No More Heroes (album)

No More Heroes
Studio album by The Stranglers
Released 23 September 1977
Recorded July 1977 at T.W. Studios, Fulham, England
Genre Post-punk, new wave
Length 43:04[1]
Label United Artists
Producer Martin Rushent
The Stranglers chronology
Rattus Norvegicus
(1977)
No More Heroes
(1977)
Black and White
(1978)
Singles from No More Heroes
  1. "No More Heroes"
    Released: 1977
  2. "Something Better Change"
    Released: 22 July 1977

No More Heroes is the second studio album by English new wave band The Stranglers. It was released on 23 September 1977, through record label United Artists, five months after their debut album, Rattus Norvegicus.

Background

No More Heroes was produced by Martin Rushent. The album consists of new material with three songs left over from the Rattus Norvegicus sessions ("Something Better Change", "Bitching" and "Peasant in the Big Shitty").

The album cover features a photo of a wreath placed on a coffin with the tails of several rats (The Stranglers' trademark). The brass plaque on the album cover was engraved by Steven Stapleton of Nurse with Wound.[2]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by The Stranglers (Hugh Cornwell, Jean-Jacques Burnel, Dave Greenfield, Jet Black). 

Side A
No. Title Length
1. "I Feel Like a Wog"   3:16
2. "Bitching"   4:25
3. "Dead Ringer"   2:46
4. "Dagenham Dave"   3:18
5. "Bring on the Nubiles"   2:15
6. "Something Better Change"   3:35
Side B
No. Title Length
1. "No More Heroes"   3:27
2. "Peasant in the Big Shitty"   3:25
3. "Burning Up Time"   2:25
4. "English Towns"   2:13
5. "School Mam"   6:52

Release

Released on 23 September 1977, No More Heroes became one of the band's highest charting releases, peaking at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart, and staying in the chart for eighteen weeks.[3]

Two singles were released from the album: "No More Heroes", and a double A-side of "Something Better Change" and the non-album track "Straighten Out". A further non-album single was released later that year, "5 Minutes" b/w "Rok It to the Moon".

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Trouser Pressfavourable[5]

No More Heroes has been praised by retrospective critics. AllMusic called No More Heroes "faster, nastier and better [than Rattus Norvegicus]. "At this point The Stranglers were on top of their game, and the ferocity and anger that suffuses this record would never be repeated."[4] Trouser Press wrote that No More Heroes "continues in the same vein [as Rattus Norvegicus], but drops whatever hint of restraint may have been in force the first time around. Rude words and adult themes abound, with no punches pulled, from the blatant sexism of "Bring on the Nubiles" to the sarcastic attack on racism ("I Feel Like a Wog") to the suicide of a friend ("Dagenham Dave"). Despite the increased virulence, the music is even better than on the debut, introducing pop stylings that would later become a more common aspect of the Stranglers' character", finishing the review with "No More Heroes is easily [The Stranglers'] best album."[5]

Reissue

No More Heroes was remastered and reissued in 2001, including the additional tracks from the singles.

Personnel

The Stranglers
Technical
  • Martin Rushent – production
  • Alan Winstanleyengineering
  • Nigel Brooke-Harte – mixing, engineering assistance
  • Doug Bennett – mixing
  • JONZ (John Dent) – mastering
  • Eamonn O'Keefe – sleeve photography solarisation
  • Trevor Rogers – sleeve photography
  • The Red Room – artwork design
  • Paul Henry – sleeve design and art direction

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, September 01, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.