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Big Audio Dynamite

A little something about Big Audio Dynamite
Of the multitude of young punk acts that came out of London in the 1970s, the Clash was among those considered to have the brightest future. Not only had they shared bills with the Sex Pistols and been signed by a major label hoping to capitalize on the punk phenomenon, but they were talented musicians and songwriters. Over the years their pop awareness increased, appealing to wider and wider audiences without sacrificing their interests in political and social causes. The band's 1982 album Combat Rock is perhaps their most widely accessible work, with such progessive pop tracks as "Rock the Casbah" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" which to this day can be heard on 'alternative' radio, and are often covered by today's crop of progressive artists. Combat Rock would not be the last Clash album, but it was the last album that featured founding member Mick Jones. The direction that Jones wanted the band to take was not compatible with the wishes of singer Joe Strummer, and Jones was asked to leave. Stummer's Clash released another LP in 1985, the same year that Jones's new band Big Audio Dynamite released their debut album, This Is Big Audio Dynamite. B.A.D. was a collaboration of Jones and DJ Don Letts, who littered the album with samples to a degree that seems quite commonplace now, but was quite risky in 1985. The heavy use of sampling and the funk undercurrent of the album are a natural progession of the direction Jones was trying to take the Clash on Combat Rock. The album yielded some very original, easily identifiable hits, such as Medicine Show, the Bottom Line and E=MC˛. Jones' B.A.D. went through some major face-lifts over the years. After a spell of ill health, Jones put together a new line-up in 1990, and released new material as B.A.D. II, and did the same more recently under the name Big Audio

E=MC˛

Somebody I never met
But in a way I know
Didn`t think that you could get
So much from a picture show
Man dies first reel
People ask what`s the deal?
This ain`t how it`s supposed to be
Don`t like no aborigine

Ritual ideas relativety
Only buildings no people prophecy
Timeslide place to hide nudge reality
Foresight minds wide magic imagery

Took a trip in Powis Square
Pop star dyed his hair
No fans to scream and shout
When mobsters came to flush him out
Gangland slaying underground
New identity must be found
On the left bank for a while
Insanity Bohemian style

Ritual ideas relativety
Only buildings no people prophecy
Timeslide place to hide nudge reality
Foresight minds wide magic imagery

Met a dwarf that was no good
Dressed like little Red Riding Hood
Bad habit taking life
Calling card a six inch knife
Ran off really fast
Mumbled something `bout the past
Best sex I`ve ever seen
As if each moment was the last
Drops of blood colour slide
Funeral for his bride
But it`s him who`s really dead
Gets to take the funeral ride

Ritual ideas relativety
Only buildings no people prophecy
Timeslide place to hide nudge reality
Foresight minds wide magic imagery

Space guy fell from the sky
Scratched my head and wondered why
Time slide into time
Across international dateline
Scientist eats bubblegum
Hall of fame baseball
Senators a Hoodlum
Big chiefs in the hall

Ritual ideas relativety
Only buildings no people prophecy
Timeslide place to hide nudge reality
Foresight minds wide magic imagery

Stray thoughts fear to tread
Placed upon the screen instead
Shes my flame too hot to hold
Had to settle for her cold

Bloodlust - Greek God - Gold discovery
Gone bust - Tight wad - Slow recovery
Axe job - Flame thrower - Ironbar and gun
Betting shop - New owner - A walk in the sun

Ritual ideas relativety
Only buildings no people prophecy
Timeslide place to hide nudge reality
Foresight minds wide magic imagery

Spread the news the Maestros back
With a beat - box soundtrack
The King of brains - Queen of the sack`
Executives have heart attack
It`s assault course celluloid
The money makers would avoid
Sometimes notions get reversed
Centre of the universe

Ritual ideas relativety
Only buildings no people prophecy
Timeslide place to hide nudge reality
Foresight minds wide magic imagery...