The Stranglers Live (X-Cert)

Last month I posted information about the first three studio albums recorded by the Stranglers. They were the definitive albums. Their following albums were relatively successful, but they weren't punk any more. That's a shame.

Fortunately, a live album was released in 1979 which captures the essence of their punk phase. It contains a mixture of tracks from three concerts in 1977 and 1978. but it's expertly mixed to give the impression of a single concert. In my opinion, it's the best live album that's ever been released. It combines raw energy, first rate sound quality and lively banter with the audience.

Later re-releases of the album added extra live tracks which don't fit in with the style of the original release. They're good tracks, but they all sound extra, i.e. it's obvious that they're not part of the same concert.

The songs included in the live album are:

1. Get a grip on yourself

2. Dagenham Dave

3. Burning up time

4. Dead ringer

5. Hanging around

6. I feel like a wog

7. Straighten out

8. Curfew

9. Do you wanna?

10. Death and night and blood

11. Five minutes

12. Go Buddy Go

"Curfew" is introduced as "Black and white". Presumably that was the song's original title before their album was released.