Police & Thieves - Remasteredby The Clash

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001): The Royal Tenenbaums is a delightful adult comedy with many quirks and a sense of poignancy. Many critics especially praised Hackman's performance. Starring Danny Glover, Gene Hackman, Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, and Owen Wilson. editorial.rottentomatoes.com --- This was written by the reggae artist Junior Murvin, who recorded it in his falsetto style in 1976. The Clash, who were huge reggae fans, covered the song. It's the first example of The Clash incorporating reggae into their repertoire, something that can be heard in original songs like "White Man in Hammersmith Palais" and "Guns of Brixton." At the time, reggae was the music of Britain's oppressed Jamaican population. www.songfacts.com

This Junior Murvin song became an anthem in the UK in 1976 as the Notting Hill Carnival erupted into a riot. Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon of the Clash were involved in the rioting, which inspired them to cover the song on their debut album, in a style that they called "'punk reggae', not 'white reggae'". -- Co-writer and producer Lee "Scratch" Perry thought the Clash had "ruined" the song with their version, and Murvin's first reaction was "They have destroyed Jah work!". : faroutmagazine.co.uk

"The song was originally written by Junior Murvin. Murvin approached Lee "Scratch" Perry in May 1976 and auditioned the song at Perry's Black Ark studio; Perry decided to record the song the same afternoon, and decided to alter the lyric slightly. Players on the track included Boris Gardiner (bass), Ernest Ranglin (guitar), Sly Dunbar (drums), Keith Sterling (keyboards), and Joe Cooper (organ), with backing vocals provided by Barry Llewellyn and Earl Morgan of The Heptones en.wikipedia.org The Clash’s decision to include this cover on their album was groundbreaking, as it was one of the first instances of a punk band incorporating reggae into their sound. The Clash’s version transformed the reggae original into what guitarist Mick Jones described as “punk reggae, not white reggae”. They brought their own musical roots to the song, creating a unique fusion that reflected their London upbringing and multicultural influences.

This was originally a reggae song written and first recorded by the falsetto singer Junior Murvin in 1976. The Clash, who were huge reggae fans, covered the song. It's the first example of The Clash incorporating the genre into their repertoire, something that can be heard in original songs like "White Man in Hammersmith Palais" and "Guns of Brixton." This song had been a favorite practice space jam of the band and originally wasn’t going to be on the album, but an impromptu version The Clash started playing during a break in a recording session spurred the decision to finalize their own arrangement, record it, and include the finished article on their album. Watch them play the song live! youtu.be

The Clash covering a Junior Murvin song about gang war and police brutality. Originally written by Murvin and produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry in 1976, Perry thought the Clash had "ruined" the song with their version, and Murvin's first reaction was "They have destroyed Jah work!".

Welcome to International Clash Day on the Midday Show! Here The Clash are covering a track by Jamaican reggae musician Junior Murvin, which had long been a favorite to play during their practice sessions. A spontaneous moment in a recording session led to this version being included on their self-titled debut album from 1977.

This was originally a reggae song written and first recorded by the falsetto singer Junior Murvin in 1976. The Clash, who were huge reggae fans, covered the song. It's the first example of The Clash incorporating reggae into their repertoire, something that can be heard in original songs like "White Man in Hammersmith Palais" and "Guns of Brixton." This song had been a favorite practice space jam of the band and originally wasn’t going to be on the album, but an impromptu version The Clash started playing during a break in a recording session spurred the decision to finalize their own arrangement, record it, and include the finished article on their album.

The Junior Murvin song had been a favorite practice space jam of the band and originally wasn’t going to be on the album, but an impromptu version the Clash started playing during a break in a recording session spurred the decision to finalize their own arrangement, record it, and include the finished article on their album. Treat yourself to watching them play the song live! youtu.be

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL CLASH DAY The Junior Murvin song had been a favorite practice space jam of the band and originally wasn’t going to be on the album, but an impromptu version the Clash started playing during a break in a recording session spurred the decision to finalize their own arrangement, record it, and include the finished article on their album. Treat yourself to watching them play the song live! youtu.be

Cover of Junior Murvin's Upsetters-produced classic www.youtube.com

“Police and Thieves" back to back! The Junior Murvin song had been a favorite practice space jam of the band and originally wasn’t going to be on the album, but an impromptu version the Clash started playing during a break in a recording session spurred the decision to finalize their own arrangement, record it, and include the finished article on their album. Treat yourself to watching them play the song live! youtu.be

This was originally a reggae song written and first recorded by the falsetto singer Junior Murvin in 1976. The Clash, who were huge reggae fans, covered the song. It's the first example of The Clash incorporating reggae into their repertoire, something that can be heard in original songs like "White Man in Hammersmith Palais" and "Guns of Brixton."

The Clash cover a Junior Murvin song about gang war and police brutality, written by Murvin and produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry in 1976. Perry thought the Clash had "ruined" the song with their version, and Murvin's first reaction was "They have destroyed Jah work!".

Join us for International Clash Day on Friday February 5. More information at www.kexp.org

By request! "Thanks for playing the Beatles. I can only imagine what John Lennon and Joe Strummer would say about last week. Can you play the Clash? Thanks, Stacey"

Covering Junior Murvin (Who recorded the original at Lee Scratch Perry's Black Ark studio!)

Another choice from 1977 on 7/7, requested by Pamela

"Long time listener of about 15 years. Sending out love to all the censored health practitioners, virologist, epidemiologists, and economists. Requesting The Clash: Police and Thieves. Thank you so much!" - John

Arden (9) International Clash Day ID -- This cover is the first example of The Clash incorporating reggae into their repertoire, something that can be heard in original songs like "White Man in Hammersmith Palais" and "Guns of Brixton." At the time, reggae was the music of Britain's oppressed Jamaican population.

"Police and Thieves" had already become a huge hit in the UK before the British Punk band The Clash made the song even more famous with their cover version on their debut album. Originally recorded simply to fill space, the band were incredibly nervous about being a white rock band covering a reggae song so deeply entrenched in Jamaican roots. In the Westway to the World documentary singer Joe Strummer explained: "We had some brass neck to do that. By all rights they should've said 'ya heathen mon, ya ruined de works of Jah!' But they were hip enough to realize that we'd brought our own music to the party."

Originally released by Junior Murvin in 1977.

"Police and Thieves" is a reggae song first recorded by the falsetto singer Junior Murvin in 1976. It was covered by the punk band The Clash and included on their self-titled debut album released in 1977.

On the Royal Tenenbaums Original Soundtrack (Wes Anderson Film)

'Police & Thieves' is The Clash covering Reggae singer Junior Marvin. The original was recorded in 1976 and The Clash released their cover in 1977

Originally written and recorded by reggae artist Junior Murvin.

Fun fact: Lee "Scratch" Perry considered that the Clash had 'ruined' the song with their version, but later agreed to work with the band nonetheless.

Want some really cool Clash posters? Then get your buns over to www.kexp.org and download them for free! #internationalclashday

Cover of a song by Junior Murvin. It had not originally been planned for inclusion on 'The Clash,' but an impromptu version the band started playing during a break in a recording session spurred the decision to finalize their own arrangement, record it, and include it on their album.

For Judy, who shares, "The request you read about the father who used to sing to his daughter had me recalling how I did the same thing for my now 13-year-old son. We listened to The Clash and Bob Marley while we were in the hospital after he was born. I used to sing 'Police and Thieves' to him all the time. When he starting talking he'd always ask to hear 'Janie Jones' in the car and I'd sing the words. He loved that jam so much and I never got tired of playing it over and over again for him. Now, every time I hear either of those songs by a band I dearly love, I think of those times and smile. Thankfully, KEXP still plays The Clash so I smile a lot even when times are tough." This one's for you and your family, Judy!

Mark your calendars KEXP will be observing its sixth annual International Clash Day on Wednesday, February 7th, 2018. Read more about what went down last year by visiting blog.kexp.org

The Clash's cover of the reggae song first written and recorded by Junior Murvin in 1976

This was written by the reggae artist Junior Murvin, who recorded it in his falsetto style in 1976. The Clash, who were huge reggae fans, covered the song. It's the first example of The Clash incorporating reggae into their repertoire, something that can be heard in original songs like "White Man in Hammersmith Palais" and "Guns of Brixton." At the time, reggae was the music of Britain's oppressed Jamaican population.

The song 'Police & Thieves' was originally written/sung by Junior Murvin, recorded by Lee "Scratch" Perry.

"The Clash's version, which is six minutes in length, is an example of a rock band incorporating reggae into their repertoire. Murvin's first commentary was, 'They have destroyed Jah work!' The song had been a rehearsal room favourite of the band. It had not originally been planned for inclusion on The Clash, but an impromptu version the band started playing during a break in a recording session, spurred the decision to finalize their own arrangement, record it, and include the finished article on their album. In the beginning of the song, Joe Strummer reinterprets the line 'They're going through a tight wind' as a tribute to The Ramones, already an established American punk band and an influence on The Clash. The lyric line appears in the Ramones' 'Blitzkrieg Bop.' Perry considered that the Clash had 'ruined' the song with their version, but later agreed to work with the band nonetheless." goo.gl

February 6 at the Skylark Cafe is our International Clash Day concert. www.theclash.com

"Police & Thieves" was originally written and recorded by reggae artist Junior Murvin just one year prior (1976) to the Clash's self-titled debut, which featured this cover.

Celebrate International Clash Day every February 7th with John Richards. blog.kexp.org

This song, written by Junior Murvin and Lee 'Scratch" Perry, is a reggae classic by The Clash: www.allmusic.com