The 101ers - Elgin Avenue Breakdown: Revisited

I'd call myself a pretty avid fan of Joe Strummer. The Clash is probably my favorite band, and London Calling is without a doubt my number one album of all time. As the leader of the pre-Clash 101ers, Strummer (then known as Woody, in honor of his idol) honed himself with the roots of rock & roll. Now supposedly, the band toured with the Sex Pistols, inspiring Strummer to leave the band to start what would become his more successful venture into the world of music. Elgin Avenue Breakdown was released in 1981, but due to its obscurity, Astralwerks deemed the release of Elgin Avenue Breakdown: Revisited a worthy cause. Drawing on the sounds of Chuck Berry, Eddie & the Hot Rods, and Dr. Feelgood, the 101ers put together a pretty solid batch of pub rock, though it's difficult to tell how much Strummer's later success helped to fuel the desire for this album, instead of what the band accomplished under their own name. Besides the band's fantastic originals (namely, "Letsagetabitarockin'," "Keys to Your Heart," and "Sweet Revenge"), there are a few covers worth mentioning--Berry's "Maybelline," Bo Diddley's "Don't Let it Go," and the Rolling Stones' "Out of Time," which in this case was recorded live in a prison chapel. On their own, the 101ers were a really good rock band. As history has it, though, they're known more as a precursor to The Clash. It's hard to overlook the latter point, but disregarding that bit of information, they're worth checking out. Include that information, however, and this is entirely essential for any Strummer's fans. [www.astralwerks.com]