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

Here we are again, one of the few times where you can put complete faith in democracy. The only requirement is that you be a Clash fan and have an interest in helping the blog determine the best Clash songs of all time. If it’s your first visit – it couldn’t be easier – we started with over 160 Clash songs and at random they compete against each other. One vote per visitor per pairing and the winners continue til we reach the last 16. This is still round one (nearly complete) and you’ll see the round of 64 kick off next week. For now though some results must be reviewed with you:

Tommy Gun defeats Wrong ‘em Boyo 31  -   14

1977 defeats Dirty Punk 44  –   1

No shocks there really as Tommy Gun rolls on but by a narrower margin that I’d have guessed. Who voted for Dirty Punk? Was it intentional? Right then let’s see what the next four look like – as ever more info is below and I look forward to your very careful use of your mouse.

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

Three Card Trick – It is another moment of post Mick Clash we have to assess. In terms of ‘respect’ it’s one of the few from Cut The Crap that seems to have a few fans. I’m not one of them but to be fair it’s not a dreadful song. That said it won’t win.

48 Hours - One of those songs that takes me right back to my first hearing of the song as a 12 year old. After my first Clash exposure in late ’78 to GTER being able to get the debut album immediately thereafter was nirvana for me. Needless to say 12 months later London Calling was released – no wonder I was a Clash devotee. 48 hours – all the evidence needed that a song can clock in at under 1:50 and still be immaculate.

Lose This Skin - Guest vocals by old Strummer cohort Tymon Dogg make this track as atypical of a Clash song as it gets. As a kid I’d tell my non-clash friends that the vocals were by the geyser from Rush, it worked a treat. Musically it was a rollercoaster of styles and brilliant drumming. A song that will make a non-Clash fan guess for hours – still a great party trick I enjoy. It did get a revival with Joe and The Mescaleros also!

Time Is Tight - When it comes to cover versions were The Clash lucky or simply genius? Not sure but on recorded evidence a bit of both. Here’s a song that they couldn’t even imprint with the vocal styling of Mick and Joe and still it’s just magnificent. I think it’s one of my favourite Clash songs for the car. Original was of course by Booker T and the MG’s – if you saw the Clash perform the song live you might be lying or a statistical rarity as they apparently only ever played it once.

So there you have it – 4 songs that we must slice down to 2. You have until Sunday morning to make your decisions for which I thank you in advance.

Tim

The Clash Cup is back and we’ll now try and stay on schedule. We are down to the very last week of round one now. 56 Songs from this round will join 8 that were ‘runner up seeds’ to make up the next 64 for round two. I try and find the time but the research and linking all takes time that has been a bit thing on the ground the last week or two. The competition for best Clash song ever is going to get a bit tasty in the next round. I’ve got 4 new songs to be voted for today and also a quick summary of some earlier results, so let me take care of that first.

Brand New Cadillac defeats Ghetto Defendant 30  -  16

I’m Not Down defeats Version Pardner 44  -  6

So another clean sweep for London Calling. It is almost ominous how well the London Calling tracks have performed in this round, it’s hard to find consistent views on the best 3 or 4 tracks on the album and as a result everything seems to get good support. Ghetto Defendant might have just missed polling enough votes to stay alive at this stage. Now on to another 4, give them consideration and if you remain uncertain you can listen to them below or read a bit more.

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

Ivan Meets G.I. Joe - The Clash have their Ringo moment as Topper takes his turn on lead vocals. As a kid I wondered how the song would sound with Mick or Joe on vocals and I still do. Best thing about this song? The cartoon that accompanied it in the booklet that came with the album. Until I heard it live from Bonds recently (check the link). Topper sounded better live for some reason.

The Equaliser - This is a Classic. I loved this song immediately when I bought Sandinista! and nothing has changed in the years since. The whole atmosphere of the song and the recurring bass line is magic to these ears. Did the US version of the album spell it properly or with a ZED ? Just wondering.

City Of The Dead - I love Joe’s venom as he spits out the lyrics on this overlooked B-Side. He just sounds brilliant and the offsetting by Mick’s gentle ooh ooh is majestic. A great song with great lyrics that still sounds fresh today, but does the saxaphone add or detract?

Freedom Train - I searched high and low and although I’ve heard this before on a tape YEARS ago I think I can’t find it for you. It was one of the session songs from Sandinista! that didn’t make the album but one of the most laid back Clash songs I’ve heard. I think it was a cover of a country song but my research was beaten by it being pulled out on the random number machine.

As ever I now need your votes to see which song remains. I make it 14 more songs to be voted on so by Saturday we’ll wrap up the final 64! Thanks in advance.