The Stranglers - Rattus Norvegicus

Original Release Date

1977

Release Information

UK LP+7" 1977 (United Artists - UAG 30045 / FREE 3)
UK LP 1977 (United Artists - UAG 30045)
US LP 1977 (A&M - SP-4648)
UK CD 2001 (EMI - 7243 5 34406 2 6)

1 Sometimes 4:55
2 Goodbye Toulouse 3:17
3 London Lady 2:33
4 Princess Of The Streets 4:38
5 Hanging Around 4:27
6 Peaches 4:08
7 (Get A) Grip (On Yourself) 4:02
8 Ugly 4:08
9 Down In The Sewer (a) Falling (b) Down In The Sewer (c) Trying To Get Out Again (d) Rats Rally

Bonus Single with UK LP
1 Peasant In The Big Shitty 3:35
2 Choosey Susie 3:12

CD Bonus Tracks
10 Choosey Susie 3:14
11 Go Buddy Go 3:58
12 Peasant In The Big Shitty (Live) 3:42

Chart Placings

UK Chart Hit: 4, 34 wks

Credits

UK/US LP:

Hugh Cornwell - guitars and vocals
Jean Jacques Burnel - bass and vocals
Dave Greenfield - keyboards
Jet Black - drums and percussion

Eric Clark - Tenor sax on 'Grip'

Produced by Martin Rushent at T.W. Studios, Fulham January/February 1977.
Engineer: Alan Winstanley
Mixed at Olympic Studios, Barnes.
Engineer: Doug Bennett assisted by Benny King

FREE 3 (with UK LP only):

'Peasant In The Big Shitty (Live)':
Recorded live at 'The Nashville' 10th December 1976 by Vic Maile with Island Mobile
Prod. by Martin Rushent at T.W. Studios, Fulham. January 1977
Eng: Alan Winstanley. Max. at Olympic Studios, Barnes. Eng: Doug Bennett

'Choosey Susie':
Prod. by Martin Rushent at T.W. Studios, Fulham. January 1977
Eng: Alan Winstanley. Max. at Olympic Studios, Barnes. Eng: Doug Bennett

Additional Credits

CD Bonus Tracks:
10, 12: Free single with first 10,000 pressings of original LP
11: Flipside of Peaches / Go Buddy Go, released May 1977

Hugh Cornwell sings lead vocals on all songs except:
Jean Jacques Burnel - 'London Lady', 'Princess Of The Streets', 'Ugly', 'Choosey Susie' and 'Go Buddy Go'
Dave Greenfield - 'Peasant In The Big Shitty'

Reviews & Opinions

PUNKY GIBBON: Brilliantly produced by Martin Rushent, who made all the instruments ring with clarity without softening any of Cornwell's slashing guitars or Burnel's brutal bass lines, this is from start to finish an astonishing debut. Certainly not above a desire to shock, despite the very good musicianship this is superlative 1977 material, with blunt, angry yet highly melodic songs: pick of which are, well, all of them. 'Down In The Sewer' is an eight-minute epic split into four parts that serves as a showcase for their undoubted musical expertise, particularly some extensive keyboard soloing which earmarked Greenfield as master of the massive swelling organ. A classic record, considered by many to be their best, it originally came with a free single, coupling 'Choosey Susie' with a live version of 'Peasant In the Big Shitty'.

MARK P., SNIFFIN' GLUE, APRIL-MAY 1977: Apart from the title this LP is easy to understand. [Read full review here]

M.O., MELODY MAKER, APRIL 1977: This is the music of disaffected youth, struggling against a hard business that won't give them a break? Smells more like hype to me. The music on the album confirms that The Stranglers have little or nothing to offer. They're singularly lacking in all of the virtues that new wave bands like The Clash, the Damned and the Pistols have as their saving grace: they're about as energetic as a slug, and their lyrics, far from providing an outlet for the frustrations of today's young, are the same old tripe used by most of the bands the punks love to hate - but with a few naughty swear words thrown in. The only sense in which the Stranglers could be considered new wave is that no one has had the gall to palm off this rubbish before.

Additional Notes

On the three versions listed above this record is listed as:
UK LP: 'Stranglers IV (Rattus Norvegicus)' on the label and 'IV - Rattus Norvegicus' on the spine.
US LP: 'IV Rattus Norvegicus' on the label and spine
CD: 'IV Rattus Norvegicus' on the disc and 'Rattus Norvegicus' on the spine

Images

UK LP+7" 1977 (United Artists - UAG 30045 / FREE 3) and UK LP 1977 (United Artists - UAG 30045). Click here for more

US LP 1977 (A&M - SP-4648). Click here for more

UK CD 2001 (EMI - 7243 5 34406 2 6). Click here for more