REAL STUFF - THE CLASH

"THE PERFECT
ANECTDOTE TO DISCO -
AND SHITTY 1970'S
SOUTHERN ROCK MUSIC"

What would my youth be without the friggen Clash? I adore the Clash. The same cannot be said for Murray Head and the Village People... dat be fo sho.

It has been said that when CBS signed the CLash the entire Punk Movement... what little there was of it had died. But then re-issues were only two decades away and that magical period of music was extended so other future generations could enjoy it.

I know what your thinking.. "Where is Elvis Costello when you don't need him... " I almost drowned in the hot tub when I heard him and Bruce Springsteen doing, "London Calling" at the music awards for Joe Strummers salute.

This is how the song should have been done -- the first time -- rude and crude on the docks. The place where this was filmed was near Mick Jones flat at the time he later said. That area now is a heavy hotbed for a lot of AIDS in England -- or at least it was a few years ago.

.... I hate to be a pop culture snob but is this where Americans get the line, "GO IT ALONE" from? I mean seriously. Did anyone use that statement a few years ago? Since when did that phrase have to be inserted into every scenario?

* Single Parent? (what are you nuts? are you going to go it alone?)

* Single Entrepreneur? ( what are you insane? are you going to go it alone?)
* Doing your taxes alone? ( are you nutzoid? are you going to go it alone? )

Get the picture? Sick of it already?

I don't get into Ellen, Oprah and Rosie-speak. Its enough to gag a maggot.

But this line... I believe came from this song to some extent. This was never a popular phrase in the 80's. I should know, I was in the 80's and I actually remember seeing this video when it was on telelvision in 1979.

Good crikey.

This band started to emerge its own sound by the time this came out. It hardly sounded like the early Clash from the original UK release. There are a couple of CRAPPY tunes on the first one at first glance. But it pays to listen to it again a few times. That entire album really makes good sense. In fact, there really isn't a bad song on it. The timing of the songs are very revolutionary for its time. Keep in mind that these guys went head to head with Andy Gibb on the radio.

By the time London Calling came out it was a classic. These albums didn't exactly fly off the record shelves at Karl Grafs like rock critics would have you believe. In fact the double albums sort of sat there and collected dust FOR YEARS.... seriously. And do you know why?

BECAUSE THE CLASH DIDN'T HAVE ANY FRIGGEN AIRPLAY IN NEW YORK RADIO IN 1979. Thanks to ABC network and that idiot announcer on Good Morning America he had kids and parents terrified of Punk Rock..... YOu know that guy .. David Hartman.

It worked on me. I was sort of afraid to listen to these guys. As a kid I had to cut lawns so investing in something like a double album from the Clash was like.. A BIG DEAL. Especially when all I had to go on was the news media and skeptical parents. All I had to go on was the albums artwork pretty much.

But it was worth it. ITS AN INSTANT CLASSIC.

I may not win a lot of friends here by saying that i thought the rendition with Elvis Costello blew chunks. But I think it did. Seriously.

This is the way it should be done. DO IT.

Cantu 2007, posted by ProfitSecrets at April 28, 10:30 pm in walled lake, MI

THE CLASH - LONDON CALLING

The video of The Clash performing London Calling. There are already similar videos on YouTube, but I think the sound on this one is slightly better, or at least louder. Hopefully there's some sort of improvement. The video is still the same except tha it doesn't include the opening shot of Big Ben.

You CAN Stop The Music

"Mayhem At The Chicago White Sox Stadium -- After The Mass Disco Record Burning The Entire Movement Collapsed Into A Smoldering Heap"

If you were honest with yourself -- you will have a memory or two of these yokels. They appeared in the club scene and really did come from the Village.... you know the one, you sinner.Their songs were gay codes, BUT WE ALL KNEW THIS.....

What is really funny, (if you can find this footage) is of the VP's appearances on mainstream American shows in the 70's. Bob Hope would have them on his variety shows and they would do really campy schtick. I liked how ABC and NBC would stick these guys, (gays?) in mainstream television shows where their campy demeanor was somewhat accepted and their real personas were simultaneously lost.

If you are really a treasure hunter and a culture junkie then you got to see their ill fated movie, "YOU CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC" with the untuous Steve Guttenberg. This flop also starred unfunny funnyman Bill Conty and Pete Rose and Bruce Jenner, (the guy who used to hawk Wheaties -- when he wasn't doing his day job.... Olympic Hopeful).

This movie bends, twists and turns and goes nowhere. Somewhere along the "plot" the... "boys" all end up on a pointless flight to a ... club? The movie ends with a concert. Don't forget the infamous "Milkshake" scene... very disturbing stuff. This movie was supposed to be the next GREASE and it was created by ... Alan Carr.

But this movie BOMBED BIG TIME.After punk rock imploaded there were serious mishaps all about. The Police became THE BIG SOUND, and so did THE CLASH, (more important than THE POLICE in my opinion) AND music held fast with CLASSIC ROCK.

Disco was heavily frowned upon. The idols were dying. Sid Vicious was dead. Keith Moon died too and in that short but brilliant time music shifted all over the place.MTV was coming up next.

The Village People, were not on that playlist.... (aw damn). The music scene opened up to THE DEAD KENNEDYS, BLACK FLAG and THE CIRCLE JERKS. Bob Hope continued on without the girls in boys clothing to the sounds of taped and live laughter. That magical time of 1978 -1979 was soon to be forgotten forever.

Still..... this video.....

IS PRETTY HYSTERICAL.

Cantu 2007

The Village People - Macho Man