THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

607-The Stranglers-Duchess.

1979-Number 14 single.

Best Bit-At 1.33. Don’t take offence if your name is Rodney,

The Stranglers, who were originally known as the ‘Giuldford Stranglers’ were formed in Guildford, Surrey, England in 1974 by Jet Black (real name Brian Duffy,) (drums,) Hugh Cornwell (vocals, and guitar,) Jean-Jacques Burnel (bass,) and Hans Warmling (1943-1995,) (keyboards.) Warmling left the band to return to his home country of Sweden within a year, and was replaced by Dave Greenfield (1949-2020,) (keyboards.) Cornwell left the band to pursue a solo career in 1990, and was replaced by Paul Roberts (vocals,) and John Ellis (guitar.) The band are still active as a trio of Black, Burnel, and lead vocalist Baz Warne, who joined in 2006, replacing Roberts.

The Stranglers have released 17 studio Albums to date, the first in 1977, and the latest in 2012. They have also achieved 23 UK top 40 singles, with ‘Golden Brown’ being the most successful when reaching Number 2 in 1982. They are cited as one of the instigators of the early UK Punk scene, but unlike many of their contemporaries they were still having hits in to the early 21st Century, due to changing their musical style to fit with the times.

‘Duchess’ is taken from The Stranglers fourth studio Album ‘The Raven,’ from 1979, and the songwriting credits are attributed to all of the bands members. The song is about a girl who claims to be an heiress, but who has hit on hard times. She knows all of her family history, saying she descends from King Henry V111. When she was well to do, men from the lower classes would attempt to raise their profile by trying to court her, these chancers are known as ‘Rodney’s,’ of whom her parents would strongly disapprove.

‘And the Rodney’s are queuing up, God forbid, and they all want to win the cup, God forbid.’