Carrying on from my last post, in second place, but not really because this is a fucking massive favourite too... its The Clash!

2/3: Stay Free, The Clash - Give Em' Enough Rope

I think this track speaks a lot for itself. Taking it even further back, all the way to 1978, I am starting to actually believe that I am definitely born in the wrong era, but at least I'm 23 and have fucking good music taste, right?

So for me, The Clash are that band that begun it all. I know we had The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, but The Clash introduced something much more special; they were part of the original wave of punk. They were the beginning of a musical serge that influenced a flock of young kids to pick up their guitars and start making music. One of those bands were the Manic Street Preachers.

The 70's was a time of economic austerity, global capitalism and political incorrectness, with the nation lacking in ambition and no interests in the political state. To many, it was noted that the anger wasn't there, as the nation continued to watch their lives reluctantly being controlled by the higher authority. This was until the punk movement, the movement that reconciled everybody regardless of gender, skin colour or age.

When the band signed to CBS to create their 2nd album in 78, with a much better production team behind them, it was obvious the band were going places; especially given that the ever famous London Calling album was to be released the year after. Give Em' Enough Rope jolted the nation in many of ways, with some fans actually complaining that the audio was too clean cut and although the record doesn't quite imitate the same intense energy as The Clash's third album London Calling, it does have a big forceful sound that is nearly as powerful.


Stay Free, track 8, dominates the second half of the LP and it blows me away every time I hear the intro. Written by Mick Jones, it gives a very different perspective to The Clash with its poignant lyrics and Jones' very affecting lead vocals which make you feel happy despite what the lyrics say. And not forgetting those clash guitar moments either.

I will never forget the first time I heard the lyrics 'Go Easy, Step Lightly, Stay Free', those simple lyrics that have somewhat become my life motto.