The Stranglers - Early Demo of Strange Little Girl - CD quality audio

R.I.P Jet Black 26 August 1938 - 6 December 2022. Let Me Down Easy.
R.I.P. Dave Greenfield 29 March 1949 - 3 May 2020. My friend, he was the raven.
Jet, Dave and Hans Warmling now sadly taken from us.
An early version of Strange Little Girl, taken from the 74-75-76 Demos & Rarities CD, running at the correct speed and putting to bed any doubts that its anyone other than Hugh on vocals! This version features original keyboard-player, Hans Warmling.

[@PrinsBengt]

This is from 1974 and with Hans Wärmling as keyboard player and co-writer. It was turned down by EMI at the time. The song charted #7 in the UK 8 years later. One of The Stranglers most beautiful songs.

[@FP51DPO]

Han's brother said he never played on any tracks...I think this was recorder in mid Wales llanfair Caer??? and Dave was in place

[@stupidturntable]

Hans´ brother also has stated that Hans wrote the music in the 60´s, before he met Hugh.

[@linfieldf.c.supporter2405]

FP51DPO Hans Played On here, he recorded demos with the band in 1974 and 1975.

[@koalanetzekoalanetze1966]

The internet is..well what it is but for finding pearls like this it is worth all the trouble.

[@michaelplatter3281]

This demo "Strange little Girl" by The Stranglers is awesome and haunting. It shows the young and absolutely much talented band in an very early era, a pleasure to hear that stuff.

[@CapnChapster]

Penny’s dropped. I’ve always been blown away by this song. If this had been on Revolver it would be viewed as one of the Beatles’ best songs.

[@Klaus80804]

Indeed - That song always reminded me of Revolver. Could really be a song from that Beatles album.

[@beans100]

What a fine voice Hugh Cornwell has. Thanks for posting this.

[@conkeroonee]

Stranglers are my all time best band, best times ever.

[@kevinfifield3085]

OMG !! I’m blown away ,been a stranglers fan since 76 never heard this before thank you 😁

[@unclebarbar]

Kevin - it's available via Amazon on a couple of different CDs (usually called "In the Beginning" or "Demos and Rarities") and for around a tenner it's definitely worth getting.

[@patrickol4300]

Better lyrics than charts version

[@neboshman]

Amazing. Just simply amazing.

[@gazriley624]

this could be from 1968 and nobody would know...love it

[@lyrimetacurl0]

Only 6 years after anyway so not far off

[@fredmciverslovechild]

Just to say I met Hans Warmling in a pub in Belsize Park, London, circa 1978. Bought each other a pint and had a fascinating conversation as I had no idea of the Stranglers back story at the time. Regretted ever since that we didn't arrange to meet up again.

[@jesusbuddhacultcom8130]

The changes they made were for the better - changing that note in the chorus, making the girl go from the village to the town, etc

[@alexiskatsogiannos7468]

wow! completely different lyrics and a scary time travel! Handsome brittish boys and a great band! Thanks for uploading!

[@keithedmundson2318]

And French

[@alexiskatsogiannos7468]

@@keithedmundson2318 Im shure (sorry for not knowing their names) the organist must be one! Again many great songs from this band, great they stood the same lineup too! Thats unique!

[@stick90]

What a brilliant song outstanding

[@thegadfly2]

My group no.1. Greetings from Gdańsk (Poland).

[@Cheapbeatlewhore]

thegadfly2 dobry wieczor od Anglii 👍

[@adriangould8122]

Absolutely brilliant

[@jonv2911]

This is astounding, wow! Amazing!!

[@rasjoe420]

Wow! Love the albumversion but this is soo strong ❤❤❤

[@rasjoe420]

Thx 🙏❤

[@foteinigallaher2590]

oh my God! the stranglers are my FAVORITE band ...ah early years,early years

[@animalrevenge1058]

Wow beautiful

[@gazriley624]

much better than the later cleaned up version

[@michaelplatter3281]

Awesome Version from Strange little Girl and a very nice Slide Show

[@nickhirst999]

Brilliant!

[@oswing]

C'est si beau...

[@donalfinn4205]

Stranglers forever.

[@delron44]

outstanding

[@bquinn4533]

Quite brilliant.

[@CapnChapster]

And thanks for posting

[@AlanTrue-art]

What a glorious post! Bands in b&w stills always looked like they meant it?

[@duncanbirss8923]

Superb

[@dawnjenniferclark4464]

Brilliant

[@seawolf6709]

Lv it great band then and now

[@carlosfalcon2099]

The stranglers are a one of a kind band...

[@davidwaterhouse2552]

I have read that Hans Warmling wrote this amazing song in 1973? It wasn't released as a single by the band until 1982, when I believe they were going through a period of 'Writers block'? If this is true, what an amazing song to pull from the archives? God Bless; Hans Warmling, Dave Greenfield, and Jet Black! This is probably inconceivable, AND disrespectable to Baz Warne, but could JJ and Hugh put their differences aside for one last UK tour? They would make a load of Dough and the reception from the fans would be 'BIBLICAL'! dx And they could pay tribute to ; Hans, Dave, Jet, and Paul Rogers, Baz Warne and John Ellis whilst they were on stage! In fact, I think I will start a campaign! dx

[@MarkCSevenSixTwo]

It's a fantastic thought, Hugh and JJ on the same stage at the same time, but 1990 was a long time ago, and without Dave and Jet.....those ships have most likely, passed in the night.

[@TS-bn7zt]

@@MarkCSevenSixTwoNever say Never👍

[@johnnyblade4351]

Dave Greenfield .........Sad Loss Great Keys .. Fingersmith XX

[@kevinmorse8814]

That's it the beginning of the Stranglers

[@candifiend]

I like this version better

[@lyrimetacurl0]

I would like it even better if it had the original lyrics (except "feeling blue" instead of "smiling blue") and was touched up with a bit of the best of both instruments.

[@stationers]

This is much better - particularly lyrically - than the hit version.

[@aleksanth5362]

Στην λευκη με αγαπη αλεξανδρος 1991 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@NearFarAway]

I can hear shades of the Kinks.

[@elizabethtyrrell4190]

Interesting demo tape REpunk

[@moxow]

great compilation of band photos eh

[@user-al81147]

🥲🙏💘

[@antonioeasypiano]

Strange Little Girl is a wonderful song, The Stranglers a great band, and I invite you to listen to a piano cover of this song on my channel.

[@TheFairway8]

Just listened to it, very good cover

[@garygareth]

I can hear jim morrison singing this.

[@michaelplatter3281]

This brilliant Tune has one big disadvantage - it's absolutely to short and it should require minimum 8 minutes

[@lyrimetacurl0]

If there was a reconstructed version with these old lyrics and the new lyrics combined, that could last longer and be the best version.

[@patthehorse]

The hit song that allowed the band to leave EMI. Composed before they had a record contract. Irony is good sometimes.

[@Rammbock]

In what sense did it "allow" them to leave EMI?

[@patthehorse]

@@Rammbock In order to exit their contract, EMI wanted another hit single. Strange Little Girl was rejected by EMI to get the band the original contract but became the hit that released them from it.

[@Jade_holloway]

the lyrics are more interesting on this version than on the official release

[@MarkCSevenSixTwo]

I prefer this version to the official release, as it has a raw, edginess to it. Its the same with the Always the Sun demo for me too.

[@StarTigerJLN]

"Smiling blue" adds irony and "to go where she can stare" adds some sadness to persona. I think though that by the time Version II came out he understood that she isn't a city girl going to the country, she's a country girl who had come to the city and was going back again. I think he understood what was getting to her better by Version II.

[@lyrimetacurl0]

I agree

[@tysoncurtis5377]

as much as the official release is high up among my favorite Stranglers songs, I like this unrefined version even more. The kind of sound I'd find in low-profile(e.g. eastside Portland), non-chain coffee shop/breakfast joints where I like to get away from crowds.

[@rasjoe420]

Omg I didnt even thought about that! 🙈 Gotta take another listen then 😁

[@41lauraa]

Thanks for finding and posting this. I had known that Strange Little Girl was one of their early songs and was curious to hear how it differed from the single. I had assumed that with it being a very early Stranglers song that their wouldn't be Dave's keyboards but there he was. It was the lyrics and melody that changed when it finally got released. The sound quality is great for a demo from the mid seventies. I really liked the original lyrics too. Laurainblack

[@MarkCSevenSixTwo]

Yeah, its such a shame that the sound drops out a bit, but no denying that this version is amazing.

[@dlee827]

This version had the late Hans Warmling on keyboards rather than Dave Greenfield.

[@Jay-y8x1l]

never heard this version before amazing lyrics

[@daz.6112]

Sounds like JJ on vocals?

[@abcasurname1544]

No, that's Hugh's voice I am absolutely sure 😊

[@MarkCSevenSixTwo]

Yep, definitely Hugh 😎

[@mathieubeauvillain3759]

Amazing version ! Could anyone please post the lyrics of this version ? Cause I’m not that good in english and they can’t be found anywhere 😢

[@nickmartinxxx]

Hi Mathieu, this is my effort at the lyrics... One day I see a strange little girl look at you One day I see a strange little girl smiling blue In this world of the ragged tramp leaving town for the country air To go where? She can stare Strange little girl One day I see a strange little girl look at you One day I see a strange little girl walking through This world of the troubled sky passing by to the country fair Does she dare? To go there Strange little girl where are you going? Strange little girl where are you going? Do you know where you could be going? In this world of the ragged tramp leaving town for the country air To go where? She can stare Strange little girl One day she may pick up her bags and be off One day she may find that the going is tough In this world of her wrapped up day she may find that it isn't fair She'll go where? She can stare Strange little girl where are you going? Strange little girl where are you going? Do you know where you could be going? Strange little girl where are you going? Strange little girl where are you going? Do you know where you could be going?

[@mathieubeauvillain3759]

@@nickmartinxxx Amazing ! Thanks a lot !

[@MaitreMark]

@@nickmartinxxx Iam going to do this version in my little pub set. Thank you for taking the time to type out the lyrics.

[@purplejonathan2011]

Ian Brown esque #StoneRoses 😂😃