No Mercy (The Stranglers song)

"No Mercy" is a song and single written by Hugh Cornwell, Dave Greenfield, Jet Black and Jean-Jacques Burnel performed by the Stranglers and released in 1984.

"No Mercy"
Single by the Stranglers
from the album Aural Sculpture
B-side"In One Door"
Released1 December 1984 (1984-12-01)
Format
  • 7-inch single
  • 12-inch single
GenreRock
Length3:39[1]
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Laurie Latham
The Stranglers singles chronology
"Skin Deep"
(1984)		 "No Mercy"
(1984)		 "Let Me Down Easy"
(1985)

The single made number 37 in the UK Singles Charts in 1984 staying in the charts for eight weeks.[2] The song was performed as part of their set-list in 1985.[3]

Song and release

The song was featured on the band's 1984 album, Aural Sculpture. One review of the album describes No Mercy as “a strong song, with often repeated simple guitar line”. It also notes it as The Stranglers first ever use of backing singers.[4]

The song was released on 1 December 1984 in 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl single formats as well as an ear sculpture shaped picture disc.[4]

Video

The video was shot at St Olave's Hospital in Rotherhithe, London in November 1984. It features the band dressed as doctors and patients. One version of the ending showed a dummy of Hugh Cornwell's body filled with tomato sauce hitting the floor in a bloody heap. Considered too gruesome, the video was never shown with this ending.[5]

Legacy

“No Mercy” is also the title of an authorised biography of The Stranglers, written by David Buckley and issued in 1998.[6]

References
  1. "Aural Sculpture - The Stranglers | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  2. "STRANGLERS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com.
  3. "Glasgow Apollo / Who Played". www.glasgowapollo.com.
  4. Robert Endeacott (1 July 2014). Peaches: A Chronicle Of The Stranglers 1974-1990. Soundcheck Books. pp. 134–. ISBN 978-0-9575700-4-7.
  5. Stranglers video collection 1983-2012
  6. Buckley, David (May 7, 1998). "No mercy: the authorized and uncensored biography of The Stranglers". Hodder & Stoughton – via Open WorldCat.
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