John Cooper Clarke – Beasley Street (1980)
Hey, pop pickers, “Manchester Night” continues and, after the good time, party, vibe, of Joy Division, what better than a spot of lighthearted social realism from John Cooper Clarke.
I will be posting numerous track by John Cooper Clarke over coming weeks because, between 1978 and 1982, he was responsible for some of the smartest, funniest and, often, the most melodic tracks of the punk/post punk era.
Thinking back to one year into Margaret Thatcher’s new Government, this is a sincere and cynical denouncement of what was happening - no ranting, just clever couplets.
Worth saying though, this was not just Thatcher’s early legacy; the fingerprints of Wilson, Callaghan and Heath are all over this track.
The boys are on the wagon, the girls are on the shelf
Their common problem is, they’re not someone else
You have to start with the vinyl original then graduate to The Old Grey Whistle Test. Fantastic lyrics.
Good call! I’ve always thought the Mr Clarke would make a very good poet laureate.
Did you also know that unlikely though it sounds John Cooper Clarke had a relationship with another of the artists featured on your blog; Nico. I think they were brought together back in the early 80s by a mutual love of hard drugs. This is all amusing re-told in James Young’s book, Songs They Never Play on the Radio. If you haven’t read it already, i can definitely recommend it. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nico-Songs-They-Never-Radio/dp/0747544115
Hey Rob, Good spot. I have the book but have never read it! I will do so now I have a coiuple of days off! T
I see letters that lust after immigrant’s blood…
I can still, I think, do the whole of Daily Express from memory. JCC should have been so much more importnat.