The band first came together in Guildford in 1974 with Jet and Hugh before recruiting guitarist turned bassist Jean Jacques

The Stranglers - Singles

Home >> Punk Bands >> The Stranglers >> Singles Part 1

You know a bands good when you come to make a singles comp and find its jam packed with goodies. The Stranglers are no exception. From 77-79 a string of 10 shit hot tunes and, unlike most bands, with just as good b-sides. Critics of the time had them down as Doors copyists or bad psychedelia but that's an easy and lazy negative critical jibe. If I had to compare them to anyone it would be Arthur Lee's Love. The Stranglers produced punky, accessible, playful often barbed tunes but always with an ear for a tune and the unexpected. They are as much a part of punk rock as the Sex Pistols or The Clash.

Chart Position 44
Released February 1977

Grip/ London Lady

It all starts here, opening synth, rumbling barracuda bass, and some cool sax in Hugh's tale of rock'n'roll. The b side features JJ on punky spunky form with the stage fave London Lady, a spiteful paean to Caroline Coon - Sounds Journalist. Plastics real when you're real sick sings JJ. Yeah!

14.5.77 Sounds
Click to view larger image

Peaches / Go Buddy Go

Surely one of the most famous bass intros and one every bassist knows. Sexist? Could be? But I know I'm the same when I'm on the beach. Laviscious tune with a sassy riff and drawled vocals that manage to mention clitoris though they made a cleaned up version to ensure airplay...Oh shit there goes the charabanc. Coupled with stage fave a la pub rock and Hey Joe riff - Go Buddy Go. If you have this sleeve you're rich. It was withdrawn and is mega rare.

Chart Position 8
Released May 1977


The Stranglers perform Go Buddy Go on Top Of The Pops 1978. Note JJ playing guitar and Hugh Bass!

14.5.77 Sounds
Click to view larger image

Something Better Change / Straighten Out

From the long hot summer of 1977 comes this double A sided gem. Something Better Change was a stage fave commenting on punk rock and features the immortal line "Stick my fingers right up your nose". The B side, Straighten Out, is driven by Burnel's bass in frenetic punk workout about the breakdown of society complete with Buddy Holly style "wo ha ho's". Classic stuff

Chart Position 9
Released August 1977

Chart Position 8
Released September 1977

Click to hear clip

No More Heroes / In The Shadows

Timeless riff - timeless tune - timeless lyrics. Built around a catchy keyboard riff this sums up as much as anything else punk rock and 1977. Sheer fucking class!

Whatever happened to Leon Trotsky
He got an icepick that made his ears burn. Whatever happened to dear old Lenny
The Great Elmyra and Sancho Panza

"We're up there singing 'No More Heroes' and in front of us are thousands of kids going crazy. It's almost as if we're perpetuating the very myth we set out to destroy." Hugh Cornwell.

14.5.77 Sounds
Click to view larger image

5 Minutes / Rok It To The Moon

Are they punk, aren't' they punk. The Stranglers reply with a cracking driven, aggressive tune that's up their with their best. A true tale about JJ's digs that out punks many supposed punk bands. Great video for this tune with dark lighting and moody looks and Dave playing keyboards with one hand while drinking beer with the other.

Chart Position 8
Released February 1978


From the video of 5 Minutes