We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Kat Trax

by The Stray Katz

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      $10 CAD  or more

     

1.
Nouveau Riche 02:43
info
buy track
2.
Billy, Where’d You Buy the Dope? 02:31
lyrics
buy track
“Now Billy, where’d you buy the dope? No, no, son. This ain’t no joke. Just turn around, now no disgrace. I don’t wanna have to kick your face.” “You’ll have to shoot me down before I confess. You’re just as bad as all the rest.” “You’re a pretty smart young lad. I’ll give you the best ride you’ve ever had.” “Now Billy, where’d you score the weed? I don’t wanna have to break your knees. It’s just that you’re contributing to something that is bigger than you. I’m gonna take you down for a little ride down to Cherry Park, where we’ll ‘exercise.’ Yes I’m Division 52 and I know just how to get to you.” “Now Billy, this is your last chance ad you know how you love to dance Just think of all the good you’ll do helping those who could help you. Yes, have another cigarette before I introduce the Claw. Then you’ll tell us all we want before your shaking voice turns raw.”
3.
I’m Proud 02:20
lyrics
buy track
I’m Proud Suzy could’a made it in a magazine stand if she wanted to Her old disguise wasn’t kickin’ ‘round so she had to make due Oh yes, I’m proud Take you to the park where it’s dark I think a party’s going on there with all the exits kickin’ ‘round in my head Oh yes, I’m proud Oh yes, I’m proud Billy went to war just the other day He said, “I wanted to.” He couldn’t live in this country 15 years, then run Oh yes, I’m proud Oh yes, I’m proud Oh yes, I’m proud Well I’m gonna be every day
4.
Police on My Back 02:14
info
buy track
5.
Wastin’ Away 04:04
lyrics
buy track
Wastin’ away on what you’ll never be Wastin’ away on what you’ll never be So mama don’t you cry for me I’ll be on the morning train I’m gonna hit the big time And get in out of the rain So why don’t you answer me, please I’m on my beggin’ knees Meet me here, son, today Let me hear you sing Are you gonna meet me one way That I’m on the run Are you gonna meet me one day That I’m really run Are you gonna tell me one day That I really don’t know Are you gonna meet me one day No, no, no
6.
Cup of Gold 03:43
lyrics
buy track
Cup of Gold Out beyond the ocean Out beyond the bay Walking on the boardwalk Don’t you know I hate to leave you this way Out beyond the pastures Out beyond the Great White Well really nothing was for sure You know I’d really love to take you down again Sixteen men on a dead man’s chest I wonder if they’re gonna find the rest tonight Now me I’m not a dirty man I get my loving any way, any way that I can Now you, you’re such a filthy man You make your money any way, any way that you can…
7.
Money to Burn 03:51
lyrics
buy track
Money to Burn (Lyrics) Now there was a man down from the steel city who had enough money to buy bread When Christmas comes, you know he gets so lonely He's going to die soon, they all said but he'll take your money if you write the cheque Yah he'll take your money and buy away a lover's broken dream Now there was a man down from New Orleans who had lots of money to burn and when you hear him calling you'll know that it is your turn but he'll take your money if you write the cheque Yah he'll take your money and buy away a lover's broken dream But he'll take your money if you write the cheque Yah he'll take your money and buy away a lover's broken dream I want you to be happy not swamped by the new strange changes 'cause what you want, you've got a right to and I love you, I love you Now many things are controlled now and many things are just fine 'cause what you want, you make it seem okay in the right time, the right time but he'll take your money if you write the cheque Yah he'll take your money and buy away a lover's broken dream Slide away across the open snow You know that's where I really want to go
8.
Oh What a Concept 04:25
lyrics
buy track
Oh What a Concept (Lyrics) Forlorn, sweet lady, I've seen the setting of the sun She waits in harmony until it's time to run I've seen the armies marching in to set you free Upon the mountaintop, your kingdom rests with me Did you know this is not my way? Did you know I could have taken you? I've seen you falling like the leaves upon the trees and I've seen you standing there, and I really must agree and I've seen you standing there in your long black satin gown and you know something I really don't mind the world Did you know this is not my way? Did you know I could have given you all of my love every bit of my love If I gave you all of my love, then I would take you off the streets And then I stumble ‘til I awake from this dream I'm in I talk ‘til I awake, then I laugh again Well is it mine or is it real? I just don't care any more I think I'm gonna find the door Did you know this is not my way? Did you know I could have given you all of my love If I gave you all of my love, then I would take you off the streets You know I would Won't you think a little while and maybe you could wind up in my bed
9.
Stay in Bed 04:14
info
buy track
10.
American Man 03:09
lyrics
buy track
American Man Well I'm the I'm the guy who's going to be the American man and I'm the guy who's going to be the American plan I said, don't you know I'm hurtin so Don't you never leave me alone Don't you know I'm going to be the American man American man, American man, American man And I'm the I'm the guy who's going to be the American dream and I'm the guy who's going to be the American scheme I said, don't you know I'm hurting so Don't you know I want to come home Don't you know I'm going to be the American man American man, American man, American man Don't you ever leave me now don't ever leave me alone Don't you ever leave me now don't ever leave me alone I'm an ordinary guy who's going to be a man Why did you leave me home sitting on my own I'm going to take a stand Well I'm the I'm the guy who's going to drive a big brown truck Oh my wheels are spinning My car is struck I said, don't you know I'm hurting so Don't you know I want to come home Don't you know I'm going to be the American man American man, American man, American man
11.
My Kinda Woman 02:20
lyrics
buy track
My Kinda Woman Well we could make you laugh if we wanted to We got a 3220 and a 482 and I realize that I been this good time She's got me running around put down on the motor line Well we could make you crack if we wanted to We got an El Dorado and a limo too and I realize that I been this good time She's a fast little woman but she ain't even a good time Well we could make you laugh if we wanted to We got a 3220 and a 482 and I realize that I been this good time She's a fast little woman but she ain't even a good time Rockin' my way back home down, down, down, down
12.
Come On Tonight 03:50
lyrics
buy track
Come On Tonight Everybody stop being someone else To break up in the middle no that wouldn't help Heads up everybody Yah, you staring at the wall and we all need you if we want to shout at all A beckon call, move over baby we can be right and after all we've done for them hurray for the red and white Wake up everybody Yes, you've seen it done before You wake up and read about it doubt it we could be the one Patriotic, shouting it in the street Let them know you are the one to beat We've done alright in the years before Our nation fight I only say for everyone hurray for the red and white Come on tonight Time is moving on and everything's alright It's taken me that long We've done alright in the years before Our nation fight I only say for everyone hurray for the red and white Get up everybody, stop being someone else To break up in the middle no that wouldn't help Heads up everybody Yah, you staring at the wall and we all need you if we want to shout at all A beckon call, move over baby we can be right and after all we've done for them hurray for the red and white Come on tonight Time is moving on and everything's alright It's taken me that long
13.
Underclass Crime 1 03:40
lyrics
buy track
Underclass Crime I Well I met a lovely woman one that went in style What she needed was was a good place to park her smile for a while Behold the mountain starts to rise I never looked into your eyes I'm going on just like I did It's all the same Now you may not be a dancer You're just a little queen Now I been to all the places that you've only seen Well it's our only roll and, baby, that's okay We got a rock 'n' roll revue Now I know it seems so crazy but I can't explain it to you Behold the mountain starts to rise I never looked into your eyes I'm going on just like I did It's all the same It's an underclass crime And if you say you want to rock some more Well, I bet you're only two-beer drunk And if you say you want to go back home Well, I bet you're only I bet you're only faking it faking it Now you may not be a dancer You're just a little queen Now I been to all the places that you've only seen Well it's our only roll and, baby, that's okay We got a rock 'n' roll revue Now I know it seems so crazy but I can't explain it to you Behold the mountain starts to rise I never looked into your eyes I'm going on just like I did It's all the same It's an underclass crime underclass crime underclass crime underclass crime
14.
Underclass Crime 2 03:16
lyrics
buy track
Underclass Crime II Well I met a lovely woman one that went in style What she needed was was a good place to park her smile for a while Well it's only our one roll a rock 'n' roll revue Well I know it seems so crazy but I can't explain it to you Now I think maybe I know I turn around now maybe even so I'm going on just like I did before It's all the same It's an underclass crime Well you can shoot me down You know that's okay I realize that's true It seems everything that you want baby, I cannot give it to you Well it's our only roll and woman that's alright We gonna rock away the night Now I know it seems so crazy but I can't explain it to you Now I think maybe I know I turn around now maybe even so I'm going on just like I did before It's all the same It's an underclass crime Well you sure ain't a dancer You're just a little queen Now I've been to all the places that you've only seen Well it's our only roll and woman that's alright We gonna rock away the night Now I know it seems so crazy but I can't explain it to you Now I think maybe I know I turn around now maybe even so I'm going on just like I did before It's all the same It's an underclass crime underclass crime underclass crime
15.
Johnny Be Home Tonight 03:12
lyrics
buy track
Johnny Be Home Tonight Footloose, dancing in the city where it's warm and it's free Small-time Kansas City farmboy big-time wheeler in L.A. Run on down the open highway Top of the world, wind at your back Smell of the fields seems so distant Sometimes got to get away Rockin' to the sound of the windshield wipers doin' 95, 95 Drinkin' and drivin' all night long and I'm barely alive, barely alive Listen to the tune on the radio Hear a song I know so well singing "Johnny be home tonight. Johnny be home to, Johnny be home to, Johnny be home tonight. Johnny be home to, Johnny be home to." Sleepy-eyed country lady holding a child next to your breast Don't you know that I love you Country lovin' is the best Young man's fancy is a queer thing Summer's night can drive him wild Making love to the asphalt run him ragged sure as hell Rockin' to the sound of the windshield wipers doin' 95, 95 Drinkin' and drivin' all night long and I'm barely alive, barely alive Listen to the tune on the radio Hear a song I know so well singing "Johnny be home tonight. Johnny be home to, Johnny be home to, Johnny be home tonight. Johnny be home to, Johnny be home to, Johnny be home tonight. Johnny be home to, Johnny be home tonight."
16.
On My Head 02:26
info
17.
Toilet Seat Blues 03:18
info

about

From the late 1970s to the late 1980s, I had the pleasure of writing and performing as drummer-lead vocalist for The Stray Katz, a four-piece rock band out of Oakville, Ont. Beginning at coffee houses, hay rides and battle-of-the-bands contests, the Katz soon moved to concert venues, recording studios and clubs throughout Southern Ontario. It was a rockin’-good ride with the Katz making some notable ripples in the musical landscape. Embracing some of the earliest punk influences by bands like the New York Dolls, Iggy and the Stooges and the Ramones, the Katz were credited by one journalist as inventing what was called “country punk” (for the song “Johnny Be Home Tonight” by guitarist and brother Lance Bland) years before Jason & the Scorchers did their country-punk take on Bob Dylan’s “Absolutely Sweet Marie.” The Stray Katz also blended reggae and rock influences in the original song “Nouveau Riche” (co-written by myself and bassist Gord Bell), which was released independently and played on college radio stations in Montreal.

Overall, The Stray Katz didn’t make a lot of recordings with the intent of trying to have them played on the radio. In the beginning, recordings were largely demo quality (or basement quality), made to play to club owners and promoters in the interests of getting gigs. Later on, Katz recordings were often done to capture song fragments or half-formed ideas before they slipped away. So Kat Trax is not a collection of material that was ever released commercially. It’s an archive of material, collected and restored as best as possible, and it doesn’t include everything the Katz recorded. (That search continues.) Yet the material still comprises a footnote in Canadian rock history, and I’ll always be thankful that I was a part of it.

Enjoy.

Footnote: The Stray Katz name comes from the 1974 movie “Stardust” in which David Essex, as doomed rocker Jim MacLaine, rockets to fame with his band the Stray Cats. The name resonated with Rick Wood as a kid one evening when I was sleeping over at his house, and I immediately liked the name after he suggested it. I suggested the ‘K’ as replacement for the ‘C’ and Rick suggested the ‘z’ to replace the ‘s’. “Stardust” is also where guitarist Brian Setzer got the name for his rockabilly band, the Stray Cats.

credits

released November 23, 2012

Lance Bland (guitars, vocals), Xristopher Bland (drums, vocals), Rick Wood (guitars, vocals), Gord Bell (bass, vocals).

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Xrisville Guelph, Ontario

The musical archive of writer-composer-visual artist Xristopher Bland.

contact / help

Contact Xrisville

Streaming and
Download help

Report this album or account

If you like Kat Trax, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Saxophonist Isaiah Collier chats about his new LP and the influence of Pharoah Sanders.
listen now