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
16 Jul 22
@FourWalls I rarely listen to regular channels anymore. I mainly listen to Christian.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86681)
• United States
16 Jul 22
I basically lived at concert venues. Now that I can’t do those things anymore I’ve got the memories!
Now that I can’t do those things anymore I’ve got the memories!1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382038)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Jul 22
@FourWalls Same with us and our travels.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (68246)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
15 Jul 22
I feel like America gets everything second. Like The Office. Lol we had to steal that from Britian.
Thank God America hasn't tried to steal Doctor Who and re do it.
Anyway. Yeah it's a good songn
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86681)
• United States
15 Jul 22
Shhh! Don’t say that or they’ll try to do an American Doctor Who. 
@thislittlepennyearns (68246)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
15 Jul 22
@FourWalls Can you imagine how bad it would be? Oof.
I was going through DVDs earlier to find something to watch and saw that I have way more Doctor Who on dvd than I thought I did.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86681)
• United States
15 Jul 22
Wow, us real square cats who look 1974 got to you with this one? 
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222302)
• United States
16 Jul 22
I don't believe that I actually recognize this song. Not really that familiar with Stray Cats music.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86681)
• United States
16 Jul 22
It’s one of those songs that had multiple appeals: the modern era of the time loved it, and the “retro” feel of the song appealed to rockabilly fans.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (86681)
• United States
15 Jul 22
People today won’t believe it. Like telling them the Travel channel used to show travel videos, or the History channel used to be about history!
1 person likes this
