The Apollo Glasgow 30th September 1978

 

Once in a blue moon this happens. I can think of two or three occasions upon which this has been so for the Aural Sculptors web site. A new recording surfaces that to all intents and purposes is a first for all. It may be that it is out there but in a very limited circulation or that it has genuinely passed people by.

That it is visible is not doubted as it appears on the http://www.rescuedrecordings.co.uk/ website, a non-profit making site dedicated to documenting the contribution to popular music as made by the Glasgow Apollo.

This was one of the last gigs that the band played in 1978, the year perhaps above all others when The Stranglers made their mark. The difficult third album had been a critical triumph and the band were taking full credit for it. On stage the band were never more belligerent, their relationship with the music press upon which most bands relied for some degree of support was at an all time low. The band seemed to be in a near state of paranoia... the world and his wife pitched against them. True, the press didn't like them but at the same time would you as a music journalist relish the prospect of interviewing the 'enfants terrible' of punk? The kids however loved them. Listen out for the audience chanting 'We Want The Stranglers!' at the end of 'Ugly'... it's almost 'Roller' behavior!

Early doors Hugh warns the audience not to goad the security with attempts to get onto the stage (I presume). 'Don't try and climb this 'cos they're fucking dangerous (the bouncers)... there were a few fractured skulls the other night' (a reference to the band's gig at the Manchester Apollo two days earlier that ended in violent disarray). How you scaled the Apollo stage is a mystery.

I believe that this was the only live outing for 'Walk On By' in the year of its release.

This is a great addition to the record so many thanks to the folk at Rescued Recordings for their ongoing efforts to bring so many of the great shows that the Apollo hosted and thanks to DomP (as ever) for passing this on to me! Highly appreciated!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-r39OUoJCU5

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-xUDyZ5Im7S

01. Ugly

02. I Feel Like A Wog

03. Burning Up Time

04. Bring on the Nubiles

05. Something Better Change

06. Hanging Around

07. Princess Of The Streets

08. Peasant In The Big Shitty

09. Walk On By

10. Curfew

11. Do You Wanna? 

12. Death And Night And Blood

13. Nice ‘N’ Sleazy

14. Threatened

15. Sverige

16. Tank

17. 5 Minutes

18. No More Heroes

19. Toiler on the Sea