Next up on our (non-chronological) list of possible Great Post-Clash songs is the 1988 Joe Strummer and Latino Rockabilly War (Bass - Jim Donica, Drums -Willie MacNeil, Guitar - Zander Schloss) song "Trash City", one of several songs Strummer wrote for the soundtrack of the Keanau Reeves vehicle Permanent Record.
The song itself is little punkish rockabilly number with some Latin percussion and very little actual war. While Strummer's lyrics occasionally fizzle ("First I got a hot dog in a nightmare zone") and his performance starts off a bit restrained, "Trash City" does build to an almost Clash-strength and only gains power in repeated listenings.
Trash City (Joe Strummer)
In Trash City on Party Avenue
I got a girl from Kalamazoo
In Trash City on a transit line
I put you on hold but you're looking fine
In Trash City on Party Avenue
I got a girl from Kalamazoo
In Trash City on a transit line
I put you on hold but you're looking fine
When I see your car at the donut house
Wanna see a movie 'bout a creeper on the house
Wanna go bowling wanna chuck some rocks
Wanna come to my house and change all the locks
In Trash City on Party Avenue
I got a girl from Kalamazoo
In Trash City on a transit line
I put you on hold but you're sure looking fine
Sing you a song like rubber on a turn
Fifty-seven records that you know you ought to burn
Garbagemen don't care for the blues or rock n' roll
It's five o'clock in the morning in a coffee shop in Seoul
First I got a hot dog in a nightmare zone
Then I vandalize a cheap payphone
Crying to the girls won't you leave me alone
Makin' love in the graveyard with cockroach bones
In Trash City on Party Avenue
I got a girl from Kalamazoo
In Trash City on a transit line
I put you on hold but you sure look fine
First I got a hot dog in a nightmare zone
Then I vandalize a cheap payphone
Cryin' to the girls won't you leave me alone
Ain't makin' love with cockroach bones
Down on transit avenue
I got a girl from Kalamazoo
Down on Transit Avenue Panama Time
To hold to be real fine
ONE TIME!!
Joe Strummer and LRW - Trash City (live ,1988)
In Trash City on Party Avenue
I got a girl from Kalamazoo
In Trash City on a transit line
I put you on hold but you're looking fine
In Trash City on Party Avenue
I got a girl from Kalamazoo
In Trash City on a transit line
I put you on hold but you're looking fine
When I see your car at the donut house
Wanna see a movie 'bout a creeper on the house
Wanna go bowling wanna chuck some rocks
Wanna come to my house and change all the locks
In Trash City on Party Avenue
I got a girl from Kalamazoo
In Trash City on a transit line
I put you on hold but you're sure looking fine
Sing you a song like rubber on a turn
Fifty-seven records that you know you ought to burn
Garbagemen don't care for the blues or rock n' roll
It's five o'clock in the morning in a coffee shop in Seoul
First I got a hot dog in a nightmare zone
Then I vandalize a cheap payphone
Crying to the girls won't you leave me alone
Makin' love in the graveyard with cockroach bones
In Trash City on Party Avenue
I got a girl from Kalamazoo
In Trash City on a transit line
I put you on hold but you sure look fine
First I got a hot dog in a nightmare zone
Then I vandalize a cheap payphone
Cryin' to the girls won't you leave me alone
Ain't makin' love with cockroach bones
Down on transit avenue
I got a girl from Kalamazoo
Down on Transit Avenue Panama Time
To hold to be real fine
ONE TIME!!
Joe Strummer and LRW - Trash City (live ,1988)
P.S. As is so often the case, I follow a few steps behind Punk Friction.
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Excellent recycling of "Do Wah Diddy Diddy". A definite improvement on the original!
ReplyDeleteNOW you're talkin'! This might be my all-time favourite Strummer recording, Clash or non.
ReplyDeleteHey! Recycled "Do Wah Diddy Diddy", CPB?
ReplyDeleteI can sort of hear what yr saying, (Sure it has shakers and maybe the maracas...) but aside from the beginning of the chorus, it's nowhere near like that great song. (Which, if yr referring to the Manfred's version, is actually a cover of the 50's NYC girl group, The Exciters, but I digress...)
I liked "Trash City" because it had a beat that would get more than just your head bobbin' - you could actually dance to this - and when was the last time that happened with the Clash? "Trash City" and the Latino Rockabilly War has Strummer's songs becoming accessible and participatory again, like the best Clash ones, but this song in particular is pure fun stuff.
It's refreshing that all the post-London Calling bloat and excesses are stripped away here, and because of that, I'd say it is more in the 101er's style than the Clash. So while it is a post-Clash song, it doesn't get a vote as TFGPCS from me, because there is no way Mick Jones and co. could ever come close to touching this.
Its a whole new thing, man!
BTW, Can anyone I.D. where the cover photo was taken? Nice composition there...
Hey Man,
ReplyDeleteThis site is one of the best. I was looking at the posts for the Shake Some Action series and it appears that # 2 & # 3 have different download sites that aren't active anymore. Any help would be greatly appreicated Keep up the excellent work
CPB
ReplyDeleteSee below
Mark
Glad you liked.
bio
I mostly hear a lot of old fifties stuff when I hear this song but connecting DWDD so nicely to the fifties helps me see a possible connection between the two songs.
I always take Strummer over Jones, it's not something I can help.
I loved that cover shot too, though I'd never seen it before it was posted on Punk Friction.
Anon
On the side column (waaay down) click on August 2008 and scroll down the page, you'll find all the SSA albums there
Re: BTW, Can anyone I.D. where the cover photo was taken? Nice composition there...
ReplyDeleteIt's actually seven photos, a composite.
Yeah, but an I.D. of the skyline and monument is what I was hoping for...
ReplyDeletecan you re upload this?
ReplyDelete