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The Brian Setzer Collection '81-'88

Stray Cats/Brian Setzer
1 disc

1. (She's) Sexy + 17 - (single edit)
2. Rock This Town - (single edit)
3. Summertime Blues - (previously unreleased, outtake)
4. Knife Feels Like Justice, The
5. Boulevard of Broken Dreams, The
6. Echo Park - (previously unreleased, outtake)
7. When the Sky Comes Tumblin' Down - (single edit)
8. Cross of Love
9. Every Tear That Falls
10. Thing About You - (previously unreleased, outtake)
11. Waitin' for Desiree - (previously unreleased, outtake)
12. Bobby's Back
13. Keep Your Lovin' Strong
14. Living Souls - (previously unreleased, outtake)
15. Rain Washed Everything Away, The
16. I Won't Stand in Your Way - (a cappella version)
17. Runaway Boys - (previously unreleased)
18. Chains Around Your Heart
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Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 5225382
Credits

Producer Kevin Flaherty; Cindy Malig; Kelly Joiner; Tammy Kizer; Kevin Flaherty (Compilation)
Engineer
Includes liner notes by Steve Roeser.
Liner Note Author: Steve Roeser.
Brian Setzer was a driving force in two major revivals in popular music. With the Stray Cats, he made rockabilly cool again in the '80s, and with the Brian Setzer Orchestra, was one of the leaders of the big band/swing resurgence in the '90s. COLLECTION 1981-1988 focuses most heavily on his solo material, in which his songwriting incorporated influences that reach far beyond his seemingly retro roots.
Songs such as "The Knife Feels Like Justice" and "Every Tear That Falls" show a modern-rock sound that harkens to Roy Orbison as much as it does to the Replacements and Tom Petty. The previously unreleased "Echo Park" shows even more dimension to Setzer, with its country-styled guitar picking and syncopated rhythms. "Thing About You" achieves its mood and texture with mandolin and Hammond organ. The influence of Elvis Costello is unmistakable in "Waiting for Desiree." "The Rain Washed Everything Away" uses lush strings and horns, possibly hinting at the future big arrangements that Setzer would use in the Brian Setzer Orchestra. This collection effectively shows that Brian Setzer is a diverse songwriter whose musical heart draws equally from the roots of the '40s and '50s and modern popular music.