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.
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.
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.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
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.
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.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
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.
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.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
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.
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.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
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.
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.
Last edited by Marky Dread on 07 Nov 2017, 9:24am, edited 1 time in total.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
"Ain't no party like an S Club party!'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
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?
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.
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.
"Ain't no party like an S Club party!'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
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.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
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.