SATCH'S FORUMS 1700 -
"JOE STRUMMER & THE MESCALEROS - ULTRA RARE TRAX - LIVE"

This compilation was a no-brainer. With recently released "Streetcore" it was just a matter of tracking down live versions of songs from that album. I have tried to make this one in chronological order as much as possible. Obviously not all tracks from "Streetcore" were played live but I have added bits and pieces I think come close, especially the inclusion of Joe's "London Calling" BBC radio shows. I also included those songs that were only performed once during the Mescaleros 1999-2002 tours.

It starts with a snippet from the BBC radio show that Joe did in 1998 He as a guest DJ on this hourly show, of which there were 8 in total, introduced various world music that he was so fond of. Then it segues into an acoustic version of "Island Hopping", "Junco Partner" and "London's Burning" that Joe and Pablo Cook performed at the poetry Olympics in 2000.

Then few classic versions of Clash tunes - "Rock the Casbah" from the Hultsfred Festival in Sweden, then "Tommy Gun" from Irving Plaza, 1999 where yours truly was fortunate enough to be there in person, to be able to see Joe again after almost 17 year gap. Then there is "Hang on Sloopie" which was originally done by the McCoys. "Folk Riot" is a slow, folksy version of "White Riot". Then a killer version of "Lose This Skin" as Joe says was recorded "22 years to date tonight" and played to an enthusiastic audience at the St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn, NY in April 2002.

"Sanposuru Harajuku" is a quirky, slow song. I am not too sure who wrote this tune, but in Japanese it means "A Stroll Through Harajuku". Harajuku is an area in Tokyo where on weekends, hipsters hang out. You may have seen a B&W photo of the Clash dancing with Japanese kids who are wearing leather jackets, spike hair circa 1982. "Guitar Slinger Man" is a song that Joe co-wrote with Brian Setzer. Again this was only played live once.

"Walk On The Wild Side" was a cool cover introduced at St. Ann's. "1969" is Joe's tribute to Iggy Pop and the Stooges. "Dakar Mean Time" for some time was rumored to be included in "Streetcore" but never was. Then the next group of songs - "Coma Girl", "Get Down Moses" and "Before I Grow Too Old" of course are in "Streetcore". Live version of "Get Down Moses" is far superior to version included in the album many fans seem to say. I agree. Having heard it live, I can tell you it was thrilling to hear for the first time.

"Sand Paper Blues" included here is from the "London Calling" BBC Radio Show. The very last track is from a radio show that Joe was a guest (along with Stevie Wonder) on Bob Dylan's 60th birthday. So sit back, close your eyes and listen to Joe and the Mescaleros and be happy that Joe went out on top. Never too much, never too little. Just right. That was Joe.

Here is the track list:

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