The Clash hit France

April 26th, 2006 by Pete - - Posted in Joe Strummer, Punk, Rock |

There are a few recurring themes on this site that I unapologetically hammer at the masses. There’s Prince, there’s Springsteen, and there is Joe Strummer & The Clash. I came across a cool bootleg recently of what I guess would be called Sandanista-era Clash.

This May 9, 1981 show came five months after the release of their ambitious, extremely eclectic 3-LP juggernaut that was (and is) ‘Sandanista’. The album review on All Music has it just about right:

The Clash sounded like they could do anything on London Calling. For its triple-album follow-up, Sandinista!, they tried to do everything, adding dub, rap, gospel, and even children’s choruses to the punk, reggae, R&B, and roots rock they already were playing. Instead of presenting a band with a far-reaching vision, like London Calling did, Sandinista! plays as a messy, confused jumble, which means that its numerous virtues are easy to ignore.

While it doesn’t come close to the brilliance and magnitude of London Calling, it does have its moments (”The Call Up”, “The Magnificent Seven”, “Washington Bullets”, etc.), but it is a triple album of 36 songs for cryin’ out loud, so there’s bound to be some less than stellar moments (like a reworked “Career Opportunities” sung by children).

So anyhoo, the bootleg was recorded live in France. It’s great quality, and really captures their F**ing brilliance….

The Clash live at Palais St. Sauveur, Lille in France
May 9, 1981

[all links are mp3]

Want this show? Click here.

London Calling
Safe European Home
The Leader
Somebody Got Murdered
White Man in Hammersmith Palais
The Guns of Brixton
Lightning Strikes (not once but twice)
I Fought The Law
Corner Soul
Ivan Meets G.I. Joe
Radio Clash
Charlie Don’t Surf
Magnificent Seven
Bankrobber
Wrong ‘Em Boyo
Train in Vain

8 Responses to “The Clash hit France”

  1. billNo Gravatar Says:
    April 27th, 2006 at 4:31 pm

    Oh, gosh, is this going to be good. It will be blasted on the way to work someday soon. Thanks.

  2. JimNo Gravatar Says:
    April 27th, 2006 at 8:30 pm

    See, now Clash we can agree on.
    Prince, I am with you.

    But we still can’t discuss the Jersey boy. Sorry.

    Unles we are talking Robin William singing Bruce’s songs as Elmer Fudd.

  3. jeffreyNo Gravatar Says:
    April 29th, 2006 at 10:18 am

    cool man… any idea who that is singing on “guns of brixton” and “ivan meets gi joe”?

  4. FredNo Gravatar Says:
    May 26th, 2006 at 8:21 am

    hello

    A chance to have this boot again on your site, please ?

    Thanks by advance

    Fred

  5. John Says:
    August 16th, 2006 at 6:14 am

    I’m with Fred… Is there a chance this will be posted again?

    I can’t believe I missed it!

  6. PeteNo Gravatar Says:
    August 16th, 2006 at 7:50 pm

    all things are possible John. Email me.

  7. seanNo Gravatar Says:
    March 7th, 2007 at 6:10 am

    excellent dude, nice job

  8. ickmusic Says:
    September 3rd, 2007 at 10:47 am

    [...] has some quality & classic Clash video from the old TV show “Fridays”. Given my recent Clash show posting (and another one in the near future), I thought I’d share this link with [...]