Name: Suite XVI - Anniversary Edition
Brand: The Stranglers

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

CGLP18

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Colour

Gold

Colour details

Black & Gold Marble

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Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Indies Only - NO BONUS TRACKS

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Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2022-09-16

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Proper

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

5060486621873

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Total Cap

1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / gold

CGCD18

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5060356470693

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2 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

The Stranglers

Genre GB

Punk / Hardcore

Label GB

Coursegood

Merchandising / music production company. Incorporated 11 November 1999. 
Company directors: [a152001], [a432127] & [a629600]


The Stranglers are an English rock band formed in Guildford, Surrey, UK in 1974. Originally consisting of Hugh Cornwell (vocals, guitar), Jean-Jacques Burnel (bass, vocals), Brian Duffy aka Jet Black (drums) and Hans Wärmling (keys). Over the years, the band underwent several lineup changes and experimented with different musical styles including New Wave, Punk, and Rock.

Known for their melodic basslines by Burnel and Greenfield's keyboards, The Stranglers gained recognition for their growling vocals and sometimes misanthropic lyrics. In 1977, they briefly performed as "the Mutations" before returning to their original name. Throughout their career, they faced challenges such as Hugh's arrest on drug charges in 1980 which led to guest performers joining the band for scheduled gigs.

In 1990, Cornwell left to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Paul Roberts on vocals and John Ellis on guitar. During live performances at that time, Roberts took over tracks traditionally sung by Burnel. The band experienced further lineup changes with Ellis leaving in 2000 and being replaced by Baz Warne on guitar. Roberts also departed in 2006 due to disagreements during recording sessions.

Suite XVI builds on the more traditional trademark sound of The Stranglers that was rediscovered on the commercially successful Norfolk Coast and was further galvanised here by the new, lean, stripped-down four-piece.

Many of the songs - or at least the initial ideas - were conceived when JJ and Baz decamped to Looe in Cornwall, in 2005 to focus on the writing. In Warne, Burnel had found a new partner with whom he had truly gelled. Later returning to their West Country studios, the whole band then developed and recorded Suite XVI which was produced by Louie Nicastro. For Louie, who had worked with The Stranglers for some years by this time, this was his first role at the helm and this fruitful union would see him go on to produce everything by the band since. In this new 2CD Edition, CD1 features the original eleven track album.

The songs cover a real range from the full-on exuberance, bouncy, infectious melody contrasts, to aggression, and topical tracks covering many, sometimes dark, subject matters within the writing and meaning of the song. CD2 includes eight previously unreleased recordings. 

There are seven blistering live takes; six of which are previously unreleased on CD. They were mostly recorded in the UK between 2007 and 2019. The three live acoustic tracks include an unreleased solo performance by Baz of Bless You in London in 2011. As well as some previously unreleased tracks and an album Talk Through by the band with Journalist John Robb.