1st musictraveler compilation: Songs We Taught The Clash (@256)
From time to time I will upload home-made compilations which I hope you will like. The first one contains previous covers of songs that Clash approached – only songs from their official releases where taken into account. First covers are included, except where the songs are traditional. In some cases, where it is obvious or known that it was not the first cover that offered inspiration to the group, the ‘suspected’ covers are also included.
Armagideon Time (b-side in ‘London Calling’ single, ‘Black Market Clash’ 10’’mini lp): The third attempt by the Clash to mix punk with reggae was originally a reggae hit for Jamaican singer Willie Williams in 1978.
Brand New Cadillac (‘London Calling’ lp): The second song in London Calling lp is a feverish cover on a song by Vince Taylor, one of the cornerstone artists of British rock’n’roll. Paul Simonon introduced the song to the other Clash members, and from 1980 it became a standard in their live performances.
English Civil War (‘Give’em Enough Rope’ lp): The melody comes from ‘When Johnny Comes Marching Home’, written by Irish-born Massachusetts Unionist Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore, which is in turn derived from the Irish anti-war song ‘Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye.’ It was sung during the American civil war by both sides of the conflict. It has been covered by hundreds of groups and artists (both right wing and left wing) by appropriate modifications in lyrics. Three totally different covers as compared to each other (a soft r’n’r one by Adam Faith, a swing one by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra- from 1938, the oldest cover of the song existing in discography to my knowledge, and a jazzy one by Jimmy Smith) are included in this compilation. The Clash’s version was referring to the state of politics in Britain back then and was warning against the alarming rise of far-right groups. The lyrics to Clash's version vary greatly from the original. Compare original version's lyrics with The Clash version lyrics.
Every Little Bit Hurts (‘Clash On Broadway’ compilation): Originally, a Motown single by Brenda Holloway, but most probably known to Mick Jones by the Spencer Davis Group cover. Jones was rehearsing this song from the time he was in London SS with Chrissie Hynde.
I Fought The Law (‘Cost Of Living’ EP, US edition of ‘The Clash’ lp): Although it is known that it was the Bobby Fuller Four’s cover that was discovered by Strummer and Jones (listen to the drum solo on the beginning of Clash's version which resembles with that from Bobby Fuller Four's), the song’s first cover belongs to the Crickets. It was written by their member Sonny Curtis, when the group was recording and performing without Buddy Holly.
Junco Partner (‘Sandinista!’ lp): A traditional blues drug song, covered by many artists. Three covers are included: Dr. John’s, Louis Jordan’s (from 1938) and James Booker’s.
Look Here (‘Sandinista!’ lp): A Mose Allison song, which reveals the Clash’s broad perception of music.
Police & Thieves (‘Clash’ lp): The first serious evidence on the influence reggae music had on the Clash. In the aftermath of the Notting Hill riots, where Strummer and Simonon first heard Junior Murvin singing Police & Thieves, the song itself had already become, rather than a redemptive spiritual musing on the problems of the world, a clarion call to violent revolution.
Police On My Back (Sandinista!’ lp): A furious cover version of a song by the multiracial North London band The Equals, whose guitarist and songwriter Eddie Grant had become a reggae superstar by the late 70s. The Clash cover is often said by those critics who don’t like ‘Sandinista!’ ‘on principle’ to be the most Clash-like song on the lp – the irony, of course, being that it’s a cover version.
Pressure Drop (b-side in ‘English Civil War’ single, ‘Black Market Clash’ 10’’mini lp): The song’s original version by the Maytals is in the 1972’s reggae soundtrack of ‘The Harder They Come’ which had massive influence on the Clash: The self-titled song was being performed live by Strummer when he was with the Mescaleros, while the same title is name-checked in ‘Guns Of Brixton’, written by Simonon. Moreover, ‘Johnny To Bad’, another song from the same soundtrack, is referenced in the lyrics of ‘The Prisoner’, is briefly heard on the soundtrack of Clash’s movie ‘Rude Boy’, while it was one of Simonon’s favourite songs. Finally, direct allusions to ‘007 (Shanty Town)’ from the same soundtrack appear in the lyrics of both ‘Safe European Home’ and ‘Rudie Can’t Fail’.
Revolution Rock (‘London Calling’ lp): Jackie Edwards’ 1976 reggae song ‘Get Up’ was the basis for the Clash’s ‘Revolution Rock’.
Time Is Tight (Black Market Clash’ 10’’mini lp): A sensational instrumental original by Booker T and the MG’s.
Wrong ‘Em Boyo (‘London Calling’ lp): The song is a variant on the true story, (which soon became legendary in the American South) of the murder of Billy Lyons by Lee Sheldon (most often referred as Stagg Lee, Stagger Lee, Stagolee and Stack-A-Lee) on Christmas Day 1895 in St Louis. The original rocksteady by the Rulers, in which Stagger Lee is explicitly the hero and Billy the villain, starts with lines from Lloyd Price’s version of ‘Stagger Lee’. The Clash chose to follow exactly the Rulers’ version.
The Man In Me ('London Calling - 25th Anniversary Edition - The Vanilla Tapes): I just discovered this one. The Clash version as contained in the Vanilla Tapes is rather a bad recording, but I included it in order this compilation to be regarded as completed. First version belongs to Bob Dylan from 'New Morning' lp.
Tracklisting:
01 Armagideon Time - Willie Williams
02 Armagideon Time - Clash
03 Brand New Cadillac - Vince Taylor & The Playboys
04 Brand New Cadillac - Clash
05 When Johnny Comes Marching Home - Glenn Miller And His Orchestra
06 When Johnny Comes Marching Home - Adam Faith
07 When Johnny Comes Marching Home - Jimmy Smith
08 English Civil War - Clash
09 Every Little Bit Hurts - Brenda Holloway
10 Every Little Bit Hurts (live) - Spencer Davis Group
11 Every Little Bit Hurts - Clash
12 I Fought The Law - Crickets
13 I Fought The Law - Bobby Fuller Four
14 I Fought The Law - Clash
15 Junco Partner - Louis Jordan
16 Junco Partner - James Booker
17 Junko Partner - Dr. John
18 Junco Partner - Clash
19 Look Here - Mose Allison
20 Look Here - Clash
21 Police & Thieves - Junior Murvin
22 Police & Thieves - Clash
23 Police On My Back - Equals
24 Police On My Back - Clash
25 Pressure Drop - Maytals
26 Pressure Drop - Clash
27 Get Up - Jackie Edwards
28 Revolution Rock - Clash
29 Time Is Tight - Booker T. & the MG's
30 Time Is Tight - Clash
31 Wrong 'Em Boyo - Rulers
32 Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price
33 Wrong 'Em Boyo – Clash
34 The Man In Me - Bob Dylan
35 The Man In Me - Clash
download link (pt1): here
download link (pt2): here
