Janie Jones (song)

Last updated

"Janie Jones"
Song by The Clash
from the album The Clash
Released8 April 1977 (1977-04-08)
Recorded10 February–27 February 1977 (1977-02-27) at CBS Studios in London; National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield
Genre Punk rock [1] [2]
Length2:01
Label CBS
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Mickey Foote

"Janie Jones" is a song by the English punk rock band the Clash. It is the opening track on their debut album, The Clash (1977). [3] The song is named after Janie Jones, a cabaret singer who organised sex parties at her Kensington home. [4]

Contents

A live performance of "Janie Jones" is featured in the 1980 film Rude Boy , and the song has been on the soundtracks of other films as well.

The song is the first choice on narrator Rob Fleming's list of "five best side one track ones" in Nick Hornby's 1995 novel High Fidelity and on Rob Gordon's Top 5 list in the 2000 film adaptation. [5]

Composition

The song is named after Janie Jones, a minor English cabaret and pop singer in the 1960s who was convicted in 1974 of "controlling prostitutes" at sex parties she held at her home in Kensington. [4] She was released from prison in 1977, and an allegedly smitten Joe Strummer composed the song in her honour. [6]

Releases

In addition to The Clash , the song has appeared on the compilation albums The Story of the Clash, Volume 1 (1988) (disc two), Clash on Broadway (1991) (disc one; demo version), and The Essential Clash (2003) (disc one). A live version recorded on 4 June 1981 at Bond's Casino, New York City, is featured on the bootleg Live at Bond's Casino (2000).

Personnel

Use in other media

The live performance of the song at the Apollo in Glasgow on 4 July 1978, is featured in Rude Boy , a 1980 film directed by Jack Hazan and David Mingay, starring Ray Gange and the Clash. The track was re-recorded at Wessex Studios by engineer Bill Price and tape operator Jerry Green. [7] [8] [9] The song was also featured on The Clash: Westway to the World , a 2000 documentary film directed by Don Letts. [10]

Martin Scorsese, a fan of the Clash, said that he considers "Janie Jones" to be the greatest British rock and roll song. He used the song in his 1999 film Bringing Out the Dead . [11] The song is also used in Michael Winterbottom's 2002 film 24 Hour Party People . [12]

Janie Jones is the iconic name given a record producer's long-lost love in season two of Californication , a character played by Madchen Amick. As lead character Hank Moody, David Duchovny refers to the Clash song more than once in scenes with Amick.

Other than its title, the 2010 David M. Rosenthal film Janie Jones bears only slight similarities to the song's lyrical theme. [13]

Cover versions

A rockabilly remake of "Janie Jones" by the Farrell Bros. is included on the various-artists tribute album This Is Rockabilly Clash, released by Raucous Records in 2002. In 2005, The Slackers and Chris Murray covered it on their collaborative album Slackness and the folk noir trio Songdog included a version on The Time of Summer Lightning. Babyshambles released their version, with contributions from others, in 2006 to benefit Joe Strummer's charity foundation Strummerville.

Other versions include remakes by Neurotic Outsiders and by Against Me!, who performed it in August 2011 for The A.V. Club's Undercover series. [14] Thea Gilmore recreates the drum rhythm at the beginning of the original song in her recording of another Clash song, "I'm Not Down." The song has also been played numerous times in concert by the English bands the Paddingtons and Bush.

"Janie Jones"
Janie Jones (Babyshambles song) cover.jpg
Single by Babyshambles & Friends
ReleasedOctober 2006
Genre Indie, Rock
Length2:03
Label B-Unique
Songwriter(s) Joe Strummer and Mick Jones
Producer(s) Static, Drew McConnell
Babyshambles & Friends singles chronology
"Albion"
(2005)		"Janie Jones"
(2006)		"Delivery"
(2007)

Babyshambles & Friends

"Janie Jones" (sometimes "Janie Jones (Strummerville)") was released through B-Unique Records to raise money for late Joe Strummer's charity foundation Strummerville and features contributions from others bands like Dirty Pretty Things, Larrikin Love, We Are Scientists, the Kooks, and Guillemots. This release marks the first time that Carl Barât and Pete Doherty worked together since the Libertines split up, although they never met during the recording process. [15]

Music video

The video revolves around (the real) Janie Jones being chauffeured around London with Mick Jones. Many of the contributors to the song feature in the video. Drew McConnell accompanies Janie Jones from the Windmill theatre right at the beginning as she's getting into her car, Alan Donohoe from the Rakes is driving the car, two members of Cazals are walking down the street near the start and their singer, Phil Bush, mimes 'lucky lady', the two guys standing in front of the telephone box are Josh Hubbard from The Paddingtons and one member of Guillemots; Carl Barât, Anthony Rossomando, Gary Powell and a guitar can be seen in a car pulling up to a petrol station, while Jack Peñate is also seen at the petrol station and Lisa Moorish is seen singing along towards the end. The lead singer from the Mystery Jets is seen walking with one of the Holloways on the side of the street.

Track listing

  • CD
  1. "Janie Jones"
  2. "Janie Jones" (Pete Doherty vocal version)
  3. "Janie Jones" (Video)
  • 7"
  1. "Janie Jones"
  2. "Janie Jones" (Statik remix)

Personnel

Contributors [16]

Additional contributors to the Statik remix

Chart performance

Chart (2005)Peak
position [17]
Irish Singles Chart45
UK Singles Chart 17
UK Indie (OCC) [18] 1

Notes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Clash</span> English punk rock band

The Clash were an English rock band that formed in London in 1976 and were key players in the original wave of British punk rock. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they used elements of reggae, dub, funk, ska, and rockabilly, and they contributed to the post-punk and new wave movements that followed punk. For most of their recording career, the Clash consisted of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Joe Strummer, lead guitarist and vocalist Mick Jones, bassist Paul Simonon, and drummer Nicky "Topper" Headon.

<i>The Clash</i> (album) 1977 studio album by The Clash

The Clash is the debut studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash, released on 8 April 1977 through CBS Records. Recorded and mixed over three weeks in February 1977 for £4,000, it would go on to reach No. 12 on the UK charts, and has been included on many retrospective rankings as one of the greatest punk albums of all time.

<i>Give Em Enough Rope</i> 1978 studio album by the Clash

Give 'Em Enough Rope is the second studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash, released on 10 November 1978 through CBS Records. It was their first album released in the United States, preceding the US version of the self-titled studio album. The album was well received by critics and fans, peaking at number two in the United Kingdom Albums Chart, and number 128 in the Billboard 200. The album is tied with Combat Rock (1982) for being the highest-charting album for the Clash in their native United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Simonon</span> English musician and artist (born 1955)

Paul Gustave Simonon is an English musician and artist best known as the bassist for the Clash. More recent work includes his involvement in the supergroup the Good, the Bad & the Queen and playing on the Gorillaz album Plastic Beach in 2010, which saw Simonon reunite with The Clash guitarist Mick Jones and Blur frontman Damon Albarn – and which also led to Simonon becoming the live band's touring bassist for Gorillaz's Escape to Plastic Beach Tour. Simonon is also an established visual artist.

The 101ers were a pub rock band from the 1970s playing mostly in a rockabilly style, notable as being the band that Joe Strummer left to join The Clash. Formed in London in May 1974, the 101ers made their performing debut on 7 September at the Telegraph pub in Brixton, under the name 'El Huaso and the 101 All Stars'. The name would later be shortened to the '101 All Stars' and finally just the '101ers'. The group played at free festivals such as Stonehenge, and established themselves on the London pub rock circuit prior to the advent of punk.

<i>Combat Rock</i> 1982 studio album by the Clash

Combat Rock is the fifth studio album by the English rock band the Clash, released on 14 May 1982 through CBS Records. In the United Kingdom, the album charted at number 2, spending 23 weeks in the UK charts and peaked at number 7 in the United States, spending 61 weeks on the chart. The album was propelled by drummer Topper Headon's "Rock the Casbah" which became a staple on the newly launched MTV. Combat Rock continued the influence of funk and reggae like previous Clash albums, but also featured a more radio-friendly sound which alienated Clash fans. While the recording process went smoothly, the producing process of the album was tiring and full of infighting between Mick Jones and Joe Strummer. Headon's heroin addiction grew worse and he slowly became distant from the band while Strummer and bassist Paul Simonon reinstated Bernie Rhodes as manager, a move unwelcomed by Jones. The band had disagreed on the creative process of the album and called in Glyn Johns to produce the more radio-friendly sound of Combat Rock. Lyrically, Combat Rock focuses on the Vietnam War, postcolonialism, the decline of American society, and authoritarianism.

"I Fought the Law" is a song written by Sonny Curtis of the Crickets and popularized by a cover by the Bobby Fuller Four, becoming a top-ten hit for the band in 1966. Their version of the song was ranked No. 175 on the Rolling Stone list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004, and the same year was named one of the 500 "Songs that Shaped Rock" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Topper Headon</span> British drummer

Nicholas Bowen "Topper" Headon is an English drummer and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the drummer of punk rock band the Clash. Known for his contributions to the drumming world, Headon was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the rest of the Clash in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Jones (The Clash guitarist)</span> British musician and singer (born 1955)

Michael Geoffrey Jones is a British musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer best known as co-founder and lead guitarist of punk rock band the Clash, until his dismissal by frontman Joe Strummer in 1983. In 1984, he formed Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts. Jones has played with the band Carbon/Silicon along with Tony James since 2002 and was part of the Gorillaz live band for a world tour in 2010–2011. In late 2011, Jones collaborated with Pete Wylie and members of the Farm to form the Justice Tonight Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Riot</span> 1977 single by The Clash

"White Riot" is a song by English punk rock band the Clash, released as the band's first single in March 1977 and also included on their self-titled debut album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais</span> 1978 single by The Clash

"(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" is a song by the English punk rock band the Clash. It was originally released as a 7-inch single, with the b-side "The Prisoner", on 16 June 1978 through CBS Records.

<i>The Clash: Westway to the World</i> 2000 British film

The Clash: Westway to the World is a 2000 documentary film about the British punk rock band The Clash. In 2003 it won the Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Joe Strummer Foundation</span> Non-profit development foundation

The Joe Strummer Foundation is a non-profit organisation which promotes the development of new music. It was established in memory of punk rock singer and guitarist Joe Strummer shortly after his death in December 2002. Strummer's widow Lucinda was the principal founder along with their daughters, Jazz and Lola Mellor, and English artist Damien Hirst. The organisation was known as Strummerville until December 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Clash discography</span>

The discography of the British punk rock band the Clash consists of six studio albums, two extended plays, two live albums and 31 singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Complete Control</span> 1977 single by The Clash

"Complete Control" is a song by The Clash, released as a 7" single and featured on the U.S. release of their debut album.

<i>Rude Boy</i> (film) 1980 British film

Rude Boy is a 1980 British film directed by Jack Hazan and David Mingay and filmed in 1978 and early 1979.

"I'm So Bored with the U.S.A." is a song by British punk rock band the Clash, featured on their critically acclaimed 1977 debut album, which was released in the United States in July 1979 as their second album after Give 'Em Enough Rope. It was the album's third track in the original version and second in the US version.

Bill Price was an English record producer and audio engineer who worked with the Clash, the Sex Pistols, Guns N' Roses, Sparks, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Nymphs, the Waterboys, Mott the Hoople and Simon Townshend. He was chief engineer on the first three solo studio albums by Pete Townshend: Empty Glass (1980), All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes (1982) and White City: A Novel (1985).

The Clash were an English rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk rock. Along with punk rock, they experimented with reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap and rockabilly. For most of their recording career, The Clash consisted of Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, and Paul Simonon, with Terry Chimes or Nicky "Topper" Headon on drums and percussion. The band features in several documentaries and other films.

"Garageland" is a song by English punk rock band The Clash featured as the final track for their 1977 debut album The Clash.

References

  1. ↑ Wyman, Bill (11 October 2017). "All 139 the Clash Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best". Vulture . New York . Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  2. ↑ Rolling Stone Staff (24 September 2024). "The 101 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  3. ↑ Green, Johnny; Garry Barker (2003). A Riot of Our Own: Night and Day with The Clash, p. 151.
  4. 1 2 Mendick, Robert (20 October 2012). "Jimmy Savile: Secret of BBC's first sex scandal". The Daily Telegraph .
  5. ↑ Hornby, Nick (1995). High Fidelity. New York: Riverhead Books. p. 147.
  6. ↑ Campbell, Marc (13 September 2010). "In Love with Janie Jones: The Clash and the Bad Girl who Inspired One of Their Greatest Songs". DangerousMinds.net. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  7. ↑ Green; Barker (2003). A Riot of Our Own, pp. 153–154.
  8. ↑ Jack Hazan, David Mingay, Ray Gange, Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon (2006). Rude Boy (Documentary). New York, New York: Epic Music Video. ISBN   0-7389-0082-6. OCLC   70850190.
  9. ↑ Whistance, Don J. "Rude Boy". theclash.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2008. 'Except for the Lyceum gigs, The Clash aren't live on the film at all,' stated Johnny Green. 'Totally artificial. The backing tracks were done at Wessex Studios.'
  10. ↑ Letts, Don. (2001). The Clash: Westway to the World . Event occurs at 3:10–3:45.
  11. ↑ Scorsese, Martin; Ian Christie; David Thompson (1996) [1989]. Scorsese on Scorsese (4th ed.). London: Faber. ISBN   0-571-17827-8. OCLC   35599754.
  12. ↑ Goldsmith, Melissa U. D.; Willson, Paige A.; Fonseca, Anthony J. (2016). The Encyclopedia of Musicians and Bands on Film. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 324. ISBN   978-1442269873.
  13. ↑ Buckwalter, Ian (27 October 2011). "'Janie Jones': Family Harmony Takes Practice". NPR . Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  14. ↑ "Against Me! covers The Clash". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on 12 September 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  15. ↑ "Carl Barat and Pete Doherty team-up". NME . 30 August 2006. Retrieved 17 October 2007.
  16. ↑ "Barat and Doherty reunite". Yahoo. 19 September 2006. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2007.
  17. ↑ "Babyshambles – Janie Jones (Strummerville) – Music Charts". acharts.us. Retrieved 16 October 2007.
  18. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.