Best of '78 Album
Best of '78 Album
Hey everyone. I have recently come to the conclusion that 1978 was the Clash's best year (a shade better than '80). Unfortunately, their best material from this year was too spread out among different releases for it to have been able to make its maximum impact, I think. If all these songs were captured on one album, I think a '78-as-best opinion would be a lot more common. My question to you is: What would be your 12 song Best of '78 album. Here's mine:
1. Complete Control
2. White Man
3. Jail Guitar Doors
4. Pressure Drop
5. Safe European Home
6. English Civil War
7. Tommy Gun
8. Drug Stabbing Time
9. Stay Free
10. I Fought the Law
11. Gates of the West
12. Capital Radio Two
I think these songs are better and more structurally innovative than either a trimmed down LC or S! mix. However, the production of these various sessions is too different for it to feel like a cohesive album. Therefore, if another live album is to be released, my hope would be for it to be a late 1978 show, which looks pretty much like this but with a few s/t tunes thrown in towards the end. Sadly, this is probably the absolute last Clash era that would get attention from Sony.
1. Complete Control
2. White Man
3. Jail Guitar Doors
4. Pressure Drop
5. Safe European Home
6. English Civil War
7. Tommy Gun
8. Drug Stabbing Time
9. Stay Free
10. I Fought the Law
11. Gates of the West
12. Capital Radio Two
I think these songs are better and more structurally innovative than either a trimmed down LC or S! mix. However, the production of these various sessions is too different for it to feel like a cohesive album. Therefore, if another live album is to be released, my hope would be for it to be a late 1978 show, which looks pretty much like this but with a few s/t tunes thrown in towards the end. Sadly, this is probably the absolute last Clash era that would get attention from Sony.
- 101Walterton
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Re: Best of '78 Album
The only thing wrong with 78 was Mick's hair.
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Re: Best of '78 Album
Didn't CoL come out in 1979?
”INDER LOCK THE THE KISS THREAD IVE REALISED IM A PRZE IDOOT” - Thomas Jefferson
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"
- 101Walterton
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Re: Best of '78 Album
Capital Radio 2 was recorded in January 1979, Groovy Times and Gates Of The West mid 1978.
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Re: Best of '78 Album
Yeah, that sounds right. I guess I'm counting by release date, not recording date.101Walterton wrote:Capital Radio 2 was recorded in January 1979, Groovy Times and Gates Of The West mid 1978.
”INDER LOCK THE THE KISS THREAD IVE REALISED IM A PRZE IDOOT” - Thomas Jefferson
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"
Re: Best of '78 Album
I keep forgetting Stay Free. That's an okay GEER tune.
Look, you have to establish context for these things. And I maintain that unless you appreciate the Fall of Constantinople, the Great Fire of London, and Mickey Mantle's fatalist alcoholism, live Freddy makes no sense. If you want to half-ass it, fine, go call Simon Schama to do the appendix.
- 101Walterton
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Re: Best of '78 Album
Not released until mid 1979.Wolter wrote:Yeah, that sounds right. I guess I'm counting by release date, not recording date.101Walterton wrote:Capital Radio 2 was recorded in January 1979, Groovy Times and Gates Of The West mid 1978.
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Re: Best of '78 Album
That's what I thought.101Walterton wrote:Not released until mid 1979.Wolter wrote:Yeah, that sounds right. I guess I'm counting by release date, not recording date.101Walterton wrote:Capital Radio 2 was recorded in January 1979, Groovy Times and Gates Of The West mid 1978.
”INDER LOCK THE THE KISS THREAD IVE REALISED IM A PRZE IDOOT” - Thomas Jefferson
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"
Re: Best of '78 Album
Great tracklist, my only addition would be Cheapskates.msza wrote:Hey everyone. I have recently come to the conclusion that 1978 was the Clash's best year (a shade better than '80). Unfortunately, their best material from this year was too spread out among different releases for it to have been able to make its maximum impact, I think. If all these songs were captured on one album, I think a '78-as-best opinion would be a lot more common. My question to you is: What would be your 12 song Best of '78 album. Here's mine:
1. Complete Control
2. White Man
3. Jail Guitar Doors
4. Pressure Drop
5. Safe European Home
6. English Civil War
7. Tommy Gun
8. Drug Stabbing Time
9. Stay Free
10. I Fought the Law
11. Gates of the West
12. Capital Radio Two
Edit: and delete CR2.
Re: Best of '78 Album
I've had it in my mind for years that The Clash released The Cost Of Living ep on the same date as the General Election that year, and it was a (feeble) dig at politics and how Thatcherism would affect the country. I've just checked the dates and the election was on 3rd May 1979, with the record coming out eight days later. Is this another Clash Myth busted, or do I just keep on believing it anyway?101Walterton wrote: ↑01 Jun 2009, 10:54pmNot released until mid 1979.Wolter wrote:Yeah, that sounds right. I guess I'm counting by release date, not recording date.101Walterton wrote:Capital Radio 2 was recorded in January 1979, Groovy Times and Gates Of The West mid 1978.
PS Complete Control was released in 1977.
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Low Down Low
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Re: Best of '78 Album
Quite right, it does often get reported that COL was released on Election Day. I’d guess that it was probably the groups intention but some sort of hold up delayed it for a week. I thought it was a pretty good dig myself. Joe had wanted to put thatcher on the cover with a swastika but the idea was vetoed, sensibly I think, by Mick.dave202 wrote: ↑14 Jul 2018, 7:08pmI've had it in my mind for years that The Clash released The Cost Of Living ep on the same date as the General Election that year, and it was a (feeble) dig at politics and how Thatcherism would affect the country. I've just checked the dates and the election was on 3rd May 1979, with the record coming out eight days later. Is this another Clash Myth busted, or do I just keep on believing it anyway?101Walterton wrote: ↑01 Jun 2009, 10:54pmNot released until mid 1979.Wolter wrote:Yeah, that sounds right. I guess I'm counting by release date, not recording date.101Walterton wrote:Capital Radio 2 was recorded in January 1979, Groovy Times and Gates Of The West mid 1978.
PS Complete Control was released in 1977.
- Heston
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Re: Best of '78 Album
And Joe's. His quiff got too big.
You know my feelings on how they looked in general in 78, their worst sartorial year for sure.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
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Low Down Low
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Re: Best of '78 Album
Anyway fwiw a top 12 from LC still beats the best of 78 and non-LC 79 for me.
Re: Best of '78 Album
Don't drag GEER into things; anybody that's sussed knows that run of tunes spread across single releases and b sides is mind-blowing (and always has been)
Also, Mick looks great as a 'poodle-haired' guitar hero but you're absolutely right about Joe's quiff...needs rained on a bit?
(Theory: are those tunes so fine because the band felt the attention was off them a little for the b sides...)
Also, Mick looks great as a 'poodle-haired' guitar hero but you're absolutely right about Joe's quiff...needs rained on a bit?
(Theory: are those tunes so fine because the band felt the attention was off them a little for the b sides...)