Nosferatu (Hugh Cornwell and Robert Williams album)


Nosferatu was the 1979 album by the Stranglers' Hugh Cornwell's musical collaboration with Robert Williams, who was a drummer in Captain Beefheart's Magic Band. The album cover features a still from F.W. Murnau's 1922 film of the same name, with the album styled as a soundtrack to the Film. The album is dedicated to the memory of Max Schreck. The inner sleeve features song lyrics on one side and a lifesize Hannya Mask on the other.
'Guest' musicians on the album include Ian Underwood from Frank Zappa's band and David Walldroop. Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh of the band Devo play on the song "Rhythmic Itch", and "Wrong Way Round" features a cameo from Ian Dury as a fairground barker.
Hugh Cornwell was advised to start a solo career in case of The Stranglers breaking up due to the end of the punk-rock scene. A cover version of Cream's "White Room" was the only single to be released from the album, backed with an instrumental version of "Losers in a Lost Land", which failed to chart; however, "Wired" was included on the Stranglers' "Don't Bring Harry" EP which reached No. 41 in the UK Singles Chart.
An additional track "Grinding Gears" recorded at the same sessions was released on Robert Williams first solo album Late One Night.

Track listing

;Side 1
  1. "Nosferatu" - - 1:43
  2. * Hugh Cornwell - guitar
  3. * Robert Williams - drums, lead vocals, guitar, bass, Tama toms, whistle
  4. * Ian Underwood - Yamaha synthesizer
  5. "Losers in a Lost Land" - - 4:26
  6. * Hugh Cornwell - guitar, lead vocals, bass
  7. * Robert Williams - drums, synthesizer
  8. "White Room" - - 3:53
  9. * Hugh Cornwell - lead guitar, lead vocals, synthesizer, Chamberlin Mellotron, bass
  10. * Robert Williams - drums, backing vocals, tympani
  11. * David Walldroop - rhythm guitar
  12. * Ian Underwood - Sonar Yamaha Synthesizer
  13. "Irate Caterpillar" - - 5:00
  14. * Hugh Cornwell - guitar, lead vocals
  15. * Robert Williams - drums, bass, synthesizer, percussion, waterphone
  16. * David Walldroop - guitar solo
  17. * Ian Underwood - Yamaha synthesizer
  18. "Rhythmic Itch" - - 2:12
  19. * Hugh Cornwell - guitar
  20. * Robert Williams - drums, bass marimbas
  21. * Mark Mothersbaugh - lead vocals, Prophet synthesizer
  22. * Bob Mothersbaugh - guitar, backing vocals
;Side 2
  2. "Wired" - - 3:07
  3. * Hugh Cornwell - guitar, lead vocals
  4. * Robert Williams - drums, backing vocals, guitar, bass, guicas, whistle
  5. * Ian Underwood - Moog synth solo, soprano saxophone
  6. "Big Bug" - - 3:50
  7. * Hugh Cornwell - guitar, lead vocals
  8. * Robert Williams - drums, backing vocals, tack piano, bass
  9. * A. N. Russian - voice
  10. "Mothra" - - 2:57
  11. * Hugh Cornwell - bass, chant
  12. * Robert Williams - drums, chant, tubular bells
  13. "Wrong Way Round" - - 4:58
  14. * Hugh Cornwell - guitar, lead vocals, Calliope, synthesizer
  15. * Robert Williams - drums, bass
  16. * Ian Dury - fairground barker
  17. * Various people - crowd
  18. "Puppets" - - 2:48
  19. * Hugh Cornwell - guitar, lead vocals, bass
  20. * Robert Williams - drums
  21. * The Clash - puppet chant

    Personnel