What was the actual songwriting split?
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Guest1
What was the actual songwriting split?
A lot of the songs are credited to Strummer/Jones but did Joe ever write any chord progressions for the band? My impression was that he wrote the bulk of the lyrics and Mick obviously took care of the chords. Riffs, leads etc...
Sorry if this comes across as a real newbie question. I’ve been a fan of the clash for years but always heard that joe hardly ever laid down guitar tracks even in the studio, that was mostly Mick. Obviously doesn’t diminish his role in band in any shape or form as the worlds greatest frontman but still interesting nonetheless.
Sorry if this comes across as a real newbie question. I’ve been a fan of the clash for years but always heard that joe hardly ever laid down guitar tracks even in the studio, that was mostly Mick. Obviously doesn’t diminish his role in band in any shape or form as the worlds greatest frontman but still interesting nonetheless.
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Re: What was the actual songwriting split?
He did write riffs and he did play in the studio. He liked to downplay his guitar skills, but was better than he gave himself credit for. There is a thread somewhere with the broken down songwriting credits but I can't find it.RockNRollWhore wrote: ↑17 Apr 2021, 8:37pmA lot of the songs are credited to Strummer/Jones but did Joe ever write any chord progressions for the band? My impression was that he wrote the bulk of the lyrics and Mick obviously took care of the chords. Riffs, leads etc...
Sorry if this comes across as a real newbie question. I’ve been a fan of the clash for years but always heard that joe hardly ever laid down guitar tracks even in the studio, that was mostly Mick. Obviously doesn’t diminish his role in band in any shape or form as the worlds greatest frontman but still interesting nonetheless.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
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Re: What was the actual songwriting split?
Also, I'm pretty sure Joe and Mick were in a publishing partnership like Lennon and McCartney where if one of them wrote a song it had to be credited to the pair of them. The fact there is not one solo writing credit for either of them across 150 songs bears this out.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
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Guest1
Re: What was the actual songwriting split?
Interesting. It’s hard to tell their writing styles apart. I always though protex blue had to have been a strummer composition. Very 101ers rockabilly sort of thing but alas it’s an old London SS song so what do I know.Heston wrote: ↑17 Apr 2021, 10:06pmAlso, I'm pretty sure Joe and Mick were in a publishing partnership like Lennon and McCartney where if one of them wrote a song it had to be credited to the pair of them. The fact there is not one solo writing credit for either of them across 150 songs bears this out.
Re: What was the actual songwriting split?
CK has a chapter hypothesizing about this in his Clash City Showdown. I haven't read it in a while but as I recall, he tended to throw the guitar parts to Joe that used a lot of short, stabbing phrasing.
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Re: What was the actual songwriting split?
I think a lot of people naturally assume that Mick wrote the lyrics for the songs he sings but I'm not sure if that was always the case. Aside from Lost in the Supermarket, Up In Heaven seems a Joe lyric, as does Inoculated City.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
Re: What was the actual songwriting split?
Similarly, I don't think most people would intuit that Complete Control is a Mick song.
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Re: What was the actual songwriting split?
And Janie Jones.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
Re: What was the actual songwriting split?
It's also weird that Mick seems to misremember some of these things. I remember Route 19 was very clear about I think Card Cheat being a Joe lyric but Mick saying differently recently.
Edit - When this was discussed here: https://clashcity.com/boards/viewtopic. ... 37#p159137
Look, you have to establish context for these things. And I maintain that unless you appreciate the Fall of Constantinople, the Great Fire of London, and Mickey Mantle's fatalist alcoholism, live Freddy makes no sense. If you want to half-ass it, fine, go call Simon Schama to do the appendix.
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Re: What was the actual songwriting split?
I don’t know the specifics, but Mick’s memory is extraordinarily good. It’s amazing what he remembers, not only about the Clash.
Re: What was the actual songwriting split?
The Prisoner seems VERY Joe to me, same with Gates of the West.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc
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Re: What was the actual songwriting split?
No chance of a book one day, Teddy?TeddyB Not Logged In wrote: ↑19 Apr 2021, 3:39pmI don’t know the specifics, but Mick’s memory is extraordinarily good. It’s amazing what he remembers, not only about the Clash.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
Re: What was the actual songwriting split?
I would jump on that so damn quick. I wonder if Mick's predilection for always looking forward would preclude such an endeavor.Heston wrote: ↑19 Apr 2021, 5:24pmNo chance of a book one day, Teddy?TeddyB Not Logged In wrote: ↑19 Apr 2021, 3:39pmI don’t know the specifics, but Mick’s memory is extraordinarily good. It’s amazing what he remembers, not only about the Clash.
"Suck our Earth dick, Martians!" —Doc
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Re: What was the actual songwriting split?
Topper's book seems to have gone MIA.Kory wrote: ↑19 Apr 2021, 6:26pmI would jump on that so damn quick. I wonder if Mick's predilection for always looking forward would preclude such an endeavor.Heston wrote: ↑19 Apr 2021, 5:24pmNo chance of a book one day, Teddy?TeddyB Not Logged In wrote: ↑19 Apr 2021, 3:39pmI don’t know the specifics, but Mick’s memory is extraordinarily good. It’s amazing what he remembers, not only about the Clash.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
Re: What was the actual songwriting split?
And Bernies too. Though he said he’d personally email me when it becomes available.Heston wrote: ↑20 Apr 2021, 12:44amTopper's book seems to have gone MIA.Kory wrote: ↑19 Apr 2021, 6:26pmI would jump on that so damn quick. I wonder if Mick's predilection for always looking forward would preclude such an endeavor.Heston wrote: ↑19 Apr 2021, 5:24pmNo chance of a book one day, Teddy?TeddyB Not Logged In wrote: ↑19 Apr 2021, 3:39pmI don’t know the specifics, but Mick’s memory is extraordinarily good. It’s amazing what he remembers, not only about the Clash.
Look, you have to establish context for these things. And I maintain that unless you appreciate the Fall of Constantinople, the Great Fire of London, and Mickey Mantle's fatalist alcoholism, live Freddy makes no sense. If you want to half-ass it, fine, go call Simon Schama to do the appendix.