Rattus Norvegicus (album)
| Rattus Norvegicus | ||||
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| Studio album by The Stranglers | ||||
| Released | 15 April 1977 | |||
| Recorded | 20 December 1976 – 28 January 1977 | |||
| Studio | TW Studios, Fulham, Olympic Studios, Barnes, London, England | |||
| Genre | New wave, punk rock, art punk | |||
| Length | 50:59 | |||
| Label | United Artists | |||
| Producer | Martin Rushent | |||
| The Stranglers chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Rattus Norvegicus | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| The Village Voice | C |
Rattus Norvegicus (alternative title The Stranglers IV) is the debut studio album by the Stranglers, released on 17 April 1977.
It was one of the highest-selling albums of the punk era in Britain, eventually achieving platinum record sales. Two of its tracks, "Peaches" and "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)", were released as 7" singles in the UK.
The album was originally to be entitled Dead on Arrival but was changed at the last minute. The released title is the taxonomic name for the common Brown Rat. The album was produced in one week by Martin Rushent, and was a snapshot of the band's live set at the time.
The album peaked at No. 4 in the UK Albums Chart, eventually spending 34 weeks on the chart. The first 10,000 copies of the original vinyl release included a free 7" single, containing "Peasant in the Big Shitty (live)" and "Choosey Susie".
Two singles were taken from the album: "(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)" (released as a double A-side with album track "London Lady"), and "Peaches" (released as a double A-side with the non-album track "Go Buddy Go"), which gave the band their first major hit single, reaching No. 8 on the UK Singles Chart.
A remastered version of the album was reissued on CD in 2001, including these three additional tracks. The album launch party was held in Chelsea's Water Rat pub, in the World's End of the King's Road.
Rattus Norvegicus was ranked at No. 10 among the top "Albums of the Year" for 1977 by NME, with "Peaches" ranked at No. 18 among the year's top tracks.NME later ranked it at No. 196 in its 2014 list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". It was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
All tracks written by the Stranglers.
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