Are You Red..Y
| Cut the Crap | |||||
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| Studio album by The Clash | |||||
| Released | 4 November 1985 | ||||
| Recorded | January–March 1985 | ||||
| Genre | Punk rock, post-punk | ||||
| Length | 38:21 | ||||
| Label | Epic | ||||
| Producer | Jose Unidos | ||||
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| The Clash chronology | |||||
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Cut the Crap is The Clash’s final album, originally released in 1985 as the follow-up to Combat Rock (1982), this was the first Clash record since Topper Headon was dismissed from the group in 1982 and Mick Jones’ departure from the group in 1983.
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Album information
According to guitarist Vince White the working title of the record was Out of Control, the title was changed to Cut the Crap by Bernie Rhodes shortly before its release without consulting the band. Bernie Rhodes also produced the record, using the alias of Jose Unidos (presumably to suggest Joe Strummer was the producer).
“This Is England” was the only song from Cut the Crap included on the The Essential Clash and Singles Box compilations, though no track from the album was included on either the three disc Clash box set Clash on Broadway, or the 1988 compilation The Story of the Clash, Volume 1.
In the summer of 2000 this album was remastered and re-released in Europe only with a bonus track “Do It Now”. The reissue was unannounced and had no promotion whatsoever. It came after the rest of the band’s catalog had been reissued in December 1999 (January 2000 in the U.S.).
“This Is England” was featured on the Singles Box Set (released in 2006) along with the single’s b-sides “Do It Now” and “Sex Mad Roar”.
Reception
Critical and commercial reception to the record was poor aside from the single “This Is England.” Jones’s absence coupled with drummer Topper Headon having been kicked out (unable to cope with his on-going heroin addiction) led many to regard Cut the Crap as a Joe Strummer solo album. One of the main reasons for the album’s shortcomings was Joe Strummer becoming disillusioned with the group and also grieving the deaths of his parents. Strummer would later disown the album. In an interview in 1989 he commented about the new members “I often think of those guys. I hope it didn’t mess up their lives too much”.
Accordingly, the album has been disowned by purists of Clash history, including the former band; it was not even mentioned in the Clash documentary Westway to the World.
Track listing
All tracks were credited to Joe Strummer and Bernard Rhodes.
- “Dictator” – 3:00
- “Dirty Punk” – 3:11
- “We Are the Clash” – 3:02
- “Are You Red..Y” – 3:01
- “Cool Under Heat” – 3:21
- “Movers and Shakers” – 3:01
- “This Is England” – 3:49
- “Three Card Trick” – 3:09
- “Play to Win” – 3:06
- “Fingerpoppin’” – 3:25
- “North and South” – 3:32
- “Life is Wild” – 2:39
Bonus Tracks
The following tracks appeared on the 2000 re-release of the album.
- “Do It Now” - 3:08
Personnel
Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon were the only original Clash members that actually appeared on the album.
- Joe Strummer – vocals
- Nick Sheppard – guitar, vocals on “North and South” and “Play to Win”
- Mickey Gallagher – keyboards and synthesizers
- Norman Watt-Roy – bass
- Bernie Rhodes – drum machine programming
- Vince White – additional guitar on “Do It Now”
- Paul Simonon – additional bass on “Do It Now”
- Pete Howard – additional drums on “Do It Now”
References
- Gilbert, Pat (2005). Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash, 4th edition, London: Aurum Press. ISBN 1845131134. OCLC 61177239.
- Gray, Marcus (2005). The Clash: Return of the Last Gang in Town, 5th revised edition, London: Helter Skelter. ISBN 1905139101. OCLC 60668626.
- Green, Johnny; Garry Barker (2003). A Riot of Our Own: Night and Day with The Clash, 3rd edition, London: Orion. ISBN 0752858432. OCLC 52990890.
- Gruen, Bob; Chris Salewicz (2004). The Clash, 3rd edition, London: Omnibus. ISBN 1903399343. OCLC 69241279.
- Needs, Kris (2005-01-25). Joe Strummer and the Legend of the Clash. London: Plexus. ISBN 085965348X. OCLC 53155325.
- Topping, Keith (2004). The Complete Clash, 2nd edition, Richmond: Reynolds & Hearn. ISBN 1903111706. OCLC 63129186.