The Collection 1977–1982

Infobox Album
Name = The Collection 1977-1982
Type = Compilation album
Artist = The Stranglers


Released = September 1982
Recorded = various
Genre = post-punk
Length = ??:??
Label = Liberty
Producer = Various
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jcftxq95ldke link]
Chronology = The Stranglers compilations
Last album = "The Stranglers IV"
(1980)
This album = "The Collection 1977-1982"
(1982)
Next album = "Off The Beaten Track "
(1986)

"The Collection 1977-1982" is a compilation album by The Stranglers. It was released to complete their contract with EMI, who had acquired the band's back catalogue on the United Artists and Liberty labels. The album collected together several of the bands most popular singles and album tracks, and also included a "new" track, "Strange Little Girl".

The inclusion of "Strange Little Girl" was an ironic move on the band's part: EMI had been very indifferent to the band when they acquired their catalogue the previous year, not regarding them as a great commercial proposition. The band proved them wrong by having an enormous hit single with "Golden Brown", despite lack-lustre promotion from EMI. When required to deliver a final single, the band re-recorded the song "Strange Little Girl", which they had originally been on a demo tape they had given to EMI in 1974. EMI rejected the tape at the time, but the re-recorded "Strange Little Girl" went on to be a top 10 hit.

A companion VHS video was released to accompany the album, containing promo clips for several of the band's songs. This was later released on DVD.

Track listing

# "(Get a) Grip (On Yourself)"
# "Peaches"
# "Hanging Around"
# "No More Heroes"
# "Duchess"
# "Walk On By"
# "Waltzinblack"
# "Something Better Change"
# "Nice 'N' Sleazy"
# "Bear Cage"
# "Who Wants the World?"
# "Golden Brown"
# "Strange Little Girl"
# "La Folie"