"No Mercy" is a song and

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written by Hugh Cornwell, Dave Greenfield, Jet Black and Jean-Jacques Burnel performed by the Stranglers and released in November

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeast A ...

. The single made number 37 in the UK Singles Charts in 1984 staying in the charts for eight weeks. The song was performed as part of their set-list in 1985.

Song and release

The song features on the band's 1984 album ''

Aural Sculpture ''Aural Sculpture'' is the eighth studio album by the Stranglers, released in November 1984 by Epic Records. It was also the name given to a one-sided 7-inch single given free with a limited number of copies of their '' Feline'' album in 1983. ...

''. One review of the album describes "No Mercy" as “a strong song, with often repeated simple guitar line”. It also notes it as The Stranglers first ever use of backing singers. The song was released on 1 December 1984 in 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl single formats as well as an ear sculpture shaped picture disc.

Video

The video was shot at

St Olave's Hospital St Olave's Hospital was a general hospital serving the Rotherhithe area of London until its closure in 1985. History In 1865 the Rotherhithe Workhouse was denounced in The Lancet in its demands for poor law medical reform. There was only one pai ...

in Rotherhithe, London in November 1984. It features the band dressed as doctors and patients. One version of the ending showed a dummy of Hugh Cornwell's body filled with

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hitting the floor in a bloody heap. Considered too gruesome, the video was never shown with this ending.

Legacy

“''No Mercy''” is also the title of an authorised biography of The Stranglers, written by David Buckley and issued in 1998.

References

{{authority control 1984 songs 1984 singles The Stranglers songs Songs written by Hugh Cornwell Songs written by Dave Greenfield Songs written by Jet Black Songs written by Jean-Jacques Burnel Epic Records singles