Walter Brennan - Space Mice The Thievin Stranger

Review by Pete Jucker

Space Mice & The Thievin’ Stranger: A Retro Romp Worth Revisiting Alright, buckle up, folks. We’re about to dive into the whimsical world of Space Mice & The Thievin’ Stranger, a 1960 gem by none other than Walter Brennan. Yep, that’s right—the same guy who brought you gravelly-voiced cowboy wisdom in old Westerns decided to moonlight as a rock-and-roll grandpa for kids. And honestly? It kinda works. First off, let’s talk genres here because this album is like peanut butter and pickles—unexpected but strangely compelling. You’ve got rock vibes mixed with children’s music, which sounds like someone threw a kiddie birthday party at a juke joint. Released on Dot Records (classic label of its time), it’s backed by Billy Vaughn and his orchestra. If you don’t know Billy, he was basically the maestro of making things sound smooth without trying too hard. Kudos to him for keeping this train from derailing. Now, onto the tracks. There are only two songs mentioned specifically—“The Thievin’ Stranger” and “Space Mice.” Let me tell ya, these tunes stick with you not just because they’re catchy but because they’re delightfully bonkers. “The Thievin’ Stranger” kicks things off with Brennan sounding like your grumpy uncle telling tall tales over a campfire. His voice has all the charm of sandpaper dipped in honey, and when he starts spinning yarns about some shady dude stealing stuff, you can’t help but lean in. Is it deep or profound? No. But it’s fun, and sometimes that’s all you need. Plus, there’s something oddly satisfying about hearing an old-school actor spit out lines like, “He swiped my boots!” Like, dude, we get it—you’re mad about footwear theft. Chill. Then there’s “Space Mice,” which might be one of the weirdest yet most lovable songs ever made. Imagine if Mickey Mouse joined NASA and wrote a jingle about his adventures. That’s this song. It’s goofy, it’s bouncy, and it’ll have you humming along while wondering what space mice even DO up there. Build tiny rocket ships? Steal cheese from aliens? Who knows! But dang if it doesn’t make you smile. What makes this album stand out isn’t its technical brilliance or lyrical depth—it’s the sheer audacity of it all. In 1960, rock ‘n’ roll was still finding its feet, and pairing it with kid-friendly themes was either genius or madness. Maybe both. Either way, Walter Brennan pulls it off with a wink and a nod, like he knows exactly how absurd this whole thing is. As I sit here reflecting on Space Mice & The Thievin’ Stranger, I’m reminded of something important: Music doesn’t always have to take itself seriously. Sometimes, it’s okay to laugh, to embrace the weirdness, and to wonder why anyone thought combining rodents and outer space was a good idea. Oh, and also—never trust a thievin’ stranger near your boots. Seriously, Walter warned us. So grab your copy (if you can find one) and give it a spin. Just don’t blame me if you start imagining little mice floating around in zero gravity.

Download Walter Brennan - Space Mice The Thievin Stranger

Artist: Walter Brennan
Album: Space Mice The Thievin Stranger

1960

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Filename: walter-brennan-space-mice-the-thievin-stranger.zip

MP3 size: 9.6 mb
FLAC size: 118.8 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Space Mice	2:40
The Thievin' Stranger

Video

Space Mice - Walter Brennan (novelty)

Images

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Catalog Numbers

45-16136

Labels

Dot Records

Listen online

ascolta in linea
écouter en ligne
ouvir online
online luisteren
escuchar en línea
kuunnella verkossa
lyssna på nätet
lytte på nettet
online anhören

Formats

Vinyl
7"
45 RPM
Single

Companies

Role	Company
Published By	Talisman Music Corp.
Pressed By	Monarch Record Mfg. Co.

Credits

Role	Credit
Orchestra	Billy Vaughn
Conductor	Billy Vaughn

Notes

9-60 - Printed on bottom of both Labels
A Side Publisher: Talisman Music Corp.
B Side Publisher: Empress Music, Inc.
variant: similar to Walter Brennan - Space Mice / The Thievin' Stranger, but "Talisman Music" at 9:00 is on one line. Matrix prefix is "MB." Also, the width of the Billy Vaughn credit beneath the Walter Brennan credit is noticeably different. Monarch press.

Barcodes

Matrix / Runout (A Side Label): MW-15202
Matrix / Runout (B Side Label): MW-15203
Matrix / Runout (A Side Runout): MW-15202-2
Matrix / Runout (B Side Runout): MW-15203-2
Rights Society: ASCAP
Matrix / Runout (A Side Label): MB-15202
Matrix / Runout (B Side Label): MB-15203
Matrix / Runout (A Side Runout, etched): 45-MB-15202 ③ ["MR" machine stamp] Δ36500
Matrix / Runout (B Side Runout, etched): 45-MB-15203 ③ ["MR" machine stamp] Δ36500-X

About Walter Brennan

American actor, born July 25, 1894 in Lynn, Massachusetts, USA, died September 21, 1974 in Oxnard, California, USA.

Real Name

Walter Andrew Brennan

Name Vars

Walter Brennen

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know? In 1960, country legend Walter Brennan released a quirky rock album for kids called *Space Mice The Thievin Stranger*. It was released under Dot Records and featured tracks like "The Thievin' Stranger" and "Space Mice." What makes it special? It had Billy Vaughn both conducting and leading the orchestra. A country star dipping into rock and children’s music? That’s pretty cool!