So what was your first encounter with ‚Garageland‘? Listening to the radio as a teenager?
I got a copy of the first Clash album in 1979 from a record shop in Edinburgh called GI Records, aged 11. My dad had done some work for the owner and payment was made to him in vinyl. Which meant that my sisters and I all had three records each to choose from the stock. I can’t remember what my sisters chose, but the three I selected were The Ramones “It’s Alive,“ The Skids „Scared To Dance,“ and the self titled Clash album. At the time we lived in a Scottish newtown called Livingston. In later life you realise that all newtowns are built in three stages, which are in the following order of building houses, attracting people and offering jobs. We moved there in ‘78 in between stage 1 and stage 2. This meant that unemployment was high and the youth were left disenfranchised. Like most newtowns it was badly designed and architecturally awash with concrete grey. Punk seemed like a natural rebellion against the injustices imposed on the youth of Livingston and had a massive following there. A local punk band called On Parole used to cover it and I suppose it became ingrained in my consciousness from that. I saw them live for the first time in 1979. I’ve always liked the sentiments of the lyrics, of standing up against selling out and of doing things for yourself.
Have you ever heard something like it before, or was this your first experience with Punk?
I was aware of punk in 1977, but I was too busy kicking a football about and chasing girls at the time. One of the first records I bought in 1978 was „Denis“ by Blondie, unfortunately the other two were „The Smurf Song“ and the Official Scottish World Cup Song of 1978. I bought these whilst I was living in Nottinghamshire just before we moved to Livingston, Scotland. There was no escaping punk in Livingston.
I have to ask this question. Why The Clash, and not The Sex Pistols?
The Sex Pistols released one proper studio album in 1977 and then Rotten left. They were never the same after that, although the cash-in albums were hugely influential at the time of release. The Clash on the other hand released six studio albums in their existence. They matured with each album, apart from „Cut The Crap“. The one regret that I have is that I didn’t see them at the time. If I had to choose between the Pistols and the Clash it would have to be the Clash every day of the week.
„Garageland“ was published as last song of their debut album. Did you like the album as a whole, or is this their standout track?
The first album is filled with classic song after classic song. From the opening with „Janie Jones“ to „Garageland“ it’s all thrillers with no fillers. How can you not like an album that’s as strong as this! Read the rest of this entry »
The D.H.S. gives the dance the D.H.S. treatment, in a punky reggae fashion.
The D.H.S. rules the dance.
Seen?!
Scritti Politti – The Sweetest Girl The Flying Lizards – Ash And Diamond Au Pairs – Headache Colourbox – Baby I Love You So The Beat – Drowning The Special AKA – Racist Friend The Specials – Ghost Town UB40 – Food For Thought A.R. Kane – Catch My Drift Grace Jones – She’s Lost Control The Clash – Armagideon Time Kid Creole & The Coconuts – Schweinerei The Flying Lizards – The Window The Raincoats- No Ones Little Girl The Bodysnatchers – Too Experienced Orange Juice – Flesh Of My Flesh Colourbox – Shotgun World Domination Enterprises – Asbestos Lead Asbestos XTC – Dance With Me, Germany Wayne County And The Electric Chairs – C3 The Selecter – The Dream Goes On Gang Of Four – Woman Town Material – Ciquri Czukay/Liebezeit/Wobble – Where’s The Money Madness – Yesterday’s Men Patrick Cowley & Jorge Socarras – Burn Brighter Flame A Certain Ratio – Funaezekea Steel An’ Skin – Afro Punk Reggae Dub Dislocation Dance – Show Me 400 Blows – Black And White Mix Up Pere Ubu – Humor Me Young Marble Giants – Eating Noddemix Sad Lovers & Giants – Sleep (Is For Everyone) The Cure – All Cats Are Grey
Gun Club – Sex Beat Buzzcocks – What Do I Get? The Messerschmitt Twins – Sleeping With The Radio On Joe Jackson – Steppin’ Out Thrash! – Time Will Tell Madness – Sign Of The Times The Divine Comedy – Your Daddy’s Car The Cure – Close To Me The Alljacks – Guilty Makin’ Time – Scarlet Sky Haircut One Hundred – Fantastic Day Aztec Camera – All I Need Is Everything Propaganda – Duel Veronika Fischer – Dann Ist Liebe Ein Teufelskreis Pulp – My Legendary Girlfriend Culture Club – Church Of The Poison Mind Fehlfarben – Tag Und Nacht Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Plan B / I’ll Show You Richard Ashcroft – A Song For The Lovers Blumfeld – In Der Wirklichkeit The Smiths – Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before The Go-Betweens – Head Full Of Steam Julian Cope – Bill Drummond Said The Chrysanthemums – Bullshit The Prisoners – Whenever I’m Gone Mission Of Burma – Dirt That Petrol Emotion – Can’t Stop The Wedding Present – My Favourite Dress The Undertones – Teenage Kicks Orange Juice – Felicity Phoenix – Too Young Commercial Breakup – Holding On Everything But The Girl – Each And Every One The Clash – Lover’s Rock
Despite the demolition of most of its former playgrounds, the legacy of the classic era of European punkfunkateers remains indestructible. The Druffalo Hit Squad was actually raised on a diet of edgy dancing, nervous drinking, and romantic industrialism. As we move to the vicious dub, panic horn sections, flat snares, slap basslines and vigorous chants like we used to, we press record. Now you press play…
23 Skidoo – Coup (Illuminated) The Flying Lizards – A-Train (Virgin) The Wolfgang Press – Assassination K. (4AD) Kazino – Binary (Carrere) A Certain Ratio – Mickey Way (Factory) Shriekback – My Spine (Is The Bassline) (Y Records) Thompson Twins – In The Name Of Love (T Records) ABC – Tears Are Not Enough (Neutron) Gabi Delgado – Amor (Virgin) Simple Minds – Theme For Great Cities (Virgin) The Raincoats – Animal Rhapsody (Version) (Rough Trade) 400 Blows – Return Of The Dog (Illuminated Records) Futura 2000 Feat. The Clash – The Escapades Of Futura 2000 (Celluloid) Ian Dury & The Blockheads – Reasons To Be Cheerful Pt. 3 (Stiff Records) Modern Romance – Can You Move (Midnight Mix) (Atlantic) Haircut 100 – Ski Club Of Great Britain (Arista) Medium Medium – So Hungry, So Angry (Intercord) Fehlfarben – Dollars + Deutschmarks (Special Dance Version) (Welt-Rekord) The Members – Chairmen Of The Board (Dance Mix) (Arista) Quando Quango – Love Tempo (Factory) Spandau Ballet – Chant No. 1 (Chrysalis) Clock DVA – Breakdown (Remix) (Polydor) Gang Of Four – At Home He’s A Tourist (EMI) Czukay/Wobble/Liebezeit – How Much Are They? (Welt-Rekord) The Slits – I Heard It Through The Grapevine (Island Records) Marianne Faithfull – Why D’ya Do It (Island Records) Colourbox – Look Like We’re Shy One Horse (Virgin) The Specials – Friday Night Saturday Morning (2 Tone)
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