The Clash Rat Patrol

	£		24
	$		32

This was intended to be a double album entitled 'The Rat Patrol From Ft. Bragg'. The rest of the band dismissed it, and called in producer Glyn Johns to cut it down to size for a single LP. All songs became shorter, and a lot tighter, with more pronounced vocals, a much 'tighter' mix musically, and less vague sound effects and extended rapping. Also, four tracks ("Cool Confusion", "First Night Back In London", "The Beautiful People Are Ugly Also" and "Kill Time") were cut. Overall, all the songs sound very similar to each other, with a significant emphasise on studio sound effects. The whole thing also has a 'darker' sound to it. Track 7 from 'Combat Rock', "Overpowered By Funk", is not present here and was apparently added to 'Combat Rock' at the last minute (an instrumental version exists on 'Clash On Broadway Outtakes' and an extended remix is on 'Golden Bullets'). Each song varies in some way to the official ones on 'Combat Rock', so here is a track by track review: The Beautiful People Are Ugly Too A great song, and it's good to have it here with very good sound quality. I especially like the tune to this song, it's very catchy, and Joe and Mick's singing on it works very well. In keeping with the style of the rest of the album, there are the familiar sound effects. This was also known as "Fulham Connection W11", and has also been known as "Man In A Box." Kill Time Again, a great song. Very reggae styled (true to Clash form). Also, excellent sound quality which is very welcome from an unreleased studio track. Good to have a complete version of it as well, as it appears on 'Pier Pressure' but is cut short and misses out a drumbeat or two in the intro and is missing quite a bit near the end. The 'Pier Pressure' version also uses a vinyl as its source, whereas this does not. Sometimes known as "(Licence To) Kill Time" and "Idle In The Kangaroo Court" which was the song's working title. Should I Stay Or Should I Go Lots of Spanish dialogue at times, along with extra vocals, possibly just Mick's dubbed over twice. Also some extra vocals from Joe it sounds like. Extended, and with extra instrumentation, including brass? Rock The Casbah Different intro, then once it kicks in it is very similar to the official album version. There's extra sound effects in places and it's also maybe a touch slower. Know Your Rights This is a basic but extended version, and seems to be a bit slower. Joe is talking rather than singing and the lyrics are different in places. "Know Your Rights" has a few incarnations besides the official one. This being one, and another one is on 'Clash On Broadway Outtakes.' This is a good version of the song, and in ways works better, with the message of the song being delivered more effectively by Joe's voice. Red Angel Dragnet Paul's vocals seem a bit more present in the song as the volume of the music is lower. Some instrumentation found in the offical version is increased in volume a little - such as the electronic organ effect. Also, there is some faint talking in the background, possibly Joe? There are also extra background vocals from Joe and Mick. Towards the end, there are extra lyrics, as this is an extended version. Ghetto Defendant Allen Ginsberg's lead vocals are different at times, and sometimes appear in a different place to where they do in the official version. There is extra instrumentation. Joe's singing is also very different. The lyrics in the song are different, and this is an extended version. It also fades off quite nicely at the end. Sean Flynn A different, and quite spooky, intro to this song, then it kicks in as normal. The sound quality throughout this song varies a bit - there is the odd drop out (fixed on this version). Some instrumentation is more pronounced and there are extra sound effects. An extended version but on the whole very similar to the official one. This is a welcome track - "Sean Flynn" is an excellent song and this version lasts nearly 8 minutes. Car Jamming Again, this is a more basic version but is very similar to the official one. There are extra sound effects in places and it's extended. Inoculated City A more pronounced opening that works well. An extended version, with extra vocals that again just sounds like Mick's dubbed on twice. In this song in particular there are studio sound effects not found in the official version. The toilet cleaner ad - '2000 Flushes' - (with the American housewife) is a bit longer too. This is a better version of this song (the official one is too short really) and the extended playing is welcome. There's also faint voices, chatter and laughing in the background at times, which get louder as the song nears its end. Death Is A Star Very similar to the official version, just some extra lyrics and talking in places. It's clever how, as in the official version as well, Mick and Joe's voices unnoticeably blend into each other at the beginning and throughout. Walk Evil Talk The newly discovered instrumental track, quite spooky sounding really, with piano and strange percussion. Atom Tan Seems a touch slower, and has slightly different lyrics in places but otherwise is very similar to the official version. Inoculated City (Uncensored 'Combat Rock' Version) The exact "Combat Rock' version with the "2000 Flushes" commercial that was removed from the official release after the very first pressings (more info below). First Night Back In London this is almost exactly the same as the official version and appears on 'Super Black Market Clash.' It's obvious this song came from this mix, with the big emphasis on sound effects and that particular drumming sound and style. Cool Confusion As with "First Night Back In London", about the same as the version on 'Super Black Market Clash' and 'Clash On Broadway' but a great alternate mix of this song can be found on the 'D.O.A.' compilation. Here it cuts off a second or so too soon though. This song is mostly made up of sound effects and strange, but effective vocals. Straight To Hell This is the same as the official unedited version found on 'Clash On Broadway.' An extended mix, but with a slightly slightly altered drum effect, that fades away nicely at the end.