Civic Hall Guildford 10th November 1998

 

Here's the last one in my collection from 1998's 'Coup De Grace' tour, presented here as MP3. It was an extensive tour so if anyone has recordings of other dates that they are willing to share, drop me a note.

MP3: https://we.tl/t-bQ26OYRW8X

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-xUMAhKpj98

Philharmonic Liverpool 14th November 1998

 

Another one here from the Paul Roberts era, the 'Coup De Grace' tour comes to Liverpool. It is what it is. I do not rate it but... but it represents a turning point in the band's fortunes. Key to this was the fact that JJ resumed writing (and critically) singing a greater proportion of the band's material. Sure, for the first time in their career there was a really long wait between the release of studio albums, 'Coup De Grace' and the return to form 'Norfolk Coast' were separated by six years, but don't forget, in that time too JJ went out and did his 'Songs and Stories' dates with a whole batch of new material. And, he ventured out on his own with this stuff which I imagine was pivotal to his regaining of confidence in himself as a musician and performer. So say what you will of 'Coup De Grace' (atually it was me hat said I didn't like it!) but there is no doubt that is was a stepping stone to greater things to come.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-0IpEsksi4U

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-pUQFNJ8SAv

01. God Is Good

02. Coup De Grace

03. Skin Deep

04. Money

05. Golden Boy

06. Nice ‘N’ Sleazy

07. Thrown Away

08. Sinister

09. The Raven

10. In The End

11. Toiler On The Sea

12. Tonight

01. Always The Sun

02. Valley Of The Birds

03. 96 Tears

04. Straighten Out

05. Brainbox

06. All Day & All Of The Night

07. Duchess

08. Golden Brown

09. 5 Minutes

10. Hanging Around

11. No More Heroes

Hugh Cornwell Fleece and Firkin Bristol 21st November 1998

 

I posted this originally back in 2012 on the long defunct Rapidshare platform. So here it is again on a reactivated link. This is quite a nice audience recording as I recall.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-lXOr85J5bf

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-NRFznyiBg4

01. (Get A) Grip (On Yourself)
02. All The Colours Of The Rainbow
03. Nerves Of Steel
04. Black Hair Black Eyes Black Suit
05. House Of Sorrow
06. Strange Little Girl
07. The Big Sleep
08. The Story Of He And She
09. Goodbye Toulouse
10. Lay Back On Me Pal
11. Decadence
12. Wired
13. Hanging Around
14. Who When And Where
15. Long Dead Train
16. Snapper
17. Always The Sun

Green Day Great Woods P.A.C. Mansfield Mass. 31st May 1998

Sommat's going down in Hyde Park today and sadly it I'm not there (a hernia operation on Tuesday put paid to that!). No, there's a gaggle of gnarly old punks gathering for what looks a little like a battle of the bands...... old punk versus 'new' punk. Topping the bill are Green Day and here is a radio broadcast from shortly after the release of their fifth studio album 'Nimrod'.

Good luck to SLF, The Stranglers and The Damned. To all that are their enjoy yourselves!

FLAC: https://we.tl/LZK7VhCBO3

01. Nice Guys Finish Last
02. Hitchin' A Ride
03. Geek Stink Breath
04. Welcome To Paradise
05. Longview
06. Iron Man
07. Master Of Puppets
08. Eye Of The Tiger
09. Brain Stew/ Jaded
10. Knowledge
11. Basket Case
12. She
13. King For A Day
14. When I Come Around
15. Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)

Rock City Nottingham 4th November 1998

Yesterday, I purchased an Eagle Classics reissue of 'About Time', 'Coup De Grace' and 'Written In Red'. Of these the latter two I have never heard them in their entirety, having drifted away from the band by the time of their release. I will listen to them today...... I suspect I may need counselling.

But in the interest of even handedness, here's a gig from the 'Coup De Grace' tour- which I actually saw in Cambridge and sadly hated the experience. Nevertheless, the band struggled through this period with a tenacity typical of The Stranglers and to many this is a period in their career that is viewed fondly.

MP3 (as received): http://we.tl/3iqZGbGC5F

Artwork: http://we.tl/slrgYhJEK7

01. God Is Good
02. Coup De Grace (S-O-S)
03. Skin Deep
04. Money
05. Golden Boy
06. Nice 'N' Sleazy
07. Thrown Away
08. Sinister
09. The Raven
10. In The End
11. Toiler On The Sea

01. Tonight
02. Always The Sun
03. Wasteman
04. 96 Tears
05. Straighten Out
06. Brainbox
07. All Day & All Of The Night
08. Duchess
09. Encore Break
10. Golden Brown
11. 5 Minutes
12. Encore Break
13. Hanging Around
14. No More Heroes

The Royal Hanley, 7th November 1998

Whilst looking around the site, I noticed that The Stranglers are not yet represented in 1998. So to put that right, here's a recording of the band on the 'Coup De Grace' tour of that year.

I saw them at The Corn Exchange in Cambridge on this tour (first time as a headline act for 5 years or so) and it wasn't for me. This was to my mind the band at their lowest ebb. I can happily say that now that they have successfully reestablished themselves over the past few years as a vital musical force once again.

So here it is....

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-QzFg2NpnsK

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-rRrkNSb4lQ

1. God Is Good
2. Coup De Grace
3. Skin Deep
4. Money
5. Golden Boy
6. Nice 'N' Sleazy
7. Thrown Away
8. Sinister
9. The Raven
10. In The End
11. Toiler On The Sea
12. Tonight
13. Always The Sun
14. Valley Of The Birds
15. 96 Tears
16. Straighten Out
17. Brainbox
18. All Day And All Of The Night
19. Duchess
20. Five Minutes
21. Hanging Around

Hugh Cornwell Bristol 21st November 1998

Here's a good quality audience recording of Hugh in Bristol on 21st November 1998. Sorry, venue unknown - any ideas?

https://rapidshare.com/files/3129414490/Hugh_Cornwell_Bristol_1998.zip

1. Grip
2. All The Colours Of The Rainbow
3. Nerves Of Steel
4. Black Hair Black Eyes Black Suit
5. House Of Sorrow
6. Strange Little Girl
7. The Big Sleep
8. The Story Of He And She
9. Goodbye Toulouse
10. Lay Back On Me Pal
11. Decadence
12. Wired
13. Hanging Around
14. Who When And Where
15. Long Dead Train
16. Snapper
17. Always The Sun