So………
I come up with this idea of looking at songs that would have been massive hits if the band and/or record label had released them as singles. The first one that came to mind was this
mp3: The Clash – Clampdown
Here’s what I typed out back in May 2015 when I pulled together The Clash ICA (#12 in the series).
“The Clash famously had a policy of minimising the number of 45s that would be taken from any album – a stance that led to a lot of friction with CBS Records. It also caused the band to miss out on chart success, as they left behind so many great album cuts that were tailor-made for radio airplay – none more so than this track from London Calling.
I suppose that’s not quite true as Clampdown was released in early 1980 in Australia where, it being the height of their summer, I’d like to imagine that it would be blasting out over Bondi Beach at high volume. But I doubt it….
Oh, and there are many reasons to say thank you for the invention of the internet, not least being the fact that you can now, all these years later, put in the relevant search and get the previously impossible to work out spoken intro:-
“The kingdom was ransacked, the jewels got ransacked and a chopper descends
They hid it in the back and they switched it on and off but the tape of spool just ends
They say now I’m back,hit at his face in a crack but he said there’s a crack on the lens”
Before one of the great shout/sing-a-long lines ever written…WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO NOW?”
Which means this proposed new idea for the blog has gotten off to a very shaky start. I had forgotten all about it being given an Australian release, where it was backed by this on the b-side:-
mp3: The Clash – Guns Of Brixton
Another song from London Calling, and one which, in 1990, was pulled out of the vaults and given the dubby indie-dance treatment and released as a single to help promote the compilation The Story Of The Clash Volume 1:-
mp3: The Clash – Return To Brixton
I’ll hopefully do better next time I return to the idea…..which strikes me as being nigh-on perfect for guest contributions if anyone has a suggestion they want to offer.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
‘Should’ve Been A UK Single’ might get you out of trouble.
Not sure Clampdown would have got a lot of daytime airplay back in 1980 UK. If they were going to take another single from London Calling, I think Rudie Can’t Fail would have been a ‘summertime smash’ at the height of the Two-Tone craze (half remember it being a Dutch single release, but might be wrong), it’s so damn cheerful. Train in Vain was the US single of course, Jones on a Stones kick. Am reminded that Guns of Brixton features the dumbest lyric on any Clash release.
Don’t let this faltering start to a new series stop you persevering, JC. I think it’s a great idea and am off to start thinking of a few to throw into pot and continue the inevitable debate. Oh – and thanks for sharing the deciphered mumbly bit.
I would go for ‘Lost in the Supermarket’ myself
Can see the argument for “Rudie…”, but Clampdown would’ve made a stonking single. Of course, given the band’s propensity for releasing the most uncommercial option (“The Call Up” anyone?), they were more likely to release “Death or Glory” and be surprised by the lack of airplay.
A great idea for a series which is sure to provoke plenty of (polite) debate.
Clampdown is the great Clash non- single, one of their most exhilarating moments. Good idea for a series. Will give a guest post some thought.
I love this idea for a series. Great start!
Single or not, Clampdown is in my TOP ONE Clash songs of all time! And +1 for the series idea!
I would like to have Washington Bullets as a single release. What a great idea for a new series and I am sure to make a guest contribution the next weeks.
Yup, would have been absolutely fantastic as a single!!
If older albums had been released now we’d get 3 tracks in the charts. London Calling, Clampdown, Death or Glory. 1 2 3…..
Can’t speak for Bondi Beach, but here in Adelaide “Clampdown” got a thorough thrashing on the public radio station show I was part of.