My Top 2000 Songs #1069: Police On My Back

Our second selection off the Clash's epic 1980 triple LP Sandinista; and our second example of the Clash's cover being indisputably the definitive version (with all due respect to the original artists). In this case, "Police On My Back" was originally a 1967 single by British band the Equals, written and sung by Eddy Grant (probably best known outside the UK for the massive 1983 MTV-era hit "Electric Avenue"). And, hey, it's a great song, some post-British Invasion R&B-tinged freakbeat not far afield from better-known bands like the Action.

But the Clash turned the obscure single into a post-punk monster, squealing guitars and raging energy, visceral enough that you can hear the cops closing in. The power of the remake is no doubt helped by its inclusion on Sandinista--had it been on, say, London Calling, it might have been just one more inspired updating of a minor oldie, like that record's "Brand New Cadillac." But given Sandinista largely eschewed the band's punk roots, and even London Calling's more traditional rock & roll, for a more nuanced, varied sound that ranged from soul to funk to dub, "Police" was the album's clearest reminder that the Clash could still tear the roof off.

(Also, it has some sentimental value for me, as my college band played this song. Albeit not very well.)

The Equals' original:

Live Clash 1982:

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong:

Here's a School of Rock performance (yeah, probably better than my college band):