Singing an old Fats Domino song, transforming the New Orleans R&B/blues shuffle to a country/folk back-porch sway, Strummer--co-founder & lead singer of the Clash, one of the best bands rock and roll (or punk) has ever produced--sounds meditative, yet loose and hopeful, on what's essentially a demo that his then band (and they're great, here), the Mescaleros, put to disc posthumously, as Strummer died of a congenital heart defect in December of 2002. Strummer's death was no more tragic than anyone else's nor more heartbreaking, but the timeliness of it--dying not too long after he recorded this take--makes this record all the more prescient and harrowing. Of course, Strummer didn't know, but you wouldn't know that from listening to this record, 'cause even though he sounds (fairly) upbeat, the Mescaleros play as if they knew, 'cause this is the best they ever sounded, their playing so empathic, sounding like The Band at their best, which is, pretty much, as great as any rock band ever...even the Clash.
Rest in peace, Mr. Strummer. Hope you got a chance to do everything you wanted, 'cause London's calling you now.
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