On December 15, 2025, Joe Ely died aged 78. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, considered as one of the main creators of the progressive country scene in the 1970s and 1980s. He was founding member of the band The Flatlanders, performed and recorded with Bruce Springsteen, Uncle Tupelo, Los Super Seven, The Chieftains, James McMurtry, The Clash, Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt and Guy Clark. As leader, Ely released 22 albums.
Tag Archives: The Clash
Sonny Curtis
On September 19, 2025, Sonny Curtis died aged 88. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, collaborated with Buddy Holly, but was best known as member of The Crickets. His two best known songs are “Walk Right Back” performed by The Everly Brother, and “I Fought the Law”, performed by Bobby Fuller Fou, The Clash and Green Day. As leader, Curtis released eight albums.
The Clash: The Cost Of Living
On May 11, 1979, “CBS” label released “The Cost of Living”, the second Clash (The) EP. It was recorded in 1978, and was produced by Bill Price, Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Nicky “Topper” Headon.
Personnel:
- Joe Strummer – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
- Mick Jones – lead and backing vocals, lead guitar
- Paul Simonon – lead and backing vocals, bass guitar
- Nicky “Topper” Headon – drums, percussion
Track listing:
All tracks by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted.
- I Fought the Law – Sonny Curtis
- Groovy Times
- Gates of the West
- Capital Radio
- The Cost of Living Advert
Willie Nile: Same
In February 1980, “Arista” label released the self-titled, debut Willie Nile album. It was recorded in 1979, at ”Record Plant” in New York City, and was produced by Roy Halee. “Stereo Review” magazine voted it (together with The Clash “London Calling”) “Record of the Year” for 1980.
Personnel:
- Willie Nile– vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, piano
- Clay Barnes – electric guitar, backing vocals
- Peter Hoffman – electric guitar
- Tom Ethridge – bass
- Jay Dee Daugherty– drums, percussion
- Mark Johnson – backing vocals
- Roy Halee – engineer
- Phil Jamtaas – remix
- Greg Calbi – mastering
- Ron Kellum – art direction
- Christine Olympia Rodin – cover photography
- John Noonan, Ron Kellum – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Willie Nile.
- Vagabond Moon
- Dear Lord
- It’s All Over
- Across the River
- She’s So Cold
- I’m Not Waiting
- That’s the Reason
- They’ll Build a Statue of You
- Old Men Sleeping on the Bowery
- Behind the Cathedral
- Sing Me a Song
The Clash: Cut The Crap
On November 4, 1985, “Epic” label released “Cut the Crap”, the sixth and the final Clash studio album. It was recorded January – March 1985, at “Weryton Studios” in Unterföhring, and was produced by Jose Unidos.
Personnel:
- Joe Strummer– lead vocals
- Nick Sheppard – led vocals, guitar
- Vince White– additional guitar
- Paul Simonon – bass
- Pete Howard– drums
- Hermann Weindorf – keyboards, synthesizers
- Norman Watt-Roy– bass
- Michael Fayne – vocals, drum machines
- Bernie Rhodes– drum machine programming
- Ulli Rudolf – engineer
- Simon Sullivan – mixing
- Julian Balme – design
Track listing:
All tracks by Joe Strummer and Bernard Rhodes.
- Dictator
- Dirty Punk
- We Are the Clash
- Are You Red..Y
- Cool Under Heat
- Movers and Shakers
- This Is England
- Three Card Trick
- Play to Win
- Fingerpoppin
- North and South
- Life is Wild
The Clash: Combat Rock
On May 14, 1982, “CBS” label released “Combat Rock”, the fifth Clash studio album. It was recorded in 1980 and September 1981, at “Ear Studios” in London; November 1981–January 1982 at “Electric Lady Studios” in New York City and April 1982 in “Warnford” in Hampshire, and was produced by Glyn Johns, Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon. The album was certified double Platinum in US by the “RIIA”. It was the last band’s album with the classic lineup whit Topper Headon and Mick Jones.
Personnel:
- Joe Strummer– lead and backing vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano
- Mick Jones – lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards, sound effects
- Paul Simonon – lead and backing vocals, bass guitar
- Topper Headon – drums, piano, bass guitar
- Tymon Dogg– piano
- Tommy Mandel (as Poly Mandell) – keyboards
- Gary Barnacle– saxophone
- Allen Ginsberg – vocals
- Kosmo Vinyl- vocals
- Futura 2000 – vocals
- Ellen Foley– backing vocals
- Joe Ely– backing vocals
- Glyn Johns– chief engineer, mixing
- Joe Blaney; Jerry Green; Eddie Garcia – engineer assistant
- Pennie Smith– photography
Track listing:
- Know Your Rights
- Car Jamming
- Should I Stay or Should I Go
- Rock the Casbah
- Red Angel Dragnet
- Straight to Hell
- Overpowered by Funk
- Atom Tan
- Sean Flynn
- Ghetto Defendant
- Inoculated City
- Death Is a Star
The Clash: Same
On April 8, 1977, “CBS” label released the self-titled, debut Clash (The) album. It was recorded 10–27 February 1977, at “CBS Studios” in London and “National Film and Television School” in Beaconsfield, England, and was produced by Mickey Foote.
Personnel:
- Joe Strummer− lead vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar
- Mick Jones− lead guitar, vocals
- Paul Simonon− bass guitar
- Tory Crimes(Terry Chimes) − drums
- Nicky Headon− drums
- Mickey Foote − engineer
- Simon Humphrey – engineer
- Kate Simon − cover art
- Rocco Macauly − back cover photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted.
- Janie Jones
- Remote Control
- I’m So Bored with the USA
- White Riot
- Hate & War
- What’s My Name? – Joe Strummer,Mick Jones, Keith Levene
- Deny
- London’s Burning
- Career Opportunities
- Cheat
- Protex Blue
- Police & Thieves – Junior Marvin, Lee Marvin
- 48 Hours
- Garageland
The Clash: London Calling
On December 14, 1979, “CBS” label released “London Calling”, the third Clash (The) studio album. It was recorded August – November 1979, at the “Wessex Sound Studios” in London, and was produced by Guy Stevens and Mick Jones. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “London Calling” at number 8 on it’s list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. The album sold in more than 5 million copies worldwide and was certified Platinum in the US by “RIAA”, and is regarded as one of the most important albums in the history of modern music.
Personnel
- Joe Strummer– lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, piano
- Mick Jones – lead and backing vocals, lead guitar, piano, harmonica
- Paul Simonon – lead and backing vocals, bass guitar,
- Topper Headon– drums, percussion
- Mickey Gallagher– organ
- The Irish Horns – brass
- Ray Lowry – design
Track listing
All tracks by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted.
- London calling
- Brand New Cadillac – Vince Taylor
- Jimmy Jazz
- Hateful
- Rudie Can’t Fall
- Spanish Bombs
- The Right Profile
- Lost in the Supermarket
- Clampdown
- The Guns of Brixton – Paul Simonon
- Wrong’em Boyo – Clive Alphonso
- Death of Glory
- Koka Kola
- The Card Cheat
- Lover’s Rock
- Four Horseman
- I’m Not Down
- Revolution Rock – Jackie Edwards, Danny Ray
- Train in Vain
The Clash: Sandinista
On December 12, 1980, “CBS” label released “Sandinista!”, the fourth Clash studio album. The triple album 36 songs were recorded February – August 1980, at “Pluto Studios” in Manchester; “The Power Station” in New York, “Electric Lady Studios” in New York City, “Channel One Studios” in Kingston, and at “Wessex Studios” in London, and was produced by Mikey Dread, Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Sandinista” on number 404, on it’s list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”; Sandinista! was voted best album of the year in the Pazz & Jop critics poll in “The Village Voice” and in 2012, “Slant” magazine ranked the album at number 85 on its “Best Albums of the 1980s”.
Personnel:
- Joe Strummer– lead vocals, guitars
- Mick Jones– vocals, guitars
- Paul Simonon– vocals, bass
- Topper Headon– vocals, drums
- Tymon Dogg – vocals, violin, keyboard
- Mickey Gallagher – keyboards
- Ivan Julian – guitar
- Noel ‘Tempo’ Bailey – guitar
- Lew Lewis – harmonica
- Davey Payne – saxophone
- Gary Barnacle– saxophone
- Arthur Edward “Bill” Barnacle – trumpet
- Norman Watt-Roy – bass
- Jody Linscott– percussion
- Ellen Foley- co-lead vocal
- Den Hegarty(Darts) – vocals
- Luke & Ben Gallagher – vocals
- Maria Gallagher – coda vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by the
Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon, except where noted.
- The Magnificent Seven
- Hitsville K.
- Junco Partner
- Ivan Meets G.I.Joe
- The Leader
- Something About England
- Rebel Waltz
- Look Here – Mose Allison
- The Crooked Beat
- Somebody Got Murdered
- One More Time –Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon, Mikey Dread
- One More Dub – Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon, Mikey Dread
- Lightning Strikes
- Up in Heaven
- Corner Soul
- Let’s Go Crazy
- If Music Could Talk – Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon, Mikey Dread
- The Sound of Sinners
- Police on My Back – Eddy Grant
- Midnight Log
- The Equaliser
- The Call Up
- Washington Bullets
- Broadway
- Lose This Skin – Tymon Dogg
- Charlie Don’t Surf
- Mensforth Hill
- Junkie Slip
- Kingston Advice
- The Street Parade
- Version City
- Living in Fame – Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon, Mikey Dread
- Sillicone on Sapphire
- Version Pardner
- Career Opportunities
- Shepherds Delight
The Clash: Give ‘Em Enough Rope
On November 10, 1978, “CBS” label released “Give ‘Em Enough Rope”, the second Clash (The) studio album. The band’s first album released in US was recorded in March and April 1978, at the “Basing Street Studios” in London, and in August and September 1978, at “The Automatt” in San Francisco, and was produced by Sandy Pearlman.
Personnel
- Joe Strummer– lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
- Mick Jones– backing and lead vocals, lead guitar
- Paul Simonon– bass guitar, backing vocals
- Topper Headon– drums
- Allen Lanier- piano
- Gene Greif – desig
- Hugh Brown – design concept, cover photography
Track listing
All tracks by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted.
- Safe European Home
- English Civil War – traditional, arranged by Joe Strummer, Mick Jones
- Tommy Gun
- Julie’s Been Working for the Drug Squad
- Last Gang in Town
- Guns on the Roof – Topper Headon, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Joe Strummer
- Drug Stabbing Me
- Stay Free
- Cheapskates
- All the Young Punks
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