Record #0874: Should I Stay or Should I Go? / Cool Confusion – THE CLASH

Epic 34-03547 (original, but not the first release), USA, February 1983
Words & Music by:  Side A – the Clash; Side B – the Clash
Musicians: Mick Jones (lead vocals, guitar), Joe Strummer (guitar, backing vocals), Paul Simonon (bass), Topper Headon (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by the Clash; Side A – at Ear Studios, London, UK, in September 1981 and at the Garden Studio in Hampshire, UK, in April 1982; Side B – at Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village, New York, NY, in late 1981
Highest chart positions:  Side A - US #45, US Rock #13, UK #17, Canada #40, Ireland #16; Side B - none

Side A was the Clash’s only UK #1 song, but it took some time and help to get there. Despite being a fan-favourite rock classic, the song originally peaked modestly when it first came out in 1982. It only reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in March 1991—nearly ten years later—after being featured heavily in a popular television commercial for Levi's.

Right near the beginning of the song, lead vocalist and guitarist Mick Jones can be heard shouting "Split!" The small, raw vocal outburst happened because Jones was unexpectedly startled or caught off-guard during the live studio performance, and the band decided to leave it right on the master tape.

Side B was originally recorded for a planned double album titled “Rat Patrol from Fort Bragg”, which was heavily mixed and conceptualized by Mick Jones. Due to internal band friction, manager Bernie Rhodes brought in legendary producer Glyn Johns to cut down and remix the project into a single album (Combat Rock). "Cool Confusion" was axed from the main track list and saved exclusively as this single's B-side.

The first US release of “Should I Stay or Should I Go” was on Epic 14-03006, which came out on 10. July 1982 with “Inoculated City” on the flipside.

List price: The median price at discogs.com is 6,30 euros. I found three copies sold in eBay for €16-€26.

 

Record #0873: Bits and Pieces / All of the Time – THE DAVE CLARK FIVE

Columbia 45-DYC 1167 (original), Finland, spring 1964
Words & Music by:  Side A – Dave Clark, Mike Smith; Side B – Dave Clark, Mike Smith
Musicians: Mike Smith (lead vocals, keyboards, piano), Dave Clark (vocals),Lenny Davidson (guitar, vocals), Rick Huxley (vocals), Denis Payton (tenor sax,vocals), Bobby Graham (drums), Eric Ford (bass)
Recording sessions: Produced by Dave Clark and Adrian Kerridge at Lansdowne Studios, London, UK, in late 1963
Highest chart positions:  Side A - UK #2, US #4, Canada #1, Ireland #1, Australia #4, Sweden #9; Side B - none

While Dave Clark was the face, leader, and namesake of the band, he did not actually play the drums on the studio recording of these tracks. The intense, iconic drum tracks were secretly played by legendary British session drummer Bobby Graham. This was one of the music industry's worst-kept secrets of the 1960s, as Clark preferred to focus on producing and managing the band's business assets while Graham laid down the heavy beats in the studio.

The A-side features a heavy, driving "stomp" sound created by the band members and session musicians physically stomping their feet on the wooden floorboards of Lansdowne Studios, amplified with a distinct echo chamber effect. This aggressive, loud sound became the hallmark of the "Tottenham Sound." However, the stamping was so violent that it caused structural damage to the studio's ceiling below, leading the management to temporarily ban the band from doing it again.

Eric Ford plays bass as a session musician here, but he joined the group in 1970 to replace Rick Huxley.

List price: I didn’t find any prices nor sold copies of this. I’d value this at 5-10 euros in VG+ condition.

 

Record #0872: When / Three O’Clock Thrill – KALIN TWINS

Rhythm 45-BM 05751 (original), Finland, 1958
Words & Music by:  Side A – Jack Reardon, Paul Evans; Side B – Jack Keller, Noel Sherman
Musicians: Herbie Kalin (vocals), Hal Kalin (vocals) with an orchestra & chorus conducted by Jack Pleis
Recording sessions: Produced by Jack Pleis at Decca Studio A, Pythian Temple, New York, NY, 26. March 1958
Highest chart positions:  US #5, US R&B #1, US Country #13, Canada #2, UK #1

I’ve posted the original US release of this here.

Decca Records originally released the single with “Three O'Clock Thrill” as the A-side. However, during a promotional tour, the Kalin Twins noticed that radio DJs and audiences responded much better to the catchy “When”. They urged the record label to push it instead, turning the intended B-side into an international hit.

When the song crossed the Atlantic, it made history by becoming the very first number-one hit in the UK written by Paul Evans, who went on to become a legendary Brill Building songwriter.

The British retro-rock 'n' roll group Showaddywaddy revived “When” in 1977. Their energetic version became a massive success, peaking at number 3 on the UK Singles Chart.

List price: I didn’t find any prices nor sold copies of this. I’d value this at 10 euros in VG+ condition.