The Clash observations thread.

[Kory]

Oh definitely possible. The tune feels very rockabilly/cajun which both Paul and Joe were big on at the time. So I think maybe a joint effort could be a solid guess.

Do you think topper contributed more than given credit for? I mean like for melodies, chords that sort of stuff. I mean he was more musically accomplished/well rounded than Paul in many ways.

Other than "Casbah" I doubt it. Mick and Joe covered enough ground.

I agree but That’s just such a fully realized tune that I’m amazed. So much wasted potential that the four of them couldn’t have stayed together. Not a new sentiment I know.

I would point you to his so called solo material after he left The Clash. Nothing matches "Casbah".

It's likely hard to write at that caliber when you don't have your friends around to support you, plus you're deeper into addiction to medicate your depression at being sacked. Not very conducive to creativity, I'm sure.

[Dr. Medulla]

Do you think topper contributed more than given credit for? I mean like for melodies, chords that sort of stuff. I mean he was more musically accomplished/well rounded than Paul in many ways.

Other than "Casbah" I doubt it. Mick and Joe covered enough ground.

I agree but That’s just such a fully realized tune that I’m amazed. So much wasted potential that the four of them couldn’t have stayed together. Not a new sentiment I know.

I would point you to his so called solo material after he left The Clash. Nothing matches "Casbah".

It's likely hard to write at that caliber when you don't have your friends around to support you, plus you're deeper into addiction to medicate your depression at being sacked. Not very conducive to creativity, I'm sure.

High modernism is predicated on that very requirement, in essence. Only by being fully alienated can your work demonstrate the fundamental alienating nature of modern life. Surely you're not saying the idea of the starving, miserable artist is incorrect, sir!

[Marky Dread]

Do you think topper contributed more than given credit for? I mean like for melodies, chords that sort of stuff. I mean he was more musically accomplished/well rounded than Paul in many ways.

Other than "Casbah" I doubt it. Mick and Joe covered enough ground.

I agree but That’s just such a fully realized tune that I’m amazed. So much wasted potential that the four of them couldn’t have stayed together. Not a new sentiment I know.

I would point you to his so called solo material after he left The Clash. Nothing matches "Casbah".

It's likely hard to write at that caliber when you don't have your friends around to support you, plus you're deeper into addiction to medicate your depression at being sacked. Not very conducive to creativity, I'm sure.

All the above is correct. But the "Waking Up" album was made after Topper had been through re-hab.

My comment wasn't a put down on what Topper was capable of. But of the fact that "Casbah" was just a short Instrumental jam he had worked on. It had to be doubled in length to produce the track. It was said in response to RNRW asking if Topper was responsible for more stuff like melodies etc.

I'm probably one of the few that enjoys Waking Up but again Topper couldn't of made that album alone. As with "Casbah" being a great tune it still needed Mick's input and a great Joe lyric.

[Kory]

Other than "Casbah" I doubt it. Mick and Joe covered enough ground.

I agree but That’s just such a fully realized tune that I’m amazed. So much wasted potential that the four of them couldn’t have stayed together. Not a new sentiment I know.

I would point you to his so called solo material after he left The Clash. Nothing matches "Casbah".

It's likely hard to write at that caliber when you don't have your friends around to support you, plus you're deeper into addiction to medicate your depression at being sacked. Not very conducive to creativity, I'm sure.

High modernism is predicated on that very requirement, in essence. Only by being fully alienated can your work demonstrate the fundamental alienating nature of modern life. Surely you're not saying the idea of the starving, miserable artist is incorrect, sir!

I guess I just identify with people who don't reach great heights since I live with perpetual writer's block and also fail to reach any heights.

[Low Down Low]

I presume Topper had a hand in the writing of Ivan, not sure how much though. Really like his vocals on that one and shame he didn't have another one or two to be at least in line with Paul.

[Dr. Medulla]

I agree but That’s just such a fully realized tune that I’m amazed. So much wasted potential that the four of them couldn’t have stayed together. Not a new sentiment I know.

I would point you to his so called solo material after he left The Clash. Nothing matches "Casbah".

It's likely hard to write at that caliber when you don't have your friends around to support you, plus you're deeper into addiction to medicate your depression at being sacked. Not very conducive to creativity, I'm sure.

High modernism is predicated on that very requirement, in essence. Only by being fully alienated can your work demonstrate the fundamental alienating nature of modern life. Surely you're not saying the idea of the starving, miserable artist is incorrect, sir!

I guess I just identify with people who don't reach great heights since I live with perpetual writer's block and also fail to reach any heights.

That's what makes you a true triumphant artist. Show me a respect and comfortable artist and I'll show you a fraud!

[Kory]

I would point you to his so called solo material after he left The Clash. Nothing matches "Casbah".

It's likely hard to write at that caliber when you don't have your friends around to support you, plus you're deeper into addiction to medicate your depression at being sacked. Not very conducive to creativity, I'm sure.

High modernism is predicated on that very requirement, in essence. Only by being fully alienated can your work demonstrate the fundamental alienating nature of modern life. Surely you're not saying the idea of the starving, miserable artist is incorrect, sir!

I guess I just identify with people who don't reach great heights since I live with perpetual writer's block and also fail to reach any heights.

That's what makes you a true triumphant artist. Show me a respect and comfortable artist and I'll show you a fraud!

That Damien Hirst is full of shit, man.

[Dr. Medulla]

It's likely hard to write at that caliber when you don't have your friends around to support you, plus you're deeper into addiction to medicate your depression at being sacked. Not very conducive to creativity, I'm sure.

High modernism is predicated on that very requirement, in essence. Only by being fully alienated can your work demonstrate the fundamental alienating nature of modern life. Surely you're not saying the idea of the starving, miserable artist is incorrect, sir!

I guess I just identify with people who don't reach great heights since I live with perpetual writer's block and also fail to reach any heights.

That's what makes you a true triumphant artist. Show me a respect and comfortable artist and I'll show you a fraud!

That Damien Hirst is full of shit, man.

I swear, if you ever gain recognition and success, I'll scorn you on principle.

[matedog]

Oh definitely possible. The tune feels very rockabilly/cajun which both Paul and Joe were big on at the time. So I think maybe a joint effort could be a solid guess.

Do you think topper contributed more than given credit for? I mean like for melodies, chords that sort of stuff. I mean he was more musically accomplished/well rounded than Paul in many ways.

Other than "Casbah" I doubt it. Mick and Joe covered enough ground.

I agree but That’s just such a fully realized tune that I’m amazed. So much wasted potential that the four of them couldn’t have stayed together. Not a new sentiment I know.

I would point you to his so called solo material after he left The Clash. Nothing matches "Casbah".

Not having one of the best vocalists and lyricists singing your songs also doesn't help.

[Silent Majority]

Should there have been a Topper vocal on RAD?

[Kory]

Should there have been a Topper vocal on RAD?

Paul's vocal is and always will be rad, and RAD. It makes total sense to me. Personally, I know the alley...

I can't imagine how Joe would have even delivered that song anyway.

[Kory]

High modernism is predicated on that very requirement, in essence. Only by being fully alienated can your work demonstrate the fundamental alienating nature of modern life. Surely you're not saying the idea of the starving, miserable artist is incorrect, sir!

I guess I just identify with people who don't reach great heights since I live with perpetual writer's block and also fail to reach any heights.

That's what makes you a true triumphant artist. Show me a respect and comfortable artist and I'll show you a fraud!

That Damien Hirst is full of shit, man.

I swear, if you ever gain recognition and success, I'll scorn you on principle.

I would prefer that you do. I expect I'd have a very Joe-like ambivalence about it. PTSD from when "selling out" was still a major concern among anybody.

[Guest1]

Oh definitely possible. The tune feels very rockabilly/cajun which both Paul and Joe were big on at the time. So I think maybe a joint effort could be a solid guess.

Do you think topper contributed more than given credit for? I mean like for melodies, chords that sort of stuff. I mean he was more musically accomplished/well rounded than Paul in many ways.

Other than "Casbah" I doubt it. Mick and Joe covered enough ground.

I agree but That’s just such a fully realized tune that I’m amazed. So much wasted potential that the four of them couldn’t have stayed together. Not a new sentiment I know.

I would point you to his so called solo material after he left The Clash. Nothing matches "Casbah".

You could argue that he was far too drug addled at that point.

[Marky Dread]

Do you think topper contributed more than given credit for? I mean like for melodies, chords that sort of stuff. I mean he was more musically accomplished/well rounded than Paul in many ways.

Other than "Casbah" I doubt it. Mick and Joe covered enough ground.

I agree but That’s just such a fully realized tune that I’m amazed. So much wasted potential that the four of them couldn’t have stayed together. Not a new sentiment I know.

I would point you to his so called solo material after he left The Clash. Nothing matches "Casbah".

You could argue that he was far too drug addled at that point.

"casbah". It's a very good track but it still needed Mick and Joe.

[Guest1]

Other than "Casbah" I doubt it. Mick and Joe covered enough ground.

I agree but That’s just such a fully realized tune that I’m amazed. So much wasted potential that the four of them couldn’t have stayed together. Not a new sentiment I know.

I would point you to his so called solo material after he left The Clash. Nothing matches "Casbah".

You could argue that he was far too drug addled at that point.

"casbah". It's a very good track but it still needed Mick and Joe.

Have we ever gotten a glance at those "super raunchy" early lyrics Topper wrote up? Can you get any more cringe than lovers rock?