Rock music has been deluged with precautionary tales of excess, through every genre, through every decade, there's been artists only too willing to confess via record their regression into addictive substances of one form or another. For fans of London four piece The Stranglers, the signs of chemical addiction were vividly obvious from their promo video for the classic single "5 Minutes" from 1978. The band members (particularly Drummer Jet Black) looked vacant, tragically spaced out by various addictions, but in the case of Bassist Jean Jacques Burnel, Heroin. The album from that same year ("Black And White"), was deliberately split with a White side which delivered standard Rock fayre that complimented previous recordings, and a Black side which gave the band the opportunity to vent some of the darkest, paranoic, drug fueled music I've ever heard. With titles such as "Curfew", "Threatened", "Death And Night And Blood (Yukio)", and "In The Shadows" it's possibly the bleakest 20 minutes of music you'll ever hear. It splits many Stranglers fans because this was a brooding downcast sound never heard before. Personally, I love it's desperate intensity, right down to Burnel pleading "Bring me a piece of my mummy, she was quite close to me" from "Threatened", to the S.O.S. bleeps from "Enough Time" which translated to the words "We're Fucked". The re-released "Black And White" album now contains their outstanding version of Bacharach/David's "Walk On By" which is included in the comments section."Don't Bring Harry" from their 1979 follow up "The Raven" describes Burnel's addiction. Set to the most gracefully gentle Piano melody, he describes how the drug has eaten his heart, mind and soul. Credit goes to Keyboardist Dave Greenfield for the initial melody, to Guitarist Hugh Cornwell for the incredibly lonely Guitar solo, and to Burnel for his honest candour. I've uploaded the rare French version of the song titled "N'Emmenes Pas Harry" for my fellow Moggers to enjoy."Harry and me we live in a dream,With a friend like him I don't need enemies.I don't know where morning is,It might not come today.That's the trouble when Harry's around,He forces me to play.I should have refused to meet this midnight cheat,He likes to prey on my mind with his own special treat.I don't know when morning comes,It might not come today.Harry likes to play all night,I'll do what Harry says.Don't bring Harry I don't need him around.Don't bring Harry I don't need him around.Ah you've met Harry, I can see by your eyes.If once there was life there, now there's compromiseHarry is a beast of luxury,He just wants my body and soul, leaves the bones behind.Ah you've met Harry, I can see by your eyes.If once there was action, Now there is no life.Don't bring harry I don't need him around.Don't bring Harry I don't need him around.
Neill says
I have to put my hand up here and say the Stranglers where my favourite 'punk' band of 77.(Followed by Buzzcocks and Pistols- for me the Clash and Joy Division came in 78) I dressed just like Burnel then.....
doombilly says
A guy in college lent me that Raven LP (20 yrs ago). I guess it has never been transferred to CD because I never could find that. Does that have Men In Black on it?
Augusts1 says
Wow, very intense songs Jeff. Don't know much about The Stranglers, but liking these. They definitely sound like an influence to many of the current popular bands.
So this isn't one of your fav 500 albums? What happened to that series?
Jammy Jeff says
Flower - They were and still are an odd band in many ways. They were lumped in with the Punk explosion, but they were never true punks. Their songs were often longer than 3 minutes, contained instrumental solo's and every member was a good musician. It may have been their relationship with the media and many controversies including kidnapping a journalist, concert riots, and jailtime which earned them the Punk monicker.
Neill - Almost the same as you, The Stranglers were my first favourite band, followed by The Clash and The Jam. I had a girlfiend who knit me Burnel's black sweater with the odd white sleeve, and I used to wear it all the time.
Jammy Jeff says
Ben - I'm not sure, maybe Stranglers Information Service (SIS) on the web may have details.
Eric - I'm not sure about the CD release, I know Black & White has been, but if you want I can rip it from my own vinyl onto CD and mail it to you. Yes The Raven does have The Meninblack on it, which was the preview track to their concept album "The Gospel According To The Meninblack".
August - It is an intense song, I agree. No I wouldn't put The Raven album in my top 500 even though I like it a lot. As for the top 500 I'll get it up and running in the very near future.
schnitzengruben says
Good choice. I did not know all that about the track you posted, very interesting. I think I was only 16 when I heard The Raven and it became a favorite of mine even though I wasn’t really into The Strangles at that point, they did grow on me over the years though. Thought I’d post Gentetix which for some reason is the track that sticks out the most for me on that album?
Rock music has been deluged with precautionary tales of excess, through every genre, through every decade, there's been artists only too willing to confess via record their regression into addictive substances of one form or another. For fans of London four piece The Stranglers, the signs of chemical addiction were vividly obvious from their promo video for the classic single "5 Minutes" from 1978. The band members (particularly Drummer Jet Black) looked vacant, tragically spaced out by various addictions, but in the case of Bassist Jean Jacques Burnel, Heroin. The album from that same year ("Black And White"), was deliberately split with a White side which delivered standard Rock fayre that complimented previous recordings, and a Black side which gave the band the opportunity to vent some of the darkest, paranoic, drug fueled music I've ever heard. With titles such as "Curfew", "Threatened", "Death And Night And Blood (Yukio)", and "In The Shadows" it's possibly the bleakest 20 minutes of music you'll ever hear. It splits many Stranglers fans because this was a brooding downcast sound never heard before. Personally, I love it's desperate intensity, right down to Burnel pleading "Bring me a piece of my mummy, she was quite close to me" from "Threatened", to the S.O.S. bleeps from "Enough Time" which translated to the words "We're Fucked". The re-released "Black And White" album now contains their outstanding version of Bacharach/David's "Walk On By" which is included in the comments section.
"Don't Bring Harry" from their 1979 follow up "The Raven" describes Burnel's addiction. Set to the most gracefully gentle Piano melody, he describes how the drug has eaten his heart, mind and soul. Credit goes to Keyboardist Dave Greenfield for the initial melody, to Guitarist Hugh Cornwell for the incredibly lonely Guitar solo, and to Burnel for his honest candour. I've uploaded the rare French version of the song titled "N'Emmenes Pas Harry" for my fellow Moggers to enjoy."Harry and me we live in a dream,With a friend like him I don't need enemies.I don't know where morning is,It might not come today.That's the trouble when Harry's around,He forces me to play.I should have refused to meet this midnight cheat,He likes to prey on my mind with his own special treat.I don't know when morning comes,It might not come today.Harry likes to play all night,I'll do what Harry says.Don't bring Harry I don't need him around.Don't bring Harry I don't need him around.Ah you've met Harry, I can see by your eyes.If once there was life there, now there's compromiseHarry is a beast of luxury,He just wants my body and soul, leaves the bones behind.Ah you've met Harry, I can see by your eyes.If once there was action, Now there is no life.Don't bring harry I don't need him around.Don't bring Harry I don't need him around.
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