Did you know “Combat Rock” was originally intended to be a double LP called “Rat Patrol from Fort Bragg?” Many of my fellow Clash fanatics are likely aware that the original version was mixed by Clash guitarist Mick Jones. However the band was dealing with various internal tensions, and there was disagreement about the mix that Mick had done. As things turned out, Glyn Johns was brought in to remix the album; it became a single disc and went on to be their best-selling album.
For years I wondered what I was missing – Was this a great lost album? Was there more Clash music I hadn’t heard? The answers to those questions are “no” and “yes” respectively. It’s really great to hear Mick’s version, and there are some unreleased tracks, but it’s probably more of a curiosity to Clash completist than a band or record company blunder that it wasn’t released originally. Mick’s mix could almost be considered “Sandinista Jr.” His production and the sprawl of a double album are closer in spirit to that triple album. It’s good, although my guess is it would not have become nearly as popular as “Combat Rock” ultimately did.
Twelve songs from “Rat Patrol from Fort Bragg” made it on to “Combat Rock,” although most in different (and usually shorter) form. Bootlegs of this album are found in various versions; the version I…heard, and the one I see most often, has the following track list:
1.”The Beautiful People Are Ugly Too” – 3:45
2.”Kill Time” – 4:58
3.”Should I Stay or Should I Go” – 3:05 (with horns and extra Spanish)
4.”Rock the Casbah” – 3:47 (with extra bongo action)
5.”Know Your Rights” (extended version) – 5:04 (Vocals through a megaphone?)
6.”Red Angel Dragnet” – 6:12
7.”Ghetto Defendant” – 6:17 (with extra Allen Ginsberg and Joe Strummer vocals)
8.”Sean Flynn” – 7:30
9.”Car Jamming” – 3:53
10.”Inoculated City” – 4:32
11.”Death Is a Star” – 2:39
12.”Walk Evil Talk” – 7:37
13.”Atom Tan” – 2:45
14.”Overpowered by Funk” (demo) – 1:59 (instrumental – no Futura 2000)
15.”Inoculated City” (unedited version) – 2:30 (Probably would not have been duplicated on the album)
16.”First Night Back in London” – 2:56
17.”Cool Confusion” – 3:10
18.”Straight to Hell” (extended version) – 6:56
So what do we find in this package? Well, most interesting to me are the three unreleased tracks – “The Beautiful People Are Ugly Too” and “Kill Time” are both funky, catchy tunes, although are somewhat marred by some cheap sounding keyboard. The third, and the longest song on the album, is “Walk Evil Talk.” This is a sparse and jazzy instrumental with just piano and drum; it could almost be incidental music for a crime film. My guess is that this is a track written and performed by drummer Topper Headon, who came up with the piano riff in “Rock the Casbah.” Even though there is nothing stunning here in these three songs, I loved hearing “new” Clash music.
Two of the later tracks, “First Night Back in London” and “Cool Confusion” may be less familiar to some, although they were released as single B-sides. I always thought these two were odd songs for The Clash, but they kind of make more sense in the context of this album. The version of “Straight to Hell” here was released on the box set “Clash on Broadway.” Of course some of my younger readers may recognize that song better as “Paper Planes” by M.I.A.
The other songs which made the cut differ from the familiar versions. Mick’s versions tend to have more production touches (and, as a result, are often more dense). Some have only minor differences but play like extended versions. In most cases, the songs that made “Combat Rock” are shortened and cleaned up – basically given more focus and perhaps more emphasis to the guitars. Some of the changes are very minor, but “Should I Stay or Should I Go” and “Know Your Rights” probably benefitted most from the fine-tuning.
If you are curious there are other interesting things out there from the “Rat Patrol” sessions, including some interesting song versions with Ranking Roger from The (English) Beat on vocals.
It is unfortunate “Rat Patrol” is not commercially available. Since CBS/Columbia seems to repackage Clash music on a pretty regular basis, perhaps they’ll include “Rat Patrol” on a reissue of “Combat Rock” someday so everyone can enjoy it.