The Clash on Alright Now 1979

[IkarisOne]

"The Clash are brought to you tonight by MXR, who are proud to introduce the brand new MXR Phase 90. MXR, when you need to play five times louder than everyone else."

Haha, I kinda like it in small doses but not whole gigs smothered in it.

Like September 12, 1979? Sounds like crossing the English Channel with rough tide But hey - still the single best gig I've ever seen and maybe even heard (though I don't know that my ears ever fully recovered from it - 10 feet in front of Mick's mic stand = 15 feet from his amps!).

He could have used a phased banjo for all I cared if I'd gotten to see them. Count yourself lucky, I was born 5 years too late.

Check out the boot of the show (Marky did a slight remix for me a few years ago, ask him for it) - it was only the 2nd show of the Take the Fifth tour and Mick must have just got the MXR phase pedal recently (they'd already done the Vanilla sessions but this show was the debut of six tracks from 'London Calling', and he clearly had no fucking idea how to use it (tastefully). The show's notable for its massive, orchestral sound, especially Topper (hoo boy, as a young drummer, did I ever note it!), and for (I think) the last time they ever played "The Prisoner" - one of my faves then and now. Also, Mick's mum was apparently at the gig, in from Michigan.

I think Mick's mom mixed the Alright Now appearance. "Now why shouldn't my Michael not be 68 decibels higher than the rest of the band? He's such a hard-working boy. So let me at that fader, will you please?"

[TeddyB Not Logged In]

"The Clash are brought to you tonight by MXR, who are proud to introduce the brand new MXR Phase 90. MXR, when you need to play five times louder than everyone else."

Hey, it was new! And Keef & Woody used it on 'Some Girls' so, ya know...

Exactly! Don’t forget the Mesa Boogie too.

You probably know this, but the MXR Phase 90 (in tasteful orange) isn’t a “pedal”, just a box. The levels are hand-set. Didn’t work all that well for Keith on some of those outdoor ‘78 gigs, especially for anyone in the back.

[Heston]

Here's English Civil War to round the three tracks off...

[muppet hi fi]

Haha, I kinda like it in small doses but not whole gigs smothered in it.

Like September 12, 1979? Sounds like crossing the English Channel with rough tide But hey - still the single best gig I've ever seen and maybe even heard (though I don't know that my ears ever fully recovered from it - 10 feet in front of Mick's mic stand = 15 feet from his amps!).

He could have used a phased banjo for all I cared if I'd gotten to see them. Count yourself lucky, I was born 5 years too late.

Check out the boot of the show (Marky did a slight remix for me a few years ago, ask him for it) - it was only the 2nd show of the Take the Fifth tour and Mick must have just got the MXR phase pedal recently (they'd already done the Vanilla sessions but this show was the debut of six tracks from 'London Calling', and he clearly had no fucking idea how to use it (tastefully). The show's notable for its massive, orchestral sound, especially Topper (hoo boy, as a young drummer, did I ever note it!), and for (I think) the last time they ever played "The Prisoner" - one of my faves then and now. Also, Mick's mum was apparently at the gig, in from Michigan.

I think Mick's mom mixed the Alright Now appearance. "Now why shouldn't my Michael not be 68 decibels higher than the rest of the band? He's such a hard-working boy. So let me at that fader, will you please?"

Typical Jewish mom thing! But seriously, I wonder why they didn't go full on ska for "Israelites" - Topper's obviously prepared what with his his off-tempo high hat work, and anyway all Joe would have had to do would be mirror it ala "White Man". Still love the arrangement (and "Wrong'Em Boyo" was just around the corner).

[Heston]

"The Clash are brought to you tonight by MXR, who are proud to introduce the brand new MXR Phase 90. MXR, when you need to play five times louder than everyone else."

Hey, it was new! And Keef & Woody used it on 'Some Girls' so, ya know...

Exactly! Don’t forget the Mesa Boogie too.

You probably know this, but the MXR Phase 90 (in tasteful orange) isn’t a “pedal”, just a box. The levels are hand-set. Didn’t work all that well for Keith on some of those outdoor ‘78 gigs, especially for anyone in the back.

I had one but every song I played sounded like Jimmy Jazz so I sold it!

[muppet hi fi]

"The Clash are brought to you tonight by MXR, who are proud to introduce the brand new MXR Phase 90. MXR, when you need to play five times louder than everyone else."

Hey, it was new! And Keef & Woody used it on 'Some Girls' so, ya know...

Exactly! Don’t forget the Mesa Boogie too.

You probably know this, but the MXR Phase 90 (in tasteful orange) isn’t a “pedal”, just a box. The levels are hand-set. Didn’t work all that well for Keith on some of those outdoor ‘78 gigs, especially for anyone in the back.

No Teddy, I thought it was just a small box with hand-dials and a punch button (like most other later MXR effects, at least the one's guys I played with used). Not like the dedicated foot-punch pedal of, say, Ibanez pedals, but still a small button that could be stomped, yeah? (hey, you're the guitarist, I'll defer to you!).

[Heston]

"The Clash are brought to you tonight by MXR, who are proud to introduce the brand new MXR Phase 90. MXR, when you need to play five times louder than everyone else."

Hey, it was new! And Keef & Woody used it on 'Some Girls' so, ya know...

Exactly! Don’t forget the Mesa Boogie too.

You probably know this, but the MXR Phase 90 (in tasteful orange) isn’t a “pedal”, just a box. The levels are hand-set. Didn’t work all that well for Keith on some of those outdoor ‘78 gigs, especially for anyone in the back.

No Teddy, I thought it was just a small box with hand-dials and a punch button (like most other later MXR effects, at least the one's guys I played with used). Not like the dedicated foot-punch pedal of, say, Ibanez pedals, but still a small button that could be stomped, yeah? (hey, you're the guitarist, I'll defer to you!).

I remember it having a little button..

[muppet hi fi]

"The Clash are brought to you tonight by MXR, who are proud to introduce the brand new MXR Phase 90. MXR, when you need to play five times louder than everyone else."

Hey, it was new! And Keef & Woody used it on 'Some Girls' so, ya know...

Exactly! Don’t forget the Mesa Boogie too.

You probably know this, but the MXR Phase 90 (in tasteful orange) isn’t a “pedal”, just a box. The levels are hand-set. Didn’t work all that well for Keith on some of those outdoor ‘78 gigs, especially for anyone in the back.

No Teddy, I thought it was just a small box with hand-dials and a punch button (like most other later MXR effects, at least the one's guys I played with used). Not like the dedicated foot-punch pedal of, say, Ibanez pedals, but still a small button that could be stomped, yeah? (hey, you're the guitarist, I'll defer to you!).

I remember it having a little button..

...which Mick could easily have stomped 'off' for, oh, I dunno, "Safe European Home"...

[TeddyB Not Logged In]

"The Clash are brought to you tonight by MXR, who are proud to introduce the brand new MXR Phase 90. MXR, when you need to play five times louder than everyone else."

Hey, it was new! And Keef & Woody used it on 'Some Girls' so, ya know...

Exactly! Don’t forget the Mesa Boogie too.

You probably know this, but the MXR Phase 90 (in tasteful orange) isn’t a “pedal”, just a box. The levels are hand-set. Didn’t work all that well for Keith on some of those outdoor ‘78 gigs, especially for anyone in the back.

No Teddy, I thought it was just a small box with hand-dials and a punch button (like most other later MXR effects, at least the one's guys I played with used). Not like the dedicated foot-punch pedal of, say, Ibanez pedals, but still a small button that could be stomped, yeah? (hey, you're the guitarist, I'll defer to you!).

I'm sorry, I wasn't clear. You can absolutely stomp it on and off with your foot on the little button. You just can't use your foot like a pedal to alter how much or little effect you want like, say a Cry Baby wah wah. And I'm a lousy guitar player.

[muppet hi fi]

"The Clash are brought to you tonight by MXR, who are proud to introduce the brand new MXR Phase 90. MXR, when you need to play five times louder than everyone else."

Hey, it was new! And Keef & Woody used it on 'Some Girls' so, ya know...

Exactly! Don’t forget the Mesa Boogie too.

You probably know this, but the MXR Phase 90 (in tasteful orange) isn’t a “pedal”, just a box. The levels are hand-set. Didn’t work all that well for Keith on some of those outdoor ‘78 gigs, especially for anyone in the back.

No Teddy, I thought it was just a small box with hand-dials and a punch button (like most other later MXR effects, at least the one's guys I played with used). Not like the dedicated foot-punch pedal of, say, Ibanez pedals, but still a small button that could be stomped, yeah? (hey, you're the guitarist, I'll defer to you!).

I'm sorry, I wasn't clear. You can absolutely stomp it on and off with your foot on the little button. You just can't use your foot like a pedal to alter how much or little effect you want like, say a Cry Baby wah wah. And I'm a lousy guitar player.

Ah, gotcha. And by the way, judging by the late, great Blow-Up, you're a fine guitar player. No Steve Vai, but hey, not everyone can be!

[TeddyB Not Logged In]

Hey, it was new! And Keef & Woody used it on 'Some Girls' so, ya know...

Exactly! Don’t forget the Mesa Boogie too.

You probably know this, but the MXR Phase 90 (in tasteful orange) isn’t a “pedal”, just a box. The levels are hand-set. Didn’t work all that well for Keith on some of those outdoor ‘78 gigs, especially for anyone in the back.

No Teddy, I thought it was just a small box with hand-dials and a punch button (like most other later MXR effects, at least the one's guys I played with used). Not like the dedicated foot-punch pedal of, say, Ibanez pedals, but still a small button that could be stomped, yeah? (hey, you're the guitarist, I'll defer to you!).

I'm sorry, I wasn't clear. You can absolutely stomp it on and off with your foot on the little button. You just can't use your foot like a pedal to alter how much or little effect you want like, say a Cry Baby wah wah. And I'm a lousy guitar player.

Ah, gotcha. And by the way, judging by the late, great Blow-Up, you're a fine guitar player. No Steve Vai, but hey, not everyone can be!

Spare guitarist. Lead vocalizer. More Strummer than Jones. But thank you.

[BR16ADE_R055E]

As far as I'm aware this is the first appearance of the Israelites footage on YouTube...

Excellent. Thanks, Hes.

[laxman]

As far as I'm aware this is the first appearance of the Israelites footage on YouTube...

Excellent. Thanks, Hes.

Thanks Heston. I also enjoyed Youtube taking me to the Panic Report next. Saw a great live version of I Fought The Law.

[Hammy]

Another great cover from The Clash
(thanks for 'sticking it up')

[JohnS]

Haha, I kinda like it in small doses but not whole gigs smothered in it.

Like September 12, 1979? Sounds like crossing the English Channel with rough tide But hey - still the single best gig I've ever seen and maybe even heard (though I don't know that my ears ever fully recovered from it - 10 feet in front of Mick's mic stand = 15 feet from his amps!).

He could have used a phased banjo for all I cared if I'd gotten to see them. Count yourself lucky, I was born 5 years too late.

Check out the boot of the show (Marky did a slight remix for me a few years ago, ask him for it) - it was only the 2nd show of the Take the Fifth tour and Mick must have just got the MXR phase pedal recently (they'd already done the Vanilla sessions but this show was the debut of six tracks from 'London Calling', and he clearly had no fucking idea how to use it (tastefully). The show's notable for its massive, orchestral sound, especially Topper (hoo boy, as a young drummer, did I ever note it!), and for (I think) the last time they ever played "The Prisoner" - one of my faves then and now. Also, Mick's mum was apparently at the gig, in from Michigan.

I think Mick's mom mixed the Alright Now appearance. "Now why shouldn't my Michael not be 68 decibels higher than the rest of the band? He's such a hard-working boy. So let me at that fader, will you please?"

Don't forget, Mick's guitar had to compete with that suit Den Hegarty's wearing, surely the loudest thing in the studio