I’ve said before that despite having owned a copy of the Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen” in 1977, I grew up in a world where the punk rock explosion of the late 1970s never happened. Punk wasn’t something American radio embraced, and even at college, I knew only a couple of people who were into it. It took most album-rock stations until 1980, and the release of London Calling by the Clash, to get on anything remotely punk.
When the sprawling three-disc followup Sandinista! came out a year later, it was considered more of the same, although it’s actually an album that embraces half-a-dozen styles. The British lead single, and a track American album-rock stations got on, was “Hitsville UK.” From the first second of it—the appearance of a cheesy-sounding hockey rink organ that surfaces periodically throughout the record—you know you’re in for something different. It’s the Clash’s homage to Motown, shot through with the raggedy ethos of punk. The record features guest vocalist Ellen Foley, who had most recently been Meat Loaf’s duet partner on Bat Out of Hell (and would later play assistant DA Billie Young on the sitcom Night Court). I adored this record, played it on the college station every chance I got, and probably bored listeners and friends silly talking about how much I adored it. It was never going to be a hit in the States, and I think it missed the British singles charts, too. I don’t believe it hung around on American album-rock radio for very long either. I’ve never forgotten it, though, and to a non-punker like me, the Clash never did anything that sounded better.
After you’ve been in the biz a little while, you get used to hearing yourself on the radio. I’m still getting used to the blogosphere equivalent, though. This morning I clicked over to Any Major Dude With Half a Heart, one of my regular stops, and started reading the latest installment of Music for Bloggers, in which the Dude writes about favorite blogs and dedicates a couple of songs to each. About halfway down, I found myself reading about my own blog. I appreciate the mention and the dedications. So here’s one right back—this is for the Half-Hearted Dude.
“Hitsville UK”/The Clash (buy it here)
Filed under: Tracks
Ellen Foley was also in the movie “Cocktail.”
[...] get into our heads and take up residence there, only to disappear from the radio far too soon. Like “Hitsville UK” from Wednesday’s post, “I Will Be in Love With You” was one of mine. I’m [...]
The Clash was the only punk band with talent. They weren’t just about rebellion. They knew how to write good songs. “Train In Vain” is a terrific piece of music. Did you ever hear Annie Lennox’s slowed down cover version? That was good too.