On February 23, 1979 The Clash released the single "English Civil War" b/w "Pressure Drop". The former updates the American Civil War era song " When Johnny Comes Marching Home" to the current state of affairs in the British Isles. "War is just around the corner, "Strummer explained. "Johnny hasn't got far to march. That's why he is coming by bus or underground." The B side is a cover of one of the reggae band Toots and the Maytals best known songs, originally released in 1970 and again on the legendary The Harder They Come soundtrack. The single peaked at U.K. #25.
On the weekend of August 5 and 6, 1977, punk rock fans and the curious one again gathered at Mont de Marsan for what must be called a legendary line-up of bands. The Clash, The Damned, The Jam, The Police, Rich Kids, Eddie and the Hot Rods...well, you can see the poster above so I'll just stop.
French bands opened each day. The Damned came out with their newest member, a second guitarist named Robert "Lu" Edmonds. His purpose was to fatten the sound, but that was the kind of thing the former pub rockers were supposed to be doing, not punk bands. In a month The Damned would record a second album. It wouldn't sell. By January they would be the fifrt major punk band to break up
The Clash came out with fury, opening with "London's Burning" before trying out a cover of Toots and the Maytals' "Pressure Drop". Damned bassist Captain Sensible interrupted the performance by tossing smoke bombs on the stage and unplugging amps. He was roughed up by security.
The Police were still a four piece band. Original guitarist Henry Padovani was far more punk than the ten year older Andy Summers, late of Kevin Ayers. But it looked as though Henry saw what direction the Police were heading, as he stood still on a corner of the stage watching the others.
The follow up to Robert Palmer's Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley combines that album's Little Feat funk with some blue eyed Philly soul and an eye-catching cover. The first half was recorded with Little Feat in Baltimore while the second half was recorded in Los Angeles, including a session with Barry White's arranger, Gene Page, conducting a 32-piece string section. As far as the title cut, a cover of the Toots and the Maytals classic, Palmer enthused to Rolling Stone's Ed Ward "Oh! Such a Good Feeling! We had to fade it because for 15 minutes. The only reason we stopped was because the tape ran out."
