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Feline (The Stranglers album)

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Feline
Studio album by
The Stranglers
Released14 January 1983
RecordedSeptember 1982[1]
StudioICP Studios in Brussels, Belgium
GenreNew wave
Length38:31
LabelEpic
Producer
The Stranglers chronology
La Folie
(1981) 		Feline
(1983) 		Aural Sculpture
(1984)
Singles from Feline
  1. "European Female"
    Released: 21 December 1982
  2. "Midnight Summer Dream"
    Released: 26 February 1983
  3. "Paradise"
    Released: July 1983
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Smash Hits8/10[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

[edit]

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

[edit]

All tracks are written by the Stranglers

Side A
No.TitleLength
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
Side B
No.TitleLength
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
Free one-sided 7" disc
No.TitleLength
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".

2001 CD reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleOriginLength
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", 198610:18
14."Vladimir and Olgae"B-side of "Midnight Summer Dream"3:54
15."Aural Sculpture Manifesto"Feline bonus 7" disc3:20
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]
2019 Japanese CD reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleOriginLength
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", 19844:22
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
Side C
No.TitleOriginLength
1."European Female" (radio edit)Previously unreleased 
2."Midnight Summer Dream" (special single edit)Single and radio version3:40
3."Paradise" (radio edit)Single and radio version3:35
4."Pãwshēr"B-side of "Paradise"4:57
5."Permission"B-side of "Paradise" 12"4:53
Side D
No.TitleOriginLength
6."Midnight Summer Dream" (special 12" mix)"Midnight Summer Dream" 12" version10:35
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" disc3:20

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the album liner notes, except where noted.[11]

The Stranglers
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "History - Feline in focus..." thestranglers.co.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Ogg, Alex. "The Stranglers: Feline" at AllMusic. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  3. ^ Ellen, Mark (20 January 1983). The Stranglers: Feline. Smash Hits. p. 17.
  4. ^ Robert Endeacott (2014). Peaches: A Chronicle Of The Stranglers 1974-1990. Soundcheck Books. p. 116. ISBN 978-0-9575700-4-7.
  5. ^ "The Stranglers - Feline". Discogs. 1983.
  6. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 535. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. ^ Robbins, Ira. "trouserpress.com :: Stranglers". trouserpress.com. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Vladimir Chronicles". www.stranglers.net. Archived from the original on 23 September 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  9. ^ "Here & There: The Epic B-Sides Collection 1983-1991". Discogs. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  10. ^ "Feline limited vinyl reissue". thestranglers.co.uk. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  11. ^ The Stranglers (2001). Feline (Album sleeve). Epic Records. 504591 2.
  12. ^ a b "Skin Deep". Discogs. 1984. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  13. ^ "The Stranglers - Feline". Dutch Charts. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  14. ^ "The Stranglers - Feline". German Charts. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  15. ^ "The Stranglers - Feline". New Zealand Charts. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  16. ^ "The Stranglers - Feline". Norwegian Charts. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  17. ^ "Stranglers | Artist | Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
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