Hello everyone and I hope your Monday wasn’t the sort of Monday that Bob Geldof sang about. It was a good day here as I finally have normal internet service and was able to get some work done (though I know the blog is backed up). I also realised that The Clash Cup is very overdue a match so I just got the data back and also plugged in the random number machine. You’ll be glad (or mad) that you visited. About ten days ago I noticed there were a lot of ‘big’ songs still remaining and wondered when they would be picked. No lie – 4 of them tonight…I’d day these are the toughest votes of the cup so far, you won’t need to be introduced to any of the songs but you will struggle to vote. I’m dreading it. Before that some results for you:

Sean Flynn defeats Mensforth Hill 46  -  6

London’s Burning defeats English Civil War 41  -  20

First result was a decisive win as you’d expect but the second match up was intriguing. English Civil War actually lost but a rough amount but still picked up 20 votes which may still see it go through. I’ll let you know. Next on to the four for today and I promise you it’s horribly difficult.

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment. Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.

Groovy Times - Wondered when this going to pop up. Never on a Clash album but appeared on the single with Gates of The West. Sadly not the best known Clash song but a classic in it’s own right. It was recorded during the GTER sessions and never made it to the final list for London Calling so got caught in the middle.

The Call Up - This might be one of my most overplayed songs of my youth. I really loved the lyrics and it was one of the first things I ever recorded onto a VHS player also. What a great track and sadly not the ‘hit’ single it deserved to be. I think radio airplay in the States was stifled due to the subject matter which you can’t say about the next song.

Train In Vain - Perhaps the most known Clash song in the USA before Combat Rock. This made the US top 30 in 1980 and became the song that broke the band as a chart act in the world’s biggest record market. Many Clash fans disown this as it was such a straight out pop song – I’m not one of them, despite having heard it thousands of times it’s close to perfection. Easy to sing along to, possible to dance to and not hard for even the most basic guitar player. Though when people call it Stand By Me I get a little knot in my stomach.

The Guns of Brixton - Paul’s biggest Clash moment as far as vocals but what a bloody smashing bass line. The lyrics are simply ideal and the song has such menace that it’s a vital part of London Calling. I can’t imagine the album without this song nor can I image the Clash without Paul.

I told you it was some rotten decisions. So please think these through and cast your selections by Thursday at noon. Thanks in advance…and next time out we have the final songs from round one! (I think). The only way all four songs can remain is lots of votes…so tell your mates.

“You don’t get paid for designing posters or doing the clothes”

Paul Simonon