There are so many tremendous Clash boots, it's tough to turn the spotlight on just one. But when it comes to finding a recording that captures everything that was special about the band, from the performance to the context in which they delivered it, it's tough to beat this one from their legendary 17-gig residency at Bond's Casino in New York, during the tour to promote Sandinista! in the summer of 1981.
This bootleg was recorded live at Bond's Casino on June 4, 1981 in New York City.
The club was formerly Bonds department store, which had been converted into a large second-floor hall. Promoters kept the name because there was a large Bonds sign on the outside of the building. As The Clash had not yet broken out into mass popularity, eight shows were originally scheduled.
Strict interpretation of the fire laws meant that audiences were relatively small and the concerts had a feeling of intimacy that future Clash shows in arenas could never recapture. Audience members clambered onto the stage to join in singalongs. New York musicians, including Pearl Harbor, assisted and overseen by Andy Dunkley, provided disc jockey services as the audience entered and gathered.
The concert captures The Clash on the cusp between being a cult band and their short-lived major market penetration. As always with The Clash, even in their arena days, ticket prices were set relatively low.
The show is blistering from start to finish. Excellent performances of the songs, especially London Calling and The Magnificent Seven. Ivan Meets G.I. Joe is particularly faithful to the studio version as well and you’ll notice the drumming becomes a tad weaker as Topper diverts his efforts to singing and remembering the lyrics! The Guns Of Brixton is a truly excellent version. Police & Thieves deserves a mention - there’s a bit of a pause before it kicks in “Yeah this is Police & Thieves” - and Charlie Don’t Surf is one of the best live versions. The band seem to struggle a bit performing Broadway, but a great version can be found on the London Lyceum 1981 show. In total there are eleven tracks from Sandinista!, which is nearly half the set, and what with the addition of Radio Clash - again perhaps the best live performance of this song - it leaves little room for older material. Never fear though, because White Man is in there and is excellent (though there is a slight glitch in the recording 1 minute 38 seconds in) and the traditional near the end track Janie Jones is another excellent performance. Complete Control is the exact same version as that which appeared on the official live album - they also get the date wrong in the inner notes saying it was June 13th. A great performance, one of the best of this great song.
I had the privilege of seeing The Clash once, although slightly later and in a somewhat bigger venue. There performance in Edmonton at the Kinsmen Field House is burned into my memory forever. If musical time travel were possible, these shows at Bond's would be way up there on my list of destinations.
CD1:
1. London Calling
2. Safe European Home
3. The Leader
4. Train In Vain
5. (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
6. This Is Radio Clash
7. Corner Soul
8. The Guns Of Brixton
9. The Call Up
10. Bankrobber
11. Complete Control
12. Lightning Strikes (Not Once But Twice)
13. Ivan Meets G.I. Joe
CD2:
1. Charlie Don’t Surf
2. The Magnificent Seven
3. Broadway
4. Somebody Got Murdered
5. Police & Thieves
6. Clampdown7. One More Time
8. Brand New Cadillac
9. The Street Parade
10. Janie Jones
11. Washington Bullets / Outro - Armagideon Time
http://rapidshare.com/files/21794218/CCNY1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/21815685/CCNY2.rar
