Rattus Norvegicus (album)

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Rattus Norvegicus
Studio album by The Stranglers
Released	April 15, 1977
Genre	Punk Rock New Wave
Length	50:59
Label	United Artists
Producer	Martin Rushent
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
The Stranglers chronology
Rattus Norvegicus (1977) No More Heroes (1977)

Rattus Norvegicus is the first album by The Stranglers, released in 1977. The band's name was printed as "The Stranglers IV" on the sleeve. The album was originally to be entitled "Dead on Arrival" but was changed at the last minute. It was one of the highest-selling albums of the punk era in Britain. Some websites incorrectly list the album as IV by a band called Rattus Norvegicus.

It was produced in one week by Martin Rushent, and was basically a snapshot of the band's live set at the time.

The original vinyl release included a free 7" single, containing "Peasant in the Big Shitty (live)" and "Choosie Susie". Two singles were taken from the album: "Grip", and "Peaches" (released as a double A-side with the non-album track "Go Buddy Go"), which gave the band their first major hit single. A remastered version of the album was reissued on CD in 2001, including these three additional tracks.

[edit] Track listing

1. "Sometimes" (4:56)
2. "Goodbye Toulouse" (3:12)
3. "London Lady" (2:25)
4. "Princess of the Streets" (4:34)
5. "Hanging Around" (4:25)
6. "Peaches" (4:03)
7. "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)" (3:55)
8. "Ugly" (4:03)
9. "Down In The Sewer: Falling/Down In The Sewer/Trying To Get Out Again/Rat's Rally" (7:30)
10. "Choosey Susie" (CD bonus track)
11. "Go Buddy Go" (CD bonus track)
12. "Peasant In The Big Shitty (Live)" (CD bonus track)

[edit] Personnel

• Hugh Cornwell: guitars, lead vocals (1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9) and backing vocals
• JJ Burnel: bass guitar, lead vocals (3, 4, 8, 10, 11) and backing vocals
• Dave Greenfield: keyboards (Hammond L100 Organ, Hohner Cembalet electric piano, Minimoog synthesizer), lead vocals (12) and backing vocals
• Jet Black: drums
• Eric Clarke: guest saxophone on "Grip"
• Martin Rushent: producer
• Alan Winstanley: engineering

[edit] Audio sample

v • d • e The Stranglers Jean-Jacques Burnel · Baz Warne · Jet Black · Dave Greenfield Hugh Cornwell · Hans Warmling · John Ellis · Paul Roberts Studio albums Rattus Norvegicus · No More Heroes · Black and White · The Raven · The Gospel According to the Meninblack · La Folie · Feline · Aural Sculpture · Dreamtime · 10 · Stranglers in the Night · About Time · Written in Red · Coup de Grace · Norfolk Coast · Suite XVI Live albums Live at the Hope and Anchor · Live (X Cert) · The Stranglers & Friends Live in Concert · All Live and All of the Night · Saturday Night, Sunday Morning · Access All Areas · Friday the Thirteenth · Live at the Hammersmith Odeon '81 · 5 Live 01 · Live at the Apollo · Apollo Revisited · Coast to Coast: Live on Tour Compilations The Stranglers IV · The Collection 1977-1982 · Off The Beaten Track · Rarities · Singles (The UA Years) · Greatest Hits 1977-1990 · All Twelve Inches · The Early Years '74 '75 '76 Rare Live and Unreleased · Strangled from Birth and Beyond · The Sessions · The Hit Men · The Best of the Epic Years · The Collection · Collection · Hits Collection · Hits & Heroes · The Stranglers · The Masters · Lies and Deception · Peaches: The Very Best of The Stranglers · The Rarities · Out of the Black · Sweet Smell of Success - Best of the Epic Years · Live 'n' Sleazy · Miss You · Gold · The Very Best of The Stranglers Special projects Laid Black · Clubbed To Death DVD releases The Collection · Live At Alexandra Palace · Friday The Thirteenth · On Stage on Screen · Live in '78 · Rattus At The Roundhouse Related Stranglers discography · The Purple Helmets · Faith Band · Soulsec