FROM THE VAULT: 1977

The Stranglers

Rattus Norvegicus

(EMI)

Okay, so the album came out in 1977, but five years later at Droitwich High School you could still bunk off history early, mess up you hair, smoke a fag, dash home to put on the Stranglers and call yourself a punk. The acne-riddled credentials were only spoiled by the fact the album belonged to your old man.

Get a couple of mates over and put Rattus on the stereo. Snigger at the rudeness of Ugly, snarl into the mirror as you mime to Hanging Around, get carried away by frenzied organ playing at the climax to Down In The Sewer.

Looking back of course, Rattus doesn't sound punk at all - and there's a lot honouring (plagiarising?) the Doors - but it's still a thrilling album.