If Music Could Talk

I was working up an acoustic version of this the other day, it's such a great piece of songwriting.

Silent Majority wrote: ↑

01 Nov 2017, 7:21pm

I was working up an acoustic version of this the other day, it's such a great piece of songwriting.

Superb songwriting. I think the rest of the band took the piss when Mick presented it to them, calling it a mini-rock opera or something. That was the kind of the stuff that set the Clash apart for me. It only seems to get bad press because of the single release debacle, it should have been a staple of their gigs for a lot longer.

Heston wrote: ↑

01 Nov 2017, 7:29pm

Silent Majority wrote: ↑

01 Nov 2017, 7:21pm

I was working up an acoustic version of this the other day, it's such a great piece of songwriting.

Superb songwriting. I think the rest of the band took the piss when Mick presented it to them, calling it a mini-rock opera or something. That was the kind of the stuff that set the Clash apart for me. It only seems to get bad press because of the single release debacle, it should have been a staple of their gigs for a lot longer.

Really, the structure of the worst of their post-'79 stuff could have used some more gear changes like the ones that drive Remote Control.

Silent Majority wrote: ↑

01 Nov 2017, 7:37pm

Heston wrote: ↑

01 Nov 2017, 7:29pm

Silent Majority wrote: ↑

01 Nov 2017, 7:21pm

I was working up an acoustic version of this the other day, it's such a great piece of songwriting.

Superb songwriting. I think the rest of the band took the piss when Mick presented it to them, calling it a mini-rock opera or something. That was the kind of the stuff that set the Clash apart for me. It only seems to get bad press because of the single release debacle, it should have been a staple of their gigs for a lot longer.

Really, the structure of the worst of their post-'79 stuff could have used some more gear changes like the ones that drive Remote Control.

It is definitely unfairly maligned because of the single release. It's literally the only song from the S/T that isn't on their first box set in any form.

Terry's drumming on the original is very combative and good. One can easily mistake it for Topper when listening to it.

Completely forgot this existed.

I take back what I said in the other thread — this is a hidden gem in LC25.

The original also has the handclapping in it which adds to the overall realness of the song.

What is this inauthentic trash? demands Chuck, confronted with a song devoid of handclaps.

Silent Majority wrote: ↑

02 Nov 2017, 3:54pm

What is this inauthentic trash? demands Chuck, confronted with a song devoid of handclaps.

Not really a fair comparison. Two very different settings played by different sounding bands. They are both great but I will take the S/T single version. It's excellent that the band still had a real fondness for the song.

Here's another point to discuss. The band didn't want CBS to release the single because they had already released "White Riot" however the single version of WR is not on the album when it came from the same sessions and maybe it should've been. Perhaps the Beaconsfield version should've been the single as a lot of folks prefer that. I prefer the single with the sirens.

So back to "Remote Control" CBS obviously chose that track as the most radio friendly song on the album. My question is if not RC then what other track do you think would've made a good single. Remember the record company would've probably been unhappy with references to drugs and swearing.

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

02 Nov 2017, 5:19pm

So back to "Remote Control" CBS obviously chose that track as the most radio friendly song on the album. My question is if not RC then what other track do you think would've made a good single. Remember the record company would've probably been unhappy with references to drugs and swearing.

I like RC as a single, tho London's Burning probably would have been a good 'un, I think. Maybe Career Opportunities.

Flex wrote: ↑

02 Nov 2017, 5:45pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

02 Nov 2017, 5:19pm

So back to "Remote Control" CBS obviously chose that track as the most radio friendly song on the album. My question is if not RC then what other track do you think would've made a good single. Remember the record company would've probably been unhappy with references to drugs and swearing.

I like RC as a single, tho London's Burning probably would have been a good 'un, I think. Maybe Career Opportunities.

Yep agree on all of those Flex. When RC was released I used to play it more than WR and that was a lot. LB was used as a B-side from Beaconsfield of course on the clip of RC. I think it would've made a great single. 1977 should've been on the album.

Drug reference aside, I'm So Bored With The USA would have been a storming single.

Silent Majority wrote: ↑

02 Nov 2017, 6:05pm

Drug reference aside, I'm So Bored With The USA would have been a storming single.

Don't think that would have got any radio play. Now as far as a punk band were concerned they may not of cared. But no way CBS would've released that at the time. I expect Starsky & Hutch and Kojak were probably CBS backed Tv programs.