Friday Fun – Have Smartphone’s Gone Too Far?

“Silent Telephone” – The 101ers

Suzy, where are you?
I was living just for loving just from you
Suzy, you used to lay me down
but the ragged wind blows me through the town

in and out the pubs with my cigarette,
my face dont recieve me till my back gets wet
have all my dreams come down to this?

standing by a silent telephone, me and bakerlite all alone

Now the city seems to be a hive of bees
I lost my chance dancing on my knees
The cops are making me look all around,
but my legs will always beat the ground

After we’ve packed up and the boys have all gone home,
my brain’s still racing but my body’s all alone.
Have all my dreams come down to this?

Standing by a silent telephone,
me and bakerlite all alone

Suzy, where are you?
I was living just for loving just from you
Suzy, you think im stepping out
but one look at my face will kill your doubts

Midnight on the clock and the door didnt knock,
the dawn begins to sing but my phone dont ring.
have all my dreams come down to this?

standing by a silent telephone, me and bakerlite all alone

To buy the music of The 101ers click HERE

Cover Story – Dub Be Good To Me

Beats International was an electronic music band, formed in the late 1980s by Norman Cook (also known as Fatboy Slim), after his departure from The Housemartins.

A loose confederation of musicians, the line-up also included vocalists Lindy Layton, Lester Noel, rappers D.J. Baptiste (The crazy MC), MC Wildski and keyboardist Andy Boucher. Unusually, the band’s live line-up also incorporated a graffiti artist, who would paint designs on a backdrop while the musicians played.

Their first album, Let Them Eat Bingo spawned the UK number one single “Dub Be Good to Me”, a re-working of the S.O.S. Band’s hit “Just Be Good to Me”, based around a sample of the bassline from The Clash’s “Guns of Brixton” and featuring Layton on vocals.

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The latest release in the BBC Radio 2 Saturday Sessions CD’s features a back to basic cover version by The Ting Tings

“Dub Be Good To Me” – The Ting Tings

To buy the music of The Ting Tings click HERE

Ellen Foley

Recently I posted using The Clash song “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” and at the time I thought that I must post about Ellen Foley, the link being that she was at that time in a relationship with Mick Jones from The Clash and she was the “inspiration” for the song given that their relationship was at the time going through a sticky spell.

She first gained high public recognition singing the duet with Meat Loaf on the hit single “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” from the 1977 album Bat out of Hell.

Although Karla DeVito is featured on the music video, DeVito is lip synching to Foley’s vocals.

Her debut album Night Out with the hit single “What’s a Matter Baby”, was released in 1979 and was produced by Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson, Ian Hunter being another musician with whom she had a relationship.

Here from the album is her version of The Stones “Stupid Girl” as performed in 1980 on The Kenny Everett Show

Foley recorded a memorable duet with Ian Hunter in 1980, “We Gotta Get Outta Here”.

Her creative relationship with Hunter also led her to singing backing vocals on the Iron City Houserockers’ 1980 album Have a Good Time but Get out Alive!, produced by Hunter, Ronson, and The E Street Band’s Steven Van Zandt.

She can also be heard on The Clash album Sandinista!, released in 1980, in the songs “Hitsville UK” and “Corner Soul”, and on the unreleased track “Blonde Rock ‘n’ Roll”.

“Hitsville UK” – The Clash

All four members of The Clash appeared on her second album The Spirit of St. Louis in 1981, and Mick Jones and Joe Strummer co-wrote a number of songs for the album. Jones also produced the album, which also featured members of The Blockheads.

Here is the opening track from the album

Ellen Foley lives in the Upper West Side of Manhattan and continues an active career in music and has appeared on Broadway in such shows as Me and My Girl and the revival of Hair and off-Broadway in Beehive.

She originated the role of The Witch in Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego, but was replaced by Bernadette Peters before the play reached New York. She eventually reprised the role by appearing on Broadway herself.

Her best known television acting role is the role of Billie Young on Night Court for one season (1984-85) after which she was succeeded by Markie Post as Christine Sullivan.

She had parts in Miloš Forman’s 1979 film adaptation of the stage musical Hair, as well as the films Cocktail, Fatal Attraction and Married to the Mob.

To buy the music of Ellen Foley click HERE

To buy the music of The Clash click HERE

Should I Stay Or Should I Go

The above song hit a big note with me in the autumn of 1982 when it was regularly played at Akram’s night club, St Mary’s Way, Dumbarton.

My long standing girlfriend of the time had gone off on holiday with her friend to give us some “space” the lyrics to the song perfectly captured my doubts about the relationship which was without doubt at a crossroads.

In the end despite several pints of strong lager and slow dance snog with some girl at the end of the night and against my better judgement I decided the answer was “stay”.

By November she decided it was “go”, she did return seven years later and we were married, six years later she was off again this time for good, somtimes you should always go with the head not the heart.

Another crossroad looms ahead, yet again I remain unsure but I will need to reach a conclusion soon.

Oh yeeeeeaaaaah

Wooh!

Darling you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?
If you say that you are mine
I’ll be here ’til the end of time
So you got to let me know
Should I stay or should I go?

Always tease tease tease
You’re happy when I’m on my knees
One day is fine, next day is black
So if you want me off your back
Well come on and let me know
Should I stay or should I go?

Should I stay or should I go now?
Should I stay or should I go now?
If I go there will be trouble
An’ if I stay it will be double
So come on and let me know!

This indecision’s bugging me
Esta indecision me molesta
If you don’t want me, set me free
Si no me quieres, librame
Exactly who’m I’m supposed to be
Dime que tengo que ser
Don’t you know which clothes even fit me?
¿sabes que ropas me quedan?
Come on and let me know
Me tienes que decir
Should I cool it or should I blow?
¿me debo ir o quedarme?

Split!
Yo me enfrio o lo sufro

Should I stay or should I go now?
yo me enfrio o lo sufro
Should I stay or should I go now?
yo me enfrio o lo sufro
If I go there will be trouble
Si me voy – va a haber peligro
And if I stay it will be double
Si me quedo es doble
So you gotta let me know
Pero me tienes que decir
Should I cool it or should I go?
yo me enfrio o lo sufro

Should I stay or should I go now?
yo me enfrio o lo sufro
If I go there will be trouble
Si me voy – va a haber peligro
And if I stay it will be double
Si me quedo es doble
So you gotta let me know
Pero me tienes que decir
Should I stay or should I go?

“Should I Stay or Should I Go” is a song by  The Clash, from their album Combat Rock.

It was written in 1981 and featured Mick Jones on lead vocals. It became the band’s only number-one single, a decade after it was originally released after being used in a jeans commercial.

In November 2004, it was ranked at 228 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

 In 2009 it was ranked 42nd on VH1’s program 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs.

The tune leans towards more of a retro punk rock sound than most of the other tracks on the album. Though many legends have arisen about what the song is about (one of which is Jones’ impending dismissal from the Clash in 1983), it is actually about a rocky personal relationship between Jones and singer Ellen Foley that would soon implode. The lyrics seem to reflect ups and downs concerning the relationship and the dilemma of sticking with or ending it.

The Spanish backing vocals are courtesy of Joe Strummer:

“	On the spur of the moment I said ‘I’m going to do the backing vocals in Spanish,’…We needed a translator so Eddie Garcia, the tape operator, called his mother in Brooklyn Heights and read her the lyrics over the phone and she translated them. But Eddie and his mum are Ecuadorian, so it’s Ecuadorian Spanish that me and Joe Ely are singing on the backing vocals.	”
—Joe Strummer, 1991

Friday Fun – How To Fail The Breathalizer

“Police On My Back” – The Equals

Well I’m running, police on my back
I’ve been hiding, police on my back
There was a shooting, police on my back
And the victim well he wont come back

I been running Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Runnin Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Saturday Sunday
What have I done?
What have I done?

Yes, I’m running down the railway track
Could you help me? Police on my back
They will catch me if I dare drop back
Wont you give me all the speed I lack

I been running Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Runnin Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Saturday Sunday
What have I done?
What have I done?

I’m running
‘M Running
Running

I’m running down the railway track
Could you help me? Police on my back
They will catch me if I dare drop back
Wont you help me find the speed I lack

I been running Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Runnin Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Saturday Sunday

What have I done?
What have I done?

Cos I’m running (police on my back)
Hiding (police on my back)
Running (police on my back)
Hiding (police on my back)

I’m running down the railway track
Could you help me? Police on my back
They will catch me if I dare drop back
they will kill me for the speed I lack

I’ve been running
I’ve been running

To buy the music of The Equals click HERE

Friday Fun – Wee Weans 1

“Stupid Thing” – Paul Quinn & The Independant Group

“The Fool On The Hill” – Stone The Crows

Gorillaz

Cartoon group Gorillaz have spoken out on their recent collaboration with two founding members of The Clash.

Gorillaz were formed by Blur singer Damon Albarn and award winning cartoonist Jamie Hewlett. With a cast like that, it’s somewhat surprising to read that the band have indulged in serial collaborations.

However, when their new album ‘Plastic Beach’ contains Bobby Womack, Mark E Smith and members of The Clash it’s perhaps somewhat understandable. Speaking to The Guardian, cartoon star Murdoc revealed that The Clash are a huge inspiration for the group.

“For me the Clash were atomic, they were like what the scientists are doing at CERN in Geneva, smashing 800m protons into each other to recreate the events at the beginning of time” he revealed.

“Getting those two back together was like recreating the beginning of it all. ‘Clampdown’, ‘Safe European Home’, ‘Bankrobber’ and ‘Train In Vain’ are all in my desert island discs, the ones I sailed to my own plastic beach. I used my Jan Hammer records as a paddle when I lost my oar, so obviously they don’t mean as much to me.”

Continuing, the Gorillaz star mused on fact that the two group hail from the same area of London. “It is west London to the power of three: Paul Simonon and Mick Jones on a Gorillaz track recorded near Ladbroke Grove is denser than a dying sun” Murdoc claimed.

“Like the Clash, Gorillaz are a definitively west London band but one with a global international outlook. The Clash were chucking in punk, reggae, calypso, dub, rap, rockabilly. Gorillaz don’t really do rockabilly, but the rest is all in there”.

“Plastic Beach” – Gorillaz

Read the ClashMusic review of ‘Plastic Beach’ HERE.

New Music – Carbon/Silicon

Mick Jones has made the fourth album from Carbon/Silicon available as a free download via the band’s website this week (November 14).

The band, whom the former Clash man formed with Sigue Sigue Sputnik‘s Tony James are renowned for publishing their material online for free, and latest album ‘The Carbon Bubble’ is available to download now.

Download your copy of the album here: CarbonSiliconInc.com

‘The Carbon Bubble’ track list is:

‘Fresh Start’
‘What’s Up Doc?’
‘Reach For The Sky’
‘The Best Man’
‘Unbeliebable Pain’
‘Make It Alright’
‘PartyWorld’
‘Shadow’
‘Don’t Taser Me Bro!’
‘That’s As Good As It Gets’
‘DisUnited Kingdom’
‘Believe Or Leave’

Latest music and film news on Uncut.co.uk

Here is one of my favourite tracks

“Shadow” – Carbon/Silicon

The Clash live on…………………………………in part

Vince Taylor

I first came across Vince Taylor via The Clash cover version of “Brand New Cadillac” which appeared on their brilliant “London Calling” album.

Brand New Cadillac

 

The new Dancer Mobile finally arrived yesterday almost a week late, I am missing the old “Ranger” like mad but believe that some good times will be had with the “Rav”.

As you can see below the dugs aren’t too certain, for them it is like down sizing from a four bedroom villa to a room and kitchen.