If Music Could Talk

Heston wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 9:55pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 6:25pm

Heston wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 5:58pm

Hang on, wasn't the long version of STH on the 12" version of the SISOSIG/STH single?

Yes but the 7" was an edit. When you say the long version it wasn't the version with the extra verse on CoB on the 12" just the CR album version.

Edit : sorry didn't see Toppervilles reply.

Gotcha. I had it in my mind that the CoB version was on the original 12" but that's not the case. Is there anywhere we can hear the 7" edit that Discogs says is 3.51 in length? I used to have the single years ago but can't remember what was excised.

You remember all the effort I went to when I made Rat Patrol from Hell W10? Collecting up all the relevant stuff in one handy place? I included it in the extras disc on that.

Anyway if you still need it here it is in Mp3 320kbps.


https://mega.nz/#!31FzmIJB!knnga8w-90-t ... iqndKOGQhA

It clocks in at 3.41 maybe discogs have an extra 10 secs of Bernie dancing to a raga or something.

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 10:13pm

Heston wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 9:55pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 6:25pm

Heston wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 5:58pm

Hang on, wasn't the long version of STH on the 12" version of the SISOSIG/STH single?

Yes but the 7" was an edit. When you say the long version it wasn't the version with the extra verse on CoB on the 12" just the CR album version.

Edit : sorry didn't see Toppervilles reply.

Gotcha. I had it in my mind that the CoB version was on the original 12" but that's not the case. Is there anywhere we can hear the 7" edit that Discogs says is 3.51 in length? I used to have the single years ago but can't remember what was excised.

You remember all the effort I went to when I made Rat Patrol from Hell W10? Collecting up all the relevant stuff in one handy place? I included it in the extras disc on that.

Anyway if you still need it here it is in Mp3 320kbps.


https://mega.nz/#!31FzmIJB!knnga8w-90-t ... iqndKOGQhA

It clocks in at 3.41 maybe discogs have an extra 10 secs of Bernie dancing to a raga or something.

Cheers mate, I never listen to Rat Patrol much because I still have a hope that Mick will one day release it in full fidelity. Interesting to hear the 7" inch edit again, they have just excised the "wanna join in a chorus" verse and drop out from the CR version. A bit pointless if you ask me, an edit of an edit.

Heston wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 10:31pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 10:13pm

Heston wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 9:55pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 6:25pm

Heston wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 5:58pm

Hang on, wasn't the long version of STH on the 12" version of the SISOSIG/STH single?

Yes but the 7" was an edit. When you say the long version it wasn't the version with the extra verse on CoB on the 12" just the CR album version.

Edit : sorry didn't see Toppervilles reply.

Gotcha. I had it in my mind that the CoB version was on the original 12" but that's not the case. Is there anywhere we can hear the 7" edit that Discogs says is 3.51 in length? I used to have the single years ago but can't remember what was excised.

You remember all the effort I went to when I made Rat Patrol from Hell W10? Collecting up all the relevant stuff in one handy place? I included it in the extras disc on that.

Anyway if you still need it here it is in Mp3 320kbps.


https://mega.nz/#!31FzmIJB!knnga8w-90-t ... iqndKOGQhA

It clocks in at 3.41 maybe discogs have an extra 10 secs of Bernie dancing to a raga or something.

Cheers mate, I never listen to Rat Patrol much because I still have a hope that Mick will one day release it in full fidelity. Interesting to hear the 7" inch edit again, they have just excised the "wanna join in a chorus" verse and drop out from the CR version. A bit pointless if you ask me, an edit of an edit.

Yep an edit of an edit of an edit of an edit. Still it's one stunning track.

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 10:47pm

Heston wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 10:31pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 10:13pm

Heston wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 9:55pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 6:25pm

Yes but the 7" was an edit. When you say the long version it wasn't the version with the extra verse on CoB on the 12" just the CR album version.

Edit : sorry didn't see Toppervilles reply.

Gotcha. I had it in my mind that the CoB version was on the original 12" but that's not the case. Is there anywhere we can hear the 7" edit that Discogs says is 3.51 in length? I used to have the single years ago but can't remember what was excised.

You remember all the effort I went to when I made Rat Patrol from Hell W10? Collecting up all the relevant stuff in one handy place? I included it in the extras disc on that.

Anyway if you still need it here it is in Mp3 320kbps.


https://mega.nz/#!31FzmIJB!knnga8w-90-t ... iqndKOGQhA

It clocks in at 3.41 maybe discogs have an extra 10 secs of Bernie dancing to a raga or something.

Cheers mate, I never listen to Rat Patrol much because I still have a hope that Mick will one day release it in full fidelity. Interesting to hear the 7" inch edit again, they have just excised the "wanna join in a chorus" verse and drop out from the CR version. A bit pointless if you ask me, an edit of an edit.

Yep an edit of an edit of an edit of an edit. Still it's one stunning track.

Unbelievable song mate, just listened to it there and it had me stunned all over again, 34 years on since I first heard it. Always in my top 3 Clash songs. It has something about that even the supposed "greats" could never match for me. Is there a Beatles song as good as Straight To Hell? Not for me. It's just so empathetic and human. A truly great song.

Heston wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 10:53pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 10:47pm

Heston wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 10:31pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 10:13pm

Heston wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 9:55pm

Gotcha. I had it in my mind that the CoB version was on the original 12" but that's not the case. Is there anywhere we can hear the 7" edit that Discogs says is 3.51 in length? I used to have the single years ago but can't remember what was excised.

You remember all the effort I went to when I made Rat Patrol from Hell W10? Collecting up all the relevant stuff in one handy place? I included it in the extras disc on that.

Anyway if you still need it here it is in Mp3 320kbps.


https://mega.nz/#!31FzmIJB!knnga8w-90-t ... iqndKOGQhA

It clocks in at 3.41 maybe discogs have an extra 10 secs of Bernie dancing to a raga or something.

Cheers mate, I never listen to Rat Patrol much because I still have a hope that Mick will one day release it in full fidelity. Interesting to hear the 7" inch edit again, they have just excised the "wanna join in a chorus" verse and drop out from the CR version. A bit pointless if you ask me, an edit of an edit.

Yep an edit of an edit of an edit of an edit. Still it's one stunning track.

Unbelievable song mate, just listened to it there and it had me stunned all over again, 34 years on since I first heard it. Always in my top 3 Clash songs. It has something about that even the supposed "greats" could never match for me. Is there a Beatles song as good as Straight To Hell? Not for me. It's just so empathetic and human. A truly great song.

Maybe Strawberry Fields as it's so innovative. But fuck StH just blew me away from day one. Those drums and ebow like sounds at the start (what is it a guitar or synth?) just awesome. I remember a lot of my punk mates said it was shit. I just laughed and told them they were stuck in a rut.

A Day In The Life?

I think the ebo-like sounds on STH are from the Roland guitar synth. Wes Diplo fronted that he replayed all of Mick’s parts for “Paper Planes” so they’d only have to pay writers’ royalties to the Clash, but Mick is certain that his playing is sampled on there. I don’t think the subject up when Diplo produced that later track with Mick and Paul and Frank Ocean, which I suppose is a tribute to Mick’s manners, or something. STH is a stunning record.

TeddyB Not Logged In wrote: ↑

07 Nov 2017, 4:34am

I think the ebo-like sounds on STH are from the Roland guitar synth. Wes Diplo fronted that he replayed all of Mick’s parts for “Paper Planes” so they’d only have to pay writers’ royalties to the Clash, but Mick is certain that his playing is sampled on there. I don’t think the subject up when Diplo produced that later track with Mick and Paul and Frank Ocean, which I suppose is a tribute to Mick’s manners, or something. STH is a stunning record.

When I first heard it I didn't think it was Mick at all. My initial feeling was it was Tymon playing his electric violin. I think you are correct with the Roland guitar synth and again it shows Mick pushing the band forward with new technology.

As for that "Paper Planes" it is clearly a sample.

While not my favourite STH is, on so many levels, probably their finest achievement I would suggest. Incredibly poignant song. The lift is a bit cheeky, as was the GOB one, but it's not as if the Clash didn't do the odd lift themselves in their day, is it? Personally I wouldn't sweat it either way. And I'd probably be in the minority here but I'm also quite partial to the Lily Allen cover.

Edit: sorry I see its a sample as opposed to a lift, that is a bit different in fairness.

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 10:13pm

Heston wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 9:55pm

Marky Dread wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 6:25pm

Heston wrote: ↑

06 Nov 2017, 5:58pm

Hang on, wasn't the long version of STH on the 12" version of the SISOSIG/STH single?

Yes but the 7" was an edit. When you say the long version it wasn't the version with the extra verse on CoB on the 12" just the CR album version.

Edit : sorry didn't see Toppervilles reply.

Gotcha. I had it in my mind that the CoB version was on the original 12" but that's not the case. Is there anywhere we can hear the 7" edit that Discogs says is 3.51 in length? I used to have the single years ago but can't remember what was excised.

You remember all the effort I went to when I made Rat Patrol from Hell W10? Collecting up all the relevant stuff in one handy place? I included it in the extras disc on that.

Anyway if you still need it here it is in Mp3 320kbps.


https://mega.nz/#!31FzmIJB!knnga8w-90-t ... iqndKOGQhA

It clocks in at 3.41 maybe discogs have an extra 10 secs of Bernie dancing to a raga or something.

That's crazy. So there are four versions of Straight to Hell:
7" single - 3:41
Combat Rock - 5:31
Clash on Broadway (no fade in) - 6:56
Sound System- 6:54

Also, I love the notion that the run time is what made it a less marketable single. "If only we can get this song about the death of the steel industry in Northern England and American GIs fathering and abandoning their children in Vietnam under four minutes, it'll fit along nicely with Rick Springfield and Lionel Ritchie on the charts."

matedog wrote: ↑

07 Nov 2017, 11:01am

Also, I love the notion that the run time is what made it a less marketable single. "If only we can get this song about the death of the steel industry in Northern England and American GIs fathering and abandoning their children in Vietnam under four minutes, it'll fit along nicely with Rick Springfield and Lionel Ritchie on the charts."

Well, yeah, but if the song is over four minutes long, short of it being "Hey Jude," it's not going to get airplay, no way no how. Taking care of run time was an important factor because radio stations would look at that before the lyrics.

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

07 Nov 2017, 11:05am

matedog wrote: ↑

07 Nov 2017, 11:01am

Also, I love the notion that the run time is what made it a less marketable single. "If only we can get this song about the death of the steel industry in Northern England and American GIs fathering and abandoning their children in Vietnam under four minutes, it'll fit along nicely with Rick Springfield and Lionel Ritchie on the charts."

Well, yeah, but if the song is over four minutes long, short of it being "Hey Jude," it's not going to get airplay, no way no how. Taking care of run time was an important factor because radio stations would look at that before the lyrics.

I always assumed it was released as a "double A side" with SISOSIG not because they thought it would sell, but because they realized how great a song it was/is and wanted to give it extra exposure. A moody, super ambient song with no real chorus or 2/4 backbeat with some outstanding, but disparate lyrics has never and will never be a radio hit. So the idea of trimming it down seems pointless. But then again, I could be way off. Did this song get any level of radio play at the time?

matedog wrote: ↑

07 Nov 2017, 11:12am

Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑

07 Nov 2017, 11:05am

matedog wrote: ↑

07 Nov 2017, 11:01am

Also, I love the notion that the run time is what made it a less marketable single. "If only we can get this song about the death of the steel industry in Northern England and American GIs fathering and abandoning their children in Vietnam under four minutes, it'll fit along nicely with Rick Springfield and Lionel Ritchie on the charts."

Well, yeah, but if the song is over four minutes long, short of it being "Hey Jude," it's not going to get airplay, no way no how. Taking care of run time was an important factor because radio stations would look at that before the lyrics.

I always assumed it was released as a "double A side" with SISOSIG not because they thought it would sell, but because they realized how great a song it was/is and wanted to give it extra exposure. A moody, super ambient song with no real chorus or 2/4 backbeat with some outstanding, but disparate lyrics has never and will never be a radio hit. So the idea of trimming it down seems pointless. But then again, I could be way off. Did this song get any level of radio play at the time?

Can't speak to your question about airplay, but trimming it down created a possibility that otherwise would not have existed. And the charts allowed for more oddities back then. The industry was still recovering from the disco oversaturation debacle and was a lot more open to anything that might move. It was a crisis that created opportunities for atypical singles.

I don't think it got much airplay, SISOSIG obviously overpowered it in commercial terms. Even when I hear old chart rundowns it is always Should I Stay that gets played.

Great song that it is, always been a bizarre choice for a single release for me. Also a bit odd that it was never included on the US release despite it featuring on the Saturday Night Live slot alongside SISOSIG.