Rattus Norvegicus (album)
| Rattus Norvegicus | ||||
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| Studio album by The Stranglers | ||||
| Released | 15 April 1977 | |||
| Recorded | 20 December 1976 – 28 January 1977 at TW Studios, Fulham, Olympic Studios, Barnes, London | |||
| Genre | Art punk, punk rock | |||
| Length | 50:59 | |||
| Label | United Artists | |||
| Producer | Martin Rushent | |||
| The Stranglers chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Rattus Norvegicus | ||||
| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
Rattus Norvegicus (alternative title The Stranglers IV) is the debut studio album by The Stranglers, released on 17 April 1977.[2] The album was originally to be entitled Dead on Arrival but was changed at the last minute.[3] It was one of the highest-selling albums of the punk era in Britain, eventually achieving platinum record sales.
The album's title is the taxonomic name for the common Brown Rat. It was produced in one week by Martin Rushent, and was a snapshot of the band's live set at the time.
The first 10,000 copies of the original vinyl release included a free 7" single, containing "Peasant in the Big Shitty (live)" and "Choosey Susie". Two singles were taken from the album: "Grip" (released as a double A-side with album track "London Lady"), and "Peaches" (released as a double A-side with the non-album track "Go Buddy Go"), which gave the band their first major hit single, reaching No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart.[4] A remastered version of the album was reissued on CD in 2001, including these three additional tracks. The album launch party was held in Chelsea's Water Rat pub, in the World's End of the King's Road.
The album peaked at No. 4 in the UK Albums Chart, eventually spending 34 weeks on the chart.[5][6]
NME ranked it at number 196 in its 2014 list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[7]
The album was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Contents
Track listing[edit]
All songs credited as written by The Stranglers
Side 1[edit]
1. "Sometimes" (4:56)
- Written by Hugh Cornwell, describes a violent argument with a girlfriend.[8] The same girlfriend is the subject of "Strange Little Girl" which was written earlier by Cornwell and Hans Wärmling.[9]
2. "Goodbye Toulouse" (3:12)
- Music by Cornwell, lyrics by Burnel. Describes the destruction of Toulouse predicted by Nostradamus.[10]
3. "London Lady" (2:25)
- Music by Cornwell, lyrics by Burnel. Loosely based on a contemporary female journalist.[11]
4. "Princess of the Streets" (4:34)
5. "Hanging Around" (4:25)
- Music by Burnel, lyrics by Cornwell. Describes the characters found in the London pubs that the band played live at.[13]
Side 2[edit]
6. "Peaches" (4:03)
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7. "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)" (3:55)
- Music and lyrics by Cornwell. Based on band life in their Chiddingfold squat, featured Eric Clarke, a Welsh coal miner, on saxophone.[15]
8. "Ugly"(4:03)
- Music and lyrics by Burnel. Described as 'abstract psychedelia' by Cornwell, the poem Ozymandias is featured.[16]
9. "Down in the Sewer" (7:30)
- Has four sections: "Falling"/"Down In The Sewer"/"Trying To Get Out Again"/"Rat's Rally". Music by Burnel, lyrics by Cornwell. The 'sewer' refers to London.[17]
Bonus 7" (limited first issue)[edit]
1. "Peasant in the Big Shitty" – Live
2. "Choosey Susie"
2001 bonus tracks[edit]
10. "Choosey Susie" (3:14)
- Music and lyrics by Burnel, describes the same girl as "Princess of the Streets".[18]
11. "Go Buddy Go" (3:58)
- Music and lyrics by Burnel, middle 8 by Cornwell. Uses verse chord structure of "Hey Joe" by Jimi Hendrix for the chorus. Written 'pre-Stranglers'.[19]
12. "Peasant in the Big Shitty (Live at 'The Nashville', 10 Dec 1976)" (3:42)
- Music and lyrics by Burnel, written in 9/4 time. Another observation on life in a city. Recorded for Rattus Norvegicus.[20]
Personnel[edit]
The Stranglers[edit]
- Hugh Cornwell – guitars, lead (1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9) and backing vocals
- Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass guitar, lead (3, 4, 8, 10, 11) and backing vocals
- Dave Greenfield – Keyboards (Hammond L100 Organ, Hohner Cembalet electric piano, Minimoog synthesizer), backing and lead (12) vocals
- Jet Black – Percussion
Additional musician[edit]
- Eric Clarke – Guest tenor saxophone (track 7)
Production[edit]
- Martin Rushent – Producer
- Alan Winstanley – Engineer
- Benny King – Assistant and mixing engineer
- Doug Bennett – Mixing engineer
- Trevor Rogers – Photography
- Paul Henry – Art direction, artwork, sleeve design
References[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ Cleary, David. "The Stranglers: Rattus Norvegicus > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ^ The Stranglers: VI/Rattus Norvegicus at Discogs (list of releases)
- ^ Buckley 1997, p. 75
- ^ Buckley 1997, p. 292
- ^ "Stranglers IV (Rattus Norvegicus)". ChartStats.com. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ^ Buckley 1997, p. 291
- ^ "Rocklist.net NME: The 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time : October 2013". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. 1992-05-09. Retrieved 2015-08-13.
- ^ Cornwell & Drury 2001, p. 15
- ^ Cornwell 2004, pp. 98–99
- ^ Cornwell & Drury 2001, p. 19
- ^ Cornwell & Drury 2001, p. 22
- ^ Cornwell & Drury 2001, pp. 23–25
- ^ Cornwell & Drury 2001, p. 27.
- ^ Cornwell & Drury 2001, pp. 29–30
- ^ Cornwell & Drury 2001, pp. 33–34
- ^ Cornwell & Drury 2001, pp. 36–37
- ^ Cornwell & Drury 2001, pp. 38–43
- ^ Cornwell & Drury 2001, p. 344
- ^ Cornwell & Drury 2001, pp. 44–45
- ^ Cornwell & Drury 2001, pp. 69–71
Bibliography[edit]
- Buckley, David (1997). No Mercy-The Authorised and Uncensored Biography of The Stranglers. London: Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-68062-8.
- Cornwell, Hugh (2004). A Multitude of Sins. London: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0-00-719082-4.
- Cornwell, Hugh; Drury, Jim (2001). The Stranglers-Song by Song. London: Sanctuary Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-86074-362-5.
External links[edit]
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