Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros: 001 Compilation

This is a somewhat sprawling posthumous compilation of Joe Strummer’s work, featuring early tracks from the 101’ers and a fair few non-album rarities as well as collaborations with other artists as well as well-known work with The Mescaleros. I won’t list all the tracks, as there are thirty-two of them. 

Here are a few highlights. I am most impressed with the two 101’ers cuts - the breakneck rockabilly of Letsagetabitrockin and the very Nick Lowe-esque Keys To Your Heart. The sound quality is excellent. It makes one remember that when Joe hooked up with The Clash he was certainly no green young punk, more of a gnarled veteran (comparatively), although that did not suit the “anyone can join a band” punk ethos. 

Also notable is the later-era Clash vibe of Trash City; the reggae of Ride Your Donkey; the world music grooves of firstly the catchy Afro-Cuban Be-Bop and secondly the Eastern music meets The Clash rock of Sandpaper Blues; the Springsteen-esque Burning Lights and the haunting later-era Clash-U2 tones of Generations. There is some really good stuff here, showing just how Strummer had developed as an artist in latter years. 

It’s A Rockin’ World is a frenetic Clash-style rocker, a bit like Koka Kola from their London Calling album. Czechoslovak Song/Where Is England is a marvellous, bassy and dubby re-write of The Clash’s This Is England from the point of view of an immigrant. It is so evocative and moving and it could have been written in 2020, let’s be honest. Joe would certainly have some dispiriting shit to write about now, wouldn’t he? 

Pouring Rain (1984) is another killer track, full of deep bass and one of those urgent, spat-out vocals from Joe. Blues On The River is an atmospheric, acoustic rocker. Although Joe’s voice is a bit ropey here it is strangely suited to the song. Like Billy Bragg’s often is. Crying On 23rd is a chunky, riffy blues with Strummer sounding like early Stones. “No Elvis, Beatles or Rolling Stones...” eh, Joe? I never believed you back in 1977 either. 

2 Bullets is a country song with a female vocal and When Pigs Fly is an odd-sounding number that may well have fitted in fine on Sandinista! Pouring Rain (1993) is more folky than its predecessor, Rose Of Erin is also folky but with a mid-pace rock beat while Cool Impossible’s jazzy vibes make it another Sandinista! candidate. 

The old Clash-title approximation of London Is Burning is apparently Joe’s last recording. If it is so, it is wonderful one to leave us with, an appealing mix of contemporary beats and solid rock. An absolute killer of a track. The album ends with the ten minute U.S. North, which is very Clash-influenced and never  outstays its welcome, despite its length.