Here’s yet another post looking back on the breakup of The Clash 30 years ago in 1986. Although bands like The Police and the Rolling Stones experimented with bringing reggae sounds to rock, The Clash did it better than most covering classics like “Pressure Drop” and creating classics of their own like “Rudie Can’t Fail.” Bassist Paul Simonon’s Brixton neighborhood had a large West Indian population and Simonon grew to love reggae and ska’s mixture of danceable rhythms and social messages. While I was picking out The Clash songs we’ll be playing on Edward Brinson’s Eigthties/Schmeighties show on WXNA radio in Nashville this Friday to celebrate Joe Strummer’s birthday a few days later, I was surfing YouTube and listening to make my final decisions and I came across a cool playlist that compiles most of the band’s reggae-inspired cuts.

Enjoy!

Stay Awake!

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