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Audio 2 - 1^st gen. upgrade

Very good - Sound 3.5 - time 1hr 58mins - tracks 30

Janie Jones

Sources

Several years ago a first generation source was brought into circulation out of Paris and is a significant upgrade on the previously sources which had been copied multiple times.

Two versions of the 1^st generation source circulate;

The first 118 minute one has all 30 songs but the sound quality drops significantly after an edit during Armagideon Time through to the remaining 7 songs.

The second one, mis-titled as an alternative source is actually from the same 1st generation source and in fact is exactly the same as the first CDR set except  tacked onto the end of the second CD are significantly better sounding versions of the final 7 songs from Armagideon Time onwards. As these 7 performances are the best of the night (and the sound is little worse than the rest but with more hiss) it is worth seeking out this “alternate source” set to make up a compilation set which cuts out the poorer sounding last 7 songs and edits into Armagideon Time.

The recording was almost certainly made by the same taper as the 24th, 26th and 30th recordings. The audience is significantly quieter on this one than the 24th and particularly the 26th. Either the Mogador audience was not so enthusiastic as the other nights or as is more likely the taper had moved further back from the stage, probably to the side as whilst the instrumentation is no more distant than the other recordings, Joe’s vocals unfortunately are. Thus whilst the instrumentation is clearer on this 1st generation source, Joe’s vocals are no better (arguably worse) than the 2nd generation recordings from the other nights. Couple that with less atmosphere from the audience and a less intense and inspired performance (on the whole) from the band then this is not necessarily the best boot to seek out from the Mogador shows.

Also check the Boot LP Up and At Em!

which contains a compilation from 24-30 September 81

Video - Antennae 2 with Freddy Hauser

Safe European Home partly & interview - date not known

Broadcast 4 octobre 1981 Freddy HAUSSER a suivi les CLASH lors de leur tournée parisienne. Des extraits du concert des CLASH donné sur la scène du théâtre Mogador viennent illustrer une interview des membres du groupe: Installés au comptoir d'un café, Mick JONES, Paul SIMOMON, Joe STRUMMER et Topper HEADON se présentent bièvement et évoquent la fin de leur tournée française. Images d'archive INA Institut National de l'Audiovisuel http://www.ina.fr Abonnez-vous

Penultimate show inParis

The first generation recording of this the penultimate show of the Paris residency has arguably the best sound of any of the Mogador recordings. Unfortunately it’s certainly not the best performance and does not really catch fire until the encores. Joe was not in great form (may have strained his voice, certainly it sounds weak here at times) but Mick was certainly pumped up contributing plenty of passion on his vocals and his guitar playing particularly on the encores is excellent.

Francois Ducroy (French Big magazine article) was at most of the shows and writes of the 28th and 29th shows that they lacked true sparks, square, solid, professional performances but he does say that the Tuesday show (29th) was better. Francois also says that Rebel Waltz was played but very frustratingly if it was it must have been on the 28th, because sadly no known live recording exists at all of this song.

Pass

Ticket

“Down in New Orleans, ….for all you junkie jivers”

The recording starts after some cheers straight into the start of Broadway; its opening bars revealing a very good audience tape (it’s high time the masters of these Mogador’s circulated!). Bass is there OK if boosted, drums are clear and prominent as is Joes guitar but Mick’s is a little distant/low in the mix. There is some hiss and flatness and limited stereo separation. Halfway through the song the volume drops becoming very flat but soon improves to at least as good as before. The low key start builds next with One More Time again with the  new guitar motif (which would be developed to great effect on the December 84 miners benefit shows). Mick’s guitar is low in the mix, Joe’s very clear, so the sound is not as powerful as it should be but like many songs in the main set its an enjoyable if unexceptional performance.

There’s plenty of Mick’s effects but little of his guitar on This is Radio Clash which has an improvised extended ending. On Should I Stay Or Should I Go Mick’s guitar is much clearer. There are some tape problems mid song in Guns of Brixton which has a better mix of guitars.

There is little chat from Joe tonight and what there is not exactly classic Strummer, for example before Magnificent Seven he struggles with his French “a quelle heure do you get up?” Topper adds his double drum roll new intro at the start and into the bridge and it’s a fine if unexceptional performance. “Now we go back in time, can’t think of anything in French” is Joe’s intro to White Man in Hammersmith Palais, the sound now mainly in the left channel. Train in Vain is followed by Ivan Meets GI Joe, the usual set low point sounds particularly lame here.

Clash City Rockers gets the audience going and the band start to respond, shame the lead guitar levels on the recording are low. An edit loses the start of 

Koka Kola but the sound quality improves here on with both channels fine now

“Down in New Orleans, ….for all you junkie jivers” is Joe’s intro to Junco Partner an edit loses the last third of the song. The recording restarts with Joe saying 

“Maintenant like to give you Futura 2000” and his Graffiti Rap drags on somewhat for over 5 minutes. 

The powerful lead intro to The Leader heralds The Clash coming off autopilot and the rest of the gig is much more enjoyable. On Washington Bullets Joe sounds more into it coming up mid song with a stream of consciousness  “Don’t go back, have to fight back, as they say in Whitechapel High Road , don’t touch my pie and chips or I’ll  touch yours!,  any Spanish here, this one’s for you”. Mick plays some inventive guitar on a fine extended performance. Ghetto Defendant is the best sounding recording to date and Paul plays harmonica over the intro. Again this new song has lyrics which would be altered and refined by Joe by the time it got to the recording studio; “Out of darkness of living who has been in the pit, her child has a dream that it begins as it ends”, “the ghetto prince of gutter poets was crawled out of the room to fight a flamethrower in an undisturbed tomb”

With each song now following in quick succession Mick plays an extended intro to Complete Control which is certainly another variation of it if not as effective as those at Bonds. Mick and Joe sing with intensity but the performance does not quite catch fire. The audience clap along to Mick’s long building in crescendo intro to Somebody Got Murdered which drops down when Joe does his part and he teases out all the drama whilst Mick’s great playing compliments him perfectly. 

The 2^nd CD starts in a unique fashion with the rest of the band playing Clampdown whilst Joe bashes out the intro to London Calling! Joe gets the message and London Calling morphs into Clampdown seamlessly. Joe’s adlibs are unclear but do not sound inspired but the attack of guitars and drums is very effective as usual.  London Calling ends the main set again at the Mogador with Mick’s solo too far back in the mix to be really effective.

The audience bring the band back quickly for the first encore (no apparent edit) and the energy and commitment levels are ratcheted up further beginning with an effective Bankrobber.  Mick and Joe share vocals on a passionate Janie Jones and even Paul adds his vocals over the ending. The band then launch into a fine Safe European Home with Joe adlibbing “ he needs a good kick in the head in London” most of his rant is sadly unclear but Joe is certainly fired up now. Topper’s great drumming thunders over the ending with Joe wailing over the top.

Probably the longest Armagideon Time next which is 8 minutes plus but the main 1^st gen. recording stops after 1.21 minutes. However if as explained the last 7 songs from the “alternate source” set is edited in there is little loss in sound quality. Mick again plays some fine guitar and adds some Jonesy screams!  With a  “R-R-R-R- Ranking Roger” from Joe, their new compadre from The Beat joins them to toast. Joe in an obviously good mood jokes to the music, “A lot of people going to get no Roger tonight, a lot of women gonna get a lot of roger tonight, action , pumping action!” Mick adds his effects over the ending as band enjoying Roger’s presence keep the performance going for over 8 minutes!

The 2^nd encore begins after an edit with Know Your Rights with Joe’s near  spoken vocals too far back in the mix, but the instrumentation is clear. Street Parade next is very effective with the twin guitars interplay heard clearly. The song is ended fairly abruptly by Topper is swiftly followed by the highlight of the night a terrific  passionate Spanish Bombs. Mick’s excellent and imaginative lead guitar work is a delight and the band tease out every drop of drama from the song and deliver an excellent extended performance. The quality levels don’t drop next on a pumped up Brand New Cadillac.

After an edit the band return for a third encore. Jimmy Jazz features again some great lead guitar playing from Mick but there’s no inspired long rants from Joe and what he does say is largely unclear. The concert ends with London’s Burning with the band sounding powerful but Joe’s voice sounds weak and he does not manage his usual rant over the ending. A rare off night for Joe but an enjoyable bootleg nevertheless.  

Did you go? What do you remember?

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Setlist

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Broadway One More Time This is Radio Clash Should I Stay The Guns Of Brixton Magnificent 7 White Man in Hamm Palais Train In Vain Ivan Meets GI Joe Clash City Rockers Koka Kola Junco Partner Grafitti Rap The Leader Washington Bullets Ghetto Defendent Complete Control Somebody Got Murdered Clampdown London Calling Bankrobber Janie Jones Safe European Home Armagideon Time Know Your Rights Street Parade Spanish Bombs Brand New Cadillac Jimmy Jazz Londons Burning

Also check the Boot LP Up and At Em! which contains a compilation from 24-30 September 81

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Somebody Got Murdered This is Radio Clash Know Your Rights Grafitti Rap Should I Stay or Should I Go The Magnificent Seven Ghetto Defendent Lightning Strikes Instrumental Overpowered by Funk Innoculated City Hit the Road Jack