No More Heroes (album)

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No More Heroes is the second album by English rock band the Stranglers. It was released on 23 September 1977,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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. It reached number 2 in the UK Album Charts<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and was certified gold there.

In 2000 it was voted number 427 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums.<ref name="Larkin">Template:Cite book</ref>

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").<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Cornell said "It helped having songs that were hanging over from Rattus, they felt just as good. Add a few more and then suddenly, hey presto, you’ve got the second album.” The opening track "I Feel Like a Wog" was controversial for its reference to golliwogs which Cornell used “for shock effect, but it was to put across a feeling." and despite lots of people "misunderstanding it" he said "a couple of black guys came back after one show and said: ‘We get it.’ That made me feel good.”. He admitted that the band deliberately tried "to wind people up", particularly with the track "Bring on the Nubiles", which is known for its sexual nature. He said the band found "it was entertaining [...], fun and really harmless. People might say: ‘How can you say that’s harmless?’ But we weren’t trying to upset people. We were in the sweet shop and we were helping ourselves. We’d realised that we could upset people, so let’s go to town, let’s really upset them.” He also felt that they "definitely couldn’t get away with that now." saying "We got away with murder.”<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref>This cover was rushed as it was a last minute choice, with the original sleeve allegedly depicting Jean-Jacques Burnell alone on the tomb of Leon Trotsky, which was abandoned due to the other members' dissatisfaction of it not featuring the whole band.<ref name=":0" />

Two singles were released from the album: the title track, and a double A-side of "Something Better Change" and the non-album track "Straighten Out".

Critical reception

Template:Music ratings Contemporary reception was largely positive, with many finding it to be an improvement over their debut.

The Oakland Tribune likened the band to "Capt. Beefheart backed by the Ramones."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Guardian noted that "a good organ sound and distinctive vocal tricks [keep] off the encroaching monotony."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>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."<ref name="Trouser Press">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

John Dougan of 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."<ref name="AllMusic" /> Record Collector praised the album, calling" the adrenalised anti-racist message of I Feel Like A Wog and its timeless titular song" the highlights, and said the album had an "essential status" but found it to be "hobbled by the puerile Bring On The Nubiles and Cornwell’s tedious School Mam".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In popular culture

The popular hack and slash video game series No More Heroes by Grasshopper Manufacture got its name from the album.<ref name ="archipel">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref>

Track listing

1987 CD reissue bonus track (EMI)

1996 CD reissue bonus disc (EMI)

• Disc one as per original album

2018 CD reissue bonus tracks (Parlophone)

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart	Peak Position	Certifications (sales thresholds)
UK Albums Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2	UK: Gold<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Australian Charts	79
Dutch Charts<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	20

Year-end charts

Chart (1977)	Position
UK Albums (OCC)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	32

Singles

Single	Chart	Peak Position
"Something Better Change"	UK singles chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	9
	Irish Charts	29
"No More Heroes"	UK singles chart	8
	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	25

Personnel

The Stranglers

• Hugh Cornwell – guitars, lead and backing vocals
• Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass guitar, lead and backing vocals
• Dave Greenfield – keyboards (Hammond L100 Organ, Hohner Cembalet electric piano, Minimoog synthesizer), lead and backing vocals
• Jet Black – drums, percussion

Technical personnel

• Martin Rushent – production
• Alan Winstanley – engineering
• Nigel Brooke-Harte – mixing, engineering assistance
• Doug Bennett – mixing
• JONZ (John Dent) – mastering
• Paul Henry – sleeve design, art direction
• Trevor Rogers – sleeve photography
• Eamonn O'Keefe – sleeve photography solarisation
• The Red Room – artwork design (2001 reissue)

External links

• Template:Discogs master