Scruffy The Cat
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Defunct | 1990 |
| Fate | Disbanded; reunions in 2011 and 2015 |
| Headquarters | Boston , United States |
Key people | Charlie Chesterman (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Stephen Fredette (lead guitar, vocals), MacPaul Stanfield (bass), Randall Lee Gibson IV (drums), Stona Fitch (electric banjo, mandolin, accordion, keyboards), Burns Stanfield (keyboards) |
| Products | Albums: High Octane Revival (1986), Tiny Days (1987), Boom Boom Boom Bingo (1987), Moons of Jupiter (1988); Compilations: Time Never Forgets: The Anthology (1986-1988) (2014), The Good Goodbye: Unissued Tracks 1984-1990 (2014) |
Scruffy The Cat was a roots rock/pop/cowpunk ensemble originating from Boston, active between 1983 and 1990, with reunion performances occurring in 2011 prior to the passing of frontman and guitarist Charlie Chesterman in 2013.
Regarded as pioneers of the alt-country genre, the group featured Charlie Chesterman (vocals, guitar, harmonica); Stephen Fredette (lead guitar, vocals); MacPaul Stanfield (bass); Randall Lee Gibson IV (drums); Stona Fitch (electric banjo, mandolin, accordion, keyboards from 1984 to 1987); and Burns Stanfield (keyboards from 1987 to 1990). Their musical style melded early Elvis Costello influences with the country punk energy of Jason & the Scorchers and the distinctive American jangle reminiscent of the Byrds.
Early formation and releases
Before moving to Boston’s dynamic music environment, Chesterman and bassist MacPaul Stanfield were members of the Iowa punk outfit The Law. In 1983, they joined forces with guitarist Stephen Fredette, drummer Randall Lee Gibson IV, and banjoist Stona Fitch to establish Scruffy The Cat.
The band signed with Relativity Records in 1986 and delivered two EPs: High Octane Revival (1986), which Village Voice critics ranked as the fourth-best EP that year, and Boom Boom Boom Bingo (1987). Their first full-length album, Tiny Days (1987), included singles such as "Never Never/Time Never Forgets" and "Mybabyshesallright." It achieved top-five status on college radio charts and secured the number four spot in Village Voice’s year-end critics poll. Music videos for these singles gained airtime on MTV’s 120 Minutes, while Tiny Days was recognized among Rolling Stone’s top ten college albums upon its debut.
Their sophomore album, Moons Of Jupiter (1988), produced by Jim Dickinson at Memphis’s Ardent Studios, showcased a refined sound fusing infectious pop melodies with Memphis soul influences. It remained on the Billboard 200 chart for eight weeks, reaching a peak position of #177. The title track single climbed to #23 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart. The subsequent single "Love Song #9" was released in 1989.
Touring history, dissolution & reunions
Following their initial gigs in 1983, Scruffy The Cat embarked on extensive tours from 1984 through 1990. They began by concentrating on the Boston area before expanding their reach regionally and nationally. The band completed multiple nationwide tours, performing alongside groups such as The Replacements, Yo La Tengo, and Los Lobos. After concluding their final concerts in 1990, the band disbanded. They reunited in 2011 for three benefit shows in Boston aimed at supporting Chesterman during his battle with cancer; he passed away in November 2013.
Time Never Forgets: Scruffy The Cat's resurgence
On August 19, 2014, Sony Music issued a digitally remastered anthology titled Time Never Forgets: The Anthology (86-88), featuring 38 tracks encompassing Scruffy The Cat’s official recordings. This collection was made available on platforms including iTunes, Amazon.com, and Google. Shortly thereafter, on September 16, Omnivore Recordings released The Good Goodbye: Unreleased Recordings 1984-1990, a compilation of 23 rare and previously unreleased songs.
On July 25, 2015, Scruffy The Cat delivered the closing performance at T.T. the Bear's Place in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Discography
- High Octane Revival (1986)
- Tiny Days (1987)
- Boom Boom Boom Bingo (1987)
- Moons of Jupiter (1988)
Compilations
- Time Never Forgets: The Anthology (1986-1988) (Sony, 2014)
- The Good Goodbye: Unissued Tracks 1984-1990 (Omnivore, 2014)