February 11, 2011

Uncovered: "Police On My Back"


For the Clash, "Police On My Back" meant a slashing electric guitar riff and a riotous anti-establishment sing-along—a standout track on the band's 1980 36-track triple-album Sandinista! The song was however originally written and released by London's Equals in 1967—a  Jamaican "rude boy"-influenced and lightly psychedelic work of British pop that featured a pre-"Electric Avenue" Eddy Grant on lead vocals. The Clash didn't reinvent the wheel here, but they did give international legs to an excellent track few outside the United Kingdom would have ever otherwise heard.

Stream: Equals - "Police On My Back"


Stream: The Clash - "Police On My Back"


Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros

1 comment:

  1. I never realized before how much the guitar riff sounds like a siren. great track.

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