Pure Punk Picks
The Clash – “Complete Control”
I bought some EP by The Clash at a record store I think, Import Records, in Harvard Square around 77/78. I had already bought the imported first Clash album there. I had to pay imported prices because the American part of their record company didn’t deem it financially worthy to be released in the states at that time.
I lost that EP and can find no verification of it’s existence on the internet, making me think, it must have been some kind of bootleg. But it did feature some songs not on the UK release, later released on the US version, and one of those songs was “Complete Control.”
I saw The Clash at the Orpheum Theatre in 79/80 along with The Undertones and sixties R&B stars Sam & Dave. (The later I had seen in a small club in Cambridge six months before.) It was and still is, the best concert I’ve ever seen.
One thing that I like about this song is it’s not a typical punk one. It has tempo changes and dynamics, much like a really great tune by The Who might’ve sounded like. But along with more passion and urgency and grit than anything that band ever put out. Plus there’s also a great, Johnny Thunders like solo in here- this song is forceful, energetic, passionate and real.
And maybe you’re saying, “Doesn’t that description fit many songs by The Clash?”
True, but for me, when the song really ignites towards the end, when Joe Strummer proclaims, “I don’t judge you. Why do you judge me? Uhh?” And then the echo-y vocals along with the tightrope, twinkling guitar notes lead into the nose-diving, crushing rhythms, colliding vocals that moves the song fiery along, escalating into a pure punk passion ride to oblivion and ecstasy- I’m thrust into sonic paradise eternally.
I’m not even sure if this song is punk at it’s finest, or rock’n’roll at it’s finest- I just know for me, that for sure, this is music at it’s finest, it’s best.
And at The Clash concert, out of my seat, rushing towards the end of the balcony, that was bouncing up and down from the weight of the bodies upon it, inflamed by the music. I thought afterwards- that we might rush outside the theatre and turn over cars on the street and set them on fire. Then march towards City Hall and torch that, too.
That didn’t happen.
Instead, I had to settle for my life being turned over and set on fire. And my mind burning up with ideas and feelings and my soul burning up, as well. As it is –
burning still.
(Slimedog)
