Atlantis Alkmaar Netherlands 24th February 1997

DomP has gifted the site another great recording to which he has applied some audio noodling to achieve a version of this Mk. II gig that is streets ahead of the previous version that I uploaded to the site both in terms of format (FLAC versus MP3) and quality. I have also now added artwork.

For enthusiasts of this era of the band this will be a gem. With Paul and John performing the majority of the song writing on 'Written In Red', this dynamic was logically translated into the live set. Never before or since has a Stranglers set deviated so much from the 'classic Stranglers' and for that reason this is a good recording to bag as some of the songs in the set are unlikely to make a reappearance. Did 'In A While' ever get played anywhere else?

As mentioned in the first posting of this gig, Alkmaar served as the forerunner of the Wonky Bus excursions. It is evident from Paul's comments during the gig that the UK travelling contingent took over the front of the gig.

Thanks for answering the call Dom, some more Roberts era material was what I was looking for to balance up the audio record somewhat.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-tNaXOOJPe8Dy560L

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-46XudTkFrzjQNuOx

Warwick Arts Centre 19th November 1997

 

Thanks to yesican for the share of this gig. Much appreciated! It's 1997 and 'Written in Red' is ten months old (just three tracks from the album feature in the live set at this point). I am truly glad that the band got through this period to attain further critical acclaim some years further down the road. The fire was burning low in the grate at this point, the live performances retained some semblance of the band but if I were subjected to a cold hearing of 'Written In Red' I would struggle to identify the band. Nevertheless, the late '90s Stranglers, love them or loathe them are all part of that convoluted 52 year career path that we all to a varying extent followed assiduously.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-OOkX5NDjE8wBEmGY

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-crRfpjt0giiaPjHU

HMV In-Store Appearance Sheffield 29th January 1997

 

Here is another short in-store appearance by the band as part of their promotional activities for the 'Written In Red' album.

WAV: https://we.tl/t-Y6RvqW9UN3

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-S5TfxGgFv9

Ventura Theater Ventura CA 22nd March 1997

 

Another anniversary show, one a bit younger this time and as obnoxious as your average teenager! An adrift Stranglers entertain the Californians back in 1997. I still wince when I hear the band's version of 'Summer In The City'. A great song in the wrong hands.

WAV: https://we.tl/t-xuN0Fv4Bt9

MP3 (as received): https://we.tl/t-LZntk3Wuuv

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-3dyyxNudj9

Joey and Dee Dee Ramone Coney Island High NYC 4th July 1997

 

On waking up to Mo's take on 'Danny Says' I thought that I would dig out a Ramones bootleg featuring the track. However, I can't find any gigs in my collection that include the song in the set. Perhaps the exclusion of such a strong track was something to do with the fact that it is one of their slower numbers and as such did not sit comfortably in the standard high octane Ramones set.

I may be wrong, but you have to essentially look beyond the Ramones to find a live version of the track. Post Ramones, Joey and Dee Dee played a gig at Coney Island High. In preparation for the gig, a fan based poll was conducted to find the fans choice of a song to be included in the set and it seems thta 'Danny Says' was a comfortable winner.

Enjoy this, a late, almost last hurrah for a band that were so instrumental in the creation of the punk scene.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-DHw4GuyC1b

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-Yq7dkO2kK3

01. Jesse Malin Intro/I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You
02. Babysitter
03. Listen To My Heart
04. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
05. I Want You Around
06. I Am Seeing UFOs
07. Danny Says
08. Rockaway Beach
09. 53rd And 3rd
10. 53rs And 3rd (Continued)
11. Commando
12. I Don't Care
13. I Just Wanna Have Something To Do
14. I Wanna Be Sedated

Alkmaar Atlantis 23rd February 1997

 

Here are the band playing Almaar in the Netherlands on this day in 1997... the Wonky precursor trip.

MP3 (as received): https://we.tl/t-erCeRGHuhe

01. Valley Of The Birds
02. Golden Boy
03. In Heaven She Walks
04. Nice ‘N’ Sleazy
05. In A While
06. Always The Sun
07. Daddy’s Riding The Range
08. Golden Brown
09. Sinister
10. Miss You
11. I Feel Like A Wog
12. I Feel Like A Wog (Cont)
13. Silver Into Blue
14. Thrown Away
15. Thrown Away (Cont)
16. Bring On The Nubile
17. Let Me Introduce You To The Family
18. Duchess
19. Hanging Around
20. No More Heroes
21. Summer In The City

Propellerheads Live At The Wireless Triple J Australia 10th February 1997

 

Will White and Alex Gifford of Propelleraheads

Well 'P' is an easy option and I was presented with many choices to upload. Nevertheless, I plumped for something more obscure ad no doubt challenging to some. But this is a broad minded site and can and indeed does contain material that is sometimes rather tenuously linked to the band. This recording is a case in point. The 'band' are Propellerheads, an electronic paring of Will White and Alex Gifford. Now Alex as you know had an association with the band that lasted several years, originally contributing sax to the brass section that played on the Aural Sculpture tour, after which he took to lead vocals in Dave and JJ's side project The Purple Helmets.

A bit of rough and tumble with the brass section (1985)

With The Purple Helmets (1988)

Propellerheads debut (and only) album 'Decksandrumsandrockandroll' was a big seller when it came out in 1998 and I duly bought it by virtue of the Stranglers connection. However, I did not play it for 10 years but a was really surprised and enjoyed most of it. Dance music does not feature much on this site, but this is a little different, very soundtrack orientated and swathed in Bond-esque kitsch.

This set was recorded for Live at the Wireless, Triple J in Australia on 10th February 1997.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-tJJB3zq1OU

01: Propellerheads Intro

02: Bring Us Together

03: Take California

04: Dive

05: Props Got Skills

06: Spybreak

Absolut Live TV Performance DVD Bremen 18th February 1997

Ok, some time ago I posted the audio rip of this Mk II German TV performance (here). As I recall, I was not very complimentary  about this performance then. Love the fact that some people really got and appreciated the Paul Roberts/John Ellis incarnation of the band. It just wasn't for me. 

The only additional comment that I will make on this recording relates to 'Summer In The City'...... a great Summer of Love track by The Loving Spoonful without a doubt, but how distracted were The Stranglers they when this was proposed in a band meeting!

Of the covers that have been done.

'Mony Mony' - a good cover, sultry vocals from Celia, hooligan backing vocals from the bass player..... happy days, different and refreshing (oh and by the way, miles better than Billy Idols effort!)

'Walk on By' - whilst I am sorry to say that these days a rendition of WOB at a gig turns me off, there is no mistaking that this is a masterpiece. In making it there own, The Stranglers produced a version that is as vital and as valid as the original. Not many covers can do that.

'All Day and All of the Night' - once again, a brilliant song by a brilliant band. The sound suited The Stranglers completely. The only problem was that it was so faithful to the Kinks' original that it offered nothing and for that reason was a rather pointless exercise.

'Summer in the City' - completely unsuited to The Stranglers. A toe curling mistake.

Here endeth Adrian's opinions on cover versions.

DVD image: https://we.tl/t-mJMJzBqw6o

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-pdjEptmnwq

FNAC St Etienne 14th February 1997

Here's a short in-store promotional set that saw the band in France a couple of weeks after the UK release of 'Written In Red'.

WAV: http://we.tl/rJmrCYJ7sp

01. Strange Little Girl
02. Valley Of The Birds
03. Daddy’s Riding The Range
04. You’ll Always Reap What You Sow
05. In Heaven She Walks

Written In Red Promotional Store Appearance HMV Birmingham 27th January 1997

Here I have to admit I'm not too well informed. The 'Written In Red' album is one of two studio albums that I do not own (the other being 'Coup De Grace' should you care to know), I kind of know the songs but am certainly not over familiar with them. Nevertheless, as I have stated before, I want the site to be representative of the whole span of their long career (hence previous calls for PR era assistance).

My thanks for this one again goes to Paul Nesbitt. This is a short promotional appearance in Birmingham's HMV on the release day.

If someone wants to add some artwork, please feel free.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-xmVDb5A874

Artwork (Thanks MeAnIe): https://we.tl/t-Lw30DlPssO

01. Introduction
02. Reap What You Sow
03. In Heaven She Walks
04. Leave It To The Dogs
05. Valley Of The Birds
06. Strange Little Girl
07. Daddy's Riding The Range

'Absolut Live' Bremen 18th February 1997 - Audio Rip

OK, we've known each other for some time now and I feel that I can be on the level with you good people. I first acquired this recording (the DVD) some 7 or 8 years ago i.e. many years after the event. I played it and quite frankly thought it was awful. Sadly, it reaffirmed my my belief that to walk away when I did in '93 was for me the right decision.

Happily, this was a low point and to look now at footage of the band playing to huge festival crowds... well it is testament to the resilience and perhaps sheer bloody mindedness that is so deeply ingrained in the band that has seen them through so many significant anniversaries.

I am not going to denigrate the Paul Roberts years (I didn't in 1993 and don't intend to now). If the band had not endured these years in the wilderness, I don't suppose they would be the band that they are now and I would not be enjoying great gigs in the company of old mates in 2013!

As I have said previously I want to cover all 35+ years on this site, regardless of whether or not it floats my boat, hence requests to fill the 1991 to 2005 sized hole in the collection.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-0grJNp21WE

Artwork:  https://we.tl/t-hqVZETKY2d

01. Intro
02. Golden Boy
03. Straighten Out
04. In Heaven She Walks
05. Always The Sun
06. Money
07. Golden Brown
08. Sinister
09. Silver Into Blue
10. Hanging Around
11. No More Heroes
12. Summer In The City
13. Valley Of The Birds

Wetlands NYC 27th March 1997

Jet Black

Wetlands NYC 27th March 1997

Here's a recording, a bit tinny, but clear, from the US leg of the Written in Red tour.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-ypy08Ur7HG

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-tObN60xFIG

01. Valley Of The Birds

02. Golden Boy

03. Straighten Out

04. Money

05. In Heaven She Walks

06. Nice And Sleazy

07. Always The Sun

08. Daddy's Riding The Range

09. Golden Brown

10. Sinister

11. Miss You

12. I Feel Like A Wog

13. Silver Into Blue

14. Thrown Away

15. Bring On The Nubiles

16. Let Me Introduce You To The Family

17. Duchess

18. Hanging Around

19. No More Heroes

20. Summer In The City

I ask you, 'Summer in the City'!? A great 60's track from the Lovin' Spoonful, but a Stranglers set closer... well it didn't work for me.