the song, i don't know if it's the tempo, the over-familiarity, the lack of range...the other week i thought about starting a thread about it and Bowie's "Heroes" as examples of artists' most popular songs that are amongst their suckiest
― for many people a really special folder makes a huge difference (Noodle Vague), Friday, 28 June 2013 08:26 (ten years ago) link
Clash are a prime example of a band with enough facets that i can find some fans whose fandom is inexplicable to me, like they like a different group to the one i do.
i don't really like the myth tho, just individual moments. i like Joe best when i can't understand a word he's saying tbh
― for many people a really special folder makes a huge difference (Noodle Vague), Friday, 28 June 2013 08:29 (ten years ago) link
I think overhearing it has done that song in for me as well, but it still works brilliantly as an album opener. It's just that the rest of the album is so much better.
― Gukbe, Friday, 28 June 2013 08:29 (ten years ago) link
Clash sure knew how to open an album - Janie Jones, Safe European Home, London Calling, Magificent 7, Know Your Rights
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Friday, 28 June 2013 08:49 (ten years ago) link
"Clash City Rockers" opened the US version ;_;
― Gukbe, Friday, 28 June 2013 08:51 (ten years ago) link
ballot sent, though I didn't do much re-listening. I ended up putting Complete Control a lot higher than I might have expected
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Friday, 28 June 2013 13:54 (ten years ago) link
Guerrilla marketing via the thread title. Should've gone with Give 'Em Enough Votes
― Ismael Klata, Friday, 28 June 2013 14:09 (ten years ago) link
i like Joe best when i can't understand a word he's saying tbh
That's what I wrote in an obit for Pop Matters:
I fixated on the voice because I couldn’t understand what the hell he was saying. The more I listened, the harder it was to tell his guttural snarls from the equally guttural guitars. To this day, I have probably listened to that first Clash album more than any other single piece of music. And to this day, even after reading the lyrics, I can’t tell what the hell he’s saying. But I know what he means—you can feel it in every joyful angry spit and gargle. He got a little more comprehensible as time went by, but you never needed the words to understand the songs.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Friday, 28 June 2013 14:10 (ten years ago) link
Also "Clash City Rockers" rules! It's their Louie Louie/Can't Explain/You Really Got Me.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Friday, 28 June 2013 14:12 (ten years ago) link
Been thinking about this since I saw it queued up last year, so here goes:
I think there are many perfect Clash songs but no perfect "Clash" songs: Clashy perfection lies in the whole. To wit:
__the self-discovering excitement and beauty of the UK debut, but without the funky agility of Topper--big without for me.
__the giddy musicality of London Calling, but mythic-romantic literary BS and incipient gloss. (Though compared to so much other punk that year is sounds like '83 hardcore.)
__more personal lyrics but more diffuse arrangements and production on Sandinista!, leaving best tracks not quite Ur-Clash: slower than usual with Topper on steel drums ("Street Parade"), without Paul ("The Magnificent Seven"), or just beautifully weird ("Somebody Got Murdered").
__finest moments on Combat Rock atypically sad or resigned ("Straight to Hell," "Ghetto Defendant") or again without Paul ("Rock the Casbah").
__great singles in between, but with the produced-for-echo problem ("Complete Control," "White Man (In Hammersmith Palais)") or perfect recordings of not-Clash songs ("Armagideon Time," "I Fought the Law") or might-as-well-not-be-Clash-songs ("Bankrobber," "This Is Radio Clash").
The result for me is compulsive re-ranking, so I may just favor the underdogs and get it over with.
― Peter Scholtes, Friday, 28 June 2013 22:56 (ten years ago) link
Pretty sure something from the US Festival will make my live ballot. Pete Howard was a motherfucker, and watching that show you can easily imagine them continuing on without Topper.
― Esperanto, why don't you come to your senses? (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Saturday, 29 June 2013 17:53 (ten years ago) link
i think i'm the only person in history to like "remote control" better than "complete control"
― k3vin k., Saturday, 29 June 2013 18:04 (ten years ago) link
Well, they're both on my short list. But my short list has 48 songs, so.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Saturday, 29 June 2013 18:40 (ten years ago) link
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Friday, June 28, 2013
OTM + All Day and All of the Night surely
― resulting post (rogermexico.), Saturday, 29 June 2013 19:26 (ten years ago) link
― for many people a really special folder makes a huge difference (Noodle Vague), Friday, June 28, 2013
whoa. "heroes" may be played out but it's still A+... "london calling" at least B+
― resulting post (rogermexico.), Saturday, 29 June 2013 19:28 (ten years ago) link
rock the casbah can go fuck itself tho
― resulting post (rogermexico.), Saturday, 29 June 2013 19:29 (ten years ago) link
Should I Stay Or Should I Go? is all of these things xxp
― Ismael Klata, Saturday, 29 June 2013 20:15 (ten years ago) link
Yeah this is definitely one where omitting the biggest hit doesn't feel at all contrarian.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Saturday, 29 June 2013 20:17 (ten years ago) link
(that was an xp about Casbah, not SISOSIG)
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Saturday, 29 June 2013 20:18 (ten years ago) link
Casbah has that baseline though
― Gukbe, Saturday, 29 June 2013 22:36 (ten years ago) link
So maybe I'd vote for Mustapha Dance
There's not a damn thing wrong with Casbah. Overexposure's not the song's fault.
― WilliamC, Saturday, 29 June 2013 23:31 (ten years ago) link
It has its own kind of genius, it's just not one of my 30 favorite Clash songs.
Funny thing about Casbah is that it was some people's first or only experience of the Clash. I have run into people who think of them as some kind of one-hit novelty act.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Saturday, 29 June 2013 23:49 (ten years ago) link
"they also did Should I Stay or Should I Go"
"Ooh, that was them?"
― Gukbe, Sunday, 30 June 2013 00:46 (ten years ago) link
I forgot to write up there but please include your ILX username in your ballots!
And now, to rep for this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpKWH8nXjBI
― Gukbe, Sunday, 30 June 2013 01:08 (ten years ago) link
There's very little from this band I would not rep for.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 30 June 2013 01:34 (ten years ago) link
But I will rep for "Know Your Rights."
And I will also for The Prisoner. Johnny Too Bad meets Johnny B. Goode in the Charing Cross Road.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLxM47cCTFc
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Sunday, 30 June 2013 03:29 (ten years ago) link
^^ yep good'un
― resulting post (rogermexico.), Sunday, 30 June 2013 03:33 (ten years ago) link
And "Groovy Times"!
― A deeper shade of lol (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 30 June 2013 03:36 (ten years ago) link
Since I've already turned in my ballot, I feel good about people mentioning tracks I've voted for.
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Sunday, 30 June 2013 03:40 (ten years ago) link
"White Man in the Hammersmith Palais"/"The Prisoner" might be my favorite A-B sides of any single ever.
"Groovy Times" is good, too. Best part is when Joe yelps "Hey, groovy!"
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Sunday, 30 June 2013 03:41 (ten years ago) link
Don't get me wrong, they wrote some great songs, but some of their covers were even better. Police on My Back, Brand New Cadillac, Armigideon Time, Police and Thieves, I Fought the Law....
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Thursday, June 27, 2013 10:06 AM (3 days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyv16mZakVE
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Sunday, 30 June 2013 03:44 (ten years ago) link
live version but i love it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8XziO7L78I
― Gukbe, Sunday, 30 June 2013 04:13 (ten years ago) link
That Amsterdam 81 bootleg is a beast--surprisingly, it only entered circulation pretty recently. Sony has proper masters for it and considered it for release but decided on the tedious Shea Stadium thing instead, which still annoys me.
― kaleb h. (Everything You Like Sucks), Sunday, 30 June 2013 09:54 (ten years ago) link
ctrl+F "Train In Vain" no results found >:-(
More and more these days all I need to hear is "I'm So Bored" or "Straight To Hell."
― This amigurumi Jamaican octopus is ready to chill with you (Phil D.), Sunday, 30 June 2013 11:29 (ten years ago) link
pressure drop is the only clash cover I can think of that doesn't beat the original. but, hey, it's Toots and the Maytals ffs!
xxpost
― making plans for nyquil (outdoor_miner), Sunday, 30 June 2013 13:17 (ten years ago) link
surprisingly, it only entered circulation pretty recently. Sony has proper masters for it and considered it for release but decided on the tedious Shea Stadium thing instead, which still annoys me
a LOT of full shows in great quality started circulating after the From Here To Eternity live compilation was put together. if you want to conclude that a band member who was remastering that album, and all the records, at the time may have decided to release them into the wild since Sony didn't want to do a box set as well as the comp, I can't stop you
― pink, fleshy, and gleeful (sic), Sunday, 30 June 2013 13:42 (ten years ago) link
"Time Is Tight" too? (xpost) The Clash's cover is very good, though. I had "The Prisoner" high on my ballot.
Overexposure's never the song's fault, WC, but I do think it's a fact of life, and "London Calling" and "Rock the Casbah" are the only Clash songs that ever get played on the radio. Anyway, I've always really disliked "Casbah," so the overplay there doesn't much matter with me.
― clemenza, Sunday, 30 June 2013 13:43 (ten years ago) link
but decided on the tedious Shea Stadium thing instead
That and the '82 tracks on Eternity are unlistenable, entirely due to the ham-footed Terry Chimes.
― Esperanto, why don't you come to your senses? (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Sunday, 30 June 2013 14:12 (ten years ago) link
"London Calling" and "Rock the Casbah" are the only Clash songs that ever get played on the radio.
And "I Fought he Law" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go." And "Train In Vain."
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 30 June 2013 14:47 (ten years ago) link
Forgot about "Should I Stay"--of course. "I Fought the Law" never gets played here, in any format. "Train in Vain" very occasionally on the classic-rock station.
― clemenza, Sunday, 30 June 2013 14:53 (ten years ago) link
I hear "Should I Stay" and "Casbah" fairly regularly on the "classic rock" station, and "London Calling" during the "alternative" station's "retro lunch."
Heard "Train In Vain" all the time on top 40 AM in 1980. Didn't know it was the Clash until five years later.
― Esperanto, why don't you come to your senses? (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Sunday, 30 June 2013 15:01 (ten years ago) link
"Train In Vain" got a second life after Garbage sampled it for the basis of "Stupid Girl", which probably led to a lot of "turn it up!" fakeouts when listeners heard those opening beats.
― Mr. Mojo Readin' (C. Grisso/McCain), Sunday, 30 June 2013 16:49 (ten years ago) link
got bollocked by my girlfriend for leaving Pressure Drop and The Prisoner off my ballot
― Dr X O'Skeleton, Sunday, 30 June 2013 17:08 (ten years ago) link
The Terry Chimes' version of "Casbah" is wrong.
I don't blame him though
― Mark G, Sunday, 30 June 2013 17:16 (ten years ago) link
pressure drop is the only clash cover I can think of that doesn't beat the original
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v165/noodle_vague/shaking-my-head-picture_zps9f7939cc.gif
― for many people a really special folder makes a huge difference (Noodle Vague), Sunday, 30 June 2013 17:33 (ten years ago) link
Listening to a lot of live tracks the last few days, reminds me that they always played everything so fast. If there was ever a band that needed a little less amphetamine, it was these guys.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Sunday, 30 June 2013 18:35 (ten years ago) link
I'll give some love to "One More Time."
― A deeper shade of lol (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 30 June 2013 18:37 (ten years ago) link
― Mark G, Sunday, June 30, 2013 5:16 PM (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
They are definitely in the lineage of Who/Zep in that losing their drummer effectively killed their groove.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Sunday, 30 June 2013 18:41 (ten years ago) link
I'm fine with waiting, I had a six-hour Clash frenzy last night so a few days away is maybe a decent idea
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 10 July 2013 20:25 (ten years ago) link
Cool with me, too
― EZ Snappin, Wednesday, 10 July 2013 20:25 (ten years ago) link
Monday's cool.
― Esperanto, why don't you come to your senses? (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Wednesday, 10 July 2013 20:31 (ten years ago) link
NO RIGHT NOW!
― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), Wednesday, 10 July 2013 20:46 (ten years ago) link
Bummed, but will watch recent videos of Topper playing well and looking healthy to cheer myself up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEG_B4iBmvI
― Three Word Username, Wednesday, 10 July 2013 20:57 (ten years ago) link
WHEN THEY HOLD UP YOUR CLASH POLL, HOW YOU GONNA COME?
― resulting post (rogermexico.), Wednesday, 10 July 2013 21:10 (ten years ago) link
You grow up and you calm down, and you start putting off Clash polls til next week.
― something of an astrological coup (tipsy mothra), Wednesday, 10 July 2013 21:32 (ten years ago) link
tbqh i had no idea there was any notion rollout would start before monday but any excuse for a riot imo
― resulting post (rogermexico.), Wednesday, 10 July 2013 21:52 (ten years ago) link
it's proven by research, that he that delays rollouts will later .. Um, oh bol
― Mark G, Wednesday, 10 July 2013 21:52 (ten years ago) link
bobby said he'd roll out no wait that's the springsteen poll
― resulting post (rogermexico.), Wednesday, 10 July 2013 21:54 (ten years ago) link
I'm so bored with the poll delayI'm so bored with the poll delayBut what can I do?
― WmC, Thursday, 11 July 2013 01:28 (ten years ago) link
they just systematically ruined everything in ways I didn't even think were possible.
(who even plays on CTC? I think Vince White, Paul Simonon and Pete Howard are all AWOL).
as I said upthread, it was made by Bernie from Joe demos after Joe walked. Norman Watt-Roy was brought in to do basslines.
― eau de feet (sic), Thursday, 11 July 2013 03:20 (ten years ago) link
Well I've been waiting for your Clash Poll/The one that never came/like a man about to burst/I was dying of thirst
― kornrulez6969, Thursday, 11 July 2013 14:27 (ten years ago) link
I was pretty surprised to read that he didn't kick his addiction until the early 00s; I thought he'd kicked it by '99 at the very latest (as he seems to allude to in WttW).
Mick and Joe paid for him to rehab at least twice in the 90s, and I'm sure there were times when he was clean to his mind at that moment
― eau de feet (sic), Friday, 12 July 2013 16:25 (ten years ago) link
Topper talks about this fairly touchingly in the Viva Joe Strummer doc -- the last time he saw Joe he was off heroin but still drinking, and Joe asked what was in his cup and it was beer "and my one regret today is that I couldn't honestly say Coke or water or something."
― Three Word Username, Friday, 12 July 2013 16:34 (ten years ago) link
Voting has now officially ended. Countdown begins Monday. Top 60.
― Gukbe, Saturday, 13 July 2013 08:03 (ten years ago) link
WOOOOOO
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Saturday, 13 July 2013 14:47 (ten years ago) link
(Hands up for Hollywood)
HOORAY!
― Esperanto, why don't you come to your senses? (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Saturday, 13 July 2013 15:39 (ten years ago) link
yay
― Mark G, Monday, 15 July 2013 14:47 (ten years ago) link
can't wait for this
― g simmel, Monday, 15 July 2013 15:40 (ten years ago) link
weeeeeeeeeee
― set the controls for the heart of the sun (VegemiteGrrl), Monday, 15 July 2013 15:49 (ten years ago) link
This is a CLASH POLL service announcement...WITH RESULTS!!!!!! ILX Artist Poll #41
― Gukbe, Monday, 15 July 2013 16:21 (ten years ago) link