THE STRANGLERS – 10 LP – Nr MINT A1/B1 UK 1990  PUNK

The Stranglers – 10
(Epic Records  1990  4664831)
Matrix No’s: A1/B1 – UK Pressing

Vinyl in Nr MINT condition

Sleeve in Nr MINT condition
Inner Sleeve in Nr MINT condition

The Stranglers are an English rock band who emerged via the punk rock scene. The original line up was Hugh Cornwell (vocals, guitar), Jean-Jacques Brunel (bass, vocals), Dave Greenfield (keyboards) and Jet Black (drums).

The tenth studio album from The Stranglers was called 10 and was the last with Hugh Cornwell. The album was released in 1990. There is a definite “big-band” sound to this album, most likely due to the production work of Roy Thomas Baker and the continued use of a horn section. One of the highlights is the Question Mark & the Mysterians hit 96 Tears (which reached #17 in the UK singles chart). The album sleeve shows the members of the band dressed up as ten of the most powerful world leaders of the time (L-R Yasser Arafat, Rajiv Gandhi, Pope John Paul II, Mikhail Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher, George H. W. Bush, Fidel Castro, Muammar al-Gaddafi, Benazir Bhutto and Joshua Nkomo)

Despite the album’s American-friendly sound and the moderate success of “Sweet Smell of Success” in America (reaching #5 on the Modern Rock Chart), the band were not given an American tour. After this blow, Hugh Cornwell decided to leave.

10 peaked at #15 and spent 4 weeks on the UK album chart.

The live set at this time included the addition of John Ellis on guitar.

Track listing

1. “Sweet Smell of Success” – 3:22
2. “Someone Like You” – 2:53
3. “96 Tears” – 3:12
4. “In This Place” – 3:38
5. “Let’s Celebrate” – 4:16
6. “Man of the Earth” – 3:22
7. “Too Many Teardrops” – 3:47
8. “Where I Live” – 3:32
9. “Out of My Mind” – 4:08
10. “Never to Look Back” – 4:18

Members

Current members

• Jet Black – drums
• Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass guitar, lead vocals
• Dave Greenfield – keyboards, vocals
• Hugh Cornwell- Guitars, lead vocals