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Back in 2018, Joe Strummer 001 collected recordings made by the late Clash frontman outside of that band: solo, with bandmate Mick Jones, and with The Mescaleros and The 101ers. Now, BMG's reactivated Dark Horse Records label has announced Joe Strummer 002. Subtitled The Mescaleros Years and due from the label on September 16, the collection reissues all three Mescaleros albums and adds fifteen rare and/or previously unreleased tracks. It will be available on 4 CDs with a 72-page book or 7 LPs with a 32-page book.
The original Mescaleros line-up consisted of Strummer on vocals and guitar, Anthony Genn on guitar, Scott Shields on bass, guitar, and drums, Martin Slattery on keyboards and guitar (as well as occasional woodwinds), Pablo Cook on percussion, and Steve "Smiley" Bernard on drums (who had replaced Ged Lynch before recording of the band's first album was complete). 1999's debut Rock Art and the X-Ray Style was followed in 2001 by Global A Go-Go and in 2003 by Streetcore, the latter released in October, just months after the death of Strummer in December 2002 at the age of 50. The Mescaleros reinvigorated the artist as singer, musician, and songwriter; Rock Art was his first album in a decade (since 1989's Earthquake Weather). The Mescaleros' albums ranged from straight-ahead, Clash-esque rock to folk-rock, with flourishes of reggae, jazz, world music, and beyond.
002 has been produced by David Zonshine. The three original Mescaleros albums, each presented in the CD set on one disc, are joined by the new 15-track collection Vibes Compass. This collection boasts early demos of some of the first tracks Strummer penned for the group, including "The Road To Rock 'N' Roll", "X-Ray Style", and "Techno D-Day." It also presents tracks from Strummer's final recording session such as "Coma Girl," "Fantastic," and "Get Down Moses." Joe's friend Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols appears on "Ocean on Dreams." Audio has been remastered by three-time Grammy-winning engineer Paul Hicks (The Beatles, David Bowie). The booklet adds new liner notes, previously unpublished photos, and memorabilia, as well as four replica lyric sheets and chord charts from Strummer's archive. (Note that numerous bonus tracks included on the 2012 Hellcat Records remasters are not reprised here. The November 15, 2002 Acton Town Hall concert previously released on LP and digital by Hellcat is also absent and therefore still unavailable on CD.)
The box set is fully authorized by Strummer's estate. His widow, Lucinda Tait, serves as the executive producer of this set. She comments in the press release, "There's so much great music that Joe left us in his archive. We started this work with 001, so to focus on Joe's work with The Mescaleros was the natural second step on 002 because those songs he made with them just seemed to resonate so strongly and reinvigorated his connection with his audience at a level he hadn't experienced since his days with The Clash." She continues, "He was so excited to work with The Mescaleros and the reception he got from the press and fans was incredible, it gave him a whirlwind of energy and confidence and he was creatively fulfilled and happy. His words are so beautiful and honest and together with The Mescaleros some fantastic tunes were created and to listen to some of the tunes recorded as outtakes for me was really special."
The demo of "The Road to Rock 'n Roll" is available now on digital services to preview Joe Strummer 002. Look for this anthology of The Mescaleros Years on September 16 from Dark Horse/BMG. You'll find the track listing and pre-order links below.
Joe Strummer 002: The Mescaleros Years (Dark Horse/BMG, 2022)
4CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
7LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
CD 1: Rock Art and the X-Ray Style (Hellcat 80424-2, 1999)
- Tony Adams
- Sandpaper Blues
- X-Ray Style
- Techno D-Day
- The Road to Rock 'N' Roll
- Diggin' the New
- Nitcomb
- Forbidden City
- Yalla Yalla
- Willesden to Cricklewood
CD 2: Global A Go-Go (Hellcat 80442-2, 2001)
- Johnny Appleseed
- Cool 'N' Out
- Global A Go-Go
- Bhindi Bhagee
- Gamma Ray
- Mega Bottle Ride
- Shaktar Donetsk
- Mondo Bongo
- Bummed Out City
- At The Border, Guy
- Minstrel Boy (Full-Length Version)
CD 3: Streetcore (Hellcat 80454-2, 2003)
- Coma Girl
- Get Down Moses
- Long Shadow
- Arms Aloft
- Ramshackle Day Parade
- Redemption Song
- All in a Day
- Burnin' Streets
- Midnight Jam
- Silver and Gold
CD 4: Vibes Compass
- Time and the Tide
- Techno D-Day (Demo)
- Ocean of Dreams (feat. Steve Jones)
- Forbidden City (Demo)
- X-Ray Style (Demo)
- The Road to Rock 'N' Roll (Demo)
- Tony Adams (Demo)
- Cool 'N' Out (Demo)
- Global A Go-Go (Demo)
- Secret Agent Man
- All In A Day (Demo)
- London Is Burning
- Get Down Moses (Outtake)
- Fantastic
- Coma Girl (Outtake)
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A bit pricey no?
$93 Canadian. $80 US. Not at that price.
If I was not clear in my original post, yes, it is way too pricey.
Especially "pricey" if, like me, you're on the 3rd round of album purchases: original CD, 2012 Hellcat remaster (with bonus tracks), and now this box set. They could have at least grouped the bonus tracks from those 2012 reissues and added some rare soundtrack titles. While I love having shelves and shelves of music from The Clash, Big Audio Dynamite, Carbon/Silicon, etc. Joe's gonna need his own shelf soon.
Ridiculous price even in the UK, ordered then thought about it and cancelled! If Cherry Red had done this it would be £25 max.
Fantastic news and instant purchase. Minor quibble, it's a bit of a pity his estate doesn't really seem to have a clear release plan, rather they seem to try and figure it out as they go, kind of. Strummer 001 was a mix of all his career outside the Clash, and now 002 focuses on the Mescaleros, so there's a bit of duplication with 001. Never mind, any Strummer release is a cause for celebration, so keep the coming!