''Live (X Cert)'' is the first

live album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

by the Stranglers, released in February 1979 by United Artists. It contains tracks recorded at The Roundhouse in June and November 1977 and at Battersea Park in September 1978. It captures the raw punk sound of the band prior to the more experimental music of their fourth album, 1979's '' The Raven''. It also contains some amusing between-song audience baiting and provides a fairly accurate picture of the Stranglers' live sound during this period. CD reissues were augmented with extra live tracks recorded at The Nashville, West Kensington in 1976, and The

Hope and Anchor, Islington Hope and Anchor is a pub on Upper Street, in the London Borough of Islington which first opened its doors in 1880. During the mid-1970s it was one of the first pubs to embrace the emergent, but brief, phenomenon of pub rock. With the decline of ...

in 1977. The album spent ten weeks on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at No. 7. It was the band's fourth album release, and their fourth consecutive UK top ten album.

Critical reception

The album received a mixed reception at the time of release. Nick Kent of the '' NME'' remarked that those who have the band's first three studio albums "don't need inferior versions of the same," while Ronnie Gurr, reviewing the album for the same magazine, said, "Played alongside the studio tracks, the quality, power and gut ... shines through and leaves '' Rattus Norvegicus'', ''

No More Heroes No More Heroes may refer to: Music * ''No More Heroes'' (album), a 1977 album by The Stranglers ** "No More Heroes" (The Stranglers song), the title track * "No More Heroes", a song by Westlife from the album ''Where We Are'' Video games * ...

'' and ''

Black and White Black-and-white (B&W or B/W) images combine black and white in a continuous spectrum, producing a range of shades of grey. Media The history of various visual media began with black and white, and as technology improved, altered to color. ...

'' as mere cut-outs in the deletion bin of life." Retrospectively, Ira Robbins of '' Trouser Press'' wrote that the "high-tension ambience" and Hugh Cornwell's audience banter "make it an effective dual-function live/greatest hits album." John Dougan, writing for AllMusic, wrote, "''Live (X Cert)'' is worthy if only to hear Hugh Cornwell bait and insult the audience (very punk!). Plus the band sounds pretty good, loads of aggression and volume add to the fun. Not essential but a very interesting snapshot of an era."

Track listing

* Track 12 from The Nashville, London, 10 December 1976. Originally included on a free 7" with the '' Rattus Norvegicus'' album. * Track 13 from Hope and Anchor, London, 22 November 1977. Originally included on the "Don't Bring Harry" EP in 1979. * Tracks 14-18 are taken from the same era as the original source tapes. ;2018 CD reissue bonus tracks ( Parlophone) * Tracks 12-19 are from the shows used for ''Live (X-Cert)'' and are previously unreleased.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album liner notes. ;The Stranglers * Hugh Cornwell – guitar, vocals * Jean-Jacques Burnel – bass, vocals * Dave Greenfield – keyboards, vocals * Jet Black – drums ;Technical * Martin Rushent – producer, mixing * Alan Winstanley – engineer *Doug Bennett – engineer *Laurence Diana – engineer *Mick McKenna – engineer *

George Peckham George "Porky" Peckham (born 1942, Blackburn, Lancashire) is an English record engineer, widely recognised as among the most accomplished in the business. He has been responsible for producing the master discs from which many vinyl records have ...

– mastering *John Pasche – art direction, design *Kevin Sparrow – logo *Terry Kemble – model making *Phil Jude – outer sleeve photography *Trevor Rogers – inner sleeve photography *Hiro Ohno – inner sleeve photography

References

{{Authority control 1979 live albums The Stranglers live albums Albums produced by Martin Rushent United Artists Records live albums