No More Heroes (album) explained

No More Heroes
Type:studio
Artist:the Stranglers
Cover:Stranglers_-_No_More_Heroes_album_cover.jpg
Released:23 September 1977
Recorded:January–February 1977, June–July 1977[1] [2]
Studio:T.W. Studios (Fulham)
Length:38:01
Label:United Artists (UK)
A&M (US)
Producer:Martin Rushent
Prev Title:Rattus Norvegicus
Prev Year:1977
Next Title:Black and White
Next Year:1978

No More Heroes is the second studio album by English new wave band the Stranglers. It was released on 23 September 1977,[3] through record label United Artists in most of the world and A&M in the United States, five months after their debut album, Rattus Norvegicus.

Background

No More Heroes was produced by Martin Rushent. The album consists of new material with four songs left over from the Rattus Norvegicus sessions ("Something Better Change", "Bitching", "Peasant in the Big Shitty" and "School Mam").[4]

The album cover features a photo of a wreath placed on a coffin with the tails of several rats (the Stranglers' trademark). The brass plaque on the album cover was engraved by Steven Stapleton of Nurse with Wound.[5]

Two singles were released from the album: "No More Heroes", and a double A-side of "Something Better Change" and the non-album track "Straighten Out".

Critical reception

The Oakland Tribune likened the band to "Capt. Beefheart backed by the Ramones."[6] The Guardian noted that "a good organ sound and distinctive vocal tricks [keep] off the encroaching monotony."[7]

AllMusic called No More Heroes "faster, nastier and better [than ''Rattus Norvegicus'']. "At this point the Stranglers were on top of their game, and the ferocity and anger that suffuses this record would never be repeated." Trouser Press wrote that No More Heroes "continues in the same vein [as ''Rattus Norvegicus''], but drops whatever hint of restraint may have been in force the first time around. Rude words and adult themes abound, with no punches pulled, from the blatant sexism of "Bring on the Nubiles" to the sarcastic attack on racism ("I Feel Like a Wog") to the suicide of a friend ("Dagenham Dave"). Despite the increased virulence, the music is even better than on the debut, introducing pop stylings that would later become a more common aspect of the Stranglers' character," finishing the review with "No More Heroes is easily [the Stranglers'] best album."[8]

In 2000 it was voted number 427 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.[9]

Track listing

1987 CD reissue bonus track (EMI)
  • 1996 CD reissue bonus disc (EMI)
  • 2018 CD reissue bonus tracks (Parlophone)

    Charts and certifications

    Weekly charts

    ChartPeakPositionCertifications(sales thresholds)
    UK Albums Chart[10] 2UK: Gold[11]
    Australian Charts79
    Dutch Charts[12] 20

    Singles

    SingleChartPeakPosition
    "Something Better Change"UK Singles Chart[14] 9
    Irish Charts29
    "No More Heroes"UK Singles Chart8
    Dutch Charts[15] 25

    Personnel

    The Stranglers
    Technical personnel

    In popular culture

    The popular hack and slash video game series No More Heroes by Grasshopper Manufacture got its name from the album.[16]

    Notes and References

    1. Book: Robert Endeacott. Peaches: A Chronicle Of The Stranglers 1974-1990. 1 July 2014. Soundcheck Books. 978-0-9575700-4-7. 19, 32–33.
    2. Web site: Carne. Owen. 40th anniversary of 1977 – part 2. thestranglers.co.uk. 3 January 2018. 4 February 2022.
    3. Book: Robert Endeacott. Peaches: A Chronicle Of The Stranglers 1974-1990. 1 July 2014. Soundcheck Books. 978-0-9575700-4-7. 35.
    4. Book: Robert Endeacott. Peaches: A Chronicle Of The Stranglers 1974-1990. 1 July 2014. Soundcheck Books. 978-0-9575700-4-7. 32.
    5. The Freakier Zone. 29 September 2012. BBC 6.
    6. News: Rock & Jazz . Oakland Tribune . Nov 13, 1977 . 16E.
    7. News: Denselow . Robin . New punk for old . The Guardian . Oct 11, 1977 . 8.
    8. Web site: Robbins. Ira. Stranglers. Trouser Press. 27 April 2013.
    9. Book: Larkin, Colin. Colin Larkin. All Time Top 1000 Albums. All Time Top 1000 Albums. Virgin Books. 3rd. 2000. 0-7535-0493-6. 157.
    10. Web site: Rattus Norvegicus. Official Charts. 6 June 2019.
    11. Web site: Stranglers - No More Heroes. bpi. 6 June 2019.
    12. Web site: The Stranglers . Dutch Charts . 6 June 2019.
    13. 24 December 1977 . Top Albums 1977 . live . . 14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210309080814/https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1977/Music-Week-1977-12-24.pdf . 9 March 2021 . worldradiohistory.com . 1 December 2021.
    14. Web site: Stranglers. Official Charts. 6 June 2019.
    15. Web site: The Stranglers . Dutch Charts . 6 June 2019.
    16. Web site: What is No More Heroes based on?. Vintageisthenewold.com. 11 November 2023. 13 June 2024.