My Sister’s Records
I’ve mentioned here before how my sister went from being a screaming, tartan-scarf-waving Bay City Rollers fan to loving those noisy punk rockers The Clash which is obviously something of a radical jump but people made a lot of radical jumps during 1976 and 1977, not just in musical taste but in the length of hair and width of trousers too.
My sister never actually became a punk herself — too sensible at the end of the day, my sis — but her friend Sue went the whole hog into bondage trousers, safety pins, and dyed, spiky hair. Nowadays no one would bat an eyelash at the “punk” look (it’s almost quaint now) but back then I remember walking down the street with Sue in all her pierced, ripped, and bound finery and people would visibly bristle when they walked past us, looking at her in disgust as if she had some disease or her very appearance was an affront to decency. Sue found it all very amusing and, like a lot of punks, took pleasure in playing up to the tabloid guttersnipe stereotype. One time we were out, some little kids were staring and pointing at her so Sue took a big swig from her can of Coke, turned to them, and belched very loudly in their faces. They ran away, probably going home to tell their mum how rude those nasty punks were. It wasn’t all fun and games though, one day she was spat on by a Teddy Boy while walking down the King’s Road where there were often fights between Punks and Teds during the summer of 1977. I actually used to be a little scared to go down there at the time.
Punk didn’t just cause a rift in English society either, for a while it caused a big split in our house too because one thing The Clash had in common with The Bay City Rollers was that I hated them both. As I’ve also noted here before, I originally thought this album was just a horrid, moronic noise that was like being hit over the head with a brick by a gang of angry yobs. As much as it pains me to admit it now but my sister was hipper than I was at the time. It really pains me to admit that. But I eventually got hip myself (and of course became far hipper than my sister, ho ho) and came to hear what was so incredibly great about it. Obviously it’s essential, vital, life-changing etc. etc. and I think the best album The Clash made, tighter and more focused than London Calling (which I have to say I’ve always found to be just a teensy bit overrated) without an ounce of fat on it.
They never repeated the primitive and visceral punch-punch-punch of this and to their credit they never tried to either and moved on musically. This was a quickly-taken snapshot of a moment that, like punk itself, shone brightly for a very short time and burnt itself out. But what a “moment” it was while it lasted.
I still think it sounds like being hit over the head with a brick by a gang of angry yobs — but in a good way.
Download: Hate and War – The Clash (mp3)
Download: London’s Burning – The Clash (mp3)
Download: Protex Blue – The Clash (mp3)
Buy: The Clash (UK version of course)
I love The Clash. And you’re my second Clash related post of the day on my blogroll!
http://unclee.wordpress.com/2011/11/29/the-only-band-that-matters-guess-who-hint-its-not-the-guess-who/
He’s wrong about the American version being superior though, the singles might be “better” than the tracks they replaced but it makes it sound like a compilation album to me. And the inclusion of ‘I Fought The Law’ is just stupid, that really doesn’t fit in with the rest.
I like both, I see them as separate entities. The original version makes me feel 15 again. It’s just a massive burst of energy.
Ooooh I have the U.S. Version and it doesn’t have Protex Blue on it. Awesome!
Still on my MP 3 player and the “shuffle” option seems to to love it too. Just listening to the opening drum beat of “Janie Jones” transports me back over 30 bass years. Simonon’s insistent bass still sounds completely fresh.
Superior production and different influences mean that only the title track of “london calling” bears any resemblence to its forebears. It was the triple album “Sandinista” where it proved hard work to unearth the gems.U
It was right that they moved on and did so quickly. Punk in its original form petered out quite quickly and those that couldn’t evolve didn’t.
There aren’t that many other bands from that era that we still discuss. Good topic matey
Hello Mr. Chivers, nice to see you here.
(That was me by the way Andy. Home computer was logged in as the wife)
After hearing the Pistols and the Damned I have to say my first impression of the Clash was that they sounded a bit fey! Not so much ‘hit with a brick’ more ‘ohh – don’t like that’. I think this actually made them more real – a sense of vulnerability behind the bravado. They kind of grew up in front of us – warts and all. Played a cover of ‘Janie Jones’ at my 50th this year, so it obviously made an impression.
For me The Clash were just the best of so many great punk bands. Their debut album like so many debuts was exciting and original.
I was in a pub recently and saw Mick Jones was at the bar. My friend suggested that I go up and talk to him (probably hoping to get the same reaction as when he asked Jarvis Cocker and Chris Morris to his barbeque). Disappointingly for my friend, Mick turned out to be very friendly and I ended up having a 15 minute chat with him, mainly about his large collection of random stuff that he’s been exhibiting recently, Gorillaz, BAD and Dennis Hopper losing an Andy Warhol in a divorce settlement.