The Clash - Ghetto Defendent (Rat Patrol version)

Since I got the album of Rockabilly covers of Clash tracks three weeks ago I have also been playing a lot of the Clash.

The Clash and the Beatles are, in my mind, similar. I am not a huge fan of either band; but I somehow know every note of every track each band has produced. Both had a spectacular song writing partnership at its core, a mercurial talent in the wings (Simonon/ Harrison) and a relatively uninspiring drummer(s). Both started their discography with amphetamine white boy rock n roll, got more experimental, produced a genre busting mid career masterpiece (Revolver / London Calling) and split up just after releasing a sprawling masterwork (White Album / Sandinista).

Most would say the Beatles changed the world, and that therefore makes them better. The Beatles did change the world. But what they mean to anyone else has no bearing for me on how they sound in my ear today. And today I have been listening to the Clash.

I have always loved Combat Rock. An album that is not that well regarded. But how can anyone not love the ambition and romance of that record ? Suffused with dub, funk, hip hop and spoken word. It's like a soundtrack to a lost film. There's some kind of faded Vietnam war / Americana going on that was quite a feat for 3 lads from west London. It's really unique. There is no album like Combat Rock.

I got the 'Rat Patrol From Fort Bragg' bootleg last week. This is the original version of Combat Rock as produced by Mick Jones. It's great. I am especially taken with this take of 'Ghetto Defendant'. You can hear Allen Ginsberg much clearer on this version. It's longer than the 'official' release and Joe Strummer's voice is rougher and looser. In fact this is probably the best vocal Joe Strummer ever did, in my humble opinion.

Get it here - http://rapidshare.com/files/99267049/07_-_Ghetto_Defendant.mp3.html

Danbury Common Mountain Biking with Explosive Pete

I was 40 years old at the weekend. Libby and I went to Swaffham, in Norfolk and stayed in a hotel. It was very nice. The kids were with the in-laws; it was just me, Libs and my sore hand, and aching legs..

Sore hand ? Yep. A busted hand. I am now middle aged and past it. I have damaged feet, ankles, calves and now fingers. I fell off my bike at Danbury Common on Thursday and dislocated my right little finger. I snapped it back into position and rode back to the car. I had an xray today. I wont know for sure till end of the week but I dont think it's fractured just really torn.

Danbury - was great though. I met Explosive Pete on the forums at Bike Radar and he, together with his brother Jonathon, offered to show me round Danbury. We did appx 15 miles in 2 or 3 hours (punctures, picnics - the usual necessary stops). What a great ride.. Big climbs, fast steep descents, miles and miles of tracks. Better than Epping. And with the bombholes, and jumps and sweeping tracks at Blakes Wood really quite hairy.

Pete and Jonathon rode faster than I am used to but I kept up, just. Great day out. Pity I can't move my right hand properly.

T

The Pistoleers - Bank Robber

The Pistoleers - 'Bank Robber'.

I heard this track on Radio 6 a few weeks ago when Andrew Weatherall (remember when he was Andy Weatherall) did the Queens Of Noize show. He played some great rockabilly and more 'modern' stuff.

'Bank Robber' by the Pistoleers is from an album of called 'This Is Rockabilly Clash'. A compilation of Clash covers by rockabilly bands. It's a great record. Some tracks are better than others but the whole concept works really well. It also highlights what great songwriters the Clash were (but what a dismal lyricist Joe Strummer occasionally was).

This is my favorite from the album. Listening to rockabilly nowadays seems one of the most 'alternative' music choices you can make. However, it kind of sounds somehow perfectly modern. I've been predicting a rockabilly revival for years now. Not that anyone is listening.

Go here for the track - http://www.mediafire.com/?yded8sjynjl

T

Breakfast in Thetford

What did you have for breakfast yesterday ?

I had 20 miles of Thetford Black Run for mine. That's 20 mile of off road mountain biking in Thetford Forest in 1 hour 50 mins, all before 10 in the morning.

I had a meeting in Woolpit in the morning, so being the obsessive I am, I saw a gap in my schedule drove to Thetford at 0600 in the morning and was in the forest at 0745; it was pretty damn fantastic. I was the only person there. I saw loads of deers and at one point some kind of boar, maybe. The riding was good. The tracks are bedding down and the mud is drying. It was warmish, and at some points sunny.

I rode hard and as fast I could at some points. I was only going to do the route once, but within site of my car (and at the end of first lap) I knew I was going to do it again. The 2nd lap was faster; I'm kinda getting the hang of the Black Run now. I can even recall sections of it. Usually, I cannot recall anything as during the ride I'm concentrating on what's immeadiatley happening, my breathing, aching back and the bike.

Next time I'm going to do the Red Run properly. I'm hoping this route may be more flowing, so I can really get some speed up.

So, yeah mountain biking, I love it. But, I want to run.. To get an equivalent buzz from biking for me takes 2 hours of riding. Running is so much easy to organise but like 4 times harder. Anyway, still no running for me. The other leg has gone now. I can't bring myself to write about it.

T