(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
Encyclopedia
" In Hammersmith Palais" is a song by The Clash
, self produced and first released as a 7" single, backed with the track "The Prisoner", in June 1978.
The song was later added to the American version of the band's debut album The Clash
between the single version of "White Riot
" and "London's Burning
".
's "Police and Thieves
" as the powerful guitar intro of "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" descends into a slower ska
rhythm, and was disorienting to a lot of the fans who had grown used to their earlier work. "We were a big fat riff group," Joe Strummer
noted in The Clash
's film Westway to the World
. "We weren't supposed to do something like that."
"(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" starts by recounting an all-night reggae "showcase" night at the Hammersmith Palais
in Shepherd's Bush Road, London
that was attended by Joe Strummer, Don Letts
and roadie Rodent and was headlined by Dillinger
, Leroy Smart
and Delroy Wilson
. Strummer was disappointed and disillusioned that these performances had been more "pop" and "lightweight" similar to Ken Boothe
's brand of reggae with Four Tops
-like dance routines, and that the acts had been "performances" rather than the roots rock rebellion that he had been hoping for.
The song then moves away from the disappointing concert to address various other themes, nearly all relating to the state of the United Kingdom
at the time. The song first gives an anti-violence message, then addresses the state of 'wealth distribution' in the UK, promotes unity between black and white youths of the country before moving on to address the state of the British punk rock
scene in 1978 which was becoming more mainstream.
Included is a jibe at an unnamed group who wear Burton suits, taken by many to be The Jam
(though in an NME
article of the time, Strummer claimed the actual target was the power pop
fad hyped by journalists as the next big thing in 1978) and the lyric concludes that the new groups are in it solely to be famous and for the money.
The final lines fret over the social decline of Britain, noting sardonically that things were getting to the point where even Adolf Hitler
could expect to be sent a limousine in the unlikely event of flying into London.
The single was issued in June 1978 with four different colour sleeves - in blue, green, yellow and pink.
This song was one of Joe Strummer
's favourites. He continued to play it live with his new band The Mescaleros
and it was played at his funeral.
assert themselves as a more versatile band musically and politically than many of their peers and it broke the exciting but limiting punk mould that had been established by the Sex Pistols
; from now on The Clash
would be "the thinking man's yobs".
Robert Christgau
recommended the single in his Consumer Guide, published by Village Voice, on 4 September 1978, and described the song as a must. Denise Sullivan of Allmusic wrote that "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" may have actually been the first song to merge punk and reggae."
In 2004, Rolling Stone
rated the song as #430 in its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
, originally to be released on their album Transistor, but was taken off at the last minute and later released in 1999 on The Clash
tribute album, Burning London. The song is also covered on the album The Day the World Stopped and Spun the Other Way by Colin Gilmore. "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" was a popular encore for Idaho-based indie rock
band Built to Spill
during their 2003 tour. The song was also covered jointly at the end of the Paul Heaton
set with Billy Bragg
at Glastonbury Festival
2010.
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
, self produced and first released as a 7" single, backed with the track "The Prisoner", in June 1978.
The song was later added to the American version of the band's debut album The Clash
The Clash (album)
The album received positive reviews from critics and peaked at number 12 in the UK charts. In December 1979, critic Robert Christgau named it his favorite album of the 1970s....
between the single version of "White Riot
White Riot
"White Riot" is a song by English punk rock band The Clash, released as the band's first single in 1977 and also featured on their debut album. There are two versions: the single version , and a different version on the UK album...
" and "London's Burning
London's Burning (song)
"London's Burning" is a song by The Clash from their eponymous debut album. It is the eighth track in the U.K. version of this album, and the seventh track in the U.S. version, from 1979....
".
Inspiration and composition
The song showed considerable musical and lyrical maturity for the band at the time and is stylistically more in line with their version of Junior MurvinJunior Murvin
Junior Murvin is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is best known for the single "Police and Thieves", produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry in 1976. Murvin's soaring voice and the infectious rhythm made "Police and Thieves" into an international hit during the summer of that year. It peaked at #23 in the...
's "Police and Thieves
Police and Thieves
"Police and Thieves" is a well-known reggae song, first recorded in the Jamaican reggae style by the falsetto singer Junior Murvin in 1976 , and one year later in a punk-reggae version by The Clash. Murvin's first commentary was "They have destroyed Jah work!".The song was written by Murvin and the...
" as the powerful guitar intro of "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" descends into a slower ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
rhythm, and was disorienting to a lot of the fans who had grown used to their earlier work. "We were a big fat riff group," Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
noted in The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
's film Westway to the World
Westway to the World
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....
. "We weren't supposed to do something like that."
"(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" starts by recounting an all-night reggae "showcase" night at the Hammersmith Palais
Hammersmith Palais
The Hammersmith Palais de Danse, later simply the Hammersmith Palais, was a ballroom and entertainment venue in London that operated from 1919 until 2007...
in Shepherd's Bush Road, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
that was attended by Joe Strummer, Don Letts
Don Letts
Don Letts is a British film director and musician. He is credited as the man who through his DJing at clubs like The Roxy brought together punk and reggae music.-Biography:...
and roadie Rodent and was headlined by Dillinger
Dillinger (musician)
Dillinger is a reggae artist.-Biography:As a young man growing up in Kingston, Dillinger would hang around Dennis Alcapone's El Paso sound system...
, Leroy Smart
Leroy Smart
-Biography:Smart was born in 1952 and orphaned aged 2. He was raised at Maxfield Park Children's Home and educated at Alpha Boys School, where he studied singing, drums and dancing....
and Delroy Wilson
Delroy Wilson
Delroy Wilson was a Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae singer.-Biography:Wilson released his first single "Emy Lou" in 1961 for record producer, Clement "Coxsone" Dodd, at the age of thirteen...
. Strummer was disappointed and disillusioned that these performances had been more "pop" and "lightweight" similar to Ken Boothe
Ken Boothe
Ken Boothe OD is a Jamaican recording artist.-Biography:Ken Boothe was born in the Denham Town area of Kingston in 1948, the youngest of seven children, and began singing in school...
's brand of reggae with Four Tops
Four Tops
The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, hard rock, and showtunes...
-like dance routines, and that the acts had been "performances" rather than the roots rock rebellion that he had been hoping for.
The song then moves away from the disappointing concert to address various other themes, nearly all relating to the state of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
at the time. The song first gives an anti-violence message, then addresses the state of 'wealth distribution' in the UK, promotes unity between black and white youths of the country before moving on to address the state of the British punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
scene in 1978 which was becoming more mainstream.
Included is a jibe at an unnamed group who wear Burton suits, taken by many to be The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
(though in an NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
article of the time, Strummer claimed the actual target was the power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
fad hyped by journalists as the next big thing in 1978) and the lyric concludes that the new groups are in it solely to be famous and for the money.
The final lines fret over the social decline of Britain, noting sardonically that things were getting to the point where even Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
could expect to be sent a limousine in the unlikely event of flying into London.
The single was issued in June 1978 with four different colour sleeves - in blue, green, yellow and pink.
This song was one of Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
's favourites. He continued to play it live with his new band The Mescaleros
The Mescaleros
The Mescaleros were the backing band for Joe Strummer, formed in 1999, which went on to make three albums prior to Strummer's death in 2002. Many of the band members were gifted multi-instrumentalists...
and it was played at his funeral.
Critical reception
"(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" helped The ClashThe Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
assert themselves as a more versatile band musically and politically than many of their peers and it broke the exciting but limiting punk mould that had been established by the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
; from now on The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
would be "the thinking man's yobs".
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
recommended the single in his Consumer Guide, published by Village Voice, on 4 September 1978, and described the song as a must. Denise Sullivan of Allmusic wrote that "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" may have actually been the first song to merge punk and reggae."
In 2004, Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
rated the song as #430 in its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Cover versions
The song was covered by 311311 (band)
311 is an American rock band from Omaha, Nebraska. The band was formed in 1988 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Nick Hexum, lead guitarist Jim Watson , bassist Aaron "P-Nut" Wills and drummer Chad Sexton...
, originally to be released on their album Transistor, but was taken off at the last minute and later released in 1999 on The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
tribute album, Burning London. The song is also covered on the album The Day the World Stopped and Spun the Other Way by Colin Gilmore. "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" was a popular encore for Idaho-based indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
band Built to Spill
Built to Spill
Built to Spill is an American indie rock band based in Boise, Idaho. The band has released seven full-length albums. Their most recent album, There Is No Enemy, was released on October 6, 2009.-History:...
during their 2003 tour. The song was also covered jointly at the end of the Paul Heaton
Paul Heaton
Paul David Heaton is an English singer-songwriter. He was a member of The Housemartins, who disbanded in 1988, and a member of The Beautiful South, who disbanded in 2007. He is currently pursuing a solo career....
set with Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
at Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
2010.
Charts
|
External links
- Connor, Alan. (30 March 2007) White man's blues. SMASHED HITS Pop lyrics re-appraised by the Magazine. bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on 24 February 2008. “BBC article on the song and venue”.