Hello, sorry for skipping a day it was one of those weekends which has now become one of those weeks but we’ve got a Clash Cup to decide. If this is your first visit to the Blog it’s really simple – basically every Clash recording ever was thrown into a random number machine and we vote for songs every day. It’s still round one so welcome aboard and join the voting further down the page. Before that I need to recap some results we’ve got in and both were really close which is a bit tense as some of you will be let down. Still loads of time to settle your differences by way of new selections starting today.

Every Little Bit Hurts defeats Cool Confusion 20  -  14

Inoculated City defeats Deny 19  -  15

I had a feeling that these would be a hard pick and so it proved but it does add two more unexpected songs to the final 64 (coming soon).  The next four are not that much easier to determine so be sure you vote as each one will matter links and comments below:

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Brand New Cadillac - As London Calling fades out as the opening title track everyone knows the next 2 minutes are this classic cover of Vince Taylor. If one song signals the changes that the Clash had in store for their third album this was the one. Not the first time (nor the last) that a Clash cover version we create it’s own identity of a song rather than just going through the motions. Topper’s drumming is again just superb.

Ghetto Defendant - I know it’s personal preference but again I prefer the extended version from the Rat Patrol Sessions. One of the more experimental tracks by the band it of course features guest narrative by poet Allen Ginsberg which was a coup at the time.

I’m Not Down – I rank this as perhaps one of my favourite Mick Jones’ vocal performances. It’s funny the way you end up associating the lyrics (incorrectly) with whether Mick, Joe or Paul but this has always been the case for me. As such it’s a Mick song and an uplifting one at that. As a teen I played this one to death as it helped me get through the usual teenage drama with a small ‘d’.

Version Pardner – This is the dub partner to Junco Partner and it will be interesting to see if it fares any better than the song that spawned it. I thought Junco Partner might scrape to the final 32 but it lost in it’s original pairing. So will these two pairings signify another sweep for London Calling?

Please vote for your choices and check back for results, deadline is Thursday morning. Thanks!~

Evening all, our determined march to find the best ever Clash song marches on. We’ve sent over 30 songs to the suburbs and are getting closer to our final 64. Voting daily you help me decide which Clash song proceeds onward to the next round – I’ve got a fresh 4 to share in a minute and will include extra information beneath but first some earlier results. If this is your first visit to the blog get involved – we need your votes too!

Living in Fame defeats The Harder They Come 19  -  18

Broadway defeats Do It Now 32  -  3

That first result was exciting to watch as Living in Fame was trailing by a vote or two almost right til the end. It’s the tightest match up we’ve seen so far and was that close to ending all square.  In the other contest, it really wasn’t one was it? Right four new ones – cast your eyes below (click on titles for audio):

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Cheat - Something from the early days to get your teeth into. A late addition to the debut album and a song that was recorded on the last weekend session. Fast frantic and full of the speed induced energy

Overpowered By Funk - Another Combat Rock song and so far I’ve seen mixed (mostly weak) results from CR tracks. This seems to be a Clash song that brings out love or hate from most fans. I’ve changed my mind a few times over the years but it was an innovative idea for 1982. I still enjoy Topper’s percussion on this an awful lot.

This Is England - I clearly remember this single coming out, and although the sleeve was a bit tacky and I’d decided this was blasphemy due to the lack of Mick Jones this was a decent song, better than decent really. The electronic drums were a detraction but Joe sounded good and I even raised my expectations for the forthcoming album. That was short lived as Cut the Crap was a travesty in Clash terms.

Version City - This song probably needed an easier draw than the one above to get through to the next round. That said my ‘prediction rate’ for this round has probably been about 80% so there are shocks to be seen. I actually have a hard time describing this song so just click and play.

Thanks for your votes – you’ve got until Tuesday am to sort these four out.

Tim

Hello everyone, we’re nearly there as round one is almost complete. Enjoy the next few days of voting because beginning next week I can almost guarantee that every decision will be a lot more difficult. If you’re new to the blog, for the last 3 weeks we’ve been voting on Clash songs in a knockout ‘cup’ format. Song with the most votes continues and the loser is vanquished. We’ve had to say so long to some great songs but only 64 tracks can make the really interesting stages. For today we’ve got some earlier results now official and both were very one-sided:

Lost in the Supermarket defeats Listen 34 – 2

Revolution Rock defeats One More Dub 32 – 5

So a very good day for London Calling, with a few bouts still to go I make it that at least 10 Tracks from the masterpiece will make the final 64 and at least 5 have yet to be voted on. So maybe 16 of 19 can go through! For now though I turn your attention to the random number generator for a fresh foursome of Clash platters to be reviewed. As always links and comments will follow, your deadline for voting is overnight Sat/Sun.

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

Are You Ready? - I’ve linked on purpose to the original demo version from November 1983 which is very different from the recording that appeared on Cut The Crap. The demo isn’t great but it’s a defined upgrade on the eventual version that surfaced. Based on the sequence of events this would have been one of the earliest tracks recorded without Mick Jones and featuring his two replacements. This almost sounds like a Clash song, not a good Clash song mind you. Maybe I didn’t get enough sleep….

Julie’s Been Working For The Drug Squad – This on the other hand does sound like a Clash song although very unlike anything on the debut album. This version is a GTER demo which is radically different to the song you know. No piano so the song is driven along by horns and a saxaphone solo. A real skiffle and shambling song, I can only image this was recorded before the producer had his say.

Rebel Waltz -One of the songs that made me wonder should I try and learn bass rather than guitar. In the end I did nothing til I was much older (fool) but the bass line is really majestic. A fine fine vocal performance by Joe Strummer and I’m fascinated to see how the song fares in the voting to follow.

Something About England – This is definitely in my personal top 20 Clash songs. Lyrically one of the most ambitous songs that Strummer wrote with The Clash. The roles played by Mick and Joe are so diverse that it makes the song a magical event (Joe IS the old man). One of those songs that I’ll forever associate with wandering around Piccadilly and Leicester square as a 16 year old in the rain, no money to spend and just observing London. I can’t listen to it and not feel that I’m anywhere other than near Soho waiting for my sister to finish work and drinking a can of strongbow while listening to the Clash on my walkman. You can play this song to me every day and I’d listen to the whole thing gladly. I miss London.

Vote vote vote….thanks as always.