h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Good idea.....how do you wanna do it?

Just read the up-date. Can,t really add much to the albums review, seems pretty complete - all i can offer would be personal memories!

Count me in, please...

The plan for tonight was to enjoy the Peter & the Test Tube Babies-gig tonight here in Frankfurt/Germany... as on every 23rd 12th of the year. Away from that I have to work tomorrow I couldn't believe what I heard...

The entry as it stands is here: A905744 any comments additions or corrections welcome.

You write it i'll paste it in.

I was thinknig of maybe doing satelite entries for the albums, or at least The Clash and London Calling - with a track by track commentary. If you fancy taking the reigns of one of those feel free. (In fact i don't have a copy of London Calling anymore, so i'm not in the best position to write anything about it).

Sounds good.

If I could do a review of "Give 'em enough Rope" ?

A lot of people don't like it but it's one of my faves!
It'll have to wait a couple of days though!

Flinch + Skugga...... have a good Xmas.

See ya

Yeah, it's bloody great isn't it! So overlooked. I really like Sandanista too - yeah it sprewls a bit, but i sometimes think no-one has listened so it for 20 years, it really improves with age. Especially when you look at the political sentiments being expressed and the use of rhythm over melody (which is all we get in the charts these days).

As does (dare i say it) Cut the Crap, those flawed rap experiments were incomprhensible then but its a form we understand now, and the Clash aren't necissarily the band to do it, but it's not THAT bad.

I've written a tad about each of the albums already, i'll post it in this thread so you can use any of it if you want.

*flicks through her records* I still have The Clash and London Calling... hope I will have the time to write a bit - we'll visit my fiancees mother tomorrow and the day after, and I have to work again on friday...

Here's what i've written so far about the second album - i haven't even tried talking about the songs, the recording and what inspired them - so it's obvoiusly massively lacking in that department.


* * * * * * *

Give 'Em Enough Rope - (1978 – CBS 82431)

The Clash’s second album, mostly written on a two weeks bbreak in Jamaca is perhaps their most "forgotten" album, but also one which is prehaps most typical.

Following the ‘weak’ sound of their first album The Clash's second release was produced by american Sandy Pearlman, former member of Blue Oyster Cult. Pearlman gave Give 'Em Enough Rope sound that was both powerful and crisp, a high performance production wich was in many was the antithesis of the Punk DIY ethic.

With the shambolic disinegration of the sex pistols The Clash became the defacto standard bearers of Punk – and their association with a US rock producer was seen as selling out to the US by many UK fans, and the album got very mixed reviews from sniffy and purist critics Nevertheless the record became a massive hit in Britain, going straight in at number two in the charts.

Safe European Home
English Civil War
Tommy Gun
Julie's Been Working For The Drug Squad
Last Gang In Town
Guns On The Roof
Drug Stabbing Time
Stay Free
Cheapskates
All The Young Punks (New Boots and Contracts)

CBS hoped this album would break the American market - that didn't happen — the album peaked at 128 on the US charts in the spring of 1979 U.S. audiences were ill-prepared for the Clash in 1978 - the U.S. version of album was resequenced and replaced "All the Young Punks (New Boots and Contracts)" with "That's No Way To Spend Your Youth." But sales can’t have been helped by the cover. The cover of this album appeared to show a dead cowboy being picked over by vultures as the Chinese Red Army march past red flags unfurled.

I have the Clash, Give 'Em Enough Rope and London Calling so am here if you need a hand. Also have 'This is Video Clash' (got it in Oxfam)

What do you all think about setting up a special page on h2g2 dedicated to punk, where people can get together for a nice informal chat? The h2g2 Vegetarian Society and Musicans' Guild have both been very successful, and now that there are more punk fans posting, do you think a special page would be a good idea? I know it's been mentioned in other threads before...

Good idea, do we have to apply for this somewhere?

I'll start writing some kind of 'h2g2 Punk Community' page tomorrow which will hopefully centralise conversation a bit more. Am about to get quite drunk, work on our zine and watch 80s zombie-horror movies now, so I'm a bit pushed for time

gimme a shout then...

Going back a bit - Working with Sandy Pearlman gave Mick Jones the experience and confidence, that resulted in his production work with Guy Stevens making "London Calling" the album it is.

I was lucky enough to have a couple of drinking sessions with Topper and Paul in '78 (That's what came about if you lurked in Camden! ) and as Strummers words were never the clearest, I asked what the bloody hell some of the words were!

Safe European Home - This was about European influences destroying the Jamacian way of life , a storming opening song, this was a powerful start to the album.

English Civil War - based around the old tune of "When Johnny comes Marching Home", this dealt with the fear of civil liberty being slowly taken away.

Tommy Gun - A warning about gun control, this started with Toppers memorable machine gun drums!

Julie's Been Working For The Drug Squad - This dealt with "Operation Julie" a huge drugs bust in Wales that made all the press. Featuring Strummer on piano, the tune was a poppy affair that was an indication that the Clash could deliver more than just 3 chord blasts!

Last Gang In Town - No idea? anyone?

Guns On The Roof - Not about Topper & Paul shooting pigeons on a Camden rooftop and getting arrested but about the worldwide trade of governments exchanging guns in return for oil and mineral rights. Tune sounds very much like "Clash City Rockers"

Drug Stabbing Time - Allegedly about Mick Jones exploits in evading the police in his many searches for drugs while on tour.
This has the tightest backing vocals since the Beach Boys!

Stay Free - A Mick Jones song about one of his mates. Quite a poppy song again......I've seen the Clash play this and Strummer pretending to puke at the sentiments!!!

Cheapskates - This deals with the fans expectations of the Clash and how they have to deal with this (and the press) without appearing to have lost their roots. Fantastic guitar work from Jones with wild solos and riffs.

All The Young Punks (New Boots and Contracts) - the simple idea of forming a band and getting gigs, which gets a bit cynical towards the end with Jones sneering (Instead of the line "All the young Punks") ....."All you Young C***s!

Hope this helps