"Magnificent Seven" The Clash

[brendan]

why isn't "magnificent seven" off of sandinista! credited as being one of the first rock/hip hop songs? it was a bit of a hit as well. why is so much credit given to blondie's "rapture"?

[abcdefz]

I think that "Rapture" came out before it. But, yeah; "Magnificent Seven" is magnificent. It came up during the "best bass lines" thread as well.

Vacuum cleaner sucks up budgie!

[brendan]

they both came out in 80 (which one was released first, i'm not sure). i just think magnificent seven is a more of a hip hop record than rapture and it never gets mentioned. i don't get it?

[abcdefz]

they both came out in 80 (which one was released first, i'm not sure). i just think magnificent seven is a more of a hip hop record than rapture and it never gets mentioned. i don't get it?


Actually, Sandinista! came out toward the top of '81. Trust me -- I was waiting for it to drop.

[MC Moot]

"Ring! Ring! It's 7:00 A.M!"....I love that number and the movie and the Kurosawa movie that inspired it....I kinda think Johnny Cash's "I've been everywhere" was the original crossover ;)

"I was totin' my pack along the dusty Winnemucca road
When along came a semi with a high and canvas covered load
"If you're going to Winnemucca, Mack, with me you can ride."
So I climbed into the cab and then I settled down inside
He asked me if I'd seen a road with so much dust and sand
And I said, "Listen, I've traveled every road in this here land."

[brendan]

Actually, Sandinista! came out toward the top of '81. Trust me -- I was waiting for it to drop.

yes but...sandinista! i remember reading (and i think it's also mentioned in the dvd "west way to the world") was recorded in april and may of 80 and magnificent seven was a hit on new york radio that summer...could have been 81.

[abcdefz]

...are you saying the song was released "that summer" of '80 or '81? I wasn't in New York, so I wouldn't know, but I remember the 12" (with Magnificent Dance, etc.) came out first quarter of '81. I'd almost swear by it. And then "This is radio Clash" 12" came out after that but before Combat Rock...

Little tidbit: on vinyl, the Clash always scrawled something on the lead-out groove. Over the course of Sandinsta's six lead out grooves was the message: "In space, no one can hear you Clash!"

[abcdefz]

...anyway, sorry: Sandinista! LP came out in February or early March of '81. It's entirely possible that a single released the previous summer became the lead-in track; I can't vouch for that one.

[brendan]

yeah i was saying sandinista! came out in 81 but the clash gave mag seven to new york radio in the summer of 80 right after they finished recording. i could be wrong...i just think it's an important part of hip hop history that has been forgotten. cold crush brothers also did "punk rock rap" around that time...

[abcdefz]

That would make sense, since they were recording in New York at the time.

Anyway -- yeah, it's an overlooked track by anyone not into The Clash. That's a shame.

[abcdefz]

For what it's worth -- Lou Reed tried to lay claim to part of rap history circa 1986's "The Original Wrapper."

I'm not sure if I'd consider that a legitimate claim, but it was a good song.

[Documad]

The trademark thing says 1980, which is why it's in my head that way. I have no independent recollection, except that I was massively disappointed. Six sides was just too much for me.

A to Z -- I've posted this twice before but maybe you know. What is scratched on London Calling? Because I only have the message on 2 of the 4 sides. (I have the whole thing on Sandinista.)

[abcdefz]

A to Z -- I've posted this twice before but maybe you know. What is scratched on London Calling? Because I only have the message on 2 of the 4 sides. (I have the whole thing on Sandinista.)



Jog my memory... what are the two sides you have?

"Radio Clash" had "Please save us/Not the whales."

[abcdefz]

London Calling might've had "Tear down the walls."

[Documad]

I'll bet you're right!

A few messages that I've noticed:

Beastie Boys - Scientists of Sound - "Episode 1 . . . Don't Front" and "Do the Math"

Led Zeppelin III - "Do What Thou Wilt" and "So Mote Be it" -- both in a beautiful font

The Replacements - Don't Tell A Soul - "We're Sorry"

And one that has always intrigued me. The Clash - London Calling. Sides 1 and 2 have nothing. Side 3 says " The . . ." and Side 4 says "Walls!" Which makes me think that the rest of the message was on some other side 1 and 2, and somewhere out there somebody else has the other two pieces.

[abcdefz]

That must be it, then.

[Darko]

If you want to hear Joe Strummer really rapping, listen to 'This is Radio Clash'.

[abcdefz]

"Lightining Strikes (Not Once But Twice)"

[Sandinista!]

There's nothing better than Sandinista! , now is there?

:D

Anyhoo, how is the 12'' version of "The Magnificent Seven" different than the album version? Is it the 4:29 version found in The Story of the Clash?

[abcdefz]

I remember the 12" for Radio Clash much better.

It seems like the A side was Magnificent Seven, flip side was an instrumental version (Magnificent Dance) and an instrumental of The Call Up.

I can't remember if there was a longer or shorter version of Magnificent Seven, though.

Radio Clash's single was pretty cool. They just kept dubbing it out further and further through four versions of the song; by the last version, it was largely electronic burps. :D

[Father_dougal]

I love that song. I like all the clash songs :cool:

[TAL]

Why don't you people take a look in the booklet that came with Clash On Broadway? ;)

UK:
Magnificent Seven 7" April 10, 1981
Magnificent Seven 12" April 24, 1981

US:
Magnificent Seven 12" March 27, 1981