The Stranglers: Song by Song 1974-1990

As others have said Hugh talks about every song in varying detail, though you may be disappointed when one of your favorites is only discussed briefly. Many have an interesting personal story attached to them as well. All notable events in the band's history are discussed. One thing I found interesting is Hugh's claim that he or JJ (John in the book) wrote all the music and lyrics before getting together w/ Dave and Jet to add the keyboards and base. Based on the finished product(s) I think he sells the other half of the band a little short.

In his own words, Cornwell tells us what was really behind those great Stranglers tracks. Far better than the other Stranglers book 'No Mercy', which was more concerned with the trivial and mundane. Hugh tells us what the songs meant, what was going on and how he felt at the time. Clearly shows Hugh was the key player in the Stranglers success and deserves his place in rock history. Buy it!

I really enjoyed this overview of The Stranglers song catalog, As told by Hugh Cornwell. I thought it might be dry and sort of boring in some respects, but I was thankfully Wrong! I found myself re-exploring songs and albums from a new jumping off point. Hugh speaks in actual musical terms, he addresses lyrical content, inspirations, as well as the cultural world of Music while they were being created. I have loved this band for so long so I was thrilled to see this book available in America. Never just another Punk Band, The Stranglers should be part of your Life, like they were part of Hugh's, and mine!

If only other composers did this: write a book about just what they meant and what they were doing. Yet it's a safe bet others in the business, a trade given to Tommy Lees and J-Los, couldn't possibly handle it as well, and with the humor and respectful reflection in this book. Hugh Cornwell is a smart man, a former doctoral candidate and teacher. Herein he takes us through his fifteen years with the Stranglers, documents what they were trying to say and why, and informs us just who Dagenham Dave is (was, actually). His reflections on the band's personalities are quite interesting. Dave Greenfield NEVER heard Ray Manzarek before joining the band. (Really.) Jet was in jazz bands. And JJ Burnel is a born joiner (from karate classes to the Hell's Angels to the Mishima crowd). All in all, you'll never get this information elsewhere--and never as well written and with such heart.

While it's true this is only for the ardent Stranglers fan (i.e.--one who has followed them through any period containing Hugh Cornwell), many of the stories regarding the punk zeitgeist and tenor of the period in regards to the band's dealings with chart success, record companies, producers and the British press bring a fresh take to the well-documented punk era, and all that followed in its wake.Though the interviewer tends to over-involve himself at times (opinions, lack of basic studio knowledge, etc.), he keeps the ball rolling with pointed questions and in-depth discussions of seemingly minute details; most often guiding Cornwell to other interesting points. One such item involves the "MenInBlack" theme in which the band entrenched themselves in the period '79-'80. You get not only the Cornwell explanation of the phenomena, but his personal views, why the band was so interested, yada yada yada...A very impressive aspect of the book is the overall message that The Stranglers were never totally meshed-in with what is generally considered the "Punk" idea. While most groups were more concerned with looking the part or getting their rocks off, Cornwell and the boys appear quite conscious of their place among the UK music industry. There is much talk of chart positions, commerciiality, calculated structuring of songs and albums, record company pressures, and much more in that vein. These guys were professionals. Music was their job. They ran a business, and Song By Song details the growth and dissipation of The Stranglers as a commercial outfit.