Police & Thieves, pt. 6

The Clash – “Police & Thieves” from The Clash [UK] (1976)

To wrap up a week of Police & Thieves, here’s Strummer & Co.’s timeless take on Junior Murvin’s classic. What’s interesting is that The Clash were covering a popular song of just one year prior. Imagine if these “radical” bands of today (whoever those are) covered, say, I dunno, R. Kelly? I guess that Fall Out Boy are covering Michael Jackson. So maybe Fall Out Boy is the new Clash.

Also watch the live version, from the film Rude Boy. And here’s a good promo video of Junior Murvin’s original, featured below.

And check out this clip from Westway To The World, the Clash doc. Check out 8:45 to hear Joe Strummer wax poetic on the Mick Jones’s arrangement of Police & Thieves.

More P&T on SWR

Buy The Clash

Posted by Glenn

Police & Thieves, pt. 5

Junior Murvin – “Bad Weed” (1976)

Here’s Junior Murvin with another song on the “Police & Thieves” riddim. Listen for Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s trademark mumbles in the background–sounds like a ‘Super Ape’ indeed. I think I might like this even better that Junior’s original “Police & Thieves.” Maybe that is sacrilege.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the version of “Police & Thieves” you probably know best.

Check out other versions of “Police & Thieves.”

Buy Bad Weed

Posted by Glenn

Police & Thieves, pt. 4

Jah Lion – “Soldier & Police War” (1976)

Here’s a dub toast of Junior Murvin’s “Police & Thieves” by Jah Lion. I like how this version emphasizes the weird marimba-type sound in the beginning of the track. Not sure exactly what that is. Here’s what the Lion has to say for himself:

“It’s like when I did the version to ‘Police & Thieves’ called “Soldier & Police War,’ it was an incident happen…That song came very quickly, usually in those days songs came very quick to me. Bongo Herman was in the studio at that time, so we let him do a part like when somebody running, like out of breath. Scratch laugh, and say he running from something, police want him or something. And then I say, ‘A soldierman pass through Jonestown…’ That was me and Bongo Herman together.”

Stay tuned for Police & Thieves, parts 5 and 6 over the next few days!

More versions of “Police & Thieves” on SWR (as well as some other choice reggae tracks)

Buy it here

Posted by Glenn

Police & Thieves, pt. 3

The Upsetters – “Grumblin’ Dub” (1976)

This is basically a concerto for reggae bass, with hi-hat and weird organ sounds for accompaniment. Please listen with a good set of cans, or a nice big stereo. That bass! This is one of the better dub tracks out there. The choices are inspired: what instruments to fade in and out, when and where the echoey ghosts of the original show up. Nice work, Scratch.

Stay tuned for the rest of “Police & Thieves” weekend!

Dub Along

Posted by Glenn

Police & Thieves pt. 2

Glen LaCosta – “Magic Touch” (1976)

Saxophonist (I guess; just try Googling this guy) Glen LaCosta adds his magic touch to this dub version of Junior Murvin’s “Police & Thieves” (featured on SWR yesterday, in a weekend-long series). This version ups the treble on the hi-hat, makes the guitar echo a bunch, and takes out some of the deep bass. Very cool: Junior Murvin’s original backup vox, way in the background. In the second half, check out the off-beat saxophone. Stay tuned for at least FOUR more versions of “Police & Thieves.”

Jordy: what do you think you and I start sporting the shades pictured above?

Too bad LaCosta spells his first name incorrectly….

Posted by Glenn

“All the peacemaker-turn-war-officer/hear what I say”

Junior Murvin – “Police & Thieves” from Police & Thieves (1976)

At Jordy’s behest, I will celebrate my return to regular posting with a veritable cavalcade of cops and robbers. That is, a number of versions of Junior Murvin’s 1976 rocksteady classic “Police & Thieves.”  I hope to post a number of dub versions of the riddim, and top it all off with a not-so-secret cover by the only band that mattered. But, before all that, enjoy the classic Junior Murvin vocal on one of my favorite reggae tunes. Listen to that hi-hat! The weird guitar sound! The super-high singing! I love it.

N.B. I will be using tracks from the superb Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry boxset, Arkology. Here is a bit from the liner notes:

“A guy might be out there with his guitar, chantin’, an’ Scratch is inside smokin’ a spliff, tunin’ in to that guy, who doesn’t even know that Scratch is tunin’ into him. All of a sudden, Scratch jus’ come out an’ say: ‘Come inside here’. He search an’ find a riddim and say: ‘I hear dat, an’ I hear it on dis riddim!’ That’s how we did ‘Police and Thieves’, Junior Murvin.” –Max Romeo

Look for more police, more thieves, tomorrow.

Buy it here

Posted by Glenn

“Some say they shall and some say they shan’t”

Procol Harum – “A Salty Dog” and “Boredom” from A Salty Dog (1969)

This band was so much more than “A Whiter Shade of Pale.” ASD is a terrific set of songs characterized by rich instrumentation (not just organs) and varied styles. It’s a real joy to listen to. I’m perplexed as to why it hasn’t seen a re-release here in the States. In fact, the Harum’s whole catalog is shamefully difficult to find.

Just try

Posted by Jordy

“If not for the rain”

Scout Niblett – “Kiss” from This Fool Can Die Now (2007)

This one’s been lolling about on my palate for a while. I thought it was destined for greatness the first time I heard it so I cautiously gave it some time. I have been validated. It confirms my suspicion that everything Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy touches turns to gold.

Steal your courage at 3:34, it could break you.

Check the video

Buy it here

Posted by Jordy

“Turn me up, won’t turn you away”

Pearl Jam – “Spin the Black Circle” from Vitalogy (1994) [Buy it online, if you must]

Today is Record Store Day.  Instead of leeching music off the internets, stop in and patronize your local music purveyor.

Even though I work at PDQ Records in Tucson, my favorite store will always be Vertigo Records in Grand Rapids, MI.  I miss it so. What’s your favorite?

Posted by Jordy

Assurances

Pink Floyd – “The Show Must Go On” from The Wall (1979)

Sorry that we’ve been a little sluggish lately here at So Well Remembered.
We are still committed to the blog and would like to thank our loyal readers as well as those blogs that have grown up with us.

Finding Frank

Frank Zappa – “Son of Mr. Green Genes” from Hot Rats (1969)

Much fuss is made by weirdos about Frank Zappa. You know the kind of guys (and let’s face it, it’s always guys) with poor hygiene and Monty Python screensavers on their computers that run Linux? Those guys are the guys I’m talking about – always telling me that Zappa was the best thing to happen to music since Stravinsky.

Now I have always recognized and appreciated his unprecedented (and unmatched) rock musicianship. And he certainly was a much needed antidote for a lot of horrible classic rock. But he is often hopelessly dense and I have also found his sense of humor needlessly alienating, if not repellent. But my friends all said, “You’re just not listening to the right stuff.“

Indeed, I recently acquired Hot Rats (thanks, Ben) and it is smokin’ good. The enclosed track, “Son of Mr. Green Genes,” rocks without ridiculousness and is, thus, highly refreshing to someone like me who too often became irritated by goofball tunes from Zappa’s 130 other albums.

So if you love Zappa, don’t try to make everyone else understand the reasons why. Let them discover it on their own.

Buy it here

Posted by Jordy

“Come on honey let’s go outside/you disrupt the world’s disorder just by virtue of your grace, you know”

Destroyer – “Rubies” from Destroyer’s Rubies (2006)

Though I’m a little underwhelmed by Dan Bejar & Co.’s latest, Trouble in Dreams, the 2006 Destroyer outing sounds like a modern classic to these ears. If you only know Bejar’s work with the New Pornographers, you should really check out Destroyer’s Rubies. The lyrics are evocative, Bejar’s delivery is really weird but fitting, and the band is one of those bands you want to call a ‘crack back-up band.’ First and foremost, the songs are great. Buy it.

I’m proud to be a part of this number (Buy Destroyer)

Posted by Glenn

“You’ve got to be trusted by the people that you lied to.”

Pink Floyd – “Dogs” from Animals (1977)

I am among those who believe that punk saved rock and roll. It took on the creative, energetic mantle of its dying father. Indeed, a lot of classic-era rock artists had trouble coping with punk. Most of them were growing tired and could no longer maintain the rebelliousness or creativity of their glory days. Thus, the late 70s and 1980s saw the release of several horrible rock albums from rock mainstays like the Rolling Stones, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan. But there were some brilliant exceptions. For instance, NY’s Rust Never Sleeps is a terrific punk-era rock album. But even that seems a bit aged, a tad crotchety.

Pink Floyd’s Animals, in my opinion, was the ideal punk-era, non-punk album. It did not have the brash, youthful energy of the Clash or the Sex Pistols and the Floyd maintained their high-polish production, which was anathema to the punk movement. However, it is among the bitterest and most honest albums of the era, punk included. It is an encyclopedia of how disgusting, stupid, awful, and weak people are. Yet, in the spirit of all great art, it offers hope and redemption in its bookends.

The enclosed track, “Dogs,” is the album’s centerpiece.

Not only is this an important document in rock history, it is also very rewarding to listen to.

Buy it here

Posted by Jordy