Andy Burnham cometh

Burnel v Burnham

In 1978 when the Stranglers were labouring away in the studio recording what would become their Black and White album, J.J. Burnel - the band's bass player and resident motorbikin'/ Karate expert - stayed on in the studio while the rest of the band went for a well deserved pint and started recording a few more tunes he'd been holding back. These Can influenced tracks started life on a budget beatbox whereupon Burnel would layer more instruments and before you know it he'd got an album's worth. The resulting long player Euroman Cometh saw the light of day the following year where it reached the dizzy heights of #40 in the album charts. Still, not bad for a collection of dirges and drones knocked up on a basic drum machine. It's got a charm all its own (something that can't always be said about the erratic character that made it). Do the European, in particular, whilst not only very much on point (thank you, Andy Burnham) has, I think, stood the test of time remarkably well.

J.J. Burnel - Do the European (1979)

(Get a) Grip (on Yourself)

I was today years old when I realised the opening line to the Stranglers' first single 'Grip' was "Didn't have no money 'round to buy a Morry Thou". From that day to this I had absolutely no knowledge*. 

That the Stranglers were too old to be punks barely mattered back then, even less now (all the Mk. 1 punks are old now). In January 1977 I just remember Grip being an absolute barnstormer. Even with the sax all over it. And Dave Greenfield's ill-advised tash. Also, when their debut album came out shortly thereafter it was nowhere near the best track on it. Not even close; such was the sheer brilliance of Rattus Norvegicus - don't @ me.

The fact that it works in a lounge format tells you just how great a song it is. 

Nouvelle Vague - Get a Grip (2019)

* Even in 2013 when I last wrote about this very song. (And yes, I'd totally forgotten writing that piece over ten years ago.)

"STAY IN YOUR HOME!"

Faye*

I rang my best friend, Steve, this afternoon. Like me he's almost at the end of his rope with the lockdown; but needs must when the Devil vomits in your kettle - as a wise man once said. We listed all the things we miss (I'm guessing you do the same thing too) and how once this bloody war is over we'll never take anything for granted again (though in time, of course, we will).

Steve has a daughter* currently living in Vancouver and he's missing her, I can tell. I miss James like crazy and he's only in Manchester - though to all intents and purposes Manchester may as well be in Canada - the way this pandemic has confined us all to barracks. 

We always end our calls shouting "STAY IN YOUR HOME!" in our most demented of voices. It comes courtesy of the Stranglers' Curfew lifted from their Black & White album. You should try it; it's very cathartic. We've been doing it that long we probably won't be able to stop ourselves, even in peacetime.

The Stranglers - Curfew (1978)

I blame Joe Strummer

Cod Reggae: the clue's in the name. If there was an FM station that, heaven forfend, only played this watered down white man's reggae it would probably have the first two Police albums on a permanent loop with 10cc's Dreadlock Holiday thrown in for good measure. And maybe Nice 'n' Sleazy by The Stranglers if they were really pushing the boat out and ting.

Don't get me wrong, if it's done right it can be served up as a delicacy; but for every White Man In Hammersmith Palais there's a Reggae Like It Used To Be (Paul Nicholas really was old enough to know better). Likewise, for every Big Six (Judge Dread was actually on the Trojan label) you've got The Tide Is High - Blondie stylee. Or even worse, Seaside Woman by Linda McCartney; that's right, her take on reggae was about as authentic as her sausages. And before the hate mail comes in, I will gladly put forward Macca's C Moon and praise it to the hilt. Skanking.

Mettlers usually stay well clear of this sort of thing. But Girl were different. That's why I always had a soft spot for them - especially this pleasant little ditty lifted from their 1980 debut album, Sheer Greed: my Cod Reggae guilty pleasure.

Girl - Passing Clouds

New to Dave

Dave never wanted to be The Fonz

In 1977 Jean Jacques Burnel of The Stranglers maintained that their keyboard player, Dave Greenfield, was not aware of The Doors; to be precise, not aware that he was royally nicking Ray Manzarek's Vox Continental arpeggios; thus giving the punks at the time another reason (apart from their ages) to doubt their credentials. Not that they were particularly bothered: Rattus Norvegicus, their debut album, was the fastest selling album on their label (UA), so if they wanted a 60s keyboard driven sound, with saxophones chucked in for good measure (Grip), no safety pinned, bin bag wearing Carnaby Street punk was going to stop them.

The Stranglers - (Get a) Grip (On Yourself) - 1977