Duchess (The Stranglers song)

"Duchess" is a single by The Stranglers from the album The Raven. The ninth track on the album, it peaked at number 14 in the UK Singles Chart.^[2] The supporting video for the song was banned by the BBC, as they deemed it blasphemous for its content, which featured the band dressed up as choirboys.^[3][4]

"Duchess"
Single by The Stranglers
from the album The Raven
B-side	"Fools Rush Out"
Released	10 August 1979[1]
Genre	Post-punk
Length	2:30
Label	United Artists
Songwriter(s)	The Stranglers
Producer(s)	Alan Winstanley, The Stranglers
The Stranglers singles chronology
"Walk On By" (1978) "Duchess" (1979) "Nuclear Device (The Wizard of Aus)" (1979)

Reception

Smash Hits said, "Hugh Cornwell actually sings. Yeah, a bit shaky maybe, but it's proper singing. And the song's quite nice. But it's also repetitive and lacks any real substance."^[5]

Cover versions

• The song was covered by My Life Story as part of EMI's centenary celebrations in 1997 and reached the UK Top 40.^[6]