the Stranglers: Classicinblack or Dudinblack

Christ almighty. Men have been hung for less.

Dave, if it had been anyone other that youself who said this.....they'd be dead now.

Styx released a series of great albums in the late '70's / early '80's?!?

The Raven and the Meninblack do co-incide with the band's "health problems" as you put it, plus Hugh's stint in Jail.

Kevin, yeah I think you're right about the monologue in Dagenham Dave, but the rest is definitely JJ.

http://www.stranglers.co.uk/images/tablebig.jpg

Their last album, despite still not having Hugh on it, Norfolk Coast, had some surprisingly damn fine moments on it as well.

Classic.

I absolutely LOVE this band. Over the years they've snuck up from being something I had a mild regard for to probably my favourite band ever. I think they are the unacknowledged musical giants of their era.

The stylisitic variation is incredible, from furious R'n'B (Old Codger) to weirdo space-rock (Meninblack) to harpsicord-driven waltzes (Golden Brown.

Even the goof-offs are compelling. And, let's not forget, THE BEST BASS SOUND EVER.

Oh yeah, and the street/sewer/skewer line is BRILLIANT.

I came to the Stranglers very early in my discovery of music beyond the top 40. I love both Hugh periods but wasn't interested after he left. Their catalog is littered with classic albums, some nifty live albums and great b-sides.

To this day, if some crap song gets stuck in my head, I start singing "Ice Queen" to eradicate it.

The weather cools down, the days grow shorter and I return to my Stranglers LP's.

I have been rocking the first three Stranglers records of late and damn, they are beautiful things indeed. IV and No More Heroes especially.

THE BEST BASS SOUND EVER This is so so true.

Love La Folie as well.

I have been trying to rationalize Jet Black's lackluster drumming however, but can' really get there. Anyone else wish he played with more chutzpah?

Did X-Cert ever come out on CD?

God bless The Stranglers.

hey, alex, you can download hugh's new album for free if you want. if that's, you know, something you might enjoy. perhaps.

http://www.hughcornwell.com/

Interesting this - someone having reversed Yellowcake UF6, one of the B-sides from what I think is definitely their best period.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-ZI7t-kd4Q

Most bizarre.

their version of Walk on By is still on my playlist after all these years

... as well it should be.

Just listened to "Black And White" for the first time in eons. So good I had to listen twice, in fact! Damn, those crazy keyboards, JJ's bass, Hugh's odd lyrics... even the lesser tracks are fascinating and the classics are monumental. I will continue on to the rest of Hugh's albums.

"Down in the Sewer" reminds me of both The Fall and Nomeansno. This is a pretty high compliment.

Genius song. First time I listened to it, while not understanding a single word, still I could feel the sick breath of a sewer on my face (maybe it was just that horrible rat on the back cover, who knows).

A couple of months ago I went (again) through this obsessive Stranglers phase and devoured again their early album - lots and lots of great songs, also Hugh's Nosferatu remains one of the most peculiar album of the era.

It is also very fitting and Strangler-esque that a lot of those EMI budget compilations variously titled Good Times, Soft Rock or Early Sunday Morning Music invariably include a song like Golden Brown.

Hugh’s tribute on Twitter

I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Dave Greenfield. He was the difference between The Stranglers and every other punk band. His musical skill and gentle nature gave an interesting twist to the band. (1 of 2)

— Hugh Cornwell (@HughCornwell) May 4, 2020

After their initial run on A&M I kind of lost track/interest, consequently I am listening to The Raven today for the first time ever in memorium. What a weird, wonderful band, with Dave's circus of keyboards coloring everything. RIP.

Goddamn it! Dave's keys are so otherworldly, it shouldn't have worked but it did in spades.

The Raven is my favourite.

He was the difference between The Stranglers and every other punk band.

100%.

Wow, I'd love to be listening to "The Raven" for the first time ever!

I know, right? I own Black and White, and Aural Sculpture, and missed the stretch in between. Youtube is not doing the sound justice, I think I need to buy a physical copy.

Oh man 'The Gospel According To The Men In Black' is brilliant too.

I'm seeing reports that Jet Black has passed away, 84!

It was common knowledge that they were older than the other punks on the scene, nevertheless 84 is still boggling my mind.

I had Laid Black in heavy rotation a number of years back. A departure from their usual, but one that somehow made sense.

restinpeaceinblack.

RIP JB

Damn, I can't believe he was 40 in 1978!!

Love his work. His music will live forever.

Fucking icon.

My two cents on the loss of Jet Black