Wayne riffs on “The Clash,” the UK debut studio album by The Clash from April of 1977 (Janie Jones / White Riot / I'm So Bored With the U.S.A. / London's Burning). ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: “Chevy Van” by Sammy Johns (from the motion picture "The Van"). STAFF PICKS: “Hotel California” by the Eagles — Bruce. “Cherry Baby'” by Starz — Rob. “Do Ya” by the Electric Light Orchestra — Brian. “(Get a) Grip (On Yourself)" by The Stranglers — Wayne. INSTRUMENTAL TRACK: “Spring Rain” by Bebu Silvetti. **(NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.)
The Clash got their start as a punk band, though they would move through elements of reggae, ska, funk, and new wave over time. The debut album eponymously titled The Clash would stay solidly in the punk movement which began trending the year before. Lead vocalist Pete Strummer and lead guitarist Mick Jones would write most of their original songs. Other personnel on this album included bassist Paul Simonon and drummers Topper Headon and Terry Chimes (listed as Tory Crimes).
The debut album was recorded in three weeks in February 1977 for a cost of 4,000 pounds. It was released in the UK in April 1977, but would be released in the US in 1979 as their second album. The US release would see a different track listing, and some songs would be swapped out.
Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", The Clash had signed a record deal with CBS Records in January 1977, and the organization pushed for a cleaner sound on their subsequent albums. This debut album represents the most consistent punk rock album The Clash would produce. However, The Clash would also have a staying power which was unusual in bands coming out of the punk movement.
Janie Jones
The first song on the album is short, as are most Punk songs and most songs on this album. The name of the song comes from a minor English pop singer in the 1960's who scandalized the nation in 1973 when she was convicted of running a prostitution ring.
White Riot
The idea of this song was to encourage whites to join in with black rioters to fight the establishment. The Clash was upset when the extreme right wing took this song as an anthem.
I'm So Bored With the U.S.A.
This is a response to the influx of American TV and culture. At the time a lot of American shows, particularly detective dramas, were on British TV. The song was used regularly as a set opener on American tours to (in Strummer's words) "find out if they had a sense of humor."
London's Burning
The song is mainly about the punk scene's main choice of drug at the time: speed. It can also refer to the city lit up by headlights and streetlights of traffic, and people driving around or watching television with no real purpose in their lives. The guitar solo near the end of the song is unusual in punk rock, where a more minimalist attitude was typical.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Chevy Van by Sammy Johns (from the motion picture "The Van")
The Van was a low-budget teen comedy released in April 1977 that would kick off the genre which would include "Porky's," "Up the Creek." and "Caddyshack."
STAFF PICKS:
Hotel California by the Eagles
Bruce leads off the staff picks with the iconic title track to the Eagles' biggest studio album. It won the Grammy Award for record of the year in 1978. The band says the song is their interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles - the idea of moving from innocence to experience. Felder, Henley, and Frey get writing credits, though Joe Walsh came up with the dual-guitar part at the end.
Cherry Baby by Starz
Rob's staff pick is a deeper cut by and American heavy metal band from New Jersey. Starz never developed a lot of commercial success, but they had a cult following and were influential for a number of bands including Poison, Bon Jovi, and Twisted Sister. Several of the band members were from the band Looking Glass.
Do Ya by the Electric Light Orchestra
Brian brings us a hit that Jeff Lynne originally wrote in 1971 for a band called The Move. Todd Rundgren also recorded this song before ELO's version came out on their album "A New World Record." This version has a nice balance of rock guitars and symphonic elements typical of ELO.
(Get a) Grip (On Yourself) by The Stranglers
Wayne closes out the staff picks with another band that came up in the Punk scene but bridged to a more new wave sound. The band is unusual for punk bands because of the presence of keyboards. The song is based on the band's life in Chiddingfold, Surry England. It is about understanding who you really are and being true to your identity.
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
Spring Rain by Bebu Silvetti
We finish off with a disco-infused instrumental piece that was on the charts in this month.