Sort it Out Tour Supported by The Slits

updated 7 Aug 2014 - added new tracks form 28th on Sony official SoundSystem release
Updated Dec 2014 with full shakedown of audio sources.






Audio 1

Garageland


Lyceum 28th and 29th December 1978

This is one of the best sounding Clash boots available and comes from a great live period. It is a superb audience recording (individual voices near the microphones can be heard) using professional quality equipment.

Of the instrumentation Topper’s magnificently powerful drumming comes through best, guitar’s are excellent too although a touch too far back in the mix, and Paul’s bass is very good but somewhat lacking in depth and focus. Vocals too are excellent but not quite as in your face as a soundboard recording. Overall there is a slightly harsh sound but these are minor criticisms of an excellent recording of a magnificent performance.





Lot of confusion over the recordings over three nights;

There is a lot of confusion over the recordings over three nights; which belongs to which so we have unusualy listed all three with a breakdown of the official and unofficial recordings and which night we believe they originate from.

Our view

There has been confusion over which of the 3 Lyceum dates are the source for the Sort It Out /Buy or Die CD and which for this “Rude Boy” filmed/recorded concert. The pro-recorded gig used in the film IS the 3rd January and NOT the 28th as previously thought. The boots, Sort it Out and Buy or Die are from the 29th, and maybe as stated the 28th as well.

The recording from the 3rd is much superior to the boots from the 28th and 29th and nearly as good as they appear on FHTE.

FHTE dates the “Rude Boy” gig as 28th December from where I Fought the Law and City of the Dead came and the Clash On Broadway booklet has English Civil War from this concert as recorded January 79. However all three tracks come from the pro-recorded gig of the 3rd January and FHTE has most likely got it wrong.

FHTE used the Rude Boy dates which have proven wrong previously; eg. the Music Machine July 78 songs are not from the 27th July as stated.

Mick confirms the date of the pro-recored gig himself by saying clearly before White Riot “This is the last gig for about 6 months, so this will have to sustain you”. The dates given on Sort It Out are therefore correct with that recording coming from the 28th or 29th December. This pro-recording though is the 3rd January.

An audience recording would be VERY helpful






Thursday 28th December

Audio - sbd but from copies - 2 tracks (Sort it Out / Buy or Die bootlegs) - Sound 4.0

White Riot (28th)

There is no way of knowing if the Bootlegs Sort it Out/Buy or Die/USA 79 are from the 28th and the 29th. Sort it Out says it from the 29th with the last two tracks from the 28th. We are going to accept that. Buy or Die is a reissue but with a full Garageland.





Friday 29th December

Audio - sbd but from copie(s) - 18 tracks - Sound 4.0 - full?

Tommy Gun (29th)

There is no way of knowing if the Bootlegs Sort it Out/Buy or Die/USA 79 are from the 28th and the 29th. Sort it Out says it from the 29th with the last two tracks from the 28th. We are going to accept that. Buy or Die is a reissue but with a full Garageland.





Wednesday 3rd January

Audio - Sbd - sound 4.0 - full - 19 tracks

Complete Control (3rd)

We can assume this is the correct date as Joe apologises to ticket holders from the Music Machine gig and Mick says this is the last gig for 6 months.

This is one of the best sounding Clash boots (3rd) available and comes from a great live period. It is a superb audience recording (individual voices near the microphones can be heard) using professional quality equipment.

Of the instrumentation Topper’s magnificently powerful drumming comes through best, guitar’s are excellent too although a touch too far back in the mix, and Paul’s bass is very good but somewhat lacking in depth and focus. Vocals too are excellent but not quite as in your face as a soundboard recording. Overall there is a slightly harsh sound but these are minor criticisms of an excellent recording of a magnificent performance.

The only defects in this recording are some patches of distortion, a few drop outs and the fact that this source has not been mixed by the likes of Bill Price for FHTE to pick out the instrumentation and improve the stereo separation.

Guitars are a touch too far back in the mix to get the full 78 Clash power, giving a rather too polished sound. But these are minor criticisms and its still a definite 5 sound quality and highly enjoyable. Together with Sort it Out/Buy or Die, there exists two excellent quality recordings of the three Lyceum shows.





16 track mobile studio for Rude Boy

For Rude Boy (and CBS) this gig (3rd) was recorded professionally on a 16 track mobile studio like the previous gigs on the 28th and 29th December.

The definitive live versions from this gig of I Fought The Law and English Civil War from Rude Boy have also been available on the Clash On Broadway (ECW now joining I Fought the Law on the DVD to - previously not available on video). And the terrific City of The Dead was more recently released on FHTE.

More recently Sony have released more tracks through Sound System box set. (See above)





Bootlegs

Sort it Out CD - Sound 4 - 68min -
unknown gen - 18 tracks [plus 2 from the 28th]
this copy has an edit in Garageland and shouldn't

USA 79 CD - Sound 4 - 64min - cd/m - 18 tracks
complete but no tracks from the 28th

Buy or Die CD - Sound 4 - 68min - cd/m - 21 tracks
re-issue with all 20 tracks plus Rockers Galore b-side





Offical Releases

We have listened over and again to these tracks and in our best efforts we believe these tracks correspond to the above gigs. The official releases have been remixed (16 track originals?).

We have concentrated on the intro and outro's of each song and Joes lyrics where there tends to be particulalr differences.

Clash on Broadway box set

  1. English Civil War = from the 3rd -
    intro words “yeah Awright”

  2. I Fought the Law = 28th
    We are not sure but around 'Sweetest Girl' doesn't match either 3rd or 29th & quite section of the low tempo twoards the end doesnt match either. See Rude Boy Cassestte below.

Rude Boy Cassette (official)
A very limited promo tape issued by Atlantic Publishing Nov 16 1980.

  1. I Fought the Law = 28th
    Same as Clash on Broadway version and maybe the origianl that Sony used and that is listed as the 28th.

From Here to Eternity

  1. City of the Dead = 3rd -
    Defo from the 3rd - last chord/guitar screech

  2. I Fought the Law = 28th
    same as CoB

  3. Drug Stabbing Time = Def 3rd -
    end vocals “Straight up”

From Here to Eternity sampler

  1. City of the Dead = 3rd -
    same as FHTE!

From Here to Eternity II (unofficial)

  1. Cheapskates = Defo 3rd -
    matches Cheapskates played on the 3rd

  2. Safe European Home = Defo 3rd -
    joes two shouts twoards the end

Sony Sound System box set

  1. City of the Dead = 3rd -
    Intro words match

  2. Jail Guitar Doors = 28th?
    Does not match 29 or 3rd

  3. English Civil War = 3rd -
    sounds similar

  4. Stay Free = 3rd? - Not 29th
    End matches the 3rd

  5. Cheapskates =Def 3rd -
    29th Tops adds one drum strike at end, 3rd drums out

  6. I Fought the Law = Same as FHTE

Rude Boy Video -

  1. I Fought the Law - 28th - Same as FHTE

Rude Boy DVD - with bonus track

  1. I Fought the Law - 28th - Same as FHTE

  2. English Civil War - = from the 3rd -
    intro words “yeah Awright”

Rude Boy Promo cassette more info
Sound 5 - 6min - 1gen - 2 tracks
English Civil War

Clash on Broadway Box Set - 5 - 6min - 2 tracks
English Civil War

From Here To Eternity - Sound 5 - 6min - 2 tracks
I Fought the Law and City of the Dead

full gig - drom 16 track mobile studio
slight distortion - Sound 5 - 66min - 19 tracks

Rude Boy Video - Sound 5 - 3min - mast - 1 track
I Fought the Law

Rude Boy DVD - with bonus track - Sound 5 -
6min - mast - 2 tracks
I Fought the Law + English Civil War bonus

Visit the Clash on Stage website for a comprehensive catalogue of unofficially released CD's and Vinyl.

The Lyceum dates

The Sort It Out Tour London dates were added late due to difficulty finding a suitable larger sized venue. And partly to accomodate the finishing of the Rude Boy film.

The Lyceum Ballroom, just off The Strand was chosen not just for its larger capacity but because the stalls area was seat less. The fans could dance whilst those who wanted it could sit in the Circle and Upper Circle. In the late 70’s / early 80’s the Lyceum was a faded theatre used as a disco (with its large mirror ball hanging from the ceiling) and concert venue.

Nowadays its grandeur has been restored and it hosts bland West End Musicals. But at the close of 78 (and again in October 81) the Lyceum rocked (and how) to the Clash City Rockers.

The music press had covered the Sort It Out Tour in some depth earlier and only the
Record Mirror reviewed these gigs. Sheila Prophet wrote, “Possibly the best gig I've ever seen Clash do. I can't think of a nicer way of ending `78.”





Adverts





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Tickets












The Lyceum, London





Lyceum 29th December 1978

The Clash are really fired up throughout, producing brilliantly intense performances on almost every song. What other band could maintain this intensity of performance throughout the whole gig? Here are some of the best sounding versions of tracks off the Give Em Enough Rope Album including some that did last long in the set.

An inspired Safe European Home, leads straight into an intense I Fought The Law immediately followed by Jail Guitar Doors (so much better live than on record) with Mick singing a different third verse seemingly about himself! “See about me…it really wasn’t my fault”. Before a charged up Drug Stabbing Time Joe tries to whip up the intensity of the audience to match the band’s; “let’s hear some vocals from the back, sounds like the crowd watching Bournemouth.

Don’t know what the song is but lets get on with it!” Joe introduces Cheapskates with a side swipe at Bernie Rhodes “this song was written by a used car salesmen who lives up the Camden Road, well he gave us the idea for it, he goes, why do you always sell yourselves too cheap, the answer, because it’s the only price we can get”

Intense performances follow with every song, Guns On The Roof with heavy echo being perhaps the best live recording anywhere. Police & Thieves is maybe the least inspired performance tonight. But Capital Radio is superb, Joe introducing it with a roll call of radio DJ’s he jokes are in the Lyceum, then ad libbing with Mick including “you have the power of life and death!” before Topper’s thunderous drum rolls brings the song to its climax. There’s no let up in intensity for the final first album songs and encore, with London’s Burning being especially brilliant here with Joe screaming adlibs over the ending.

An excellent recording and magnificent performance, an essential Clash bootleg.





Another Clash benefit gig -

December 1978

The Clash are proposing to play a special New Year benefit for under-privileged children in London’s East End. But at time of going to press no date or venue could be confirmed, although it’s expected to be early January.
Meanwhile their recent London Sid Vicious ‘benefit’ concert was an apparent success with “nearly £1,000” raised for Vicious, currently n custody in Rikers Island - New Yorks city jail.





Dream Deferred The Clash - A riot of our own





Chris Knowles: The Essential Clash Bootleg Bible

The Essential Clash Bootleg Bible includes this gig





Record Mirror Snow White Riot

6 January 1979





UK Local Radio - 4 mins

BBC R1 - Rock On
10 mins John Tobler w/Mick & Paul

BBC Radio 1 various
Something Else TV/John Tobler Rock On w Joe Mick / John Tobler Paul Mick 80

London Lyceum 28th Dec
1 track on Rude Boy

Photos






Did you go? What do you remember?

Info, articles, reviews, comments or photos welcome.
Please
email blackmarketclash

We think only tracks have been released from the 28th and they are on the Sort it Out/Buy or Die CD's.

1. London's Burning
2. White Riot

We think the bulk of the tracks that have been released are from the 29th and they are on the Sort it Out/Buy or Die CD's.

1. Safe European Home
2 I Fought The Law
3 Jail Guitar Doors
4 Drug Stabbing Time
5 Cheapskates
6 The City Of The Dead
7 Clash City Rockers
8 Tommy Gun
9 White Man In Hammersmith Palais
10 English Civil War
11 Stay Free
12 Guns On The Roof
13 Police And Thieves
14 Julie's In The Drug Squad
15 Capital Radio
16 Janie Jones
17 Garageland
18 Complete Control

Sort it Out CD

We believe Sort it Out tracklisting is correct and that the bulk comes form the 29th and the last two tracks form the 28th. We may be wrong!

1 Safe European Home (29th)
2 I Fought The Law (29th)
3 Jail Guitar Doors (29th)
4 Drug Stabbing Time (29th)
5 Cheapskates (29th)
6 The City Of The Dead (29th)
7 Clash City Rockers (29th)
8 Tommy Gun (29th)
9 White Man In Hammersmith Palais (29th)
10 English Civil War (29th)
11 Stay Free (29th)
12 Guns On The Roof (29th)
13 Police And Thieves (29th)
14 Julie's In The Drug Squad (29th)
15 Capital Radio (29th)
16 Janie Jones (29th)
17 Garageland (29th)
18 Complete Control (29th)
19 London's Burning (28th)
20 White Riot (28th)

Buy or Die CD (Reissue of Sort it Out CD)

1 Safe European Home
2 Fought The Law
3 Jail Guitar Doors
4 Drug Stabbin' Time
5 Cheapskates
6 The City Of The Dead
7 Clash City Rockers
8 Tommy Gun
9 (White Man( In Hammersmith Palais
10 English Civil War
11 Stay Free
12 Guns On The Roof (Of The World)
13 Police And Thieves
14 Julie's In The Drug Squad
15 Capital Radio
16 Janie Jones
17 Garage Land
18 Complete Control
19 London's Burning
20 White Riot
21 Rockers Galore (not from gig)

USA 79 CD

This is the same gig as Buy or Die! and Sort it Out but does not have the last two tracks from the 28th

1 Safe European Home (29th)
2 I Fought The Law (29th)
3 Jail Guitar Doors (29th)
4 Drug Stabbing Time (29th)
5 Cheapskates (29th)
6 The City Of The Dead (29th)
7 Clash City Rockers (29th)
8 Tommy Gun (29th)
9 White Man In Hammersmith Palais (29th)
10 English Civil War (29th)
11 Stay Free (29th)
12 Guns On The Roof (29th)
13 Police And Thieves (29th)
14 Julie's In The Drug Squad (29th)
15 Capital Radio (29th)
16 Janie Jones (29th)
17 Garageland (29th)
18 Complete Control (29th)



SORT IT OUT TOUR Autumn 1978



ARTICLES, POSTERS, CLIPPINGS ...

A collection of
- Tour previews
- Tour posters
- Interviews
- Features
- Articles
- Tour information

Numerous articles, interviews, reviews, posters, tour dates from The Sort it Out Tour Tour, October, November 1978



VIDEO AND AUDIO

Video and audio footage from the tour including radio interviews.



BOOKS

A Riot of Our Own
Johnny Green

Link

Return of the Last Gang in Town,
Marcus Gray

Link


Passion is a Fashion,
Pat Gilbert

Link


Redemption Song,
Chris Salewicz

Link


Joe Strummer and the legend of The Clash
Kris Needs

Link


The Clash (official)
by The Clash (Author), Mal Peachey

Link


Other books



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