The Stranglers - Black and White (1978)

The Stranglers were among the very first punk bands, and like many others, had their roots in the UK pub band scene. In fact as a pub band their success was lacking atr best. But punk happened and they fit right in. It could be said they were punk before there was such a thing!

Founded in Chiddingfold, England in 1974 by guitarist/vocalist Hugh Cornwell, bassist/vocalist Jean-Jacques Burnell, keyboardist Dave Greenfield and drummer Jet Black. Always dressed in black, playing with a heavy, dark, moody sound (oddly contrasted by Greenfield's often 'happy' organ sound) they were the progenitors of "goth-rock."
(http://www.irscorner.com/s/stranglers.html)

Some user's reviews from www.cduniverse.com….

It becomes Black and White
A dark and menacing album that exudes bleek wasteland imagery and references the cold war and death as a theme. U2 and Joy Division went on to create dark music with war torn overtones but the Stranglers did it first with Black and White and I believe influenced the aformentioned bands to do similar. For me the greatest album ever made and I am always puzzled when this album never gets a mention in those top one hundred lists that are regularly compiled.
Submitted by mark.shippen (Manchester, England)

Rock Music At Its Best.
This is the third stranglers album and a change of direction from "Rattus Norvegicus" and "No More Heroes" For me every track is a masterpiece. The cd opens with "Tank" a thundering number done as only the stranglers could do it Nice "N" Sleazy was the single once again a classic with the hallmrk classic stranglers bassline."Toiler On Yhe Sea" is just brilliant.Check out the last line of "Threatened" where j.j. sings the line "Bring me a piece of my mummy,she was quite close to me" awesome stuff."In The Shadows" is as atmospheric a track as you will find anywhere in rock music and it has that stranglers bass riff again brilliant. Listen to the transition between "Do You Wanna and the brilliant "Death And Night And Blood" this is the stuf that gets the hairs on the back of my neck tingling. As for the tracks i havn't mentioned they are all briliant, this album surely must go down as one of rocks best. The Stranglers wer't just another punk band they were something more than all that and this i think is the album that demonstrates this perfectly. Oh and the new pressing cd has six bonus tracks on it "Old Codger" features the vocals of jazzer George Melly and some brilliant bass harmonica,also there is the classic Stranglers version of "Walk On By" If you like rock music at it's best buy this cd you wont be dissapointed it makes the Nu Metalers sound like pop idol.
Submitted by bollockman2001 (wales great britain)

Sinister Memories
I have this on marble vinyl but hadn't heard the music in years. Once I heard that pounding and sinister bassline that drew me to this band in the first place I was hooked again. Purchased their first 4 CD's from you guys and I recommend them all, but this is the one to start with.
Submitted by spongedavep (Hamilton, NJ, USA)

Best Album by the Stranglers
…"What's that in the Shadows "is probably the scariest song ever recorded..
Submitted by a reviewer (Anderson, IN, USA)

More info about the group…
wikipedia

Tracklist:

01 - Tank
02 - Nice N'Sleazy
03 - Outside Tokyo
04 - Hey! (Rise Of The Robots)
05 - Sweden (All Quiet On The Eastern Front)
06 - Toiler On The Sea
07 - Curfew
08 - Threatened
09 - In The Shadows
10 - Do You Wanna
11 - Death And Night And Blood (Yukio)
12 - Enough Time

Bonus Tracks:

13 - Mean To Me
14 - Walk On By

Total time: 48:22

here you can find the lyrics of songs 1-12

Personnel:

+ Hugh Cornwell: guitars, lead and backing vocals
+ JJ Burnel: bass guitar, lead and backing vocals
+ Dave Greenfield: keyboards (Hammond L100 Organ, Hohner Cembalet electric piano, Minimoog synthesizer), lead & backing vocals
+ Jet Black: drums
+ Lora Logic (of Essential Logic and X-Ray Spex): guest saxophone on "Hey!"