Buckeye Randy

The Stranglers first five releases were all top 10 in the UK but didn't crack the top 200 in the US. Hence...I only knew the heavy hitters that appeared on punk compilations.

Listening to Rattus Norvegicus from start to finish as I type.

jadis

I love them all, with the fifth (their misunderstood masterpiece) being one of my favorite albums of all times and fourth and third not far behind. Plus album number six is also very good and so are a few songs on album number seven.

I only got into them many years after Hugh left and by then you had access to the entire disgoraphy on the internet.

Whenever I feel like talking Stanglers on here there's always someone who's responsive. If memory serves, I registered on this board during Covid to talk Stranglers.

I could be misremembering but I think someone from MB even was at one their East Coast gigs in the early 1980s.

Drjohnrock

Welcome aboard! What's your second post going to be about?

Drjohnrock

I saw them live in 1987, touring the Dreamtime album. They had a three piece horn section that played on some of the numbers. Hugh said "I should introduce them to you. But I'm not going to." Good to know he still had some punk rock attitude!

Buckeye Randy

I think the best thing about the Internet and streaming services is the ease of finding music.

"Grip" and "Peaches" were a pretty small window I was looking through, thanks.

This dovetails to The Saints (RIP Chris Baily)



I was fortunate enough to see opening night of The Saints 2007 tour. A poorly attended but awesome show.

Buckeye Randy

This is how I'm starting my Thursday.

jadis

Dreamtime has, for me, the distinction of being the least bad of their three last albums (everything post 1990 should not be dignified as being Stranglers releases). The title track is pretty decent and Always the Sun is a good pop song (although I personally dislike it, too fuскing mellow).

Still, the best song of this era is probably this cut from Hugh's 1988 solo album


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XJzrnoJMY8

Drjohnrock

Thanks so much for posting this, Mindy. I love the name Hippie Sabotage. And I like the song's subject matter. I'm puttting together a mix about being in or wanting to escape nowhere towns and will probably include this song:

https://youtu.be/27Zi3D1nfdY

Buckeye Randy

I saw Humble Pie in 1980 and it was OK, not great. Sure, I knew a couple songs that were staples on AOR (30 Days In The Hole, I Don't Need No Doctor) plus material from 'Eat It' that I had been introduced to a few years earlier. At that time, I was not motivated to check out the entire back catalogue of Humble Pie albums. Like I said; it was OK, not great.

Fast forward to 1990 or so. Big Hair metal which I never loved was dying and grunge that was difficult for me to embrace was emerging. I hear some new Humble Pie and it sounds great...no, wait. It's a new band, The Black Crowes. Funny how 10 years can change your perspective.

I've never been a big fan but I'm as solid as it gets when it comes to being a casual fan. Their release earlier this year is pretty good and deserves a few listens if you like your blues/rock loose and groovin'.

ill kid chronic $moke