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.

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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.

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