The Stranglers “Black and White” released on this date, May 12th, 1978. Black and white marbled vinyl concept album. It spent 18 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at #2.

“Tank” leads off Side 1 (or the “white side”) with a swirling keyboard run that is very reminiscent of their song “(Get A) Grip (On Yourself)” from their ‘77 LP Rattus Norvegicus.  “Nice and Sleazy” was released as a single and has a killer bass line; it reached #18 on the UK Singles Chart. Tracks like “Toiler on the Sea” and “Sweden (All Quiet on the Eastern Front)” are experimental, freaky dissonant art rock goes punk with lunatic keyboards.

Side 2 (the “black side”) starts with “Curfew,” the vocals snotty and melodic punk, the lyrics telling a story of societal breakdown, fear and invasion, over the Stranglers’ signature keyboard rifts. “Threatened” throws a threatening beat and double-layered nihilistic vocals: Man killed by industry, Man killed by luxury, Man killed by falling tree, Man killed by sanity. Bring me a piece of my mummy, she was quite close to me.” “In the Shadows” veers into goth territory, as does “Death and Night and Blood” albeit through a highly musically experimental lens.