''Global a Go-Go'' is the second
album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th century as individual 78 rpm records co ...
by
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor (21 August 1952 – 22 December 2002), known professionally as Joe Strummer, was a British singer, musician and songwriter. He was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist of punk rock band the Clash, ...
and
The Mescaleros
The Mescaleros were the British backing band for British singer, musician and songwriter Joe Strummer, formed in 1999, which issued three albums prior to Strummer's death in 2002.
Many of the band members were multi-instrumentalists. The origin ...
, displaying trademark genre-melding
folk-rock and Strummer's unique lyrical style. As the title suggests, there are
world music influences on the album, mostly on the title track and "Bhindi Bhagee", a celebration of the "humble" but diverse and exciting ethnic and multi-cultural areas of
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
and other major cities. The album is heavy on acoustic instruments, especially in the instrumental "
Minstrel Boy", a nearly 18-minute-long arrangement of a traditional Irish song. Other topics covered include Strummer's radio show, which was broadcast on the
BBC World Service (''Global a Go-Go'') and left-wing political issues Strummer was well known for expounding as a member of
The Clash
The Clash were an English rock band formed in London in 1976 who were key players in the original wave of British punk rock. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they also contributed to the and new wave movements that emerged in the w ...
. The album was well received by critics and fans, making much more of an impact than the group's previous effort ''
Rock Art and the X-Ray Style
''Rock Art and the X-Ray Style'' is the debut album by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros, released on 18 October 1999. This album featured the band in its first incarnation: Joe Strummer and Antony Genn on guitar and vocals, Martin Slattery pla ...
''. The title track, "Global A Go-Go", features backing vocals from longtime friend of Strummer,
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey (born 1 March 1944) is an English singer, musician and actor. He is a co-founder and the lead singer of the rock band The Who.
Daltrey's hit songs with The Who include " My Generation", " Pinball Wizard", " Won't Get Fooled ...
.
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend (; born 19 May 1945) is an English musician. He is co-founder, leader, guitarist, second lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the Who, one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s.
Townsh ...
is also rumoured to be buried in the mix of "Minstrel Boy", but this has never been positively confirmed. The cover-art for the album was designed by Josh Shoes and Strummer.
The lead track and album's only single, "Johnny Appleseed" was the opening theme to the
HBO show ''
John from Cincinnati
''John from Cincinnati'' is an American drama television series, set against the surfing community of Imperial Beach, California. It aired on HBO from June 10 to August 12, 2007.
Overview
''John from Cincinnati'' is the result of a collaborativ ...
''. A music video for the song was also filmed. A different version of "Minstrel Boy" was used as the closing track on the
Ridley Scott film ''
Black Hawk Down''. This film version, which can also be found on the soundtrack, is significantly shorter and does feature the actual lyrics to the song. The "Minstrel Boy" track is also known as the "Worldcom Dirge" after being featured in a commercial by the soon-to be-bankrupt telecommunications company. Likewise, "Mondo Bongo" is featured in the
Doug Liman
Douglas Eric Liman (; born July 24, 1965) is an American film director and producer. He is known for directing the films '' Swingers'' (1996), '' Go'' (1999), '' The Bourne Identity'' (2002), '' Mr. & Mrs. Smith'' (2005), ''Jumper'' (2008), '' Ed ...
film ''
Mr. & Mrs. Smith''. In
Orphan Black
''Orphan Black'' is a Canadian science-fiction thriller television series created by screenwriter Graeme Manson and director John Fawcett and starring Tatiana Maslany. The series focuses on Sarah Manning, one of several genetically identical ...
, lines from "Bummed Out City" are recited at Sarah Manning's funeral as her eulogy.
A remastered version of the album along with Strummer's other two Hellcat released albums was released as a special 57 song digital download titled ''
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros: The Hellcat Years'' on 21 August 2012 to celebrate what would have been Strummer's 60th birthday. Hellcat will also release each remastered album individually on CD and vinyl on 25 September 2012.
Track listing
Personnel
* Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor (21 August 1952 – 22 December 2002), known professionally as Joe Strummer, was a British singer, musician and songwriter. He was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist of punk rock band the Clash, ...
– Vocals (1-10), Off Stage Voice (11)
* Martin Slattery
Martin Paul Slattery (born 30 December 1973 in Blackburn) is an English multi-instrumentalist and composer.
He plays electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, saxophone, and flute.
Slattery was first a member of Joe Strummer's backing band T ...
– Hammond Organ (1, 5, 6, 10), Wurlitzer (1, 3-5, 7, 9), Flute (1 ,4, 8), Drones (1), Backing Vocals (1, 3, 6-8), Synthesizer (2, 3, 7, 9), Saxophone (2), Electric Guitar (3), Acoustic Guitar (3, 4, 6, 11), Piano (3, 6, 10), Russian Choir (3), African Guitar (4), Bedroom Fuzzbox Solo (4), Station Bass (4), Filtered Synthesizer (6), Melodica (6, 10), Hammer Dulcimer (7), French Horn (7), Accordion (8), Warping & Filtration (9), Cardboard Box (9), Twin Speed Electric Guitar (10), Organ (11), Hi-Life Guitar (11)
* Scott Shields – Acoustic Guitar (1, 3-6, 9), Bass (1-8, 10), Backing Vocals (1, 3, 4, 6, 8-10), Guitar (2), Drums (2-4, 6, 7), Vocals (2, 7), Electric Riff (3), Russian Choir (3), Electric Guitar (4, 5), Filtered Guitar (4), Raga Riffs (5), Slide Guitar (6), Hammond Organ (6), Eastern Guitar (7), Homemade Loops (7), 2-String Bass (9), Bongos (9), Witchdoctor Bells (9), Rhythm Guitar (10), Electric Guitar Picking (10), Triple Tracked Drumkit (10), Timbales Break (10), Low Humming Choir (10)
* Pablo Cook – Drums (1), Percussion (1, 7, 9, 11), Weirdo Bank Noises (3), Ayahuesca (3), Rhythm Track (4), Bodhran (4), Wavedrum (4, 6), Congas (5, 6, 11), Bongos (5, 11), Guiro (5), A-Go-Go Bells (5), Shaker (5, 6), Tambourine (6, 10), Udu (6), Multiple Personality Vox (7), Cuban Drum Section (8), Glass Harmonica (8), Whistle (10), Screaming (10), Vibing (10), Gope Rhythm (11)
* Tymon Dogg
Tymon Dogg (born Stephen John Murray) is an English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Dogg's career started early with shows at the Cavern and Peppermint Lounge in Liverpool when he was 15. As well as pursuing a solo career, he coll ...
– Violin (1, 3-5, 7-9, 11), Mandolin (1), Spanish Guitar (3, 8), Electric Guitar (4), Sheep Charmer (5), Acoustic Guitar (11)
* Richard Flack – Crash Cymbals (1), Alter Riff Filter (2), Backing Vocals (2, 7), Sherman Filter (4), Live Echo Plating (10), Sound Destruction (10), Muffled Snare Loops (11)
* Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey (born 1 March 1944) is an English singer, musician and actor. He is a co-founder and the lead singer of the rock band The Who.
Daltrey's hit songs with The Who include " My Generation", " Pinball Wizard", " Won't Get Fooled ...
– Vocals (3)
* Antony Genn – Loops (2), Strings (2)
* Wags Wagstaff – Unusual Plinky Guitar (2)
;Technical
* Chris Lasalle – sequencing
* Bob Gruen
Bob Gruen (born October 23, 1945) is an American author and photographer known for his rock 'n' roll photographs. By the mid 1970s Gruen was already regarded as one of the foremost photographers in music working with major artist such as John Len ...
– photography
* Josh Cheuse – cover-art
In popular culture
The song "Johnny Appleseed" was used as the theme to the short-lived HBO series ''John from Cincinnati
''John from Cincinnati'' is an American drama television series, set against the surfing community of Imperial Beach, California. It aired on HBO from June 10 to August 12, 2007.
Overview
''John from Cincinnati'' is the result of a collaborativ ...
''.
The song "Mondo Bongo" is used in the movie '' Mr & Mrs Smith'' (scene in Bogota).
See also
*'' Let's Rock Again!'' - a documentary shot during the ''Global a Go-Go'' tour
References
{{Authority control
2001 albums
Epitaph Records albums
Joe Strummer albums