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
3 comments:
No, I won't rise to the bait
have you listened to the Clash much ?
Much? No
Enough? Yes
Post a Comment