Norfolk Coast (album)

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Norfolk Coast
Studio album by The Stranglers
Released	16 February 2004
Studio	Good Luck Studios, London
Genre	Rock
Length	40:03
Label	EMI Liberty
Producer	Mark Wallis, David Ruffy & Peter Glenister
The Stranglers chronology
Coup de Grace (1998) Norfolk Coast (2004) Suite XVI (2006)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
BBC Music	(favourable)[2]

Norfolk Coast is the fifteenth studio album by The Stranglers, and was released on 16 February 2004 by EMI's Liberty Records label, making it their first new album recorded for the company in 23 years.^[3] It was released six years after their last studio album Coup de Grace and was their first studio album with new guitarist Baz Warne. A number of songs were written by Warne, including the ballad "Dutch Moon". Norfolk Coast peaked at No. 70 in the UK Albums Chart in February, for one week's duration in that listing.^[4]

The album was well received by reviewers and fans alike, showing a return to form of the band. It also spawned the band's UK first Top 40 hit single for more than a decade, "Big Thing Coming" (No. 31 in February 2004 in the UK Singles Chart) and a smaller Top 75 hit called "Long Black Veil".^[5]

The album saw the re-emergence of some of their signature sounds, such as Dave Greenfield's swirling keyboards, in a contemporary setting. The hard-edged title track sets the direction for much of the album, while there are more contemplative moments, such as the atmospheric "Tuckers Grave", a west country cider house dedicated to Edwin Tucker, who committed suicide in 1747. According to Warne, the song was written in the room in which he died.^[6] This was also the last album to feature Paul Roberts on lead vocals.

Norfolk Coast was also the name of a short film starring Jean Jacques Burnel. It is available on the DVD On Stage On Screen and features rearranged music from the album. Directed by Robin Bextor and co-starring Susannah York, the film won a number of awards.

Track listing[]

All tracks written by The Stranglers.

Personnel[]

The Stranglers

• Paul Roberts – lead vocals, percussion
• Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass, vocals
• Baz Warne – guitar, vocals
• Dave Greenfield – keyboards, vocals
• Jet Black – drums, percussion

Additional musicians

• Jon Sevink – violin solo on track 10

Technical

• Mark Wallis – production, recorded by, programming
• David Ruffy – production (except track 1), recorded by, programming
• Peter Glenister – production (track 1)
• Steve Proctor – additional programming
• Louie Nicastro – pre-production engineering
• Max Bisgrove – pre-production engineering
• Harrison Funk – photography
• Darren Evans – design

References[]