”Midnight To Six Man!.. For the First Time from Jamaica…… Dillenger
and Leroy Smart... An’ Delroy Wilson Your Cool Operator’’
”White Man In Hammersmith Palais’’
The Clash
The legendary gig that Joe Strummer, singer from the Punk Rock band
‘The Clash’, attended and inspired his writing their classic track
‘White Man In Hammersmith Palais’ took place on the 5 June 1977.
At the Hammersmith Palais venue on Shepherds Bush Road W.6,
London during the height of Punk Mania. The full line – up for the
show were all Jamaican artists Dillenger, Leroy Smart, Delroy Wilson
(all the first time from Jamaica) and Ken Boothe. ``Ken Boothe for U.K.
pop-reggae’’, who had already scored some hits with `Everything I Own’
and `Crying Over You’ in 1974. Joe Strummer was expecting Roots, Rock,
Reggae but the Sound System this evening `Admiral Ken Sound’ was playing
”Four Tops all night’’ as in soul and northern soul that were staple crowd
pleasers at the time to warm up the audience, but in Joe’s eyes the music
should have reflected more Jamaican roots based music. The song also
deals with bigger issues of black and white unity, but some people including
the Punk Rockers; “They’re all too busy fighting, for a good place under
the lighting’’. Joe Strummer himself was looking for fun:
”I’m the Whiteman in the Palais… Just looking for fun’’.
The artwork supplied by Punk Artist MAL-ONE has used the two posters
that were made for this gig , the reggae promoters ’Star Promotions’ poster,
that contained a picture of Ken Boothe and the venue’s own poster that
used text to announce its line-up for that evenings proformance.
Alongside these lost relics he has also combined the groups own poster
for The `White Man In Hammersmith Palais’ single that incorporated the
use of rifle target sights, perhaps enhancing the air of violence contained
in the songs message. Mal-One has collaged these together joining
the two stories as indeed the song lyrics reflected. People often forget
that the songs release was in fact a year after the actual gig so we have
tied this release to the 40th Anniversary of the songs release.
Joe Strummer was one of the few voices from the Punk Era that used
his lyrics as a weapon to tell the events that were happening around
him and their relevance to those times.
The song itself became a` Clash Classic’ and also a Punk Anthem,
released on 16th June 1978. We have compiled this album with songs
by these artists , most of which you would have heard that night.
As a post script to this story when the Hammersmith Palais sadly
closed its doors for the last time after 82 years service in 1999, the
owners thought it fitting to present Joe Strummer with a sign from
the venue’s entrance. Mr Strummer’s understated reply `I guess I’ll
have to send a man with a van round to pick it up’.
Hope You enjoy the set….
CD Track Listing
1 Cool Operator – Delroy Wilson
2 Mr Smart – Leroy Smart
3 I’m Not For Sale – Ken Boothe
4 Babylon Yard – Dillenger
5 Better Must Come – Delroy Wilson
6 Leggo Violence – Dillenger
7 Mr Rich Man – Leroy Smart
8 (Mash Up illiteracy) Mash It Up – Delroy Wilson
9 You’re No Good – Ken Boothe
10 God Helps The Man – Leroy Smart
11 Can I Change Your Mind – Delroy Wilson
12 Answer Me Question – Dillenger
13 Pride And Ambition – Leroy Smart
14 You Must Believe Me – Delroy Wilson
15 See And Blind – Dillenger*
16 Get Ready – Delroy Wilson*
17 Natty Dread A The Ruler – Dillenger*
18 (Love Me Forever) Till I Die – Delroy Wilson*
*CDâBonus tracks
Vinyl Track Listing
Side 1
1 Cool Operator – Delroy Wilson
2 Mr Smart – Leroy Smart
3 I’m Not For Sale – Ken Boothe
4 Babylon Yard – Dillenger
5 Better Must Come – Delroy Wilson
6 Leggo Violence – Dillenger
7 Mr Rich Man – Leroy Smart
Side 2
1 (Mash Up illiteracy) Mash It Up – Delroy Wilson
2 You’re No Good – Ken Boothe
3 God Helps The Man – Leroy Smart
4 Can I Change Your Mind – Delroy Wilson
5 Answer Me Question – Dillenger
6 Pride And Ambition – Leroy Smart
7 You Must Believe Me – Delroy Wilson
Musicians Include:
Carlton 'Santa' Davis, Sly Dunbar, Carlton Barrett: Drums
Robbie Shakespeare, Aston 'Family Man' Barrett: Bass
Earl 'Chinna' Smith: Lead Guitar
Tony Chin: Rhythm Guitar
Winston Wright: Organ
Bobby Ellis: Trumpet
Vin Gordon: Trombone
Tommy McCook: Tenor Saxophone
Lennox Brown: Alto Saxophone
Recorded at: Harry J's, Randy's Studio 17 & Channel 1
All Tracks Produced by: Bunny Lee
Except Tracks 1 & 2 Bunny Lee & Ainley Foller
Track 12 Bunny Lee & Keith Hudson
Track 11 Bunny Lee & Lee Perry
Photography: Bunny Lee/Jah Floyd Archive
Design by Gary @ Voodoo London
Manufactored under licence from E. Lee
Made in the U.K.
All Tracks Copyright Control
