Sunday, August 29, 2021

Scratched

Longtime Jamaican record producer Lee "Scratch" Perry had died at 85. He worked on a billion records, one of which of course was Complete Control by The Clash:

The ‘Upsetter’ was already cognisant of and approving of The Clash’s punky/ reggae take on ‘Police & Thieves’, a song which he had co-written and produced with the lilting-voiced Junior Murvin. In fact, he’d been so impressed with The Clash’s take that he had tacked a picture of them just above his mixing console in tribute to them. Happenstance also plays a role here, because Perry happened to be in London at that very same moment with Bob Marley & the Wailers. Much to the delight of The Clash Perry agreed to produce the ‘Complete Control’ recording sessions.

I always wondered why with their fascination with dub & reggae they'd get their mitts on Perry they'd do a straight-up rocker but it's one of my Top 3 Clash songs so who am I argue?

No comments: