The Stranglers | ||
| Allmusic Biography : The Stranglers formed as the Guildford Stranglers in the southern England village of Chiddingfold (near Guildford) in 1974, plowing a heavily Doors-influenced furrow through the local pub rock scene -- such as it was. Of the four founding members, only Hugh Cornwell had any kind of recognizable historical pedigree, having played alongside Richard Thompson in the schoolboy band Emil & the Detectives. According to Thompson, their repertoire stretched from "Smokestack Lightning" and the blues, through to "old Kiki Dee B-sides," while their gigging was largely confined to the Hornsey School of Art, where Thompsons sister was Social Secretary. The Guildford Stranglers were confined to a similar circuit. It was 1975 before they ventured into even the London suburbs, although once there -- and having shortened their name to the less parochial Stranglers -- things began moving quickly. The established pub rock scene was dying and promoters were willing to give any unknown band a break, simply to try and establish a new hierarchy. Thus it was that as the first stirrings of punk began to make their own presence felt on the same circuit, the Stranglers were on board the bandwagon from the beginning. Their early songs, too, radiated the same ugly alienation that was the proto-punk movements strongest calling card. Material like "Peasant in the Big Shitty," "I Feel Like a Wog," "Down in the Sewer," and "Ugly" itself were harsh, uncompromising, and grotesque, a muddy blurge of sound cut through with Dave Greenfields hypnotically Doors-like keyboards that was possessed of as much attitude as it was detectable musical competence. One uses the word guardedly, but "highlights" of this period were included on the 1994 archive release Live, Rare & Unreleased 1974-1976. By mid-1976 the Stranglers already had enough force behind them to be booked as opening act at the Ramones first London show, and Mark P., editor of the newly launched punk fanzine Sniffin Glue, conferred further punk approval on the band when he wrote, "their sound is 1976...the Stranglers are a pleasure to boogie to -- sometimes they sound like the Doors, other times like Television, but theyve got an ID of their own." Further prestige accompanied the bands opening slot for Patti Smith in October -- and that despite most of the audience walking out long before the band left the stage; by the time the band set out on their own first U.K. tour, they had signed with UA (A&M; in America) and were preparing to record their debut album with producer Martin Rushent. "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)," the Stranglers debut single, made the lower reaches of the Top 50; Rattus Norvegicus, their first album, confirmed the group as one of the fastest developing bands on the entire scene -- even as the scene itself still puzzled over whether the Stranglers even belonged on board. "Old hairy misogynists" was a common accusation to fling in their direction, and it was one which the Stranglers themselves delighted in encouraging. In a more PC climate, their first U.K. Top Ten hit, summer 1977s "Peaches," would never even have been written, let alone recorded, while the bandmembers reputation as sexual bad boys was only exacerbated by other songs in their repertoire: "London Lady," "Bring on the Nubiles," "Choosy Susie." The fact that much of their lyrical prowess was built around the darkest hued of black humors never entered many peoples minds at the time, but listen again to their finest moments -- "Hangin Around," "Down in the Sewer," the mindless boogie of "Go Buddy Go," and the sheer vile joys of "Ugly" -- and try to keep an even halfway straight face. Unfortunately, though the Stranglers themselves reveled in an almost Monty Python-esque grasp of absurdity (and, in particular, the absurdities of modern "mens talk"), there was an undercurrent of violence that not only permeated their music, it also, inevitably, spilled into their live shows. Their fall 1977 British tour was marred by some very ugly scenes, while a trip to Sweden brought them into violent confrontation with the Raggere, that countrys equivalent of Britains punk-hating Teddy Boys. Hugh Cornwells choice of T-shirts (a Ford logo reworked to read "F*ck") brought the band into conflict with Londons local council, while the groups decision to line their stage with topless dancing girls when they played a concert in that citys Battersea Park brought womens groups screaming down on them, too. Yet despite so much controversy, the Stranglers grip on the British chart seemed unbreakable. "Peaches" was followed by "Something Better Change" and might easily have been joined by a passionate cover of "Mony Mony" had the band not opted to hide behind the pseudonym of the Mutations, accompanying singer Celia Gollin on the number. (A second Celia & the Mutations single, "You Better Believe Me," followed late in 1977.) "No More Heroes," the driving title track to the Stranglers second album, was another huge hit, although the album itself was a disappointment -- recorded in a hurry, with little time to write new material, it was largely comprised of older songs that had been passed over for Rattus. Within months, a new Stranglers album was on the streets, and this time they got everything right. Black and White was previewed by the hits "Five Minutes" and "NicenSleazy" (self-mythology in a nutshell), and was swiftly followed by one of the bands finest moments, a murderously slowed-down version of Bacharach/Davids "Walk on By." More importantly, Black and White was the last Stranglers album to even flirt with the socio-sexual shock troop imagery that fired their first records; with the live X Cert album (their first for IRS in America) rounding off 1978 with a final flurry of gruffness, the band was now free to experiment beyond even the most indulgent fans wildest imaginings. 1979s The Raven saw them moving toward both psychedelia and radio-friendly pop -- "The Duchess," Top 20 that summer, was a classic tune by anybodys standards and, while a flurry of solo activity from Jean Jacques Burnel (The Euroman Cometh) and Hugh Cornwell (Nosferatu) raised rumors that the band was reaching the end of its lifespan, in fact it was their non-musical activities that came closest to bursting the bubble, after Cornwell was sentenced to three months imprisonment for drug possession in January 1980. The band regrouped following his release and banged out two albums in a year, the concept Meninblack and the extraordinarily ambitious La Folie -- home of their biggest hit single yet, "Golden Brown." It reached number two in Britain, although two other singles from the same album, "Let Me Introduce You to the Family" and "La Folie" itself, contrarily proved among their least successful so far. "Strange Little Girl," specially recorded for the hits compilation The Collection 1977-1982, returned the band to the Top Ten the following summer and, having moved from UA to Epic, the Stranglers rounded out 1982 with the "European Female" single and Feline album, defiantly pop-heavy albums flavored by the groups own special take on the then-prevalent synthesizer sounds. This phase of the bands development reached a nadir of sorts with 1984s Aural Sculpture, the least engaging of their albums to date, and the least successful -- it faltered at number 14, with the exquisite "Skin Deep" single drawn up one place lower. Two years of near silence followed, punctuated only by a succession of under-performing British 45s -- American releases were even rarer. "Nice in Nice," a commentary on a six-year-old misadventure in the French city of that name, "Always the Sun," "Big in America," and "Shakin Like a Leaf," drawn from the 1986 album Dreamtime, ensured the band remained very much a sideshow into the late 80s, but 1988 finally brought a massive turnaround in their fortunes. That January, a wildly churning cover of the Kinks "All Day and All of the Night" powered the Stranglers back into the Top Ten, to be followed by a new live album of the same name. Another long silence followed but, sticking with covers, the Stranglers were back to their best with ? & the Mysterians "96 Tears" in early 1990, a taster for the album 10. A second hits collection, Greatest Hits 1977-1990, stuffed stockings across Europe that Christmas, but any serious attempt at a lasting revival was stymied by the departure of Cornwell for a solo career. He was replaced by John Ellis, a former member of fellow pub-to-punk graduates the Vibrators, and Sniff n the Tears frontman Paul Roberts, and the new-look Stranglers re-emerged on the China indie in early 1992. A new album, Stranglers in the Night, appeared that fall, together with the minor hit "Heaven or Hell"; by years end, however, drummer Jet Black, too, had departed. He was replaced by Tikake Tobe and, in this form, the group recorded yet another live album, Saturday Night Sunday Morning, before Black returned for 1995s About Time. The groups studio set Coup de Grace was issued in 1998, after which Ellis left the band, to be replaced by Baz Warne. Their next album, Norfolk Coast, was a surprise success in 2004, spawning a Top 40 hit in "Big Thing Coming." After this record, Roberts departed and the group released Suite XVI in 2006. Six years later, they put out their 17th album, Giants. Each of their UA/Epic albums was reissued with generous helpings of bonus tracks, while 1992 saw the release of a classic 1977 live show, Live at the Hope & Anchor, together with a collection of the bands (surprisingly inventive) 12" singles and a fabulous box set drawn from the 1976-1982 period, The Old Testament. Further live albums have since appeared, as has a remarkable document of the bands three BBC sessions, from 1977 and 1982. That it is those earliest years that remain the Stranglers most popular is not surprising -- from bad-mannered yobs to purveyors of supreme pop delicacies, the group was responsible for music that may have been ugly and might have been crude -- but it was never, ever boring. That people are still offended by it only adds to its delight -- if rock & roll (especially punk rock & roll) was meant to be pleasant, it would never have changed the world, after all. The fact that much of the Stranglers message was actually hysterically funny -- as they themselves intended it to be -- only adds to their modern appeal. And the fact that their fans are still called upon to defend them only proves what humorless zeroes their foes really were. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 43 Title: Rattus Norvegicus Released: 1977-04-15 Tracks: 9 Duration: 39:59 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Sometimes (04:55) 2 Goodbye Toulouse (03:16) 3 London Lady (02:32) 4 Princess of the Streets (04:37) 5 Hanging Around (04:27) 6 Peaches (04:06) 7 (Get a) Grip (on Yourself) (04:02) 8 Ugly (04:07) 9 Down in the Sewer: (a) Falling / (b) Down in the Sewer / (c) Trying to Get Out Again / (d) Rats Rally (07:54) |
| Rattus Norvegicus : Allmusic album Review : Like the Vibrators, the Stranglers were an older band which managed to gain visibility and success through association with Britains punk movement. Musically, the group is much more polished than some of their rawer brethren such as the Adverts and Siouxsie and the Banshees. The Stranglers early work is most properly described as stripped-down pop played with a hardcore sensibility; fairly lengthy songs with frequent solo breaks, prominent keyboard usage, and occasional employment of vocal harmony sets them apart from their peers. But snarling lead singing that puts forth macho/critical/distasteful lyrics predominates here, clearly showing the groups punk affinity. Most of the songs on this album fit the description of hardcore pop to a tee, but there are a few deviations from this model. "Princess of the Streets" is a slow-tempo selection with blueslike echoes. The ambitious "Down in the Sewer" crosses the concept of episodic numbers like the Whos "A Quick One" with early-60s instrumentals. And the energetic "London Lady" is almost a true punk song -- or at least as close as the band gets to one. While not the equal of their best album, No More Heroes, this release is solid and worthwhile, a rewarding listen. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 43 Title: Black and White Released: 1978-05-12 Tracks: 12 Duration: 39:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Tank (02:56) 2 Nice ’n’ Sleazy (03:12) 3 Outside Tokyo (02:08) 4 Sweden (All Quiet on the Eastern Front) (02:50) 5 Hey! (Rise of the Robots) (02:15) 6 Toiler on the Sea (05:28) 7 Curfew (03:15) 8 Threatened (03:34) 9 Do You Wanna (02:28) 10 Death and Night and Blood (Yukio) (02:49) 11 In the Shadows (04:15) 12 Enough Time (04:18) |
| Black and White : Allmusic album Review : Of the first three Stranglers albums, Black & White is arguably the weakest, yet it still has some absolutely stunning moments. For example, the epic "Toiler on the Sea" picks up where "Down in the Sewer" and "School Mam" left off on the bands two previous efforts. Ignore the fact that its a concept album (it has a black side, and a white side, see) and that there are a couple of slightly ill-judged efforts ("In the Shadows" is plain silly, "Outside Tokyo" is whimsical rubbish), and let the rest of the album burn through your speakers. "Nice n Sleazy" does just what it says on the bottle (the band was getting themselves into awful trouble hiring strippers for open air gigs to dance to this one), and "Death and Night and Blood (Yukio)" includes one of those inimitable Stranglers moments: "Bring me a piece of my mummy/She was quite close to me." All together now! | ||
 | Album: 3 of 43 Title: The Raven Released: 1979-09-21 Tracks: 15 Duration: 53:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Longships (01:10) 2 The Raven (05:13) 3 Dead Loss Angeles (02:24) 4 Ice (03:25) 5 Baroque Bordello (03:50) 6 Nuclear Device (03:31) 7 Shah Shah a Go Go (04:50) 8 Don’t Bring Harry (04:09) 9 Duchess (02:30) 10 Meninblack (04:48) 11 Genetix (05:16) 12 Bear Cage (02:50) 13 Fools Rush Out (02:11) 14 N’emmènes pas Harry (04:16) 15 Yellowcake UF6 (02:59) |
| The Raven : Allmusic album Review : By the time The Raven was released, the Stranglers had branched out a bit from their punk-influenced pop music stylings and grouchy personal-relationship-based lyrics. Half the songs on this album (among them "Dead Loss Angeles," "Nuclear Device," "Shah Shah a Gogo," and "Genetix") spout verses critical of social or political issues. Only the first of these four numbers, with its clipped vocal delivery and stripped-down, bass-heavy arrangement, shows significant British punk influence. Certain songs here exhibit strong mainstream tendencies with no hardcore sensibilities whatsoever, such as "Duchess" (a tuneful power pop number with clear chart-oriented influences) and "Dont Bring Harry" (a slow-tempo, piano-dominated selection). Still other influences can be heard in "Meninblack," a Devo-derived number featuring a synthesized clipped beat/electronic pulse texture, chilly and sanitized-sounding organ, lockstep drums, and Alvin & the Chipmunks-style sped-up vocals. The intriguing "Ice" boasts interesting production touches and an inventively dubious tonal focus. The songs are lengthy, with at times prolix instrumental openings and interludes. Sound quality on the EMI America re-release is uneven at times, with occasional distortion in the drums and percussive low synthesizer. This is a generally good album worth hearing. Original pressings of this release have a 3-D picture on the front cover. Approximately half the songs on this album would be reissued one year later on the U.S. label release IV. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 43 Title: The Gospel According to the Meninblack Released: 1981-02-09 Tracks: 12 Duration: 48:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Waltzinblack (03:38) 2 Just Like Nothing on Earth (03:55) 3 Second Coming (04:22) 4 Waiting for the Meninblack (03:44) 5 Turn the Centuries, Turn (04:34) 6 Two Sunspots (02:32) 7 Four Horsemen (03:40) 8 Thrown Away (03:30) 9 Manna Machine (03:17) 10 Hallow to Our Men (07:26) 11 Top Secret (03:26) 12 Maninwhite (04:27) |
| The Gospel According to the Meninblack : Allmusic album Review : Widely regarded as the Stranglers turkey, there is indeed much to snigger about on this overblown concept album. The delightful "Waltzinblack," much beloved of TV chef Keith Floyd (who later used it on his TV series), is worth salvaging, as are the two singles -- the scat jazz-inspired "Just Like Nothing on Earth" and "Thrown Away." Elsewhere, the group seems unfocused and unconvinced as while ploughing through some esoteric lyrics concerning the imminent arrival of men in black suits from another planet who are going to whisk us away. Several thousand Stranglers fans did indeed go missing after the release of this album, though that can be attributed to listening tastes rather than anything that would interest Mulder and Scully. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 43 Title: La Folie Released: 1981-11-09 Tracks: 11 Duration: 38:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Non Stop (02:26) 2 Everybody Loves You When You’re Dead (02:39) 3 Tramp (03:03) 4 Let Me Introduce You to the Family (03:06) 5 Ain’t Nothin’ to It (03:58) 6 The Man They Love to Hate (04:23) 7 Pin Up (02:49) 8 It Only Takes Two to Tango (03:39) 9 Golden Brown (03:28) 10 How to Find True Love and Happiness in the Present Day (03:07) 11 La Folie (06:06) |
| La Folie : Allmusic album Review : La Folie is a welcome album in the Stranglers oeuvre, mainly a collection of tight, punchy songs that often suggest the forthright approach of American new wave bands. With one exception, the songs are shorter and more pointed, harking back to the comparative conciseness of some of the tunes on the bands first two albums, Rattus Norvegicus and No More Heroes, though acidic lyrics still predominate. "Non-Stop" is a typical example, featuring a half-spoken vocal that suggests Lou Reed, a Cars-influenced organ sound, and a bouncy, dance-derived drum beat; this particular song is atypical, however, because it employs a blues-oriented progression. An interesting excursion is encountered in the song "Golden Brown," a subdued, jazz-influenced number with purring vocals, a coolly executed synthesizer/harpsichord backing texture, and a periodically stumbling beat. Only the plushly understated title track suggests the sprawl typical of the groups immediately preceding releases. This fine album is well worth purchasing. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 43 Title: Feline Released: 1982 Tracks: 10 Duration: 42:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Midnight Summer Dream (06:16) 2 It’s a Small World (04:39) 3 Ships That Pass in the Night (04:10) 4 The European Female (In Celebration of) (04:02) 5 Golden Brown (03:28) 6 Let’s Tango in Paris (03:15) 7 Paradise (03:52) 8 All Roads Lead to Rome (03:55) 9 Blue Sister (04:07) 10 Never Say Goodbye (04:14) |
| Feline : Allmusic album Review : Another Stranglers concept album, but a much lesser work than forerunner La Folie. While not an instant classic, it does repay repeated listening -- especially the rustic English charms of "Midsummer Nights Dream" and the more Eurocentric "Last Tango in Paris" and "All Roads Lead to Rome." Instead of the belligerent tunefulness of yesteryear, the Stranglers were trying to expand their sound and reach. Too often on this lackluster effort, however, it comes across as boring and unengaging. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 43 Title: The Collection 1977–1982 Released: 1982 Tracks: 14 Duration: 54:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 (Get a) Grip (on Yourself) (04:02) 2 Peaches (04:06) 3 Hanging Around (04:27) 4 No More Heroes (02:55) 5 Duchess (02:30) 6 Walk On By (06:21) 7 Waltzinblack (03:38) 8 Something Better Change (03:37) 9 Nice N Sleazy (03:15) 10 Bear Cage (03:54) 11 Who Wants the World? (03:13) 12 Golden Brown (03:28) 13 Strange Little Girl (02:45) 14 La folie (06:08) |
 | Album: 8 of 43 Title: Aural Sculpture Released: 1984-11 Tracks: 11 Duration: 42:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Ice Queen (04:02) 2 Skin Deep (03:54) 3 Let Me Down Easy (04:12) 4 No Mercy (03:39) 5 North Winds (04:03) 6 Uptown (02:57) 7 Punch and Judy (03:46) 8 Spain (04:14) 9 Laughing (04:12) 10 Souls (03:26) 11 Mad Hatter (04:00) |
| Aural Sculpture : Allmusic album Review : What an out and out shock. The Stranglers have gone sensual, sounding sincere, serene, and sensitive (and philosophically introspective). And its perfect. It took em nine years, but theyre at their peace now. Which isnt to say that this is preferable to putting on their first couple albums and early singles and rocking out to the sheer unrepentant, harsh rock of greats like "Hanging Around," "Straighten Out," or "No More Heroes"; but it sure is OK to veg out and dream along with these lithe little pop songs, with Hugh Cornwell now cooing instead of growling the likes of "Let Me Down Easy" and "No Mercy," and especially "Skin Deep." This stuff is almost as quiet and soulful as what the Passions have been up to, and thats what really surprises. And lets be honest -- the previous one or two Stranglers albums had some OK tunes but seemed stuck for new direction, so now theyve finally settled on where they want to go after a decade of playing such harder music. You just never thought they could transition to this contrasting style so well. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 43 Title: Off the Beaten Track Released: 1986 Tracks: 13 Duration: 43:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Go Buddy Go (03:58) 2 Top Secret (03:26) 3 Old Codger (02:51) 4 Maninwhite (04:24) 5 Rok It to the Moon (02:47) 6 Love 30 (03:57) 7 Shut Up (01:07) 8 Walk On By (06:21) 9 Vietnamerica (04:14) 10 Mean to Me (01:55) 11 Cruel Garden (02:17) 12 Yellowcake UF6 (02:59) 13 5 Minutes (03:17) |
 | Album: 10 of 43 Title: Dreamtime Released: 1986-10 Tracks: 10 Duration: 43:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Always the Sun (04:52) 2 Dreamtime (03:43) 3 Was It You? (03:41) 4 You’ll Always Reap What You Sow (05:14) 5 Ghost Train (05:06) 6 Nice in Nice (03:56) 7 Big in America (03:19) 8 Shakin’ Like a Leaf (02:37) 9 Mayan Skies (03:59) 10 Too Precious (06:44) |
| Dreamtime : Allmusic album Review : After Aural Sculpture, this came as a major disappointment. Its not awful, but neither is it in any way essential. The attempts to go ethnic on the likes of "Mayan Skies" and the title track (taken from the Aboriginal concept of an unconscious journey) are pretty embarrassing. There are a couple of good songs, like "Always the Sun" and "Nice in Nice" (a less than contrite look back at the riot in France which got the band thrown in jail for a few weeks), but thats simply not enough for a once great band. And Hugh Cornwells rhyming of "And who gets the job?/Of pushing the knob" on the former turns an otherwise beautiful song into silliness. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 43 Title: IV Released: 1987 Tracks: 14 Duration: 51:40 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 The Raven (05:13) 2 Baroque Bordello (03:50) 3 Duchess (02:30) 4 Nuclear Device (03:31) 5 Meninblack (04:48) 6 5 Minutes (03:17) 7 Rok It to the Moon (02:47) 8 Vietnamerica (04:09) 9 G.m.b.H (03:51) 10 Who Wants the World? (03:22) 11 Ode to Joy / Do the European (04:27) 12 Choosey Susie (03:12) 13 White Room (03:52) 14 Straighten Out (02:45) |
| IV : Allmusic album Review : A stopgap American-only release that introduced the then-new song "Vietnamerica." No small irony there, given that the Stranglers never thought much of the U.S. (check out "Dead Loss Angeles" on The Raven or the later single "Big in America"). When they lost all of their equipment to New York thieves around this time, that just about set the seal on their contempt for the country. In addition to five tracks from 1979s superb The Raven plus recent singles, the album originally came with a free 7" EP (featuring Stranglers chestnuts "Choosey Suzie" and "Straighten Out," as well as one track each from the recent solo work of Burnel and Cornwell). | ||
 | Album: 12 of 43 Title: Rarities Released: 1988 Tracks: 19 Duration: 1:06:08 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Choosey Susie (03:12) 2 Peaches (04:05) 3 Mony Mony (03:04) 4 Mean to Me (feat. The Stranglers) (02:01) 5 No More Heroes (02:56) 6 Walk On By (04:25) 7 Sverige (02:51) 8 N’emmènes pas Harry (04:16) 9 Fools Rush Out (02:11) 10 Bear Cage (extended 12″ mix) (06:31) 11 Shah Shah a Go Go (12″ version) (05:21) 12 The Meninblack (instrumental) (03:35) 13 La Folie (radio edit) (03:48) 14 Rok It to the Moon (02:47) 15 Shut Up (01:07) 16 Old Codger (02:50) 17 Yellowcake UF6 (02:59) 18 Vietnamerica (04:05) 19 Love 30 (03:57) |
 | Album: 13 of 43 Title: Singles (The U.A. Years) Released: 1989 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:14:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 (Get a) Grip (on Yourself) (04:02) 2 Peaches (04:08) 3 Go Buddy Go (03:58) 4 Something Better Change (03:38) 5 Straighten Out (02:46) 6 No More Heroes (03:28) 7 5 Minutes (03:17) 8 Nice n Sleazy (03:14) 9 Walk On By (06:21) 10 Duchess (02:30) 11 Nuclear Device (03:34) 12 Don’t Bring Harry (04:09) 13 Bear Cage (02:50) 14 Who Wants the World? (03:13) 15 Thrown Away (03:31) 16 Just Like Nothing on Earth (03:55) 17 Let Me Introduce You to the Family (03:10) 18 Golden Brown (03:28) 19 La folie (06:08) 20 Strange Little Girl (02:42) |
 | Album: 14 of 43 Title: 10 Released: 1990-05 Tracks: 10 Duration: 36:22 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Sweet Smell of Success (03:21) 2 Someone Like You (02:54) 3 96 Tears (03:04) 4 In This Place (03:38) 5 Let’s Celebrate (04:15) 6 Man of the Earth (03:22) 7 Too Many Teardrops (03:46) 8 Where I Live (03:31) 9 Out of My Mind (04:08) 10 Never to Look Back (04:18) |
| 10 : Allmusic album Review : Over an illustrious history (and dont let those so-called punk historians tell you that they either werent punk or werent important) the Stranglers actually released very, very few bad albums. 10, sad to say, is one of the few, and its an absolute stinker. Having creaked into the 90s, this proved to be the final album from the original lineup (whod been together for 15 years), their tenth studio album giving them the inspiration for the title. The truth is, there was barely concealed hatred percolating between main men Jean-Jacques Burnel and Hugh Cornwell. Yet rather than produce any kind of edge, the tensions inexplicably resulted in this meager fare of dislocated pop and half-assed R&B. There really are no discernible redeeming features. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 43 Title: Greatest Hits 1977–1990 Released: 1990-11 Tracks: 15 Duration: 54:13 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Peaches (04:06) 2 Something Better Change (03:35) 3 No More Heroes (03:28) 4 Walk On By (06:21) 5 Duchess (02:30) 6 Golden Brown (03:28) 7 Strange Little Girl (02:42) 8 European Female (04:02) 9 Skin Deep (03:54) 10 Nice in Nice (03:46) 11 Always the Sun (04:05) 12 Big in America (03:05) 13 All Day and All of the Night (02:31) 14 96 Tears (03:04) 15 No Mercy (03:30) |
| Greatest Hits 1977–1990 : Allmusic album Review : Despite its rather cheeky title, Greatest Hits 1977-1990 is a good place to sample the entire Stranglers output. From the squalor of the late-70s material, to the smoothed-out gloom pop of songs like "Skin Deep" and other mid- to late-80s neo-goth rock, this is a solid anthology that values substance over style and exhaustive track selection. For sure, a well-edited Stranglers anthology is the only way to enjoy them; they recorded way too much dross to spend time searching out all of their plentiful, marginal records. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 43 Title: Stranglers in the Night Released: 1992 Tracks: 12 Duration: 51:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Time to Die (03:50) 2 Sugar Bullets (05:25) 3 Heaven or Hell (04:30) 4 Laughing at the Rain (03:41) 5 This Town (05:18) 6 Brainbox (02:48) 7 Southern Mountains (03:45) 8 Gain Entry to Your Soul (04:28) 9 Grand Canyon (04:10) 10 Wet Afternoon (04:01) 11 Never See (04:00) 12 Leave It to the Dogs (05:31) |
| Stranglers in the Night : Allmusic album Review : They should have changed the name. No, this isnt the Stranglers, the band that made ten pretty great studio albums with Hugh Cornwell at the helm. His departure is huge, since his replacement, Paul Roberts (on vocals; ex-Vibrators and late-70s punk contemporary John Ellis fills his guitar shoes), just cant cut it. He tries hard, but all the warmth of the last decade of Cornwells singing (think "Always the Sun" and "Skin Deep") was too essential to the Stranglers post-punk days to call this their real 11th album. Bassist Jean Jacques Burnel should have taken over the vocals himself; he always did a great job on such songs as "Nice in Nice." In the Night is not a total stinker; after all, Burnel and Jet Black have been an inspired rhythm section for 20 years, and Dave Greenfield is still good at sticking in his little bits for style and emphasis. But Roberts Jim Morrison-like voice is just too distracting, and the songwriting has fallen off without Cornwell as well. Even the much-maligned swan song 10 had a batch of winning songs on it (such as "Sweet Smell of Success"), but despite the pleasant ambience of "Southern Mountains," "This Town," "Heaven and Hell," and the opening "Time to Die" (which, with its talking bits, recalls Felines opener "Midnight Summer Dream"), the combination of the over-baked Morrison-esque vocals and lesser hooks make In the Night an OK but unimportant non-starter. If it were a new band, we could look at it as potential. But so long as they keep the old name, we think of all the classic songs we loved, and this poor, last-legs horse they flog lost its life when Cornwell walked. Boo hoo. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 43 Title: All Twelve Inches Released: 1992 Tracks: 12 Duration: 1:12:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Midnight Summer Dream (extended version) (10:38) 2 Skin Deep (extended version) (07:14) 3 No Mercy (Cement mix) (06:47) 4 Let Me Down Easy (extended version) (06:32) 5 Nice in Nice (Porridge mix) (06:13) 6 Always the Sun (Hot mix) (05:58) 7 Big in America (Texas mix) (05:00) 8 Shakin Like a Leaf (Jelly mix) (04:17) 9 All Day and All of the Night (Jeff remix) (04:32) 10 Was It You? (extended version) (05:22) 11 96 Tears (The Tearaway mix) (05:01) 12 Sweet Smell of Success (Indie-pendence mix) (05:09) |
 | Album: 18 of 43 Title: The Early Years 74 75 76: Rare Live & Unreleased Released: 1994 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:13:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 (Get a) Grip (on Yourself) (04:02) 2 Bitching (demo 1974) (03:37) 3 Go Buddy Go (demo 1974) (03:52) 4 Get a Grip (live) (04:22) 5 Sometimes (05:11) 6 Bitching (live) (04:28) 7 Peasant in the Big Shitty (live) (03:14) 8 Hanging Around (live) (04:37) 9 Peaches (04:04) 10 Ugly (live) (04:39) 11 Down in the Sewer (live) (07:07) 12 Go Buddy Go (live) (07:02) 13 Wasted (03:30) 14 Strange Little Girl (03:32) 15 My Young Dreams (02:46) 16 Princess of the Streets (live) (06:52) |
 | Album: 19 of 43 Title: The Old Testament: The U.A. Studio Recordings (1977–1982) Released: 1994 Tracks: 83 Duration: 4:59:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Sometimes (04:55) 2 Goodbye Toulouse (03:16) 3 London Lady (02:32) 4 Princess of the Streets (04:37) 5 Hanging Around (04:27) 6 Peaches (04:06) 7 (Get a) Grip (on Yourself) (04:02) 8 Ugly (04:07) 9 Down in the Sewer: (a) Falling / (b) Down in the Sewer / (c) Trying to Get Out Again / (d) Rats Rally (07:54) 10 Choosey Susie (03:12) 11 Go Buddy Go (03:58) 12 I Feel Like a Wog (03:17) 13 Bitching (04:26) 14 Dead Ringer (02:46) 15 Dagenham Dave (03:18) 16 Bring on the Nubiles (02:16) 17 Something Better Change (03:35) 18 No More Heroes (03:28) 1 Peasant in the Big Shitty (03:26) 2 Burning Up Time (02:24) 3 English Towns (02:13) 4 School Mam (07:06) 5 Straighten Out (02:46) 6 5 Minutes (03:17) 7 Rok It to the Moon (02:47) 8 Tank (02:56) 9 Nice ’n’ Sleazy (03:12) 10 Outside Tokyo (02:08) 11 Sweden (All Quiet on the Eastern Front) (02:50) 12 Hey! (Rise of the Robots) (02:15) 13 Toiler on the Sea (05:25) 14 Curfew (03:15) 15 Threatened (03:34) 16 In the Shadows (04:36) 17 Do You Wanna (02:28) 18 Death and Night and Blood (Yukio) (02:49) 19 Enough Time (04:18) 20 Shut Up (01:07) 21 Walk On By (06:21) 22 Mean to Me (01:55) 23 Old Codger (02:49) 1 Longships (01:10) 2 The Raven (05:13) 3 Dead Loss Angeles (02:24) 4 Ice (03:25) 5 Baroque Bordello (03:50) 6 Nuclear Device (03:31) 7 Shah Shah a Go Go (04:50) 8 Don’t Bring Harry (04:09) 9 Duchess (02:30) 10 Meninblack (04:48) 11 Genetix (05:16) 12 Fools Rush Out (02:11) 13 Yellowcake UF6 (02:59) 14 Vietnamerica (04:02) 15 Bear Cage (02:50) 16 Who Wants the World? (03:13) 17 Waltzinblack (03:38) 18 Just Like Nothing on Earth (03:55) 19 Second Coming (04:22) 20 Waiting for the Meninblack (03:44) 21 Turn the Centuries, Turn (04:34) 1 Two Sunspots (02:32) 2 Four Horsemen (03:40) 3 Thrown Away (03:30) 4 Manna Machine (03:17) 5 Hallow to Our Men (07:26) 6 Top Secret (03:26) 7 Maninwhite (04:27) 8 Non Stop (02:29) 9 Everybody Loves You When You’re Dead (02:42) 10 Tramp (03:05) 11 Let Me Introduce You to the Family (03:08) 12 Ain’t Nothin’ to It (03:58) 13 The Man They Love to Hate (04:26) 14 Pin Up (02:49) 15 It Only Takes Two to Tango (03:41) 16 Golden Brown (03:28) 17 How to Find True Love and Happiness in the Present Day (03:07) 18 La Folie (06:05) 19 Love 30 (03:57) 20 Strange Little Girl (02:42) 21 Cruel Garden (02:14) |
 | Album: 20 of 43 Title: Live in Concert Released: 1995 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:10:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Introduction (01:53) 2 (Get a) Grip (On Yourself) (03:42) 3 Hanging Around (04:09) 4 Tank (03:03) 5 Threatened (03:21) 6 Toiler on the Sea (05:19) 7 The Raven (04:30) 8 Dead Loss Angeles (02:18) 9 Nice ’n’ Sleazy (06:44) 10 Bring on the Nubiles (04:00) 11 Peaches (04:34) 12 Bear Cage (04:41) 13 Duchess (02:44) 14 No More Heroes (03:49) 15 Five Minutes (04:13) 16 Something Better Change (03:43) 17 Down in the Sewer (07:35) |
 | Album: 21 of 43 Title: About Time Released: 1995-05-01 Tracks: 11 Duration: 44:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Golden Boy (03:14) 2 Money (03:20) 3 Face (03:26) 4 Sinister (04:43) 5 Little Blue Lies (03:33) 6 Still Life (05:19) 7 Paradise Row (03:51) 8 She Gave It All (04:44) 9 Lies and Deception (03:49) 10 Lucky Finger (04:13) 11 And the Boat Sails By (04:35) |
| About Time : Allmusic album Review : About Time is a competent but unexceptional record from the latter-day Stranglers, featuring a couple of tough, catchy songs that recall the groups heyday ("Lies and Deception," "Golden Boy"), but it is largely bogged down by tepid songwriting and undistinguished performances. | ||
 | Album: 22 of 43 Title: The Hit Men Released: 1996 Tracks: 43 Duration: 2:32:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 (Get a) Grip (on Yourself) (Grip ’89) (04:01) 2 London Lady (02:32) 3 Peaches (04:06) 4 Go Buddy Go (03:58) 5 Hanging Around (04:27) 6 Choosey Susie (03:12) 7 Something Better Change (03:36) 8 Straighten Out (02:46) 9 No More Heroes (03:28) 10 English Towns (02:13) 11 5 Minutes (03:17) 12 Nice ’n’ Sleazy (03:12) 13 Toiler on the Sea (05:25) 14 Mean to Me (01:55) 15 Walk On By (06:21) 16 Duchess (02:30) 17 Nuclear Device (03:31) 18 Don’t Bring Harry (04:09) 19 The Raven (05:13) 20 Bear Cage (02:50) 21 Who Wants the World? (03:13) 1 Waltzinblack (03:38) 2 Thrown Away (03:30) 3 Just Like Nothing on Earth (03:55) 4 Let Me Introduce You to the Family (03:08) 5 Golden Brown (03:28) 6 La Folie (06:05) 7 Tramp (03:05) 8 Strange Little Girl (02:41) 9 European Female (04:02) 10 Midnight Summer Dream (03:46) 11 Paradise (03:10) 12 Skin Deep (03:54) 13 No Mercy (03:31) 14 Let Me Down Easy (03:21) 15 Nice in Nice (03:46) 16 Always the Sun (Sunny Side Up mix) (03:58) 17 Big in America (03:05) 18 Shakin’ Like a Leaf (02:35) 19 Was It You? (remix) (02:58) 20 All Day and All of the Night (02:31) 21 96 Tears (03:04) 22 Sweet Smell of Success (02:49) |
 | Album: 23 of 43 Title: The Best of the Epic Years Released: 1997 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:10:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 European Female (album version) (04:04) 2 Midnight Summer Dream (7″ edit) (03:48) 3 Paradise (album version) (03:52) 4 Skin Deep (7″ edit) (03:55) 5 No Mercy (7″ edit) (03:40) 6 Hot Club (instrumental) (03:02) 7 Let Me Down Easy (7″ edit) (04:14) 8 Nice in Nice (7″ edit) (03:55) 9 Always the Sun (original 7″ edit) (04:06) 10 Big in America (7″ edit) (03:20) 11 Shakin’ Like a Leaf (02:37) 12 All Day and All of the Night (02:31) 13 Was It You (7″ version) (02:58) 14 96 Tears (7″ edit) (03:13) 15 Sweet Smell of Success (7″ edit) (02:51) 16 No Mercy (Cement mix) (06:48) 17 Always the Sun (Long Hot Sunny Side Up mix, 12″ version) (05:57) 18 Sweet Smell of Success (Strangled House mix – 12″ version) (05:09) |
 | Album: 24 of 43 Title: The Collection Released: 1997 Tracks: 18 Duration: 59:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Walk On By (06:21) 2 Go Buddy Go (03:58) 3 Top Secret (03:27) 4 Old Codger (02:51) 5 Man in White (04:29) 6 Rok It to the Moon (02:47) 7 Love 30 (03:57) 8 Shut Up (01:06) 9 Vietnamerica (04:06) 10 Mean to Me (01:55) 11 Cruel Garden (02:17) 12 Yellowcake UF6 (02:59) 13 5 Minutes (03:17) 14 Sverige (02:50) 15 Nemmenes Pas Harry (04:17) 16 Fools Rush Out (02:11) 17 (Get a) Grip (on Yourself) (04:02) 18 Straighten Out (02:45) |
 | Album: 25 of 43 Title: Written in Red Released: 1997-01-27 Tracks: 11 Duration: 40:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Valley of the Birds (03:15) 2 In Heaven She Walks (03:48) 3 In a While (03:19) 4 Silver Into Blue (03:28) 5 Blue Sky (03:40) 6 Here (04:21) 7 Joy de Viva (03:39) 8 Miss You (03:51) 9 Daddy’s Riding the Range (04:19) 10 Summer in the City (03:26) 11 Wonderful Land (03:39) |
| Written in Red : Allmusic album Review : The Stranglers, now without Hugh Cornwell, return to the synth-spiked territory of their latter-day records with the Andy Gill-produced Written in Red. Though the group sounds tight and professional, the record lacks strong songs, making Written in Red an utterly undistinguished album. | ||
 | Album: 26 of 43 Title: Collection Released: 1998 Tracks: 14 Duration: 45:24 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Golden Brown (03:28) 2 No More Heroes (03:28) 3 Pin Up (02:45) 4 Sometimes (04:50) 5 Mean to Me (02:23) 6 London Lady (02:23) 7 Cruel Garden (02:17) 8 Tank (02:56) 9 Goodbye Toulouse (03:15) 10 Straighten Out (02:57) 11 Waltzinblack (03:38) 12 Who Wants the World? (03:13) 13 It Only Takes Two to Tango (03:35) 14 Hanging Around (04:11) |
 | Album: 27 of 43 Title: Coup de Grace Released: 1998-10-26 Tracks: 10 Duration: 42:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 God Is Good (04:02) 2 You Don’t Think That What You’ve Done Is Wrong (03:12) 3 Tonight (03:18) 4 Jump Over My Shadow (04:31) 5 Miss You (05:04) 6 Coup de grace (S-O-S) (03:24) 7 In the End (03:14) 8 No Reason (05:15) 9 Known Only Unto God (04:40) 10 The Light (05:59) |
 | Album: 28 of 43 Title: Hits and Heroes Released: 1999-10-04 Tracks: 37 Duration: 2:16:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 (Get a) Grip (on Yourself) (04:02) 2 Peaches (04:06) 3 Hanging Around (04:27) 4 Go Buddy Go (03:58) 5 Something Better Change (03:36) 6 Straighten Out (02:46) 7 No More Heroes (03:28) 8 5 Minutes (03:17) 9 Nice ’n’ Sleazy (03:12) 10 Walk On By (06:21) 11 Duchess (02:30) 12 Nuclear Device (03:31) 13 Who Wants the World? (03:13) 14 Golden Brown (03:28) 15 La Folie (06:05) 16 Strange Little Girl (02:42) 1 Choosey Susie (03:12) 2 Peaches (04:05) 3 No More Heroes (02:56) 4 Mony Mony (03:04) 5 Mean to Me (02:00) 6 Rok It to the Moon (02:47) 7 Shut Up (01:07) 8 Walk On By (04:25) 9 Sverige (02:49) 10 Old Codger (02:49) 11 Fools Rush Out (02:11) 12 N’emmènes pas Harry (04:16) 13 Yellowcake UF6 (02:59) 14 Bear Cage (12″ version) (06:29) 15 Shah Shah a Go Go (12″ version) (05:21) 16 Tomorrow Was Hereafter (04:03) 17 Cocktail Nubiles (07:08) 18 The Meninblack (Waiting for ’em) (03:33) 19 Vietnamerica (04:02) 20 Love 30 (03:57) 21 You Hold the Key to My Love in Your Hands (02:38) |
| Hits and Heroes : Allmusic album Review : The British double-disc retrospective Hits and Heroes does a better than average job of presenting the Stranglers best-known singles and evolving sound as a relatively concise, yet deep, collection. Disc one covers "Get a Grip (On Yourself)," "Walk on By," "Hanging Around," "Golden Brown," "Duchess," and the other usual suspects, and also includes the videos for "No More Heroes," "Golden Brown," and "Duchess." Disc two includes alternate edits of "Peaches" and "No More Heroes," as well as their Celia & the Mutations singles "Mony Mony" and "Mean to Me." "The Meninblack (Waiting for Em)," "Fools Rush Out," "Tomorrow Was Hereafter," and "Yellowcage UFG" are some of the discs other highlights. Overall, Hits and Heroes is an entertaining overview of the Stranglers late-70s/early-80s output and is worth seeking out. | ||
 | Album: 29 of 43 Title: Out of the Black Released: 2002 Tracks: 16 Duration: 13:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 God Is Good (04:02) 2 No More Heroes (live) (?) 3 Money (?) 4 Little Blue Lies (?) 5 Golden Brown (live) (?) 6 Coup de grace (S-O-S) (03:24) 7 Miss You (?) 8 Summer in the City (?) 9 Valley of the Birds (02:39) 10 Joy de Viva (?) 11 No Reason (?) 12 Strange Little Girl (live) (?) 13 Lies & Deception (?) 14 Blue Sky (03:40) 15 All Day and All of the Night (live) (?) 16 Always the Sun (live) (?) |
 | Album: 30 of 43 Title: Peaches: The Very Best Of Released: 2002 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:12:59 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Peaches (04:06) 2 Golden Brown (03:28) 3 Walk On By (04:25) 4 No More Heroes (03:28) 5 Skin Deep (03:54) 6 Hanging Around (04:27) 7 All Day and All of the Night (02:31) 8 Straighten Out (02:46) 9 Nice ’n’ Sleazy (03:12) 10 Strange Little Girl (02:42) 11 Who Wants the World? (03:13) 12 Something Better Change (03:35) 13 Always the Sun (Sunny Side Up mix) (03:58) 14 European Female (04:02) 15 (Get a) Grip (on Yourself) (Grip ’89) (04:01) 16 Duchess (02:30) 17 5 Minutes (03:17) 18 Don’t Bring Harry (04:09) 19 La Folie (06:05) 20 96 Tears (03:04) |
 | Album: 31 of 43 Title: Gold Released: 2003 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:40:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Waltzinblack (02:19) 2 Valley of the Birds (02:42) 3 Strange Little Girl (02:49) 4 Summer in the City (03:30) 5 Lies and Deception (03:50) 6 Here (04:21) 7 Tonight (03:19) 8 Miss You (03:53) 9 Always the Sun (04:10) 10 Known Only Unto God (04:42) 11 Wonderful Land (03:39) 12 Let Me Down Easy (04:17) 13 Joy De Viva (03:40) 14 All Day and All of the Night (03:20) 1 God Is Good (04:02) 2 No Reason (05:16) 3 5 Minutes (03:39) 4 No More Heroes (03:50) 5 In Heaven She Walks (03:48) 6 The Light (05:57) 7 Blue Sky (03:42) 8 Golden Brown (04:17) 9 Down in the Sewer (07:12) 10 Jump Over My Shadow (04:33) 11 Coup de grace (S-O-S) (03:24) |
 | Album: 32 of 43 Title: Norfolk Coast Released: 2003 Tracks: 11 Duration: 40:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Norfolk Coast (03:44) 2 Big Thing Coming (03:00) 3 Long Black Veil (04:01) 4 I’ve Been Wild (02:43) 5 Dutch Moon (03:56) 6 Lost Control (03:29) 7 Into the Fire (04:12) 8 Tucker’s Grave (05:57) 9 I Don’t Agree (03:21) 10 Sanfte Kuss (02:23) 11 Mine All Mine (03:10) |
| Norfolk Coast : Allmusic album Review : Celebrating the Stranglers 30th anniversary, Norfolk Coast -- the veteran U.K. punk ensembles first album in six years -- may lack the magic of the many discs the group made with original frontman Hugh Cornwell in tow, but its still respectable in its own right. While Paul Roberts gives his own pub rock style to the vocal duties Cornwell left behind in 1990, its bassist/lyricist Jean Jacques Burnel who is the spark that kindles the bands latest achievement. Burnels aggressive rhythms give life -- along with Dave Greenfields proven keyboard abilities -- to the title opener and they resonate throughout, but "Big Thing Coming" is a vibrant rocker of its own, courtesy of new guitar wizard Baz Warne and the machine-gun drumming of Jet Black. Sure, "Long Black Veil" is sluggish pop -- but the Stranglers have always transcended this form, as evidenced by 1984s "Skin Deep" and 1986s iconic "Always the Sun." Matters trend downward by the time the lackluster blues number "Dutch Moon" arrives, and "Into the Fire" is disappointing, anonymous rock. In a nutshell, Norfolk Coast is hit and miss. Yet there are enough moments of redemption here (the scorching "Lost Control" and the scathing manifesto "I Dont Agree" among them) to give a nod of approval to this legendary troupe. | ||
 | Album: 33 of 43 Title: Sweet Smell of Success: The Best of the Epic Years Released: 2003 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:10:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Sweet Smell of Success (02:51) 2 96 Tears (03:04) 3 All Day and All of the Night (02:31) 4 Shakin’ Like a Leaf (02:37) 5 Big in America (03:19) 6 Always the Sun (04:05) 7 Nice in Nice (03:56) 8 Let Me Down Easy (04:14) 9 No Mercy (03:40) 10 Skin Deep (03:54) 11 Paradise (03:51) 12 Midnight Summer Dream (03:48) 13 European Female (04:02) 14 Strange Little Girl (02:40) 15 Golden Brown (live) (03:28) 16 Who Wants the World (02:58) 17 Nuclear Device (live) (03:36) 18 Nice ’n’ Sleazy (live) (04:22) 19 No More Heroes (live) (03:37) 20 Peaches (live) (03:48) |
 | Album: 34 of 43 Title: Miss You Released: 2003-03-10 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:01:49 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Silver Into Blue (03:28) 2 No More Heroes (03:51) 3 Blue Sky (03:40) 4 Joy De Viva (03:40) 5 Coup de grace (S-O-S) (03:24) 6 God Is Good (04:02) 7 No Reason (05:17) 8 Miss You (05:05) 9 Little Blue Lies (03:34) 10 Golden Brown (04:14) 11 Valley of the Birds (03:15) 12 Lucky Finger (04:10) 13 Strange Little Girl (02:40) 14 Always the Sun (04:07) 15 Summer in the City (03:30) 16 Lies & Deception (03:44) |
 | Album: 35 of 43 Title: In Retrospect Released: 2006 Tracks: 12 Duration: 44:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 No More Heroes (03:40) 2 Waltzinblack (02:16) 3 Valley of the Birds (02:39) 4 Always the Sun (04:05) 5 God Is Good (03:54) 6 All Day and All of the Night (03:11) 7 Coup de grace (S-O-S) (03:24) 8 Summer in the City (03:27) 9 Wonderful Land (03:39) 10 Golden Brown (04:13) 11 Lies & Deception (03:46) 12 The Light (05:52) |
 | Album: 36 of 43 Title: The Very Best of the Stranglers Released: 2006-06-12 Tracks: 21 Duration: 1:15:31 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 No More Heroes (03:28) 2 Something Better Change (03:35) 3 Peaches (04:06) 4 Golden Brown (03:28) 5 Nice ’n’ Sleazy (03:12) 6 Duchess (02:30) 7 (Get a) Grip (on Yourself) (04:02) 8 Nice in Nice (03:56) 9 Hanging Around (04:27) 10 Skin Deep (03:54) 11 All Day and All of the Night (02:31) 12 Strange Little Girl (02:42) 13 European Female (04:02) 14 No Mercy (03:39) 15 Big in America (03:19) 16 Let Me Down Easy (04:12) 17 Midnight Summer Dream (03:48) 18 Walk On By (04:25) 19 Big Thing Coming (03:00) 20 Always the Sun (04:05) 21 96 Tears (03:04) |
 | Album: 37 of 43 Title: Suite XVI Released: 2006-09-18 Tracks: 11 Duration: 40:32 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Unbroken (03:47) 2 Spectre of Love (03:34) 3 She’s Slipping Away (03:28) 4 Summat Outanowt (02:14) 5 Anything Can Happen (03:54) 6 See Me Coming (03:55) 7 Bless You (Save You, Spare You, Damn You) (05:34) 8 A Soldier’s Diary (02:19) 9 Barbara (Shangri-La) (03:43) 10 I Hate You (02:58) 11 Relentless (05:01) |
| Suite XVI : Allmusic album Review : Among their brethren in the first graduating class of British punk, the Stranglers are one band who seem admirably uninterested in spiky-haired nostalgia. Rather than simply mining their past, the Stranglers continue to write and record fresh material in their trademark style, and 2006s Suite XVI (their 16th studio album, natch) features a full three-quarters of the lineup that recorded Rattus Norvegicus back in 1977 (even the "new guy," guitarist Baz Warne, had close to five years under his belt with the Stranglers by the time this disc hit the shops). Following the muscular-but-hooky pattern of the groups mid- to late-80s commercial high point rather than the sinister lurch of their earliest stuff, Suite XVI is plenty lively and generates a good head of aggressive steam on most cuts, especially the bitter "Summat Outanowt" and the passionate opener "Unbroken." However, while the Stranglers are to be congratulated for keeping their muse alive and functioning, that doesnt change the fact Suite XVI sound annoyingly pro forma; while the band sounds as skillful as ever (especially Jean Jacques Burnels thick bass and Jet Blacks powerful drumming), they havent learned a whole lot of new melodic tricks over the course of three decades, and Dave Greenfield still sounds like he wishes he was Ray Manzarek without getting any closer to reaching that goal. And the tunes feel like variations on a theme the Stranglers have been slowly wearing into the ground since the day they started; Suite XVI is the work of a band who still have the focus and wherewithal to continue what they started, but left their best ideas behind them years ago, and for all the craft on display, these guys are just going in circles as they run out of gas. | ||
 | Album: 38 of 43 Title: No More Heroes Released: 2007 Tracks: 14 Duration: 51:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 No More Heroes (03:35) 2 Summer in the City (03:26) 3 Coup de grace (03:24) 4 Miss You (05:05) 5 Golden Brown (04:15) 6 In Heaven She Walks (03:49) 7 In a While (03:18) 8 Always the Sun (04:03) 9 Strange Little Girl (02:45) 10 Blue Sky (03:42) 11 Joy De Viva (03:38) 12 European Female (03:35) 13 5 Minutes (03:37) 14 All Day and All of the Night (03:11) |
| No More Heroes : Allmusic album Review : Rattus Norvegicus, the Stranglers first album (and first of two in 1977), was hardly a punk rock classic, but it outsold every other punk album and remains a pretty good chunk of art-punk. On the other hand, No More Heroes, recorded three months later and released in September 1977, is faster, nastier, and better. At this point the Stranglers were on top of their game, and the ferocity and anger that suffuses this record would never be repeated. Hugh Cornwells testosterone level is very high, but its still an enjoyable bit of noise that holds up better than anyone would have guessed at the time. | ||
 | Album: 39 of 43 Title: Anthology Released: 2007 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:40:21 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Waltzinblack (02:19) 2 Valley of the Birds (02:42) 3 Strange Little Girl (02:49) 4 Summer in the City (03:30) 5 Lies and Deception (03:50) 6 Here (04:21) 7 Tonight (03:19) 8 Miss You (03:53) 9 Always the Sun (04:10) 10 Known Only Unto God (04:42) 11 Wonderful Land (03:39) 12 Let Me Down Easy (04:17) 13 Joy De Viva (03:40) 14 All Day and All of the Night (03:20) 1 God Is Good (04:02) 2 No Reason (05:16) 3 5 Minutes (03:39) 4 No More Heroes (03:50) 5 In Heaven She Walks (03:48) 6 The Light (05:57) 7 Blue Sky (03:42) 8 Golden Brown (04:17) 9 Down in the Sewer (07:12) 10 Jump Over My Shadow (04:32) 11 Coup de grace (S-O-S) (03:24) |
 | Album: 40 of 43 Title: Golden Brown Released: 2007-02-17 Tracks: 28 Duration: 1:43:22 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 No More Heroes (03:35) 2 Summer in the City (03:27) 3 Coup de grace (03:24) 4 Miss You (05:05) 5 Golden Brown (04:15) 6 In Heaven She Walks (03:49) 7 In a While (03:18) 8 Always the Sun (04:03) 9 Strange Little Girl (02:45) 10 Blue Sky (03:42) 11 Joy De Viva (03:38) 12 European Female (03:35) 13 5 Minutes (03:37) 14 All Day and All of the Night (03:11) 1 God Is Good (04:02) 2 Waltzinblack (02:21) 3 Valley of the Birds (02:40) 4 Lies & Deception (03:50) 5 Lucky Finger (04:11) 6 Skin Deep (04:43) 7 Still Life (05:18) 8 Golden Boy (03:14) 9 She Gave It All (04:44) 10 Let Me Down Easy (04:15) 11 Tonight (03:18) 12 Money (03:21) 13 Duchess (02:18) 14 Little Blue Eyes (03:32) |
 | Album: 41 of 43 Title: The Story So Far Released: 2007-08-13 Tracks: 36 Duration: 2:05:06 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Peaches (04:08) 2 (Get a) Grip (on Yourself) (04:02) 3 London Lady (02:32) 4 Ugly (04:07) 5 Dagenham Dave (03:23) 6 I Feel Like a Wog (02:18) 7 Bring on the Nubiles (02:16) 8 Bitching (04:26) 9 No More Heroes (03:28) 10 English Towns (02:13) 11 Peasant in the Big Shitty (03:26) 12 Tank (02:56) 13 Sweden (All Quiet on the Eastern Front) (02:50) 14 Nice ’n’ Sleazy (03:12) 15 Mean to Me (01:55) 16 Walk On By (06:21) 17 Shut Up (01:07) 18 In the Shadows (04:36) 1 Nuclear Device (The Wizard of Aus) (03:33) 2 Raven (05:12) 3 Don’t Bring Harry (04:09) 4 Duchess (02:30) 5 5 Minutes (04:21) 6 Bear Cage (02:50) 7 Just Like Nothing on Earth (03:56) 8 Thrown Away (03:31) 9 Waiting for the Meninblack (03:44) 10 Non Stop (02:29) 11 Strange Little Girl (02:40) 12 Tramp (03:06) 13 La Folie (06:05) 14 Golden Brown (03:28) 15 Big Thing Coming (03:00) 16 Norfolk Coast (03:45) 17 Unbroken (03:47) 18 Spectre of Love (03:36) |
 | Album: 42 of 43 Title: Decade: The Best of 1981–1990 Released: 2009-07-27 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:00:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Golden Brown (03:28) 2 Strange Little Girl (02:42) 3 The European Female (In Celebration of) (04:02) 4 All Roads Lead to Rome (03:55) 5 Skin Deep (03:54) 6 No Mercy (03:38) 7 Spain (04:14) 8 Northwinds (04:04) 9 Always the Sun (04:05) 10 Nice in Nice (03:55) 11 Was It You (7″ version) (02:58) 12 All Day and All of the Night (02:31) 13 96 Tears (03:04) 14 You’ll Always Reap What You Sow (05:14) 15 Never Say Goodbye (04:11) 16 Never to Look Back (04:17) |
 | Album: 43 of 43 Title: Giants Released: 2012-03-05 Tracks: 24 Duration: 1:37:20 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Another Camden Afternoon (04:03) 2 Freedom Is Insane (06:13) 3 Giants (03:41) 4 Lowlands (03:14) 5 Boom Boom (03:21) 6 My Fickle Resolve (05:32) 7 Time Was Once on My Side (03:30) 8 Mercury Rising (03:36) 9 Adios (Tango) (04:39) 10 15 Steps (04:57) 1 Tits (05:50) 2 English Towns (02:57) 3 Southern Mountains (03:32) 4 European Female (03:49) 5 Instead of This (04:33) 6 Long Black Veil (03:57) 7 Dutch Moon (04:14) 8 My Fickle Resolve (04:40) 9 Don’t Bring Harry (03:49) 10 Cruel Garden (02:40) 11 Mine All Mine (03:38) 12 Bitching (04:36) 13 Old Codger (03:17) 14 Sanfte Kuss (02:50) |
| Giants : Allmusic album Review : Their first release since lead vocalist Paul Roberts departure, the Stranglers 17th studio album, Giants, sees one of the 70s punk scenes most enduring acts slip gracefully into grumpy old age. Indeed, with drummer Jet Black having turned 73 in 2012, the days of punching journalists and inciting riots are long gone, and instead, the newly trimmed four-piece choose to embrace their advancing years with a stream of world-weary if slightly cynical words of wisdom. The title track sees bassist Jean-Jacques Burnel, who shares the vocals with relative spring chicken Baz Warne throughout the album, offer his best Leonard Cohen impression on a swirling, organ-led ode to "how things aint what they used to be" ("Once there were giants walking amongst us/now I have to deal with little men with little hearts), a nostalgic theme also present on the 80s 2-Tone-meets-90s-Brit-pop "Time Was Once On My Side." To their credit, the band arent always so curmudgeonly in their music. Like its name suggests, "Adios -- Tango" is a bilingual Latin number which has shades of Santanas early-2000s comeback while "My Fickle Resolve" is an ominous slice of lounge-bar jazz which could have been lifted from Pulps under-rated This Is Hardcore. However, the quartet only really appear comfortable when they stick to what they know best, such as the opener "Another Camden Afternoon," a jam session instrumental which neatly interplays Burnels trademark melodic basslines with Warnes bluesy guitar riffs, and the pulsing power pop of "Freedom Is Insane." The Stranglers may be approaching their 40th anniversary, but while its unlikely to find an audience outside their die-hard following, Giants prove that theres still life left in them yet. | ||