The Raven (The Stranglers album)
Encyclopedia
The Raven is an album by The Stranglers
, released in 1979. The album was originally released with a limited edition 3-D 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. Petersen was the subject of the album's sixth track, "Nuclear Device".
"The Raven" sold well, reaching No.4 in the UK Album Chart, although it is believed it could 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". Although the album was successful, "The Raven" only spawned one top 20 single, "Duchess", with "Nuclear Device" only reaching No.36 and the EP "Don't Bring Harry" reaching No.41.
Despite its high peak chart position in the UK, "The Raven" only spent 8 weeks on the chart, a significantly shorter duration than the band's previous three studio albums.
Tracks 12–15 were not on the original vinyl release. They are singles and B-sides, approximately contemporaneous with the Raven album, but have subsequently been released as bonus tracks on some CD versions.
It is often said that this album is steeped in Nordic imagery. This is true of the first two songs, much of the artwork (the band is shown standing on the prow of a viking
longship
) and the raven itself is, of course, a feature of Norse mythology. However 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").
"Duchess", was the first, and most successful, single from the album despite the video – which showed the band as choir boys – being banned by the BBC
because they considered it blasphemous.
"Meninblack", ended up becoming the starting point for their next album, The Gospel According to The Men in Black.
on their debut album.
The Stranglers
The Stranglers are an English punk/rock music group.Scoring some 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are the longest-surviving and most "continuously successful" band to have originated in the UK punk scene of the mid to late 1970s...
, released in 1979. The album was originally released with a limited edition 3-D cover. Another limited edition was inadvertently created when the band was forced to remove an image of Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Sir Johannes "Joh" Bjelke-Petersen, KCMG , was an Australian politician. He was the longest-serving and longest-lived Premier of Queensland, holding office from 1968 to 1987, a period that saw considerable economic development in the state...
from the inner sleeve artwork. Petersen was the subject of the album's sixth track, "Nuclear Device".
"The Raven" sold well, reaching No.4 in the UK Album Chart, although it is believed it could 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". Although the album was successful, "The Raven" only spawned one top 20 single, "Duchess", with "Nuclear Device" only reaching No.36 and the EP "Don't Bring Harry" reaching No.41.
Despite its high peak chart position in the UK, "The Raven" only spent 8 weeks on the chart, a significantly shorter duration than the band's previous three studio albums.
Track listing
All song written by The Stranglers- "Longships" (1:10)
- "The Raven" (5:13)
- "Dead Loss Angeles" (2:24)
- "Ice" (3:26)
- "Baroque Bordello" (3:50)
- "Nuclear Device" (3:32)
- "Shah Shah A Go Go" (4:50)
- "Don't Bring Harry" (4:09)
- "DuchessDuchess (The Stranglers song)"Duchess" is a single by The Stranglers from the album The Raven. The ninth track on the album, it peaked at number 14 in the UK Singles Chart. The supporting video for the song was banned by the BBC, as they deemed it blasphemous for its content, which featured the band dressed up as choirboys.-...
" (2:30) - "Meninblack" (4:48)
- "Genetix" (5:16)
2001 CD Bonus Tracks
- "Bear Cage" (2:50)
- "Fools Rush Out" (2:09)
- "N'Emmenes Pas Harry" (4:14)
- "Yellowcake UF6" (2:55)
Tracks 12–15 were not on the original vinyl release. They are singles and B-sides, approximately contemporaneous with the Raven album, but have subsequently been released as bonus tracks on some CD versions.
It is often said that this album is steeped in Nordic imagery. This is true of the first two songs, much of the artwork (the band is shown standing on the prow of a viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
longship
Longship
Longships were sea vessels made and used by the Vikings from the Nordic countries for trade, commerce, exploration, and warfare during the Viking Age. The longship’s design evolved over many years, beginning in the Stone Age with the invention of the umiak and continuing up to the 9th century with...
) and the raven itself is, of course, a feature of Norse mythology. However the album deals with a variety of issues including: Japanese ritual suicide ("Ice"); heroin use ("Don't Bring Harry"); the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
("Shah-Shah-a-go-go") and Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
("Genetix").
"Duchess", was the first, and most successful, single from the album despite the video – which showed the band as choir boys – being banned by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
because they considered it blasphemous.
"Meninblack", ended up becoming the starting point for their next album, The Gospel According to The Men in Black.
Covers
The song Dead Loss Angeles was covered by Japanese supergroup MetalchicksMetalchicks
Metalchicks are a Japanese rock duo supergroup. Their second album, St. Wonder was also the soundtrack to the movie Warau Michael. They play regularly in Japan, and also played at SXSW 2007.-Members:*Sugar Yoshinaga - guitar...
on their debut album.
The Stranglers
- Hugh CornwellHugh CornwellHugh Alan Cornwell is an English musician and songwriter, best known for being the vocalist and guitarist for the punk/new wave group, The Stranglers, from 1974 to 1990.-Career:...
: guitar, vocals, 2nd bass (track 3) - J.J. Burnel: bass, vocals
- Dave GreenfieldDave GreenfieldDave Greenfield is the keyboard player with English rock band, The Stranglers.-Biography:He is noted for his trademark style of playing rapid arpeggios...
: keyboards, vocals - Jet BlackJet BlackJet Black is an English drummer and founder member of punk rock / new wave band The Stranglers.-Early years:...
: drums, percussion