I enjoy discovering "new" music from the 80's. It's always a treat to hear something different that pleases the ears.
Part punk, part new wave, The Stranglers formed in 1974 by Jet Black, AKA, Brian Duffy. At the time, Duffy was a successful business man, but wanted to return to music from his early mild success in the fifties and sixties. The original line-up consisted of bass player/vocalist Jean-Jacques Burnel, guitarist/vocalist Hugh Cornwell and keyboardist/guitarist Hans Wärmling, who was replaced by keyboardist Dave Greenfield within a year.
At first, the group became a part of the London punk underground scene, releasing albums as of 1977 for United Artists. With albums staying consecutively in the top five through 1979, the band was given artistic freedom to control their fifth album, The Gospel According To The Meninblack. However, this would be for new label, Liberty.
Meninblack would be their lowest charting album to date, stumbling the band, who was at the time the most successful mainstream punk and new wave band in Britain. Their follow up, La Folie in 1981 was a conscious effort to deliver a more commercial sound.
This is where I tune into the group. I came across them while listening to an 80's compilation featuring various artists. I was on a mission to find new music, and this plan was panning out well. It was here that I found the song, Golden Brown. It was an interesting track. Somewhat jazzy, somewhat new wave. Blended perfectly into a unique hit.
Turns out that this song was also the saving grace for the album itself. Until it was released as a single, La Folie was poised to be the bands most unsuccessful record to date. Just the opposite happened when Golden Brown hit the scene. To date, it's their highest charting hit.
When I listened to La Folie, I expected to hear more of the sound I had been intrigued by with Golden Brown. However. this was not the case. As I made my way through it, I actually felt like I was listening to two different records. The punk tunes were falling flat for me, while the new wave ones were resonating. This back and fourth aspect made it difficult to really get invested.
It was okay, but at the end of it, I was somewhat disappointed. I really had high hopes and expectations, and they were not met. I'm not interested enough in what I heard to really care to seek out anything further from The Stranglers.
Though they have continued to release albums through 2021, and had notable singles, for me, I'm content with jumping off The Stranglers train. I suppose if the opportunity was presented, and relatively cheap, I might pick up additional albums released by them in the 80'. However, this would definitely be an impulse buy. It would have to be really cheap though.
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Disclaimer: They Toy Box does not endorse or contribute to piracy. Retro Spins posts are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the music discussed here is available for sale, downloading or distribution.
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| THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS January 28, 1984 |
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| THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS January 28, 1989 |
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