Monday, March 15, 2010

Classic 12-inch Singles: BIG AUDIO DYNAMITE - THE BOTTOM LINE


What a fantastic start. Right out of the gate....
In 1985. The debut single from Mick Jones' post-Clash project had everything we could have all hoped for. Great guitar, wonderful chorus, Hip/Hop beats and samples......it was ....just...."Cool". Strange how things would go downhill from here, but for a few minutes in early 1985, We all didn't know what to think of Joe Strummer kicking Mick out of the Clash. Then the Clash put out "Cut The Crap" and Mick and Co. put out THIS. Who could argue otherwise that Joe had made a terrible mistake. Of coarse later the two would patch things up. Joe appeared on the second Big Audio Dynamite album and it was almost like a mini-Clash reuinion. We all held on to that small glimmer of hope that it was only a matter of time before the Clash would re-form again. Joe's heart attack and death at age 50 had changed all that. Sad. But let's get all mopey and maudlin. Let's just listen to the first single from B.A.D. In all it's forms. (and it's B-sides as well). Sounds as good now as it did 25 years ago.