The Raven (The Stranglers album)

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The Raven
File:Stranglers - The Raven album cover.jpg
Studio album by The Stranglers
Released 21 September 1979
Recorded June 1979 at Pathe Marconi Studios, Paris; AIR Studios, London
Genre Post-punk, new wave
Length 41:11
Label United Artists
Producer Alan Winstanley and The Stranglers
The Stranglers chronology
Black and White
(1978)Black and White1978		 The Raven
(1979)		 The Gospel According to the Meninblack
(1981)The Gospel According to the Meninblack1981
Singles from The Raven
  1. "Duchess"
    Released: 10 August 1979
  2. "Nuclear Device (The Wizard of Aus)"
    Released: 1979
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 3.5/5 stars[1]
Smash Hits 6½/10[2]

The Raven is the fourth studio album by English new wave band The Stranglers. It was released on 21 September 1979, through record label United Artists.

Background

The first two songs, much of the artwork (the band is shown standing on the prow of a viking longship) and the album title refer to Norse mythology. The album deals with a variety of issues including Japanese ritual suicide ("Ice"), heroin use ("(Don't Bring) Harry"), the Iranian Revolution ("Shah Shah a Go Go") and Genetic engineering ("Genetix").

"Meninblack" became the starting point for their next album, The Gospel According to the Meninblack.

Release

The Raven was released on 21 September 1979. It reached No. 4 in the UK albums chart, remaining in the chart for eight weeks.[3] However, it is believed[by whom?] it should have made No.1 but for an error in the chart. The Police hit No.1 despite their album not yet being released, leading to controversy that the Police album was mis-credited with sales of The Raven.

The album was originally released with a limited edition 3D cover. Another limited edition was inadvertently created when the band was forced to remove an image of Joh Bjelke-Petersen from the inner sleeve artwork. Bjelke-Petersen was the subject of the album's sixth track, "Nuclear Device (The Wizard of Aus)".

"Duchess" was the first and most successful single from the album, released on 10 August 1979 and reaching No. 14 on the UK singles chart.[3] "Nuclear Device (The Wizard of Aus)" was the second single released, reaching No. 36 in the same chart.[3] An EP, Don't Bring Harry, was released in November, consisting of the title track, "Wired" (credited to Hugh Cornwell and Robert Williams), "Crabs (Live)" (credited to J.J. Burnel) and "In the Shadows (Live)". It reached No. 41.[3]

Track listing

  • All songs written by The Stranglers.
  1. "Longships" – 1:10
  2. "The Raven" – 5:13
  3. "Dead Loss Angeles" – 2:24
  4. "Ice" – 3:26
  5. "Baroque Bordello" –　3:50
  6. "Nuclear Device (The Wizard of Aus)" – 3:32
  7. "Shah Shah a Go Go" – 4:50
  8. "(Don't Bring) Harry" – 4:09
  9. "Duchess" – 2:30
  10. "Meninblack" – 4:48
  11. "Genetix" – 5:16

Personnel

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The Stranglers
Technical
  • Alan Winstanley – production, engineering, mixing
  • Steve Churchyard – mixing
  • Porky – mastering
  • BilBo – mastering
  • John Pasche – sleeve design
  • Shoot That Tiger! – sleeve design
  • Chris Ryan – sleeve photography
  • Toppan – sleeve photography
  • Paul Cox – sleeve photography
  • Allan Ballard – sleeve photography

References

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  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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