The 103 songs The Clash’s Joe Strummer loved most of all
Every great artist is indebted to their influences, and, in most cases, the greatest artists are those who draw from a broader range of inspirations. Although Joe Strummer rose to prominence during the revolutionary era of punk rock, his musical taste was always much more diverse than the barre chords and sneering lyricism of punk’s first wave. In fact, it was The Clash’s diverse sound that allowed the group to continue on years after many of their punk contemporaries had given up on the dream.
Strummer was born to be a songwriter and frontman, which was clear even before he joined the ranks of Mick Jones’ The Clash. Poached from pub rockers The 101ers, Strummer proved to be an essential piece of the puzzle when it came to Jones’ group. Not only did he bring with him an unparalleled, captivating performance style, genuine musical skill, and undeniable songwriting talent, but he also increased The Clash’s pool of influences. Over the course of their tenure, the band drew upon everything from dub reggae to rockabilly and were even early adopters of hip-hop.
Their enigmatic frontman was a key aspect of that sonic diversity, and Strummer continued to explore different styles and genres of music throughout The Clash’s discography and beyond. In fact, the choice to record cover versions of tracks by the likes of Vince Taylor, Junior Murvin, and The Equals, among others, introduced those incredible artists to an entirely new generation of music fans. The songwriter has always been keen for great music to be shared, and that theme continued for decades after The Clash’s demise.
Strummer became involved in countless different projects following the break-up of The Clash, but he was always at his best when performing and discussing music. Realising this, some bright spark at the BBC had the idea of giving Strummer his very own radio show on the World Service in 1999, titled London Calling. By all accounts, the songwriter was given free rein to play whatever music he so desired, so you can imagine the endlessly broad range of tunes he managed to shoehorn into his shows.
In addition to engaging in some self-congratulation by playing a few tracks by The Clash, Strummer mostly used his London Calling programme to reveal his various influences and musical loves. Everybody from The Beatles to obscure Latin soul stars was represented equally within the songwriter’s radio show, although his picks were often weighted towards his unwavering love of ska, reggae, and, of course, rock and roll.
It is certainly worth taking a deep dive into the songs Strummer chose to play on his show, but one notable inclusion comes in the form of Bo Diddley’s ‘Nursery Rhyme’. Diddley had always been a hero of Strummer’s, and the pair even got the chance to tour together during The Clash’s first tour of America back in 1979 – although the rock and roll progenitor was less than impressed by the bold new sounds of punk rock.
In total, Strummer played 103 unique songs during the course of his radio show, excluding his own material or that of The Clash. This extensive volume of tracks gives an unparalleled insight into the tastes and interests of Stummer, and, as you might expect, it makes for a compelling listening experience.
London Calling has not been rebroadcast by the BBC for quite some time, but fear not. We at Far Out have helpfully put together an exhaustive playlist of Strummer’s picks, including his own music, for your listening pleasure—you can thank us later.
Joe Strummer’s 103 favourite songs:
- ‘This Land Is Our Land’ – Trini Lopez
- ‘Small Axe’ – URoy
- ‘Minuit’ – Ernest Ranglin
- ‘Lokoko’ – Thu-Zahina
- ‘Long As I Can See The Light’ – Monkey Mafia
- ‘Martha Cecilia’ – Andres Landero Y Sus Conjuntos)
- ‘Symbolic Language’ – Pacou
- ‘Lawdy Miss Clawdy’ – Elvis Presley
- ‘Ah, Ngai Nzambe’ – Luyeye
- ‘Daddy’ – Dust Junkies
- ‘Da Camino a la Vereda’ – Buena Vista Social Club
- ‘Carrick Fergus’ – Brian Ferry
- ‘La Gaita’ – Orquestra Emisoras Fuentes
- ‘Groovin’’ – Young Rascals
- ‘Natty Rebel’ – U-Roy
- ‘7:20AM Jullandar Shere’ – Cornershop
- ‘Colours’ – Donovan
- ‘To Love Somebody’ – Nina Simone
- ‘Banana Boat (Day-O)’ – Harry Belafonte
- ‘Izinkomo Zombango’ – Mzikayifani Buthelezi
- ‘Ba Boo La La’ – The Lion
- ‘Amazimuzimu’ – Dilika
- ‘Fiesta En Mi Pueblo’ – La Cumbia Primero
- ‘Domino’ – Van Morrison
- ‘Try A Little Tenderness’ – Otis Redding
- ‘Boy In The Bubble’ – Paul Simon
- ‘Take Me With You My Darling, Take Me With You’ – Brian Jones
- ‘Fever’ – Horace Andy
- ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow/Wonderful World’ – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
- ‘La Vaca Vieja’ – Rufo Garrida Y Su Orquestra
- ‘It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels’ – Kitty Wells
- ‘The Killer’ – Big Youth
- ‘Hang on Sloopy’ – The McCoys
- ‘Vuli Ndlela’ – Brenda Fassie
- ‘Little Old Wine Drinker Me’ – Dean Martin
- ‘Lolita la Cumbiamber’a – Andres Landero Y Sus Conjuntos
- ‘Starting a New Life’ – Van Morrison
- ‘Sala Molende’ – Tabu Frantal
- ‘Hit the Road Jack’ – Big Youth
- ‘Fire in Soweto’ – Sonny Okosun
- ‘Nursery Rhyme’ – Bo Diddley
- ‘Ain’t Got No, I Got Life’’ – Nina Simone
- ‘Crawfish’ – Elvis Presley
- ‘Rez’ – Underworld
- ‘Cool Breeze’ – Big Youth
- ‘Stairway to the Stars’ – Ella Fitzgerald
- ‘Not Fade Away’ – The Rolling Stones
- ‘Up Around the Bend’ – Creedence Clearwater Revival
- ‘Jeeny’ – Afel Bocoum
- ‘Castles Made of Sand’ – Jimi Hendrix
- ‘Shoba’ – A Sambe Siye E Goli
- ‘Swingtown’ – Steve Miller Band
- ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’ – The Ramones
- ‘Freedom Fighter’ – The Upsetters
- ‘Tous Les Garçons et Les Filles’ – Francoise Hardy
- ‘Gwandir’ – Nasha
- ‘Corinna Corinna’ – Bob Dylan
- ‘Syncopate’ – The Astronauts
- ‘Nguewel’ – Bada Seck
- ‘Public Enemy #1’ – Max Romeo
- ‘Mon Amour, Ma Chérie’ – Amadou and Mariam
- ‘Do It Again’ – Beach Boys
- ‘Baby, What You Want Me To Do’ – Jimmy Reed
- ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ – Lulu
- ‘Roma’l – DJ Gino’s Gangsters featuring Surjit Bindrakhia
- ‘Chimta’ -Tariq Lohar
- ‘Mehabooba’ – Ravi Bal
- ‘Feeling Time’ – Joy White
- ‘Azara Alhai’ – Rasha
- ‘Tippi Toes’ – The Meters
- ‘Cumbia Saramuya’ – Los Corraleros De Majagual
- ‘Wang Dang Doodle’ – Koko Taylor
- ‘Tumbling Dice’ – The Rolling Stones
- ‘Hatisitose’ – Bhundu Boys
- ‘Top Ranking’ – Johnny Clarke
- ‘The Sunnyside of the Street’ – The Pogues
- ‘Some Velvet Morning’ – Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazelwood
- ‘Sanga Mbele Mbele’ – Thu Zahina
- ‘Gravel Pit’ – Wu-Tang Clan
- ‘Long Side Of The Old Santa Fe Trail’ – Jules Allen
- ‘Pennsylvania 6-5000’ – The Brian Setzer Orchestra
- ‘Free, Single and Disengaged’ – Huey ‘Piano’ Smith and His Clowns
- ‘Rock and Roll Music’ – The Beatles
- ‘Bunn The Couchie’ – Yellowman
- ‘Umfaan’ – Ricardo Bornman
- ‘Siwuhambile Umhlaba’ – Amaswazi Emvelo and Mahlathini
- ‘Nervous Breakdown’ – Eddie Cochran
- ‘Tell It Like It Is’ – Nina Simone
- ‘Cinderella’ – Eric Monty Morris
- ‘Long Hot Summer Night’ – Jimi Hendrix
- ‘Unza Unza Time’ – Emir Kusturica and The No Smoking Orchestra
- ‘Noisy Place’ – I-Roy
- ‘Raise The Alarm’ – Big Dog
- ‘Check Your Bucket’ – Eddie Bo
- ‘Gotta See Jane’ – R.Dean Taylor
- ‘Can I Get A Witness’ – Marvin Gaye
- ‘Co-operation’ – Franco and Sam Mangwana
- ‘Good To Be On The Road Back Home Again’ – Cornershop
- ‘Pena’ – Saban Bajramovic
- ‘La Bamba’ – Ritchie Valens
- ‘Roots and Culture’ – Shabba Ranks
- ‘Aida Baoury’ – Orchestra Baobab
- ‘Beat on The Brat’ – The Ramones
