Feline (The Stranglers album)
Feline | ||||
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Studio album by The Stranglers | ||||
Released | 14 January 1983 | |||
Recorded | September 1982[1] | |||
Studio | ICP Studios in Brussels, Belgium | |||
Genre | New wave | |||
Length | 38:31 | |||
Label | Epic | |||
Producer |
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The Stranglers chronology | ||||
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Singles from Feline | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Smash Hits | 8/10[3] |
Feline is the seventh studio album by the Stranglers and was released on 14 January 1983 on the Epic record label, their first for the label.[4] The first edition came with a free one-sided 7" single "Aural Sculpture Manifesto". Feline drew heavily on two of the dominant musical influences in Europe of the time, by using primarily acoustic guitars and electronic drums as well as synthesizers.[1] The American edition of the album included the British hit single "Golden Brown" as the closing track on side one of the original vinyl (and the fifth song in on the CD version).[5]
Feline peaked higher than their previous studio album release, La Folie, reaching No. 4 in the UK Albums Chart.[6]
There were three singles released from Feline: the first was "European Female" which reached No. 9 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1983, and was followed by a remixed 7" version of "Midnight Summer Dream" in February (which peaked at No. 35 in the UK). The third and final single released was "Paradise" (released in July 1983) which reached No. 48.[6]
Reception
The album received a mixed reception from fans and critics alike. Some fans embraced the band's new sound, while others felt it wasn't the same band that recorded their debut Rattus Norvegicus in 1977.[1]
Trouser Press described the album as "restrained and dignified, but also lackluster and boring."[7] Alex Ogg, in a retrospective two and a half stars review for AllMusic, wrote, "While not an instant classic, it does repay repeated listening ... Instead of the belligerent tunefulness of yesteryear, the Stranglers were trying to expand their sound and reach. Too often on this lackluster effort, however, it comes across as boring and unengaging.[2]
Track listing
All tracks are written by the Stranglers
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Midnight Summer Dream" | 6:12 |
2. | "It's a Small World" | 4:34 |
3. | "Ships That Pass in the Night" | 4:06 |
4. | "European Female (In Celebration of)" | 3:59 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
5. | "Let's Tango in Paris" | 3:12 |
6. | "Paradise" | 3:46 |
7. | "All Roads Lead to Rome" | 3:50 |
8. | "Blue Sister" | 3:57 |
9. | "Never Say Goodbye" | 4:10 |
Total length: | 38:31 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Aural Sculpturea" | 3:20 |
According to the booket accompanying the 40th Anniversary of Feline, the original running order featured "Savage Breast" in place of "All Roads lead to Rome".
No. | Title | Origin | Length |
---|---|---|---|
10. | "Savage Breast" | B-side of "European Female" | 3:18 |
11. | "Pawsherb" | B-side of "Paradise" | 4:57 |
12. | "Permissionc" | B-side of "Paradise" 12" | 4:53 |
13. | "Midnight Summer Dream/European Female" (lived) | B-side of "Nice in Nice" 12", 1986 | 10:18 |
14. | "Vladimir and Olgae" | B-side of "Midnight Summer Dream" | 3:54 |
15. | "Aural Sculpture Manifesto" | Feline bonus 7" disc | 3:20 |
Total length: | 68:25 |
- ^a Recorded at Good Earth Studios, London
- ^b Recorded in New York, April 1983
- ^c Recorded in London, June 1983
- ^d Recorded live at The Zenith, Paris, 29 April 1985
- ^e Full title: "(The Strange Circumstances Which Lead To) Vladimir and Olga (Requesting Rehabilitation in a Siberian Health Resort as a Result of Stress in Furthering the People's Policies)". The first of six parts of a "series" about a man named Vladimir. The second part, "Vladimir and Sergei", appears on the non-Stranglers album Fire & Water by Jean-Jacques Burnel and Dave Greenfield.[8] The rest appear as B-sides on various Stranglers singles.[9]
No. | Title | Origin | Length |
---|---|---|---|
10. | "Vladimir and Olga" | B-side of "Midnight Summer Dream" | 3:54 |
11. | "Pawsher" | B-side of "Paradise" | 4:57 |
12. | "Permission" | B-side of "Paradise" 12" | 4:53 |
13. | "Here and There" | B-side of "Skin Deep", 1984 | 4:22 |
14. | "Vladimir and the Beast" | B-side of "Skin Deep" 12" | 3:53 |
15. | "Midnight Summer Dream/European Female" (live) | B-side of "Nice in Nice" 12" | 10:18 |
- 2019 vinyl reissue
Limited to 1.000 numbered copies, the original 9-track album is coupled with a bonus 9-track album, entitled Clawing at the Sky, which features extended 12" mixes, B-sides and unreleased mixes.[10]
- Side A and B as per original vinyl edition
- Clawing at the Sky
No. | Title | Origin | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "European Female" (radio edit) | Previously unreleased | |
2. | "Midnight Summer Dream" (special single edit) | Single and radio version | 3:40 |
3. | "Paradise" (radio edit) | Single and radio version | 3:35 |
4. | "Pãwshēr" | B-side of "Paradise" | 4:57 |
5. | "Permission" | B-side of "Paradise" 12" | 4:53 |
No. | Title | Origin | Length |
---|---|---|---|
6. | "Midnight Summer Dream" (special 12" mix) | "Midnight Summer Dream" 12" version | 10:35 |
7. | "Savage Breast" | B-side of "European Female" | 3:18 |
8. | "Vladimir and Olga" | B-side of "Midnight Summer Dream" | 3:54 |
9. | "Aural Sculpture Manifesto" | Feline bonus 7" disc | 3:20 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from the album liner notes, except where noted.[11]
- The Stranglers
- Hugh Cornwell – vocals, guitar
- Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass, vocals (lead vocals on "European Female" and "Paradise")
- Dave Greenfield – keyboards
- Jet Black – drums, percussion
- Additional personnel
- Anna Von Stern – backing vocals ("Paradise")
- France Lhermitte – backing vocals ("Paradise")
- Technical
- The Stranglers – producer
- Steve Churchyard – producer (except "Aural Sculpture"), engineer
- Tony Visconti – mixing
- Nick Marchant – art direction, design
- Tim Widdal – design
- Bonus tracks
- Dagmar Krause – backing vocals ("Here and There")[12]
- The Stranglers – producer (all tracks), mixing ("Vladimir and Olga")
- Steve Churchyard – producer ("Savage Breast")
- Laurie Latham – producer ("Here and There")[12]
- Ted Hayton – mixing ("Midnight Summer Dream/European Female")
- Gary Lucas – engineer ("Vladimir and Olga")
- Glenn Tommey – engineer ("Vladimir and Olga")
Charts
Chart | Peak Position |
---|---|
Dutch Albums Chart[13] | 39 |
German Albums Chart[14] | 52 |
New Zealand Albums Chart[15] | 18 |
Norwegian Albums Chart[16] | 16 |
UK Albums Chart[17] | 4 |
References
- ^ a b c "History - Feline in focus..." thestranglers.co.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ a b Ogg, Alex. "The Stranglers: Feline" at AllMusic. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
- ^ Ellen, Mark (20 January 1983). The Stranglers: Feline. Smash Hits. p. 17.
- ^ Robert Endeacott (2014). Peaches: A Chronicle Of The Stranglers 1974-1990. Soundcheck Books. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-9575700-4-7.
- ^ "The Stranglers - Feline". Discogs. 1983.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 535. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Robbins, Ira. "trouserpress.com :: Stranglers". trouserpress.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "Vladimir Chronicles". www.stranglers.net. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Here & There: The Epic B-Sides Collection 1983-1991". Discogs. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "Feline limited vinyl reissue". thestranglers.co.uk. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ The Stranglers (2001). Feline (Album sleeve). Epic Records. 504591 2.
- ^ a b "Skin Deep". Discogs. 1984. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
- ^ "The Stranglers - Feline". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "The Stranglers - Feline". German Charts. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "The Stranglers - Feline". New Zealand Charts. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "The Stranglers - Feline". Norwegian Charts. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "Stranglers | Artist | Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- v
- t
- e
- Jean-Jacques Burnel
- Baz Warne
- Jim Macaulay
- Toby Hounsham
- Jet Black
- Hugh Cornwell
- Hans Wärmling
- Dave Greenfield
- John Ellis
- Paul Roberts
- Rattus Norvegicus
- No More Heroes
- Black and White
- The Raven
- The Gospel According to the Meninblack
- La folie
- Feline
- Aural Sculpture
- Dreamtime
- 10
- Stranglers in the Night
- About Time
- Written in Red
- Coup de Grace
- Norfolk Coast
- Suite XVI
- Giants
- Dark Matters
- Live at the Hope and Anchor
- Live (X Cert)
- All Live and All of the Night
- Saturday Night, Sunday Morning
- The Stranglers and Friends – Live in Concert
- Friday the Thirteenth
- Live at the Hammersmith Odeon '81
- Live at the Apollo
- Apollo Revisited
- Coast to Coast: Live on Tour
- Live at the Apollo 2010 (DVD & CD)
- IV
- The Collection 1977–1982
- Off the Beaten Track
- Singles (The UA Years)
- Greatest Hits 1977–1990
- The Early Years '74 '75 '76 Rare Live and Unreleased
- Strangled from Birth and Beyond
- The Sessions
- The Hit Men
- Collection
- The Stranglers
- The Masters
- Lies and Deception
- Peaches: The Very Best of The Stranglers
- Rarities (2002)
- Out of the Black
- Sweet Smell of Success – Best of the Epic Years
- Live 'n' Sleazy
- Gold
- The Very Best of The Stranglers
- Decades Apart
- "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)"
- "Peaches"
- "Something Better Change"
- "No More Heroes"
- "5 Minutes"
- "Nice 'n' Sleazy"
- "Walk On By"
- "Duchess"
- "Nuclear Device (The Wizard of Aus)"
- "Bear Cage"
- "Who Wants the World?"
- "Thrown Away"
- "Let Me Introduce You to the Family"
- "Golden Brown"
- "La Folie"
- "Strange Little Girl"
- "European Female"
- "Skin Deep"
- "No Mercy"
- "Always the Sun"
- "All Day and All of the Night"
- "96 Tears"
- "Always the Sun (Sunny Side Up Mix)"
- "Golden Brown" (Re-issue)
- "Lies and Deception"
- "Big Thing Coming"
- "Spectre of Love"
- "Goodbye Toulouse"
- "Hanging Around"
- "Tramp"