Welcome to QuispQuake's Tribute to

 

When I was a teenager and living in Maine, I was only exposed to 'Corporate Rock' until I discovered WMHB in Waterville, the Colby College radio station.  Once I found WMHB, my music horizons increased QUICKLY, and my music tastes changed from the AOR of the day (Styx, Boston, and their ilk), to Elvis Costello, The Cars, and...some stranger stuff...

I truly wish I could remember the disc jockey's name, but I found his WMHB show that featured punk rock, and was totally blown away.  He used to play the Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Ramones, and a group that I had never heard of, The Stranglers.  I always enjoyed keyboards, so their music instantly appealed to me, as Dave Greenfield's keyboards were prominent in the Strangler's thick sound (the Stranglers were all awesome musicians, Greenfield, guitarist Hugh Cornwell, bassist J.J. Burnel, and drummer Jet Black).  

Unfortunately, their records were impossible to find in central Maine at the time.  However, A&M records (who had picked up the Stranglers in the US) released a compilation called "No Wave To Go", which was a picture disc of a pizza (cool!!!), and featured tracks by the Dickies, Joe Jackson, the Police, Squeeze, and THE STRANGLERS!!!! The two tracks on the comp were "Nice 'N Sleazy", and "Bring On the Nubiles" (both featured in my tribute here!).  I hadn't heard ANYTHING like these tracks before (or since really!), and I became a HUGE fan...

I moved to Boston in 1980 for a year, and finally had access to their records.  I bought every title I could find, and was amazed at the variety and excellence of the music.  Their earlier titles were angry & punkish, but they quickly mutated into a great acid-post-punk band.  My favorite was (and is) "The Raven", their fourth album which came in a super 3-D cover (which I still have). 

I am STILL a fan of the Stranglers after all these years (albeit their output up to 1983 or so).  They are still running strong, and although original singer Hugh Cornwell left in 1990, their album of a couple of years back "Suite 16" was the best I had heard from them since the early daze.  I noticed a dearth of podcasts featuring the Stranglers, so I figured being a major fan, that I'd throw this show together.  I only have tracks here from the early Stranglers, as that's the stuff that changed my life.  Give the show a listen, and I hope you enjoy it.  Any comments can certainly be sent to quispquake@quispquake.info.  Thanks for listening!!!

Waltzinblack
From the LP: The Gospel According to the Meninblack (1981 Liberty Records)
Starting off the show, is the track that the Stranglers themselves used to play while the band got on stage. The first track from their concept album "The Gospel According to the Men In Black" is a creepy and weird piece.  Jolly keyboards start off, and then freaky laughs are heard that gradually increase as the song continues.  A lot of fun, and a GREAT track for Halloween parties!!!
 
Longships/The Raven
From the LP: The Raven (1979 United Artists Records) 
The first two tracks from their magnum opus "The Raven".  Released in an amazing 3D sleeve, "The Raven" is one of the most varied albums I've ever heard...The Stranglers REALLY stretched their sound out on this one.  Still my favorite album by them, I found all future albums by The Stranglers to be a 'honing' of the sounds created on "The Raven".
 
  Hanging Around
From the LP: Rattus Norvegicus (1977 A&M Records) 
From their first (and totally amazing) album, "Hanging Around" punches right in with the band all in top form.  One of the more unique pieces on "Rattus", and one of my favorites off this album.
 
  Nice 'n Sleazy
From the LP: No Wave to Go (1978 A&M Records)
First heard by me on the "No Wave To Go" album discussed above, "Nice 'n Sleazy" still sounds like no other song.  A simple drum signature with the other instruments taking turns coming in, this track is pretty acid drenched with Dave Greenfield's synthesizer notes taking it into outer space (for a punk song!)
 
  Old Codger
From the 45:  Walk On By/Old Codger/Tank (1978 United Artists Records)
A non-lp track, Old Codger had lead vocals by British Jazz legend/surrealist George Melly.  Pretty obnoxious vocals too (Melly's definitely playing an 'old codger' for this one!!!)  A great song driven by JJ's bass and featuring harp by Lew Lewis (member of pub band "Eddie & the Hot Rods").
 
  No More Heroes
From the 45: No More Heroes b/w In the Shadows ( 1977 United Artists Records)
This was the first track I ever heard by The Stranglers back on WMHB in probably 1978.  "No More Heroes" is as close to a pop song as they created in their early days, and is very hummable, as well as intense.  Check out a great picture of JJ Burnel on Trotsky's tomb that was unfortunately rejected as the cover HERE.
 
  The Man They Loved To Hate
From the LP: La Folie (1981 Liberty Records) 
An album that continued the refinement of the Stranglers sound post "The Raven", and featured a more synth-pop new wave sound.  Best known as the album with their VERY successful single "Golden Brown", La Folie has a good mix of upbeat songs with downbeat lyrics (a Hugh Cornwell specialty).
 
  Down In the Sewer
From the LP:  BBC Archives (2003 EMI Records)
One of the greatest jams by the Stranglers, this live version was recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1981.  An amazingly tight piece, Jet Black's drumming never sounded better...The original version is on "Rattus Norvegicus", but as good as that one is...I like this live version better (check out the drumming at the end...whew!!!)
 
  Tank
From the LP:  Black and White (1978 A&M Records) 
In the "shoulda been a hit" department is the lead-off track from their 3rd album.  "Black & White" started departing from the sounds of the first two albums, and got extremely experimental at times (especially on side two-the 'black' side).  A great track, from a great album (and it's worth getting on vinyl for the cool black & white swirled vinyl!!!)
 
  Bring On the Nubiles
From the LP: No More Heroes (1977 A&M Records) 
A VERY weird piece that was one of the first things I had ever heard from The Stranglers.  They had a bit of a reputation as misogynists in the early day (Hugh in his autobiography said that he created characters for the songs and that the misogynist tag was wrong), and this track probably helped push that view along.  A great and intense track though!!!  Later they released a 'cocktail' version for their fan club!!!
 
  Nuclear Device
From the 45: Nuclear Device b/w Yellowcake UF6  (1979 United Artists Records)
Also on "The Raven" album, this track is where The Stranglers really started getting political in their lyrics.  A great song which drives along nicely, and is definitely an intersection between their original punk roots, and the more electronic sound that would appear on "The Gospel According to the Meninblack".. 
 
  5 Minutes
From the LP: Stranglers IV (1980 IRS Records) 
I first heard this on an American only album release called "Stranglers IV" that was released on IRS.  The first side consisted of tracks from "The Raven" (which was not released in the US), and the second side had 'odds and ends' tracks. Original copies of "Stranglers IV" also came with a four song EP (discussed immediately below).  5 Minutes was originally released right after the "No More Heroes" album right at the start of 1978, and is a great punk track.
 
  Straighten Out
From the Promo EP: The Stranglers Bonus EP (1977 A&M Records)
One of my absolute favorites from the Stranglers "punk period".  Originally released in the UK as the B-side to "Something Better Change" 7", "Straighten Out" was a non-lp track.  I first heard "Straighten Out" when my teacher at broadcasting school gave me a copy of the US only promo that featured this great track.  Thanks for mutating my life Roger!!!
 
  Toiler On the Sea
From the LP:  Black and White (1978 A&M Records) 
I had the honor of seeing The Stranglers in Boston in 1981.  Unfortunately, it was the night after all of their equipment got stolen in NYC, so the band (and sound mix) was rather sloppy.  They still pulled off some great music though, with my personal highlight of the night being this one.
 
  Second Coming
From the LP: The Gospel According to the Meninblack (1981 Liberty Records)
This album was pretty much hated when it came out (I honestly didn't care for it much then either).  However, it's REALLY stood the test of time, and I now LOVE the record (in his autobiography, Hugh Cornwell still considers this The Strangler's best album).  A precurser to synth-pop, although not 'happy' by a long shot!
  The Meninblack
From the LP: The Raven (1979 United Artists Records) 
Definitely the WEIRDEST track on "The Raven", the Meninblack explored the alien worlds that came to fruition on their next album, "The Gospel According to the Meninblack").  I still remember them playing this live when I saw them in 1981.  Turn off the lights, relax and float perpendicularly :) 
 
  Bear Cage (Special 12" Mix)
From the 12" Single: Bear Cage b/w Shah Shah a Go Go (1980 United Artists Records)
A song I originally heard in a truncated version on the IRS album of "Stranglers IV" (under the name of "GMBH").  I really love this 12" mix, and hope you do too!!!  I think this was recorded at the same time as "The Raven" album.
 
  Walk On By
From the 45:  Walk On By/Old Codger/Tank (1978 United Artists Records)
The final track of this show, was one of the showstoppers of the Stranglers live set, their great version of the Dionne Warwick classic "Walk On By".  Six and a half minutes of absolute coolness...from my AUTOGRAPHED EP that I am VERY proud to own :)

Thanks a LOT for listening to the show.  I hope you enjoyed it!!! Any comments, threats, etc., please email me at quispquake@quispquake.info (I LOVE TO GET EMAIL COMMENTS!!!).