This week we celebrate a birthday for Minnesota's resident Stray Cat, Brian Setzer. Forming the band on Long Island in the late '70s, though they got their sound and style from Memphis in the late '50s, the Stray Cats took a bold risk — selling their instruments to buy plane tickets to move to England in 1980 — but the gamble paid off, becoming the buzz in the U.K. within a few months after they met Rockpile's Dave Edmunds, who produced their first hits. Moving back to the States as MTV was launched, success at home would follow, as would inevitable breakups, reunions, big-band orchestra Christmas tours, and a return to the rockabilly sound on last year's 40 album. We celebrate Brian Setzer's Stray Cats this week on Teenage Kicks.

Segments

Playlist, hour 1

Playlist, hour 2