Good morning Clash world how goes it? Still no license plate and no fall out from the kebab last night so it’s a net neutral I’d have to say. Been working on our website in our quest for world domination in blog design, alright I exaggerate. Coffee has brewed, found a decent new music player online that actually seems like it will be worth bookmarking and I’m wearing my best ‘can do’ approach towards the weekend. I actually have to get out back today and clean the grill which is not my favourite task but makes the food taste a lot better and reduces the risk of an explosion which would take out the back third of the house.

Seems like a good morning to fire up another round of The Clash Cup as we get deeper into round 2 and only the big boys remain. Before we sort out the new pairing (selected very officially via this site) we need to review the last vote which frankly was a devastatingly one-sided affair.

Career Opportunities        defeated       Last Gang In Town              61-6

It didn’t take a brave gambler to think that the winner would be Career Opps but still the margin of the win was pretty remarkable. I think to a certain extent the early 10-0 head start made some voters want to pick the sure winner. However you slice it that was a bad result for ‘Give em Enough Rope’. I’ve a theory that the better Mick’s hair was at the time of recording the better the chance the song will win. I’ll need a powerpoint presentation to prove my theory but just you wait and see. Let’s move away from the rubble of that result and see what we have next, and I’d say it will be a closer call having just picked the numbers.

Round 2 Match 8

Lightning Strikes      vs       48 Hours

Nice one indeed and I’m feeling some weird symbolism which is daft, as I write it is of course the early stages of our 48 hours and last night we had more lightning than rain (which in truth is always the case here). Two tracks that I’ll suggest won’t be around at the final 16 stage but one is assured an unlikely run into the third round. You probably disagree but neither song is often on my top list of Clash songs I have to hear when I’ve only got 4 minutes of available time. Both songs are good but not what I’d consider to the best in the Clash stable of their respective vintages, though you’re welcome to disagree.

Form book:

Round 1 – Lightning Strikes defeated Crooked Beat                        66% of the vote

Round 1 – 48 Hours defeated Three Card Trick                                 78% of the vote

Odds:

This is a bit like trying to guess if Huddersfield will beat Preston really but I think it will be very close thing. Its time for all the lovers of S! to rally together and see Lightning Strikes through to round 3. I know 48 Hours will get a lot of support but its possible that the other early Clash songs will see much more interest. I’d say Lightning Strikes by the thinnest of margins.

Stuff:

No brilliant insight to offer here, I do think it important to note that Lightning Strikes was written and and recorded in 1980. Not only had The Clash not really made anything that sounded anything like it but nobody else was making music quite like it. Its a great example of Joe’s trust in Mick to really expand the style of the band and Strummer in turn just marrying a lyrical rhythm to match the song itself.  I rarely throw the video in the voting mix but this clip from Barcelona in ‘81 is well worthy. As for 48 Hours, you’re not really a Clash fan unless this has gone through your head on a Friday night on the way home from work. I’d suggest listening to this version from  1976 and see how the track evolved in the months between then and when it was recorded. Good Stuff! The rest is up to you…thanks for voting and tell me if it was a tough decision…even now I’m not quite sure which to pick. If you get two minutes can you vote for the blog on the right under ‘best pop culture blog’ we’ve a chance to go top 10!

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Round 2, Match 7 – Two Seven(s)….this better be a good one. Hello again its time for you to get all democratic on me and vote for a Clash song. A simple task in theory but it carries great weight, songs that survive this round will be really strong and offer a decent chance to make the final top 20 Clash songs ever. So vote with your mind and not just your tapping toes, we are not looking for some lukewarm coalition approach to our final top ten tracks.

Before we turn the dusty spotlight on tonight’s contenders we do need to look back to the last match. The outcome was as I predicted but it was close enough to be interesting (think Spurs trying to break into the top 3).

Hitsville UK     defeats     Inoculated City     28-17

So one of the least ‘Clashlike’ songs in their arsenal is through to the next round. Cry your tears and shed your fears all you like but the election stands, we have another Sandinista! track marching on. Now back to the random number machine to pull the next two from the bobble hat of Terry Chimes…..and what do we have for you?

Round 2 – Match 7

Last Gang in Town vs.       Career Opportunities

I don’t like that pairing whatsoever, really great songs both which represent each of the first two albums with equal importance. How many times have I sung along with each of them over the last 30 years? Should I base my vote on that? I’d really hate to see either one knocked out, there is a slim chance that enough second place votes will keep the runner up alive so yeah this is a vote that does matter. Nothing like your local MP but much more important.

Form:

Round 1 – Last Gang in Town defeated Sound of the Sinners        61% of the vote

Round 1 – Career Opportunities defeated I’m so Bored with the USA      74% of the vote

Odds:

I’d forgotten how well Career Opps did in the 1st round as it hammered strong competition. Some Clash songs are firmly rooted in the late 70’s but I thing Career is a song that holds as much value lyrically in 2010 as it did back in the black and white days of 1977. I think many (most) Clash fans felt at one time or another that working was little more than an obligation and what we really wanted to do played no part in the jobs on offer after school. Though I also still like Last Gang in Town I can’t see it going much further than Joe Cole in the league next season. Career to win with at least 60% of the vote….

Stuff:

Surely no introduction is needed for either song? Career Opportunities might rank as one of the 5 most autobiographical songs Strummer ever wrote, for anyone who ever stood in a dole queue this is your anthem. With great significance its also the place where Jones and Simonon first met Joe Strummer. Last Gang is a song for all of us too however. Please listen before you vote - I’ve got Career Opportunities recorded in awesome live fashion in Amsterdam in 1981, tight drumming, dual barking and a song that got bigger the more The Clash played it. Last Gang in Town is the original LP version, Paul’s bass pumping all over the song. If I ever learned bass I’d have to learn this song! Also, are they any other Clash songs where the vocals start the very moment the song begins as is the case here with Joe? Surely there must be….please vote – I welcome your thoughts as to why you chose the wrong track.

Well…I’ve got no choice ! Also…wanna help the blog? Hit the WIKIO vote button at the bottom of this (and any) post, if you don’t see it just click the title of the post so it refreshes on your screen.

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Well hello again….it’s Saturday night and I’m glad to be back – welcome. The topic tonight is self-explanatory – the return of The Clash Cup! If you’re a regular you know the drill – vote for your favourite track in the quest to find the ultimate Top 10 of Clash songs. If you are a newer arrival we started this magnificent process last Summer (seriously) and I do mean to complete it so you’re very welcome to join in. For the rules and concept please visit this older post where I had clarity in better doses about the method. Speaking of voting I asked over a week ago whether .5C/G (Gorillaz with half of The Clash) should play a Clash song at Glastonbury. Thanks for your votes and there is a decent consensus which you

Police on my back...

can see on the original story. I was happy to see that 63% of you felt it was the ideal tribute, and another 17% felt it depended on the song. So only 20% remain resolutely against the idea of a Clash song ringing around Glastonbury this week – despite the fact that Mick and Paul will be performing it. Don’t really understand your logic if you’re in that minority but I respect it. I also hope the rest of us are fawning over a video this time next week of the other outcome!

Speaking of doubts, I know I’ve dragged my heels on The Clash Cup – but I really think it’s worth continuing as we’ve had some good fun and discussions as a result. That will only heighten as we keep chopping down the number of remaining songs and the decisions become more difficult. If you nothing else about this process know this – all the songs are matched up at random – so you might have to kick out a song you love. Before the next pairing a review of our last result, I’m ashamed to say it was back in March (!!) but I’ve a partial excuse as the blog went to The Shetland Islands for six weeks being rebuilt. The two up for grabs were The Leader versus Every Little Bit Hurts – and The Leader won comfortably with 72.4% of the vote. Sandinista! lovers rejoice. Okay then enough fluff – I’ve visited the random number generator and picked today’s pairing. If I get my life together we’ll try and run the cup twice a week, allowing the players time to recover and train.

So dig into these two: Round Two Match Five

Jail Guitar Doors         versus         Police On My Back

That’s not easy is it? Most of the time I’m quite sure what to vote for and this isn’t one of those times. I’d hate to see either get knocked out here in Round Two – worth noting the best runners up will make the final 64, perhaps this will save the one with fewer votes. How do you pick? Listen to both (below) or maybe study your tea leaves.

Form:

Round 1 – Jail Guitar Doors defeated One Emotion – with an amazing 96% of the vote

Round 1 – Police On My Back defeated Hateful  – picking up 55% of the vote

Odds:

You might not want to trust the ClashBlog bookmaker or a prediction here as I’ve only been correct on 2 out of 4 this round. Considering the ‘fame’ of both tracks and I’m sure it will be very close. Seeing as Police.. beat Hateful I think it might have enough to see off Jail Guitar Doors. Then again earlier Clash songs seem to bring out the voters. I’m going to forecast Police On My Back although at long odds – perhaps by a vote or two.

Stuff:

Jail Guitar Doors isn’t your average early Clash number but has Mick really stamping his authority all over it with guitar. Arguably Joe’s barking 54-46….over the last 25 seconds outro make it one of the best endings to a Clash song. On the other hand Police on my Back has one of my favourite openings to any Clash song, if you ever wondered how powerful Topper was this one is like a machine, download some different live performances of this one.

As ever you can make your mind up in the privacy of your own cubicle but first have a final look at these. Your standard version of JGD is here but you might like the abbreviated (and very blurry) clip from Arms Aloft in Acton in 2007 with Mick Jones which is here. As for Police On My Back it has to be the clip with Joe’s intro and howling and of course his request for people to….STOP YAKKING!

Vote early, just the once and polls close in tandem with England’s World Cup bid…or sooner. Night….!

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