Friday, July 20, 2012

Your Friday Clash Song: Don’t … Touch … That … Dial




“Capital Radio One,” originally on the hard-to-find Capital Radio EP (1977), subsequently re-recorded with new lyrics and released as “Capital Radio Two” on The Cost of Living EP (1979) and Super Black Market Clash (1994). And there’s a great live version on Live: From Here To Eternity (1999).
Given the horrible tragedy in Aurora, Colorado last night, I’m in no mood for politics or for rants in general. What I know is this. A six year old child – among many others – was shot and killed for attending a Batman movie. There’s no political message there. There’s just a dead six year old child. And unspeakable sadness.
So, rather than dwelling on what happened and why, I’m going to put on my headphones and listen to some pure punk from The Only Band That Mattered. Or Matters. It’s not that those aren’t important questions. Obviously, they are. But they simply can’t be answered in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy, and attempting to cobble together a meaningful analysis while we’re still not quite able to wrap our brains around the utter horribleness of the event will almost certainly obscure the truth.
Searching for answers should wait until we know the actual facts. And then, by all means, ask away. Analyze it to death. Just wait for the facts first.
In the meantime:
There’s a tower in the heart of London
With a radio station right at the top
They don’t make the city beat
They make all the action stop …
And just because I care, here’s a special bonus: A live recording of “Capital Radio One” and “Janie Jones” from 1977:



You’re welcome, America.
Your Friday Clash Song. Turn. It. Up.

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