Revisiting human clay - Creed (September 1999)

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Human Clay - Creed

Wind-up

Produced by John Kurzweg

Released 28th September 1999

US Chart #1

UK Chart #29

Singles From Human Clay

01. Higher

02. To Whom It May Concern

 Limited Edition Tour EP (European Release)

01. Higher

02. To Whom It May Concern

03. Roadhouse Blues (Live)

04. What's This Life For (Acoustic)

Limited Edition Numbered CD (European Release)

01. Higher

02. I'm Eighteen

03. Roadhouse Blues (Live)

Also released as a Limited Edition 7" Yellow Marble Vinyl in the US and UK

Released 24th August 1999

US Chart #7

UK Chart #47

 01. What If (Album Version)
02. What If (Radio Edit)
03. I'm Eighteen
 Released January 2000
Did Not Chart

 Released as Limited Edition Red Vinyl 7" in the UK
A-Side: With Arms Wide Open (New Version)
B-Side: With Arms Wide Open (Acoustic Version)

and as a Enhanced CD in Europe

 01. With Arms Wide Open (New Version)
02.With Arms Wide Open (Strings Version)
03. With Arms Wide Open (Acoustic Version)
04. With Arms Wide Open (Album Version)
05. With Arms Wide Open (Video Strings Version)
Released 24th April 2000
US Chart #1
UK Chart #13

 Radio Promo Release Only
01. Are You Ready?
Released August 2000
 
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Creed are one of those bands that you either love or hate, it seems there is no sitting in the middle when it comes to them. You are either For them or you are Against them.

The band had formed in 1993 originally as a five piece (rhythm guitarist Brian Basher left the band in 1995) and once the line-up had settled it featured Scott Stapp on vocals, Mark Tremonti on guitar, Brian Marshall on Bass and  Scott Phillips on drums. They were originally called Naked Toddler but settled on the name Creed.

(Original Cover for their debut album My Own Prison)

In 1997 they released their debut album My Own Prison on their own label - Blue Collar Records and with the help of airplay on Florida Radio stations they managed to sell 6,000 copies in the area in the first 2 months.

A copy had fallen into the hands of Diana Meltzer from Wind-up Records who was keen to sign the band and did so after seeing them perform live in Tallahassee.

The album was then remixed and cleaned up a bit and given a bit of a more radio friendly sound and re-released 26th August 1997. The sales of 6,000 on their own label would be blown apart when it became a #22 album in the States selling enough (six million!) to be certified six times Platinum!

Whilst My Own Prison was still selling pretty well (it would spend over 110 weeks on the Billboard Chart) the release of their second album Human Clay would further their careers as it would debut at #1 in the States and in the two years that followed would sell over 10 million copies. It has to date been certified Platinum 11 times and is one of a number hard rock albums that was certified Diamond.

People like to put bands into Categories/Genres and of course the question to be asked is where exactly do Creed fit? Well, as I often have no comprehension as to what all these Genres and Sub-Genres actually mean, to me they are a hard rock band. I've seen them listed as Post-Grunge (again not totally sure what it means other than the fact they were not from Seattle and so didn't fit the "Grunge" mould). Ultimately though it shouldn't matter because either the music is good or it's totally pants, and on this note I say that it's good.

The singles Higher and With Arms Wide Open were huge hits for the band reaching #7 and #1 respectively. With Arms Wide Open won a Grammy for Best Rock Song and the album also won the Favourite Pop/Rock Album at the American Music Awards.

Listen to more from Creed 

With Arms Wide Open - A Retrospective.

S4L Radio: Show #9 Playlist - Revolution Songs

Revolution - "A forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favour of a new system."
 
The landscape of history is littered with one Revolution or another. There has been Political Revolution, Cultural Revolution, Spiritual Revolution, Musical Revolution and on and on we could go.

Revolution often begins with one man/woman/child and others find themselves aligned to the desire for change and that leads to the springing up of movements that then seek to bring that change into being. Sometimes the efforts to bring that change means that violence flares up between those of differing positions. At other times of course it can be a Peaceful Revolution.

The songs I have chosen for this week's Playlist are drawn from many different places and throw up different images of what Revolution can be like. Some of the songs of course are very well known and others not so but they all speak a little about the change that comes through Revolution whether it be personal or on a more global scale.

The Revolution Playlist

On The Playlist

Revolution Radio - Green Day

Title Track from their latest Smash Hit album. Kicking off a wee theme of songs spotlighting Revolution and Protest.

The Revolution Will Not Be Online - Jay-Cee Carroll

JC Carroll of The Members brings an updated version of Gil Scott-Heron's The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.  Taken from the album 21st Century Blues.

Revolution - Spaceman 3

1988 Classic Indie Single from the band born in Rugby (#8 on the UK Indie Chart). Still love the sound of this one.

Revolution - The Beatles

B-Side of Hey Jude released in 1968.

"You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world"

Revolution - The Cult

Single taken from their album Love.

(Dutch Picture Sleeve)

Children of the Revolution - T.Rex

UK Chart #2 Single in September 1972.

 "No you won't fool the children of the revolution"

 Revolution - The Heptones

1974/5 single from one of the great Reggae acts.

 Revolution - Bob Marley and The Wailers

Taken from the 1974 album Natty Dread.

Revolution Rock - The Clash

1976 Single by Danny Ray and The Revolutionaries that was covered by The Clash for their London Calling album.

Soundtrack To A Revolution - The Insyderz
Title track from the band's fifth album that was released in November 2003.

"Its our revolution
Its our time to shine
United we stand strong
Together we fight"

 Revolution - Jars of Clay
Taken from The Eleventh Hour album (2002).

"You got to begin
With who you know you are
To be a revolution"

Talkin' 'bout A Revolution - Tracy Chapman
After a huge first hit single with Fast Cars (#6 US and #4 UK) her second single was not very successful at all reaching only #75 in the States and #85 in the UK.

 "They're talkin' 'bout a revolution
It sounds like a whisper"

 One Man Revolution - The Nightwatchman
Title track of the Debut album from Tom Morello under the banner of The Nightwatchman released in 2007.

 "The time is nigh, the day is dark
There's only one solution
I'm a one man, I'm a one man
I'm a one man revolution"

Love Revolution - Lenny Kravitz
From the 2008 album It Is Time For A Love Revolution.

"It is time for a love revolution
It is time, it is time, for a new constitution"

 Revolution - The Pretenders
The song first featured on their Last of the Independents album, version on The Playlist is taken from the live album The Isle of View released in 1995.

"The world is getting stranger
But we'll never lose heart
We can't just wait for the
Old guard to die
Before we can
Make a new start

Bring on the revolution
(keep the pressure on)
I wanna die for something
Bring on the revolution"

Self Revolution - Killswitch Engage
Taken from the 2002 album Alive or Just Breathing.

"We must find the strength for a new movement
Slow down this fast paced world and you will see the revolution"

The Old Revolution - Leonard Cohen
From the 1969 album Songs From A Room.

"Into this furnace I ask you now to venture..."

Return of the Revolution - The O.C. Supertones
Taken from the 2000 album Loud and Clear.

"A war is on, our battle cry is no compromise
So throw your fist up and pray the revolution rise"

Revolution - P.O.D.
Taken from their 2003 Self-Titled album.

"I'm not the first or the last to imagine it
Acknowledge the concepts, question and grasp it
Rebel against the I and bring down the Self.
Mutiny, me overthrow you
Rebellion starts within, the time is now

Did somebody say a Revolution?
Or is it all in my head?
Is that what it takes to make a solution, solution"

The Parting Shot

The Revolution Starts Now - Steve Earle
Title track from his 2004 album.

"Yeah the revolution starts now
In your own backyard
In your own hometown
So what you doin' standin' around?
Just follow your heart
The revolution starts now"

40 Years of Punk & New Wave 1977: Complete Control - The Clash

 Complete Control / City Of The Dead - The Clash

CBS

Produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry and Mickey Foote

Released 23rd September 1977

UK Chart #28

 A-Side

    Joe Strummer - lead vocals, lead guitar
    Mick Jones - lead and rhythm guitars, backing vocals
    Paul Simonon - bass guitar
    Topper Headon - drums

Complete Control

Written by Joe Strummer/Mick Jones

 They said: "Release 'Remote Control'!"
But we didn't want it on the label
They said: "Fly to Amsterdam!"
The people laughed and the press went mad

Oooh
Someone's really smart
Oooh
Complete control, that's a laugh

On the last tour my mates just couldn't get in
I'd open up the back door but they'd get run out again
At every hotel we was met by the law
Come for the party, come to make sure

Oooh
Have we done something wrong?
Oooh
Complete control, even over this song!

You're my guitar hero!

They said we'd be artistically free
When we signed that bit of paper
They meant: "Let's make a-lotsa money!
Worry about it later"

Oooh
I don't understand
Oooh
Complete control, let me see your other hand!

I don't trust you
Why do you trust me?
Huh?

All over news spread fast:
"They're dirty, they're filthy
They ain't a-gonna last!"

(Total) This is Joe Public speaking!
(C-O-N control) I'm controlled in the body, I'm controlled in the mind!
(Total) This is the punk rockers!
(C-O-N control) We're controlled in the price of the first drugs we can find
(Total)
(C-O-N control)
(Total)
Parent control (C-O-N control)

We gotta work it up and bring it up and fight it and write it

(C-O-N control) That means you!
I kick it, I fight it, I get it out, write it
(C-O-N control)
I gotta kick it up

 

B-Side

     Joe Strummer - lead vocal, backing vocal, organ, lead guitar
    Mick Jones - backing vocal, lead guitar
    Paul Simonon - bass guitar
    Topper Headon - drums
    Gary Barnacle - saxophones

The City Of The Dead

Written by Joe Strummer/Mick Jones

 

This is the city of the dead
As we lie side by side in bed
I'd do something else instead
But it is the city of the dead

We went out kickin' around
But you got drunk an' fallen down
An' I wished I could be like you
With the Soho River drinking me down

In the city of the dead
Fall in love an' fall in bed
It wasn't anything you said
Except I know we both lie dead

Don't you know where to cop
That's what New York Johnny said
You should get to know your town
Just like I know mine

While all the windows stare ahead
An' the streets are filled with dread
Every nation in the world
Slinks through the alley after girls

What we wear is dangerous gear
It'll get you picked on anywhere
Though we get beat up we don't care
At least it livens up the air

But someday's we hide inside
All courage gone and paralyzed
Sniff that wind of ugly tension
Today the jerks have got aggression

It is the city of the dead

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I think if you ask most fans of The Clash what their Top Three songs are it is pretty much certain that Complete Control would feature among the many answers (the other two I'm guessing would be between White Man in Hammersmith Palais, London Calling and White Riot).

Earlier in 1977 The Clash had earmarked Janie Jones as their second single. Mick Jones had even told Melody Maker that would be the new single but the powers that be at CBS decided whilst The Clash were out on The White Riot Tour that they would be the ones to decide what record was going to be put out and that was Remote Control backed by a live mono recording of London's Burning.

This certainly did not sit well with the band and they were angered that CBS had undermined them by releasing the single without their permission.

"They said, we'd be artistically free
When we signed that bit of paper."

The Clash fought back in the best way they could by making sure their next single would not only be an absolute stone cold classic, but a song to bludgeon those very people who had made such grand promises to them and had betrayed their artistic integrity!

This fight for "Control" was something that The Clash would have to persist at pretty much all their days at CBS because Remote Control was not the first fight and it certainly wouldn't be the last! (Think Bankrobber single, London Calling and Sandinista! albums and probably a few others as well).

Lee "Scratch" Perry was brought on to produce the single (his first non-reggae production). Perry had heard the band's cover of his Junior Murvin hit "Police and Thieves" and was moved enough to have put a picture of the band (the only white artist accorded such an honor) on the walls of his Black Ark Studio in Jamaica. When The Clash learned that Perry was in London producing for Bob Marley and the Wailers, he was invited to produce the single. "Scratch" readily agreed. But the band basically reworked his production by taking out much of the echo that he had put on it and brought the guitars more to front of the track. I have been yearning for years to hear that Lee Perry Mix of the song and 40 years on I have still never tracked a version down (so if anyone out there has a copy get in touch!). 

The other first for this single was that it was the first recording that Topper Headon appeared on as drummer for The Clash. Remember on the Debut Album and the first two singles (White Riot and Remote Control) that had been released Tory Crimes (Terry Chimes) had been behind the kit. His addition to the band certainly completed them and he brought a lot of talent to the table...drumkit!

(Cover of Promo UK CD Single 1999)

A live version of the song was included as part of the From Here To Eternity album in 1999 (recorded at Bonds International Casino, New York on 13th June 1981). A pretty tidy video was put together for it as well featuring the band live in action. City Of The Dead also featured on the album and was recorded at The Lyceum Ballroom, London 28th December 1978 (You can listen to the full show here!).

Revisiting: Road To Ruin - Ramones (1978)

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Road To Ruin - Ramones
Sire
Produced by Tommy Erdelyi and Ed Stasium
Released 22nd September 1978
US Chart #103
UK Chart #32

Side 1

Side 2

Ramones
    Joey Ramone – lead vocals
    Johnny Ramone – guitar
    Dee Dee Ramone – bass guitar, backing vocals
    Marky Ramone – drums

Singles On Road To Ruin

A-Side: Don't Come Close

B-Side: I Don't Want You

 Released June 1978 (US)

Did Not Chart

 

Released as a Limited Edition 12" on Red Vinyl in the UK

And on 12" and 7" Limited Edition Yellow Vinyl in The UK

A-Side: Don't Come Close

B-Side: I Don't Want You

 Released 15th September 1978
UK Chart #39

(German 7" Picture Sleeve)

A-Side: Needles & Pins

B-Side: I Wanted Everything

Released February 1979 (US)

Did Not Chart

(Japanese 7" Picture Sleeve)

A-Side: Needles & Pins

B-Side: I'm Against It

A-Side: She's The One

B-Side: I Wanna Be Sedated

Released 19th January 1979 (UK)

Did Not Chart

Other Releases

Netherlands

 A-Side: I Wanna Be Sedated

B-Side: I Don't Want You

Released 1979

Germany

A-Side: She's The One

B-Side: Sheena Is A Punk Rocker

Released 1978

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"Road to Ruin reflected not just the Ramone's enduring love for Sixties pop, but a nagging desire to expand beyond the confines of 120 seconds in search of a new vocabulary of harmonic hooks, albeit linked to the guitar-crunching sonics established on their first three albums."- Tommy Ramone

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Studio Album number four for the Ramones and the first one that Tommy had sat out of playing on. He put away his sticks in order to once again do what he had intended at the start and that was to produce the band.

Marc Bell, who had formerly played in Richard Hell and the Voidoids (he had played on the Blank Generation Album) and Wayne County and the Backstreet Boys (no, not that Backstreet Boys!) took over the Drum Stool. Three weeks after joining the band and becoming Marky Ramone the recording of Road To Ruin begun.

What should have been one of their biggest albums "was a flop Stateside, even though it had been a very deliberate attempt to secure American radioplay" (Tommy Ramone). Outside of their homeland it faired better as they reached their highest position in the UK album chart with it (#32, though End of the Century in 1980 would surpass that by peaking at #14). Critical acclaim for the album would be a long time coming though among the fans (especially the ones I know) it is looked upon quite fondly.

There was a more poppy sound to this album than the previous three, which was a topic for great discussion (and still is) among fans of the band. This has ballads and goodness me, is that Acoustic Guitars I can hear? Doesn't exactly sound what we envisage a punk rock album to be like! But, I have to say I do have a fondness for Road To Ruin. The only track I'm not overly keen on is Bad Brain (that one seems to be mentioned by loads of reviewers as a weak link). It does contain a few of their classic songs that have stood the test of time: I Just Want To Have Something To Do, I'm Against It, I Wanna Be Sedated and She's The One. Interesting choice of cover version as well -the Sonny Bono and Jack Nitzsche song Needles & Pins. The song had been a minor hit in the US for Jackie DeShannon in 1963 and then in 1964 it was a #1 single for The Searchers (and hit #13 in the US). I can understand why it was chosen because Joey especially had a real fondness for 1960's pop and whilst it was a bit leftfield for the Ramones I think they pulled it off great (it was a hundred times better than the version Smokie had done!).

If you had thought a more "mellower" Ramones in the studio would translate to a more "mellower" Ramones on stage then you would be clearly wrong. Nine days before the release of the album they were on the Musikladen TV show in Bremen, Germany where they performed a 24 song set that included 5 from the up and coming album. It was clear proof that the "brothers" had not gone sawft (as they say in New York)!

Musikladen

13th September 1978

Bremen 

Bonus

Don't Come Close (Old Grey Whistle Test 1978).

Don't Come Close (28th September - Top of the Pops 1978).

Ramones Live at Winterland, San Francisco 28th December 1978.

This post has been re-edited from a post originally published last year with an updated album playlist and some additional information.