Justin, I was pretty sure you would love The Stranglers ! They really have a distinct sound and style. Here is what Hugh Cornwell says about "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)" in the book The Stranglers song by song 1974-1990: "I was very proud of it because it was my song completely. I was constantly writing songs by myself and this was the first one where I felt I'd really cracked it. The others liked it, so we adopted it exactly as it was." "The whole lyric is a general comment on what was happening at the time. We were making no money, but were playing music, which was the important thing." "'Grip' is a bit of an anthem, in a way, relating to insane times and also our feeling that it was like a prison sentence. We felt we were committed to playing music, but the going was so tough, it felt like we were being punished." "The saxophone was a suggestion by Dai Davies (who managed The Stranglers with Derek Savage at this time). I remember Dai saying that a saxophone would sound great on this and that he knew a Welsh coal miner called Eric Clarke, who played sax. This guy literally came off a shift in the coal mine, got on a train, came to the studio, blew a few notes and then got on the train and went back down the mine. It worked really well with the sax on it." "Martin Rushent (album's producer) liked this song and said it had to be the first single. He made me record the guitars over and over again and said, "I want this wall of guitars", which he got. None of the band were sure at the time whether he was right or not, but it came out sounding fantastic."
Yay! Back to The Stranglers. Next track, "Ugly" is funny. I might have said it before, but I'm so glad you're reacting to this band. One of my all time favourites. Dave's keyboard playing take this band to another level.
I bought this album in Harrods of all places with my staff discount. I'd been working there in school holidays. Hardly a punk tale, I grant you, but I was a punk of sorts, but more self styled. I am however proud of the fact I got the free (apparently rare) red coloured single with the album, Choosy Suzie and Peasant in the Big Shitty. Must be worth millions now.
The keys are the USP of the stranglers compared to other punk era bands. And they are Soooooo Gooooooood. RIP Dave. Checkout the MV for ‘This Song’ off the latest Stranglers Album ‘Dark matters’. This is not just a band from the history books
To me, the keyboard runs in "Grip" always reminded me of a modern version of the fills in traditional Celtic/Irish/Scottish music done by pipes, fiddle, or pennywhistle.
@@-davidolivares as long as you were prepared to spend nearly as long keeping it running as driving it, didn't need to go up any hills and never needed to stop quickly! :)
RIP Dave and Jet. That disco beat from Jet Black totally proto new wave/post-punk. The whole song was about "Get a grip on yourself, we're not doing this for the money."
Dave Greenslade wailin that keyboard like a G Damn boss !! They were so amazing and this is one of their best albums. May I suggest their Brit contemporaries Magazine their first 2 albums Real Life and Second Hand Daylight are fantastic and groundbreaking.
I totally agree ! The first two Magazine albums are their best, and more particularly their second, the dark and brilliant Secondhand Daylight. I'm sure Justin would love the sound of Dave Formula's keyboards and Barry Adamson's bass playing. "Feed the Enemy" would be an excellent introduction ! Apart from that, I think you must have mixed Dave Greenfield with Dave Greenslade ! 😉
@@a.k.1740 Yes I bloody well did but I did notice my error and tried to correct but ooops anyway ! My fave Mag tracks are The Light Pours Out of Me, Permafrost, Rhythm of Cruelty and Back to Nature among others. Peace A.K.
@@brewstergallery Yes, any Magazine track from those first two albums is unbeatable, although I also like "Give Me Everything" but more in its live version from Melbourne on the Play album (with Robin Simon on guitar) than on the studio single release.
@@a.k.1740 Dave Greenslade is a great musician as well. He was the keybordist in Colosseum. Listen to this and hear the probable influence of the Goodbye Toulouse intro. At 4.49. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cKFrsm4wqpg.html
i litrally woke up and i thought of the stranglers and you reacting to Peaches again and then u upload this just now. Finish the album the last 2 songs are great especially Down In The Sewer. If you love the keyboard work in Get a Grip and think its one of the best songs on the album wait till you hit Down In The Sewer
A great track this, my fave on the album, nay, their canon. Of course the bass, the cheeky sax line, but mostly the keys shine here. And not forgetting the vocal, and harmonies. It's rip roaring stuff.
@@Katehowe3010 "Ugly" lives up to its name with its wicked sound and Burnel's raw vocal rendition ! It's a piece that I've often neglected but I just listened to it again and it's damn effective after all. I think this one will surprise Justin but probably please him too ! 😉
@@Katehowe3010 I listen to it again and love the instrumental part where JJ says "I guess I shouldn't have strangled him to death..." and Dave's organ and minimoog are menacing while JJ's bass is on a roller coaster, It's so well done !!!👏
I think one of the key things Dave Greenfield had over other keyboard players was his use of tone in away others never did at that time, when others were using stark sinister tones on the moog's and korgs Greenfield was using light, bright mellow tones to really lift the songs to a whole new dimension.
Thing is a lot of us were introduced to this album on vinyl which I think adds an extra dimension to it, I still have it on vinyl and prefer to listen to it on the turntable rather than the Internet 😉
Fantastic track. One of my favourite Strangler tracks... oh, but there's more... much, much more to come. This "was" played in some alternative music clubs in the late 70s, just before New Wave announced itself.
Sheeran's IMHO an extremely skilled cut & paste artist & proficient performer. These guys weren't about pop in that way. Some say they were Doors clones but though Greenfield's style & the musical arrangements at times had hints of the Doors, they were no rip off IMO.
Get a Grip and No More Heroes were the first two tracks I heard from The Stranglers and it got me right into them. So glad I got to see them live. Dave Greenfield was the genius of the group, he gave them that extra special ingredient that defined the band's sound. I hope you will react to Hawkwind's Urban Guerrilla some day. Cheers.
I didn't realize how much they were probably influenced by The Doors when all I knew about them were Peaches and Golden Brown. Really listening to this song now, there it is. Like you said, great choices for sounds. And they really groove.
They were never ever influenced by The Doors, Dave had heard a few songs by them but that is as much as they were influenced, and JJ was the best bass player of the time
This album is just pure class and the next track 'ugly' is fun and contains the best line ever written in a song 👍 getting nearer the down in the sewer reaction which to all us fansinblack out there can't wait to see 😁
As one of the Older Generation amongst us, I can say that most British guys will know what the "Morry Thou" in the lyrics refers to.... SO.. Fun fact... Morry Thou is a Morris Minor Thousand... (The "Morris Minor" being the make of the car and the "thousand" referring to the size of the engine.. I.E: 1Ltr - A thousand CC's).... See we are useful for something... Oh yes and buying this album when it first came out and loving ever since... Keep on Rocking JP.
This might have been the first British punk-ish album I bought because it had US distribution and came out so early. Most of the others were either only available as imports (Clash, Damned) or came out late (Pistols).
And take a look at that cover photo and notice who's out front... Dave Greenfield and Jean-Jaques Brunel; the driving forces behind their sound. I grabbed this album when it was released and it blew me away. I was 20 years old and already into the punk scene here in Australia; but these guys really had some skill. I still dig this album. Can't wait for you to do "Peaches"! ✌& ♥ from Australia
I'm so glad i saw them a couple of years ago, which turned out to be Dave's last tour. Peaches was done! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-5qvo-Aqj8EA.html
Spot on geez,well done to ya for mentioning him...if it wasn't for Jet Black the strangers wouldn't exist! I'll tell ya why=in the early/mid seventies Jet was doin well-he had his own business which was a fleet of ice-cream vans in East London and was drumming partly time in various bands,he met j.j, Hugh and Dave and they jammed together (around 1974) and hit it off immediately (musically and socially) but could not get any financial backing from a record company (most of them-a+r men,record co. execs,bosses of record co.'s) were and I fink still are a right bunch of walkers! so jet black sold his business and funded the band until they got a record deal...they travelled about in one of key's ice cream vans which they converted to carry the band and their instruments and equipment...imagine seeing the strangers turnin up for a gig in an ice cream van! haha haha.. .brilliant,also jet would get a drum riff goin and then the others would join in,perfect example of this is nice n sleazy...all the best to ya,peace from English Piers a.k.a. Chopper.
Greenfield had a real feel for what was required, & coming from earlier pop/rock background, not bad going. Stranglers was a vehicle for him to excel & spread his wings
One of my favourites... No love for the Black and White album? Nice n Sleazy (has been mentioned) other songs I loved were Toiler on the sea and i do like the keyboards in Sweden. Also im not sure you have done it but if you have the endurance Down in the Sewer is really good. Yapping on a bit here but since i'm Scottish maybe I could do a plug for Primal Scream, not sure what genre i would call them they seem to change it up depending what decade they are in (Started in the 80s and are still goin).. Songs like Rocks Off, Country Girl and Moving on up are worth a listen. Keep up the good work!
JP at his best...I have the pop corn ready for when you hit 'Down in the Sewer', my personal favourite on this great album....still surprised you never took to No More Heroes considering your comments on Greenslades playing here, and looking forward post Rattus to when you hear Nice'n'Sleazy, 5 Minutes and Walk on By and so many more...so if you are inclined I've booked next year off, so no rush mate ;)...try Elvis Costello and the Attractions, same pub rock background, really tight band, 'Oliver's Army' their biggest hit, but anything by them could capture your attention, pretty diverse musically.
a nip in now and again till see what your playing and im never disapionted its class well done and keep playing the clasics from such a great change in music. lol and mind the clash
There is something so familiar about this though I am pretty certain I haven't heard it. I am not certain what it was... Oysterband (Hal n Tow?) or Men They Couldn't Hang (Rosettes?) or Great Big Sea (End of the World? no... that is silly). I dunno... something. I will probably wake up in the middle of the night sometime next week with the answer but no memory of the question. I need to ... well.. get ahold of myself. Quite good song and reaction. Thanks.
I've always kind of likes The Stranglers, but watching you go through this album and re-listening (or first listening some tracks) to these songs makes me really appreciate them much more. This was a great choice. ........ For something completely different in every way, and timely of events in Ukraine, you might want to check out Gogol Bordello. The band's lead songwriter and singer is Ukranian born, and they play 'Roma Punk," with lots of eastern European influence to their NYC punk sound. Great, great band. Try "Supertheory of Supereverything" or "Alcohol." Very funny lyrics. I think you'll really like it.
plenty more to get your teeth into down the line - 'Five Minutes'/'96 Tears'/'Nice & Sleazy'/'Bear Cage' to name but a few. Their versatility was boundless and i don't think you can put them into any particular genre (although they have been called a punk band - mostly because they emerged at roughly the same time - so much more).
Surley Walk On By, or Who Wants The World, were more worth a mention as to 96 Tears ? Along with" Shaking Like A Leaf quite easily the 2 worst singles they put out along with the 2 albums they came off. A sign things were going south and they were going commercially soft something had to give.
This is so rooted in Roxy Music and so uniquely Stranglers at the same time. I only know the later album "Aural Sculpture" but I love this stuff a lot!
I always thought this song was autobiographical on Hugh's part. I imagined that after spending time playing with Richard Thompson, of Fairport Convention, he went off the rails and went to prison for two years for possession of heroin.
@@christopherabbey4054 It would be better if Justin did it in order for stylistic reasons and to show the band's musical progression, although I would like him to also dwell on a few tracks from the No More Heroes album (apart from the title track which he has already done).
Ya I'm an old punk from way back ....saw all or most of the greats Ramones strangers Buzzcocks dead Kennedys etc Why are no reactors not doing guided by voices? Robert pollard has written 2600 songs Maybe to overwhelming The song Sons of the beard would be a good intro
This song is so brilliant. I have the live album, and that whole album has so much energy and intensity. Stranglers and Simple Minds got together and put out this banger version: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CWjrLPH2-Ps.html well worth a listen. Also, for some reason, the line that just strikes as sublime brilliance is "suffering convictions on a two way stretch inside, the air in here is pretty thin I think I'll go outside".
There is not a dull moment on this album!! In fact, every album The Stranglers have is completely different from from the before or the one after!! One of my all time favorite bands!!
“Morrie Thou” is indeed a car,a Morris Minor 1000,which was a funny looking thing and Britain’s answer to the VW Beetle but nowhere near as cool. They were a cheap car and the line couldn’t afford a Morrie thou,is indication of just how skint he is.
❤Yes, RIP Jet - a great drummer and thought provoking man. Without Jet there would be no Stranglers I've been very lucky to have been listening and seeing them live since late 70's. Thanks for the music Jet it's been a blast - Fly straight my man... and if you should see Dave say hello 😥😥
Didn't have the money round to buy a Morry Thou Been around and seen a lot to shake me anyhow Begged and borrowed sometimes, I admit I even stole The worse crime that I ever did was playing rock 'n roll. But the money's no good Just get a grip on yourself But the money's no good Just get a grip on yourself Suffering convictions on a two-way stretch inside The air in here is pretty thin, I think I'll go outside Committed for insanity and crimes against the soul The worst crime that I ever did was play some rock 'n roll. But the money's no good Just get a grip on yourself But the money's no good Just get a grip on yourself And you should know Now I find from week to week the sentence sticking fast Turn the corner, rub my eyes and hope the world will last Stranger from another planet welcome to our hole Just strap on your guitar and we'll play some rock 'n roll But the money's no good Just get a grip on yourself But the money's no good Just get a grip on yourself And you should know
That was pretty good, still has a aftertaste that I’m not quite liking. Keys were brilliant, guitar sax, background vocals I liked. Lead vocals not so much… They’re interesting. Wish you would do some Los Lobos, studio or live, those guys are brilliant. Peace and moneys no good Music
That style of vocal was vital back in 1970's England - the aggression in society was palpable. A sound for the time but still relevant today. If you prefer a softer singing voice Hugh does a fantastic job singing Strange Little Girl and A Midnight Summer's Dream plus many others across their albums.
The incentive that music is in itself, and the desire to play and create, is another one of those alternatives to the profit motive which gives the lie to conventional economics and its assumptions, including that there is only one incentive which is value maximisation on an individual basis. That actually gets very little done, except the exploitation of most humans by a functionally sociopathic minority who contribute nothing of value to the whole themselves, and whose whole ideology and practise is withholding from the community. They end up imposing poverty and stress and early death on others, while remaining spiritually bankrupt and hollow inside, barely able to enjoy anything except the flexing of power over and against others.
