The Stranglers: 1977 - 1984

 

The Stranglers are an English rock band. Scoring 23 UK top 40 singles and 19 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are one of the longest-surviving bands to

have originated in the UK punk scene. Although they rose to fame during the initial explosion of U.K. punk, the Stranglers always stood apart from the other bands from the class of 1977. They had been together before punk became the "next big thing", and while they had a great talent for being suitably rude and transgressive, their music didn't sound or feel much like the fast-loud guitar-based fury of the Damned, the Sex Pistols, or the Clash.
                         

      
Formed as the Guildford Stranglers in Guildford, Surrey, in early 1974, they originally built a following

within the mid-1970s pub rock scene. While their aggressive, no-compromise attitude had them identified by the media with the emerging UK punk rock scene that followed, their idiosyncratic approach rarely followed any single musical genre, and the group went on to explore a variety of musical styles, from new wave, art rock and gothic rock through the sophisti-pop of some of their 1980s output. They had major mainstream success with their 1982 single "Golden Brown". Their other hits include "No More Heroes", "Peaches", "Always the Sun", "Skin Deep" and "Big Thing Coming".
                  

The group was originally named The Guildford Stranglers, but they soon dropped the geographical prefix and the name, The Stranglers, was registered as a business on 11 September 1974 by Black. The

other original personnel were bass player/vocalist Jean-Jacques Burnel, guitarist/vocalist Hugh Cornwell and keyboardist/guitarist Hans Wärmling, who was replaced by keyboardist Dave Greenfield within a year.[17] None of the band came from the Guildford area apart from Burnel, who was originally from Notting Hill but moved to Godalming during his childhood. Black is from Ilford, Cornwell from Kentish Town and Greenfield from Brighton, while Wärmling came from Gothenburg and returned there after leaving the band.
                         

Cornwell was a blues musician before forming the band and had briefly been a bandmate of Richard

Thompson, Burnel had been a classical guitarist who had performed with symphony orchestras, Black's musical background was as a jazz drummer,[20] and Dave Greenfield had played at military bases in Germany. Their early influences included pre-punk psychedelic rock bands such as the Doors and the Music Machine.
                

With the passage of time, they developed a more pop-oriented sound, still dark but with potent melodies that allowed numbers like "Duchess," "Only the Sun," and "Golden Brown" to become hit singles. This

gave the Stranglers the time and opportunity to mature, and their songs became more nuanced and their production got cleaner and more user-friendly without entirely abandoning the sonic sneer that was always their trademark. Their first two albums, Rattus Norvegicus and No More Heroes (both released in 1977) typified the approach that won them fame, 1981's La Folie and 1984's Aural Sculpture are highlights from their more mature period, and 2004's Norfolk Coast showed the Stranglers were still a potent force even after lineup changes and 30 years in the game.
                

FORMER MEMBERS

Jet Black – drums, percussion (1974–2018; semi-retired from touring 2007–2018; died 2022)
Hugh Cornwell – lead and backing vocals, guitar (1974–1990)
Hans Wärmling – keyboards, backing vocals, guitar (1974–1975; died 1995)
Dave Greenfield – keyboards, backing and lead vocals (1975–2020; died 2020)
John Ellis – guitar, backing vocals (1990–2000)
Paul Roberts – lead vocals (1990–2006)

CURRENT MEMBERS

Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass, backing vocals (1974–present), lead vocals (1974–1990, 2006–present)
Baz Warne – guitar, backing vocals (2000–present), lead vocals (2006–present)
Jim Macaulay – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2018–present, touring musician: 2012–2018)
Toby Hounsham – keyboards, backing vocals (2021–present)

1. THE STRANGLERS - RATTUS NORVEGICUS 1977

          

Rattus Norvegicus (also known as The Stranglers IV) is the debut studio album by English punk rock

band the Stranglers, released on 15 April 1977.
It was one of the highest-selling albums of the punk era in Britain, eventually achieving platinum record sales. Two of its tracks, "Peaches" and "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)", were released as 7-inch singles in the UK. The album was originally going to be titled Dead on Arrival but it was changed at the last minute.
            

The Stranglers – IV Rattus Norvegicus
Label: EMI – 7243 5 34406 2 6, EMI – 534 4062
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Repress
Country: Europe
Released: 2011
Genre: Rock
Style: Punk

TRAXS

01. Sometimes    4:55
02. Goodbye Toulouse    3:17
03. London Lady    2:33
04. Princess Of The Streets    4:38
05. Hanging Around    4:27
06. Peaches    4:08
07. (Get A) Grip (On Yourself)    4:02
08. Ugly    4:08        
09. Down In The Sewer    (7:58)
9a. Falling    
9b. Down In The Sewer    
9c. Trying To Get Out Again    
9d. Rats Rally
    

BONUS TRAXS        

    
10. Choosey Susie    3:14
11. Go Buddy Go    3:58
12. Peasant In The Big Shitty (Live)    3:42
13. Walk On By  4:24

LINE - UP

Hugh Cornwell – guitars, lead and backing vocals
Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass guitar, lead and backing vocals
Dave Greenfield – keyboards (Hammond L100 Organ, Hohner Cembalet electric piano, Minimoog synthesizer), backing and lead vocals
Jet Black – drums, percussion

Flac Size: 347 MB

2. THE STRANGLERS - NO MORE HEROES 1977

                

No More Heroes is the second studio album by English new wave band the Stranglers. It was released

on 23 September 1977. No More Heroes was produced by Martin Rushent. The album consists of new material with four songs left over from the Rattus Norvegicus sessions ("Something Better Change", "Bitching", "Peasant in the Big Shitty" and "School Mam").
                   

The Stranglers – No More Heroes
Label: EMI – 7243 5 34407 2 5, EMI – 5344072
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Repress
Country: Europe
Released: 2008
Genre: Rock
Style: New Wave, Punk

TRAXS

          

01. I Feel Like A Wog    3:18
02. Bitching    4:26
03. Dead Ringer    2:46
04. Dagenham Dave    3:19
05. Bring On The Nubiles    2:16
06. Something Better Change    3:37
07. No More Heroes    3:29
80. Peasant In The Big Shitty    3:27
09. Burning Up Time    2:25
10. English Towns    2:12
11. School Mam    7:10

BONUS TRAXS

    
12. Straighten Out    2:46
13. Five Minutes    3:18
14. Rok It To The Moon    2:47

LINE - UP

Hugh Cornwell – guitars, lead and backing vocals
Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass guitar, lead and backing vocals
Dave Greenfield – keyboards (Hammond L100 Organ, Hohner Cembalet electric piano, Minimoog synthesizer), lead and backing vocals
Jet Black – drums, percussion

Flac Size: 318 MB

3. THE STRANGLERS - (ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES BOX) - BLACK AND WHITE 1978

                

Black and White is the third studio album by English new wave band the Stranglers. It was released on

12 May 1978, through record label United Artists in most of the world and A&M in America. As with the Stranglers' first two albums, Black and White was produced by Martin Rushent. The album sees the Stranglers adopting a more experimental approach to song structures and time signatures.
           

The Stranglers – Original Album Series
Label: Parlophone – 0825646048700
Series: Original Album Series
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Box Set, Compilation
Country: Europe
Released: 2015
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave, Pop Rock, Punk

TRAXS

                 

          
01. Tank
02. Nice 'N' Sleazy
03. Outside Tokyo
04. Sweden (All Quiet On The Eastern Front)
05. Hey! (Rise Of The Robots)
06. Toiler On The Sea
07. Curfew
08. Threatened
09. In The Shadows
10. Do You Wanna?
11. Death And Night And Blood (Yukio)
12. Enough Time

LINE - UP

Hugh Cornwell – guitar, lead and backing vocals (lead vocals on 1-6, 11, 12 and all bonus tracks except "Shut Up" and "Old Codger")
Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass guitar, lead and backing vocals (lead vocals on 7, 8, 10 and "Shut Up")
Dave Greenfield – keyboards (Hammond L100 Organ, Hohner Cembalet electric piano, Minimoog synthesizer), lead and backing vocals (lead vocals on 9)
Jet Black – drums, percussion

Flac Size: 291 MB

4. THE STRANGLERS - (ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES BOX) - Live (X CERT) 1979

               

Recorded at various gigs in 1977-78, Live (X Cert) is worthy if only to hear Hugh Cornwell bait and

insult the audience (very punk!). Plus the band sounds pretty good, loads of aggression and volume add to the fun. Not essential but a very interesting snapshot of an era.
           

The Stranglers – Original Album Series
Label: Parlophone – 0825646048700
Series: Original Album Series
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Box Set, Compilation
Country: Europe
Released: 2015
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave, Pop Rock, Punk

TRAXS

 

   
01. (Get A) Grip (On Yourself)
02. Dagenham Dave
03. Burning Up Time
04. Dead Ringer
05. Hanging Around
06. I Feel Like A Wog
07. Straighten Out
08. Curfew
09. Do You Wanna?/Death And Night And Blood (Yukio)
10. 5 Minutes
11. Go Buddy Go

Flac Size: 324 MB

5. THE STRANGLERS - (ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES BOX) - THE RAVEN 1979

                

The Raven is the fourth studio album by English new wave band the Stranglers, released on 15

September 1979, through record label United Artists. The first two songs, much of the artwork (the band is shown standing on the prow of a Viking longship on the back cover) and the album title refer to Norse mythology. The album deals with a variety of issues, including Japanese ritual suicide ("Ice"), heroin use ("Don't Bring Harry"), the Iranian Revolution ("Shah Shah a Go Go") and genetic engineering.
               

The Stranglers – Original Album Series
Label: Parlophone – 0825646048700
Series: Original Album Series
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Box Set, Compilation
Country: Europe
Released: 2015
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave, Pop Rock, Punk

TRAXS

         

  
01. Longships
02. The Raven
03. Dead Loss Angeles
04. Ice
05. Baroque Bordello
06. Nuclear Device
07. Shah Shah A Go Go
08. Don't Bring Harry
09. Duchess
10. The Meninblack
11. Genetix

LINE - UP

Hugh Cornwell – guitar, vocals, second bass ("Dead Loss Angeles")
Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass, vocals
Dave Greenfield – keyboards, vocals
Jet Black – drums

Flac Size: 297 MB

6. THE STRANGLERS - (ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES BOX) - THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THE MENINBLACK 1981

                

The Gospel According to the Meninblack (sometimes referred to as just The Meninblack) is the fifth

album by English rock band the Stranglers, an esoteric concept album released 9 February 1981 on the Liberty label. The album deals with conspiratorial ideas surrounding alien visitations to Earth, the sinister governmental men in black, and the involvement of these elements in well-known biblical narratives. This was not the first time the Stranglers had used this concept; "Meninblack" on the earlier The Raven album and subsequent 1980 single-release "Who Wants the World?" had also explored it.
                

The Stranglers – Original Album Series
Label: Parlophone – 0825646048700
Series: Original Album Series
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Box Set, Compilation
Country: Europe
Released: 2015
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave, Pop Rock, Punk

TRAXS

   

 
01. Waltzinblack
02. Just Like Nothing On Earth
03. Second Coming
04. Waiting For The Meninblack
05. Turn The Centuries, Turn
06. Two Sunspots
07. Four Horsemen
08. Thrown Away
09. Manna Machine
10. Hallow To Our Men

LINE - UP

Hugh Cornwell ("Hughinblack") – guitar, vocals, concept
Dave Greenfield ("Daveinblack") – keyboards, vocals
Jean-Jacques Burnel ("JJinblack") – bass, vocals
Jet Black ("Jetinblack") – drums, vocals, percussion[21]

Flac Size: 279 MB

7. THE STRANGLERS - (ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES BOX) - LA FOLIE 1981

              

La folie is the sixth studio album by English new wave band the Stranglers. It was released on 9

November 1981, through the EMI record label Liberty. The Stranglers had initially been the most commercially successful band of the punk/new wave period in Britain, but by 1981, their success had waned noticeably. La folie was a conscious attempt to deliver a more commercial product. It is co-produced by the band with engineer Steve Churchyard and mixed by Tony Visconti. The band's record company, EMI, gave Visconti a brief to mix each song as a potential single.
            

The Stranglers – Original Album Series
Label: Parlophone – 0825646048700
Series: Original Album Series
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Box Set, Compilation
Country: Europe
Released: 2015
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave, Pop Rock, Punk

TRAXS

     

  
01. Non Stop
02. Everybody Loves You When You're Dead
03. Tramp
04. Let Me Introduce You To The Family
05. Ain't Nothin' To It
06. The Man They Love To Hate
07. Pin Up
08. It Only Takes Two To Tango
09. Golden Brown
10. How To Find True Love And Happiness In The Present Day
11. La Folie

LINE - UP

Hugh Cornwell – guitar, lead and backing vocals
Dave Greenfield – keyboards
Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass, backing vocals, lead vocals on "The Man They Love to Hate" and "La folie", co-lead vocals on "It Only Takes Two to Tango"
Jet Black – drums, percussion

Flac Size: 263 MB

8. THE STRANGLERS - FELINE 1982

              

Feline is the seventh studio album by the Stranglers and was released on 14 January 1983 on the Epic

record label, their first for the label.[4] The first edition came with a free one-sided 7" single "Aural Sculpture Manifesto". Feline drew heavily on two of the dominant musical influences in Europe of the time, by using primarily acoustic guitars and electronic drums as well as synthesizers. The American edition of the album included the British hit single "Golden Brown" as the closing track on side one of the original vinyl (and the fifth song in on the CD version).
             

The Stranglers – Feline
Label: Epic – 504591 2, Epic – 5045912000
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered 2001
Country: Europe
Released: 1982    
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave

TRAXS

              

01. Midnight Summer Dream    6:12
02. It's A Small World    4:34
03. Ships That Pass In The Night    4:06
04. European Female (In Celebration Of)    3:58
05. Let's Tango In Paris    3:12
06. Paradise    3:46
07. All Roads Lead To Rome    3:50
08. Blue Sister    3:57
09. Never Say Goodbye    4:10

BONUS TRAXS       

    
10. Savage Breast    3:18
11. Pawsher    4:57
12. Permission    4:53
13. Midnight Summer Dream/European Female (Live)    10:18
14. (The Strange Circumstances Which Lead To) Vladimir And Olga (Requesting Rehabilitation In A Siberian Health Resort As A Result Of Stress In Furthering The People's Policies)    3:54
15. Aural Sculpture Manifesto    3:20

LINE - UP

Hugh Cornwell – vocals, guitar
Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass, vocals (lead vocals on "European Female" and "Paradise")
Dave Greenfield – keyboards
Jet Black – drums, percussion

Flac Size: 363 MB

9. THE STRANGLERS - AURAL SCULPTURE 1984

            

Aural Sculpture is the eighth studio album by the Stranglers, released in November 1984 by Epic

Records. It was also the name given to a one-sided 7-inch single given free with a limited number of copies of their Feline album in 1983. The "Aural Sculpture Manifesto" on the 7" single was played before the Stranglers appeared on stage during concerts during both the 1983 "Feline" tour and the 1985 "Aural Sculpture" tour. The album featured acoustic guitar as well as a three-piece horn section (trumpet, trombone and saxophone). The horns were the suggestion of producer Laurie Latham, who was brought in after Epic Records rejected the initial demos of the album tracks.
                

The Stranglers – Aural Sculpture
Label: Epic – 504592 2
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered 2001
Country: UK & Europe
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave

TRAXS

           

01. Ice Queen    4:02
02. Skin Deep    3:53
03. Let Me Down Easy    4:11
04. No Mercy    3:38
05. North Winds Blowing    4:03
06. Uptown    2:57
07. Punch & Judy    3:47
08. Spain    4:13
09. Laughing    4:12
10. Souls    2:42
11. Mad Hatter    4:00

BONUS TRAXS            

12. Here & There    4:21
13. In One Door    2:55
14. Head On The Line    3:08
15. Achilles Heel    2:55
16. Hot Club (Riot Mix)    3:04
17. Place De Victoires    4:10
18. Vladimir And The Beast    3:53
19. Vladimir Goes To Havana   5:28

LINE - UP

Hugh Cornwell – vocals, guitar
Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass, vocals (lead vocals on "North Winds")
Dave Greenfield – keyboards
Jet Black – percussion

Flac Size: 532 MB