Good evening – Clash Cup Clash Cup….!!! Not much to report from the desert, work is busy (good) summer is waning (very good) and I’m lucky to have a roof over my head and food in the cupboard.  I’m actually getting excited as round one begins to near its conclusion, sorta anyway (another week or so) . There have been so many good songs exit already and looking at those remaining we’ve got some more difficult choices still to come. That last 64 is going to make for some sort of list.  4 more songs for your scrutiny tonight but prior to that results.

Street Parade defeats Stop The World          31 – 13

All The Young Punks defeats Shepherds Delight  42  -  2

No real shocks there…I’d put even money on Street Parade being the last Sandinista! song standing…I just have a feeling. Right then onto our next fantastic four courtesy of the random number machine (I’ve grown a bit attached to the ‘machine’)

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Cool Confusion - This track got the axe from the original Combat Rock sessions (Rat Patrol) and eventually surfaced on Super Black Market Clash. It’s an oddity as little reggae beat with some sound effects for good measure. I like the production of the vocals but there is no sign of a bass guitar anywhere on the song. Do you agree? One place you probably have heard it – the menu music on the Westway DVD.

Every Little Bit Hurts - Another cover version, this one insisted upon by Mick Jones during the recording of Sandinista! (this should have made the album in my mind). As for the original I’m guessing Mick’s mum had played it a lot – 1964 Motown track by Brenda Holloway. I’m a sucker for this song…so there.

Inoculated City – 2000 flushes! This song was perhaps my original favourite when I bought Combat Rock the week it was released. I liked the lyrics and the pace of the song – I’d recommend the original (longer) Rat Patrol version of the track. Great guitar line one of the most fun things Mick wrote in the late stages of the band. I believe this was the last track that Strummer/Jones wrote whilst in The Clash. I need evidence of that but it’s been said.

Deny - Something really old song to offset the track above and I’ve got passion for both…..I hate these decisions! This IS the oldest Jones track to be recorded by The Clash written at the very start of 1976 pre – Joe Strummer.

Mick Jones: “Chrissie Hynde probably helped with the end bit ‘what a liar’.

Thanks for all the voting in advance, this one has a Friday AM deadline so please click considerately.

Tim

Sorry for the delay…it’s a holiday weekend, I’ve had a lot of work on, it rained and I’m out of excuses. I have the best intentions with The Clash Cup being a daily feature and so far it’s been about 80% hit and 20% miss but I’ll do better if I can. I look forward to getting through the first round so we can see what we have left. We still have to determine the best ever Clash song and I need to report two songs we can now rule out:

The Prisoner defeated The Card Cheat 29 – 18

Last Gang in Town defeated Sound of The Sinners 28 – 18

Wow, some good support for both defeated songs and each stand an outside bet of staying in the cup which I can’t determine yet. I do see The Prisoner as a dark horse for the final 16. Now onto a new quartet – please get voting, I need to catch up so I’ll try and get a fresh four out at the end of the day also.

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Right then, one vote each and the deadline is Wednesday morning my time. Four very diverse and interesting random selections today and due to the even nature of the match ups I’m not sure what to expect. I do know Broadway has some support. A chance to read/hear more below so please digest and vote with a clear conscience.

The Harder They Come - Another cover version (Jimmy Cliff) that The Clash often used as a warm up. A reggae standard that I’ll never tire of, I was searching for Clash audio on this but had to settle for this sensational version by Joe Strummer. This was apparently the song The Clash were considering for the debut until Police and Thieves was chosen.

Living In Fame - This is just a superb song featuring the late Mikey Dread. Referencing the Selecter, The Specials, Madness and The Beat and explaining to the other bands that The Clash are the band to follow. Such a great song and in historical context it predates rap in terms of dissing the competition.

Do It Now - This was the b-side to the last really good moment by The Clash – This is England. I’ve not listened to it for a long time, its like nearly good. Two songs in one…verses are good, and it mentions Arsenal. Choruses are awful, drumming is pretty electronic but I like Joe’s delivery. Probably my second favourite song after Mick was removed from the band. (not that it makes for fierce competition)

Broadway - I need to check but this might be the longest (5:49) Clash song that wasn’t an extended version, and I love every second of it. Lyrics are amongst Joe’s best and it’s a song that just builds and builds. I look forward to this remaning in the Cup and writing about it at more length. One of those songs that you just have to sing along (badly) with, “I can see the light”

Get voting, will be in touch soon -T

Good Evening! It’s time for more of the struggle for a Clash summit – first time here? Every 24 hours or so Clash songs are voted on until we get to a final 16,8,4,2 and then the title of the best Clash song ever….easy! Tonight 4 amazing tracks are set against one another but before that some results.

Career Opportunities over I’m So Bored With The USA 37 – 13

White Riot over Silicone on Sapphire 48 – 5

First result really shocked me, not that the winner was Career Opps but the margin of victory was so pronounced. The second result was significant in that White Riot had the biggest winning spread so far. Four more to select from and you have until Monday morning to vote.

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Some big guns on deck and sadly some have to go….unless best runner up applies. Notes and audio links follow as usual.

Listen - An early track that eventually surfaced on Super Black Market Clash. The track was played at their first ever live appearance in Sheffield in 1976, apparently it was the first song Mick taught Paul although I’m not sure if that is simply folklore. Not a track that I expect will survive as it’s up against:

Lost in The Supermarket – Another standout track from London Calling and as atypical a Clash song as you can imagine, not that this fact diminishes from its quality at all.  Famous for being Joe’s gifted lyrics to Jones as he tried to picture his childhood (though he sung the track Jones dismissed any accuracy apart from the obsession with records). This is a track that will either squeak to the final 16 or fall out much earlier than I expect.

Revolution Rock - One of those songs that spread the vote for seeding songs on London Calling as a few people had it in their top 10. Brass, keyboards and a reggae beat all elements that expanded the diversity of perhaps the best Clash album ever (according to most critics at least – depends when you ask me). I do still love this song as its so loose and Strummer’s vocal performance is just stunning – “Can’t you feeeel it, don’t ignore it”

One More Dub - It’s sister song One More Time made the protected sixteen list so can this come through and upset the track above? If I had to choose a dark horse this would be it. Probably the greatest example of the Clash moving into legitimate dub territory. You’ll have to forward to 3:40 on the clip I found, or have a better time by listening to the entire thing. Guest toasting by Mikey Dread.

Thanks for voting, we’re now more than halfway through round one. If my predictions are right round two will commence round about Sep 20.

Tim