From his time in The Clash to The Mescaleros to The Latino Rockabilly War to his solo efforts, Joe Strummer has contributed some incredible pieces of work to the world of punk rock and reggae music. He was an icon who influenced new generations of punk rockers to get out there and make music. And we are particularly fond of these four essential Joe Strummer tunes. Let’s take a look!
1. “Bankrobber”
The Clash song “Bankrobber” from 1980 deserved to be a hit. Unfortunately, the song was an import-only track and didn’t get much love when it was released. This killer song married reggae, punk, and dub together, which wasn’t exactly something The Clash were strangers to. Add in some stellar storytelling, and you’ve got one of Joe Strummer’s best career songs.
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2. “Rudie Can’t Fail”
If you want to hear a pretty good example of Strummer’s love for reggae, give “Rudie Can’t Fail” from the legendary 1979 Clash album London Calling a good listen. This particular song is a tribute to the Caribbean, and it came to be after Strummer and The Clash enjoyed a particularly hazy summer in reggae clubs throughout London.
The horns, the beat, the melody; it’s a fantastic piece of work from Strummer’s discography. We’d say it’s one of the best songs on the whole of London Calling, too.
3. “Trash City”
This underrated gem didn’t get much attention when it was released, namely because it was used for the soundtrack to the notably bad 1988 film Permanent Record. It’s a shame because this essential Joe Strummer tune is an amazing piece of work. If you want to get a feel for how good Strummer was at writing, give “Trash City” a listen.
4. “Redemption Song”
This tune was a major Bob Marley classic, but Strummer took it on with none other than Johnny Cash for the latter’s 2003 box set album Unearthed, Vol. 3: Redemption Songs. It’s a lovely late-career performance and one of Strummer’s greatest works.
“Redemption Song” is a spoken-word, justice-packed track in which Strummer implores the listener to connect with their fellow man. Sadly, Strummer passed away before Unearthed, Vol. 3: Redemption Songs was released.
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