Greatest Hits 1977-1990 - Stranglers (The) > Reviews > ...there goes the charabanc.

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Brilliant retrospective of the band
Disadvantages:	People borrow it all the time

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

THE STRANGLERS - GREATEST HITS 1977-1990

1.PEACHES - (Length 4.04)
2.SOMETHING BETTER CHANGE - (3.34)
3.NO MORE HEROES (3.27)
4.WALK ON BY (6.21)
5.DUCHESS (2.29)
6.GOLDEN BROWN (3.27)
7.STRANGE LITTLE GIRL (2.40)
8.EUROPEAN FEMALE (4.01)
9.SKIN DEEP (3.55)
10.NICE IN NICE (3.45)
11.ALWAYS THE SUN (4.04)
12.BIG IN AMERICA (3.04)
13.ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT (2.30)
14.96 TEARS (3.03)
15.NO MERCY (3.30)

I've noticed that there is a more recent compilation for the Stranglers out there ('The Very Best Of The Stranglers' - released Jun 2006). This doesn't quite supercede this one because though it has 20 tracks as oppossed to 15 it is missing '96 Tears'. Also this is the one I own so I can only review this one!

I bought this on cassette back in 1990 on the strength of 'Alway The Sun' a beautiful ode to trying to keep your chin up in a cruel world. I still have the tape as my old Escort only has a tape player, and I generally only listen to the radio in it anyway.

This is one of the few albums/compilations that I've actually bought on a number of different formats as one takes over another. This in itself gives some indication as to how great this Stranglers collection is.

I don't know the complete history of the Stranglers, but I know that they came to prominence during the mid period of Punk (1977, though as an entity I think it was more like 1974). When they got famous most of The Stranglers were in their 20's and were shunned by the 'proper punks'. To me this seems to be a bit of a nonsense as Punk was suppossed to be about breaking down boundaries, not putting new ones up.

The first song on the compilation is the rowdy 'Peaches', Hugh Cornwell (Guitars & Vocals) singing about his little day out to the seaside. A very funny, though slightly sleazy song. The Bass on this one (JJ Burnel) is typically superb. I think I remember playing this in the company of my Mum, she wasn't impressed!

Song two 'Something Better Change' starts with a nice signature riff and then 'Bang' we're straight into a punk song. Though this being a punk song with swirling organ and people who can play their instruments... No wonder Johnny Rotten didn't like them very much (he thought they were hippies with short hair).

'No More Heroes' - probably my favourite of the Stranglers early songs. It's got a bit of everything in there. It starts with a furious riff and then the organ kicks in, followed by Hughs 'unusual' lyrics ('Whatever happened to Leon Trotsky? He got an ice pick that made his ears burn'). At around 1:30 the song really takes off with a great guitar solo followed by an even better organ solo (excellent work by Dave Greenfield on organ). It's one of those songs that makes your body convulse. You need to move to this song or you're already dead!

And then, no let up from the greatness... A wonderful cover of the classic, 'Walk On By'. Featuring all that makes the Stranglers great (Ethereal keyboard, pounding, insistant bass, choppy guitar, a steady drum beat [supplied by Jet Black, big guy with beard that you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley], andHugh's angry man vocals). This one seems to go on for hours, but you'll love every minute. I guarantee that any chosen elderly relative that has the ability to move and half decent hearing would dance to this.

'Duchess' song number 5 and a gem. This has a great little keyboard riff that runs thorughout it. It's so addictive. The Stranglers wrote some truly great songs (and having owned a few of their albums a few truly monstrous ones!) If you like 'Golden Brown' and 'Always The Sun' you'll also love this one.

Speaking of which, number 6, 'Golden Brown'. Pretty well known so I don't need to tell you how awesome it is. Like a lot of the Stranglers songs this has a hidden meaning (i.e. it's about Herion). Don't think the BBC would have liked it so much if they had known.

'Strange Little Girl' number 7. At this point you realize that The Stranglers wrote quite a few great songs, and you start to wonder why people like James Blunt make it so huge and people with talent don't? Must be all about being in the right place at the right time I suppose. Great tune (I'll try and stop saying 'Great' now.)

'European Female', 'Skin Deep', 'Nice in Nice' (7, 8 and 9) - middle period Stranglers (yes I know they are still going in one form or other - but after 1990 it didn't really count did it?) This seems to be a trio of songs that The Starnglers wrote off the back of touring around Europe. Much more restrained than their earlier work. All have merits and are far from filler (Skin Deep being a very catchy song).

'Always The Sun' (No11) as I mentioned earlier this is the song that bought the album for me. It's beautiful. Deserves many many listens.

'Big In America' (12). If I was American I don't know how I would take this. It's like the Stranglers version of The Clash's 'I'm So Bored With The U.S.A.' A bit of a snide comment on Uncle Sam. The song itself is chirpy enough - Very 80's.

Songs 13 ('All Day And All Of The Night') and 14 ('96 Tears') are both fairly decent covers. The Kinks cover does seem to be slightly surplus to requirements. Apart from being a bit less raw it doesn't add much to the original. The second cover, '96 Tears' seems to be worthy though. A cover of a song by the lesser known sixties band, 'The Mysterians' is always worthy. Great keyboard work lifts this way above average.

And finally, 'No Mercy'. Not the best song they ever wrote but fine all the same. Looking at the compilation now I can see that it tailed off a little towards the end. This one reminds me of Madness in the mid eighties. Their best songwriting days were behind them but they still knocked out quality pieces all the same.

VERDICT: Get this one! It may have 15 songs instead of 20 but you need this one as it has '96 Tears' on it. A brilliant, indispensible guide to a much underated band. They deserved better than they got.