1991

The Adventures of MC Skat Kat and the Stray Mob

Studio album

Overview

Candace Reckinger and Michael Patterson

The Adventures of MC Skat Kat and the Stray Mob is a 1991 album by MC Skat Kat. The album came about as the result of Paula Abdul's successful "Opposites Attract" video of 1990, which was directed by Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger.

The character of MC Skat Kat was created by Paula Abdul and Michael Patterson. As a child, Abdul idolized Gene Kelly and Patterson got the idea for Skat Kat from the Gene Kelly movie Anchors Aweigh, in which Kelly's character dances with Jerry, the mouse from the Tom and Jerry cartoon series. Abdul loved the movie as a child. Patterson would originally play small gigs dressed in full cat attire, though soon after become a studio musician.

Derrick "Delite" Stevens

MC Skat Kat was performed by The Wild Pair duo of Bruce DeShazer and Marv Gunn on "Opposites Attract". MC Skat Kat's rap was written by Romany Malco and performed by Derrick “Delite” Stevens, although Malco is often mistakenly credited for being the voice of the first rap, a story perpetuated by Abdul herself.

Derrick Stevens also provided vocals for the character in the Adventures of MC Skat Kat album. The songs on the album were written and produced by The College Boyz which included Stevens and Malco, Squeak, B. Selector and DJ Cue.

The Stray Mob consists of fictional characters Fatz, Taboo, Micetro, Leo, Katleen, and Silk, the first three of whom appeared in the "Opposites Attract" music video. Abdul's lone vocal appearance can be heard in the track "I Ain’t No Kitty."

Two music videos for the album were directed by Patterson and Reckinger, only one of which was officially released.

Image from the "Skat Strut" music video.

The only single from the album, "Skat Strut", samples Earth Wind & Fire's 1981 hit "Let's Groove", with Abdul making an appearance in the video. It reached number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 but fared better overseas, peaking at numbers 9 and 31 on the Norwegian and Swedish charts, respectively.

Despite the popularity of the “Skat Strut” music video (as it became one of the most requested on MTV), the song only reached number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100. The vocal style and length of the songs in the music video differed from those from the album versions. The music video was released on September 10th, 1991.

MC Skat Kat promoted the album by performing the single “Skat Strut” on Paula Abdul’s Under My Spell world tour in 1992-1993. The song was performed after “Opposites Attract.”

The College Boyz

Another single from the album, "Big Time", was given its own video with revised music. The song was labeled as "Big Time (Animation Mix)" on the Captive Sampler. The video, directed by Patterson and Candace Reckinger, was completed in January 1992 and appears on Patterson + Reckinger's Vimeo channel. The original animation was done by Chris Bailey, Tom Sito and Eric Goldberg, who at the time was the lead animator of the Genie character in Disney's Aladdin feature film.

According to producer John Kafka, nobody was sure what to do with MC Skat Kat after the videos were finished. Virgin Music and Universal Pictures talked of a live-action/animation hybrid feature film, but nothing ever materialized. Over the years, Abdul had even pitched the idea of a live-action/animation show starring Skat Kat to FOX for Saturday morning but nothing ever materialized.

MC Skat Kat in "Yakety Yak"

MC Skat Kat also appeared in "Yakety Yak - Take it Back", an all-star Public Service Announcement produced by the Take It Back Foundation in 1991. The music video featured appearances by celebrities including Pat Benatar, Natalie Cole, Charlie Daniels, Lita Ford, Quincy Jones, B.B. King, Queen Latifah, Kenny Loggins, Randy Newman, Tone Loc, Ozzy Osbourne, Brenda Russell, Barry White, Stevie Wonder and a special appearance by Bugs Bunny in an updated version of "Yakety Yak" retooled with a message about recycling.

"Yakety Yak" premiered on MTV on April 10, 1991 (National Recycling Day), appeared as a trailer at AMC movie theaters, and was distributed on VHS and CD. It was later shown occasionally on Sesame Street during the early 1990’s, although no Sesame Street characters were present. The video also appeared once on Nickelodeon in 1995.

MC Skat Kat appeared in American Dad! Season 13 episode 6 "Kiss Kiss Cam Cam", on February 29, 2016. He mentions being out of a job, obviously meant to poke fun at his absence from media and pop culture. He sings "Opposites Attract" with Stan, who is trying to prove that opposites do attract.

"Skat Strut" Music Video

Official Promotional Video

Track Lists and Formats

Adventures of MC Skat Kat and the Stray Mob
US 5" CD Virgin 2-91396:


1. Big Time (3:53)
2. I Ain't No Kitty (4:37)
3. No Dogs Allowed (5:28)
4. Gotta get Up (4:00)
5. Kat in the Casino (4:36)
6. On the Prowl (4:06)
7. Skat Strut (3:41) [Lyrics]
8. Kat Stories (4:02)
9. So Sweet So Young (3:47)
10. I Got Crazy (3:21)
11. New Kat Swing (4:03)
12. Skat Kat's Theme (4:39)

Adventures of MC Skat Kat and the Stray Mob
Europe 12" Vinyl, Virgin VUSLP-42:


1. Big Time (3:53)
2. I Ain't No Kitty (4:37)
3. No Dogs Allowed (5:28)
4. Gotta get Up (4:00)
5. Kat in the Casino (4:36)
6. On the Prowl (4:06)
7. Skat Strut (3:41) [Lyrics]
8. Kat Stories (4:02)
9. So Sweet So Young (3:47)
10. I Got Crazy (3:21)
11. New Kat Swing (4:03)
12. Skat Kat's Theme (4:39)

Adventures of MC Skat Kat and the Stray Mob
US Cassette, Virgin 4-91396:


1. Big Time (3:53)
2. I Ain't No Kitty (4:37)
3. No Dogs Allowed (5:28)
4. Gotta get Up (4:00)
5. Kat in the Casino (4:36)
6. On the Prowl (4:06)
7. Skat Strut (3:41) [Lyrics]
8. Kat Stories (4:02)
9. So Sweet So Young (3:47)
10. I Got Crazy (3:21)
11. New Kat Swing (4:03)
12. Skat Kat's Theme (4:39)

MC Skat Kat and the Stray Mob - Skat Strut
US 12” Vinyl Single, Promo - DMD 1707


A1. Skat Strut (Hip Hop Remix)
A2. Skat Strut (LP Version)
B1. Skat Strut (Club Mix)
B2. Skat Strut (Instrumental)

MC Skat Kat and the Stray Mob - Skat Strut
UK/Europe 5” CD Maxi-Single - Virgin, VUSCD 51


1. Skat Strut (Club Version)
2. Skat Strut (Video Version)
3. Skat Strut (Album Version)
4. Get A Grip

MC Skat Kat and the Stray Mob - Skat Strut
US 5” Maxi-Single CD Promo PRCD 3996


1. Skat Strut (LP Version)
2. Skat Strut (Video Version)
3. Skat Strut (Hip Hop Mix)
4. Skat Strut (Club Mix)
5. Skat Strut (Mono Radio)

MC Skat Kat and the Stray Mob - Skat Strut
Japan, CD Mini-Single, Promo VJDP-10174:


1. Skat Strut (Album Version)
2. Skat Strut (Club Mix)

MC Skat Kat and the Stray Mob - Skat Strut
UK Cassette VUSC 51:


A1. Skat Strut (Video Version)
A2. Get A Grip
B1. Skat Strut (Video Version)
B2. Get A Grip

View All Formats

"Skat Strut" (Live)

Under My Spell Tour

Under My Spell Tour Book Ad

"Big Time" Music Video

Official Unreleased Promotional Video

Lyrics

"Yakety Yak" Music Video

Official Music Video

Publicity Photos

Promo Ad

Press Release

Character Booklet

American Dad! Appearance

Related Articles

10-07-15 • Minnesota man voiced MC Skat Kat in Paula Abdul's Opposites Attract
12-12-13 • MC Skat Kat speaks!
02-19-10 • 20 Years Ago: Paula Abdul hits No. 1 with 'Opposites Attract'

Skat Strut Credits

Lyrics by ROM of "The College Boyz"
Music by Maurice White, Wayne Vaughn
Produced by Karl F. Stephenson and "The College Boyz"
Engineered by Bernard Matthews

Recorded and mixed at Pacifique Studios, LA

Made in QSound by Keith "K.C." Cohen at A&M Studios, LA

Voice of MC Skat Kat: Derrick "Delite" Stevens

Voice of Fatz, Beatbox: Squeak of "The College Boyz"

BG's: Gina Deruise, Raquel Chung

Guitar solo: James David Pless

Drum and Keyboard Programming: Karl F. Stephenson

Published by ROM Music/Virgin Music, Inc./EMI April Music, Inc.
o/b/o Saggifire Music and Yougoulei Music (ASCAP)

Earth Wind and Fire appear courtesy of CBS Records

Album Credits

Executive Producers: Paula Abdul & Gemma Corfield

Mastered by: Dan Hersch at Digiprep

Photography: Bonnie Schiffman
Art Direction: Melanie Nissen
Design: Kathleen Philpott

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