Move Up Starsky

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ISBN-13-978095485681

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Rather than starting at the beginning, it is the third book that looks at the making of the first Clash album, with some emphasis on how the band had started and road tested their songs. Some made it to the album, others fell by the wayside or became fantastic B-Sides. As usual the more you dig into the story, the more interesting it becomes. There is some focus on the live performances and tours prior to any studio recordings, and post album release too.

As usual I like to look at the people around the band that assisted so well in “making things happen.” Like the songs, some fell by the wayside over the years, others remained by the band’s side, perhaps a result of changes in chemistry, personal Issues…..or just wishing to move on and do something different.

Also included are some contributions from people “outside the circle” whose thoughts and recollections help to embellish the storyline from around that time and others who took the DIY approach which both the band and Punk’s initial wave encouraged us all to do and are still doing it 40 odd years later.

The Clash were I believe quite heavily under the influence of Reggae at the time, both musically and culturally and especially herbily. You might not think it from the ear-splitting 100 mph onslaught of the music, buts its there, and it remained with them, while also absorbing other styles old and new throughout their career.

As usual in the story, there is controversy throughout. The Anarchy Tour, The Big Record Label “sellout”, the endless auditions to find a more permanent drummer, and of course Bernie Rhodes perhaps orchestrating events and adding chaos and tension into the mix.

506 Pages including colour pictures of the now many album formats, and an extensive range of unofficial Bootleg recordings.

Front cover Clash Graphic provided again by the even more legendary Nob Suzuki.

Was this really the album they were afraid of?

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