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"...Look
At All Them Peaches..."
Although
Amazon doesn't give this March 2018 CD Reissue a secondary title - 'The Classic
Collection' Series by THE STRANGLERS encompasses the British Punk and New Wave
band’s first seven albums on United Artists and Liberty Records - everything
from their debut "IV - Rattus Norvegicus" in April 1977 through to "La
Folie" in November 1981 (see full list below).
Each
CD contains the same liner notes covering all seven albums in a 32-page
booklet, but the booklets also provides original artwork, lyrics, additional
period photos and Extras. These are PETER MEW Remasters (probably done at Abbey
Road) and as you can see from the list below - each comes with a generous
amount of Bonus Tracks. Here are all the lovely Peaches...
UK
and EUROPE released Friday, 2 March 2018 (9 March 2018 in the USA) - "IV -
Rattus Norvegicus" by THE STRANGLERS on Parlophone 0190295892586 (Barcode
0190295892586) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue with Six Bonus Tracks. It is
the first of seven CD titles in 'The Classic Collection' Series and plays out
as follows (64:42 minutes):
1.
Sometimes [Side 1]
2.
Goodbye Toulouse
3.
London Lady
4.
Princess Of The Street
5.
Hanging Around
6.
Peaches [Side 2]
7.
(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)
8.
Ugly
9.
Down By The Sewer (a) Falling (b) Down In The Sewer (c) Trying To Get Out Again
(d) Rats Rally
Tracks
1 to 9 are their debut album "IV - Rattus Norvegicus" – released
April 1977 in the UK on United Artists UAG 30045 (see also 10 and 11 below)
ASSOCIATED
RECORDINGS (Bonus Tracks):
10.
Choosey Susie
11.
Peasant In The Big Shitty (Live)
Tracks
11 and 10 are the A&B-sides of a Free 7" single that came with
original copies of the British LP (Catalogue No. FREE 3).
"Peasant..." was the A-side
12.
Go Buddy Go (Other Side Of 'Peaches')
Track
12 is the B-side of "Peaches" – their second UK 7" single
released May 1977 on United Artists UP 36248 – also on the B-side of Track 13
13.
Peaches (Airplay Version)
Track
13 is the reissued/censored version of "Peaches" released as a UK
7" single May 1977 on United Artists FREE 4. Track 12 is the B-side
14.
Grip '89 (Get A) Grip (On Yourself)
Track
14 is the A-side of a January 1989 UK 7" single on Liberty/EMI EM 84
15.
Grip '89 (Get A) Grip (On Yourself)
(Grippin' Stuff 12" Mix)
Track
15 is the A-side of a January 1989 UK 12" single on Liberty/EMI 12 EM 84
THE
STRANGLERS were:
HUGH
CORNWELL – Guitar and Vocals
JEAN
JACQUES BURNEL – Bass and Vocals
DAVE
GREENFIELD – Keyboards
JET
BLACK – Drums and Percussion
Guest:
Eric
Clark – Tenor Sax on "Peaches"
DAVID
BUCKLEY – author of the band's official biography "No Mercy"
published in 1997 by Hodder – has helmed the extremely detailed liner notes
from Page 6 to 21 with the rest of the pages filled in by album artwork,
photos, lyrics, rare picture sleeves for their debut 45 "Grip"
followed by "Peaches" and the usual original LP/CD reissue credits.
It's very nicely done although it's obvious that diehard fans buying all seven
CDs will be yawning at the repetition of info. But the Audio is fabulous, the
price appears to be pitched at mid-price (less than a tenner) and it's frankly
so good to see these underrated gems out there again in digital-land (they
haven’t been available as Remasters since November 2001). Let’s get to the rats
in the sewers...
The
moment the smack-you-in-the-face Bass and Keyboards of "Sometimes"
hits your speakers - you're clobbered by two things - the great audio and just
how much you've missed this band. It's ancient musical history now of course
but The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Buzzcocks, The Damned et all - always got
the critical plaudits with The Stranglers settling for mere fan worship
(they're as big a cult as Depeche Mode or Kraftwerk). When David Buckley opens
his liner notes with a quote from former Stranglers publicist Alan Edwards that
angrily blasts "...They were one of the most under-recognized and under-valued
British bands, full stop!" - you can understand why. How good is this
album! Their cracking debut continues with the musically Punk "Goodbye
Toulouse" – walking those French streets in fear – goodbye café society –
hello "London Lady" and a rather bitter diatribe at a Dingwalls
groupie (she won’t be too pleased with this).
A
real good looking lady makes out hero sigh in "Princess Of The
Streets" although he worries she might stab him in the back with a shinny
new pick-axe acquired in Woolworths on Sale (nice audio on that guitar solo).
"Hanging Around" is one of the album's best tracks in my books - all
those classic Stranglers signatures - huge Bass line - hooky keyboard -
snarling vocals and tee'd off lyrics. The obvious and brilliantly provocative
single "Peaches" never fails to disturb and thrill - the 'lap me up'
girls rubbing in that sun-tan lotion - eliciting an 'oh s**t' lyric from out
singer that United Artists edited out for the 'air play' version of the
re-released 45 in May 1977 (what a bummer indeed). "...The worst crime I
ever did was play in Rock 'n' Roll..." but at least the money's good (or
maybe not) were told in "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)" - The Stranglers
sounding like a cross between an angry Roxy Music (Eric Clark's Saxophone) and
The Boomtown Rats having a good old moan. "Ugly" could have been a
single too but the 'allergic to sulphuric acid' lyrics might have made some DJs
nervous and reach for tubes of Calamine Lotion. It ends on the near
eight-minutes of "Down In the Sewer" which feels like some Punk-Prog
moment with its instrumental passages intertwined with 'keeping your tootsies
warm' in the bowls of London's drainage system (nice). The extras only add to
overall wallop - especially the so-good Rock 'n' Roll of "Go Buddy Go"
- a track I've always felt should have been on Side 2 of the album.
Great
audio - comprehensive (f not a tad repetitive) packaging and a decent price -
what's not to love? I'm having the first four for sure with the sap in me
probably wanting the other three. Boogie Woogie and Go Buddy Go...Nice ‘n’
Sleazy does it...Amen to that...
UK and Europe released 2 March 2018
'The
Classic Collection' CD Reissue Series for THE STRANGLERS
includes the following
albums (all have 32-page booklets)
1.
"IV - Rattus Norvegicus" (April 1977) - Parlophone 0190295892586
(Barcode 0190295892586) - 6 Bonus Tracks
2.
"No More Heroes" (September 1977) - Parlophone 0190295892548 (Barcode
0190295892548) - 5 Bonus Tracks
3.
"Black And White" (May 1978) - Parlophone 0190295892524 (Barcode
0190295892524) - 7 Bonus Tracks
4.
"Live X-Cert" (February 1979) - Parlophone 0190295892500 (Barcode
0190295892500) - 8 Bonus Tracks
5.
"The Raven" (September 1979) - Parlophone 0190295892487 (Barcode
0190295892487) - 7 Bonus Tracks
6.
"The Gospel According To) The Meninblack" (February 1981) -
Parlophone 0190295892463 (Barcode 0190295892463) - 7 Bonus Tracks
7.
"La Folie" (November 1981) - Parlophone 019029892449 (Barcode
019029892449) - 7 Bonus Tracks
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