Global a Go-Go

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}

{{More citations needed|date=May 2014}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Global a Go-Go

| type = Album

| artist = Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros

| cover = Global_a_Go-Go_cover.jpg

| border = yes

| alt =

| released = 24 July 2001

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio = Battery Studios, Willesden, London

| genre = Alternative rock, folk rock, reggae rock

| length = 73:19

| label = HellCat

| producer = Scott Shields, Martin Slattery, Joe Strummer, Richard Flack

| prev_title = Rock Art and the X-Ray Style

| prev_year = 1999

| next_title = Streetcore

| next_year = 2003

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Global a Go-Go

| type = studio

| single1 = Johnny Appleseed

| single1date = 9 July 2001

}}

}}

{{Music ratings

|rev1 = Allmusic

|rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|author=Mark Deming |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/global-a-go-go-mw0000004794 |title=Global a Go-Go - Joe Strummer, Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=24 July 2001 |accessdate=20 May 2014}}

|rev2 = Christgau's Consumer Guide

|rev2score = {{rating-Christgau|hm1}}{{Cite web |url=http://robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=3837&name=Joe+Strummer+and+the+Mescaleros |title=CG: Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros |website=robertchristgau.com}}

|rev3 = The Guardian

|rev3score = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2001/nov/22/artsfeatures.joestrummer |title=Pop review: Joe Strummer |last=Simpson |first=Dave |date=22 November 2001 |website=The Guardian |language=en-GB |access-date=6 January 2018}}

| rev4 = Kerrang!

| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Fortnam |first=Ian |date=July 21, 2001 |title=Albums |magazine=Kerrang! |location=UK |publisher=EMAP |issue=862 |page=46}}

|rev5 = Rolling Stone

|rev5score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/global-a-go-go-20010904 |title=Global A Go-Go |last=Moon |first=Tom|author-link=Tom Moon |date=4 September 2001 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=6 January 2018}}

}}

Global a Go-Go is the second album by Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros, released on 24 July 2001. As the title suggests, there are world music influences on the album, mostly on the title track and "Bhindi Bhagee", a celebration of the "humble" but diverse and exciting ethnic and multi-cultural areas of London and other major cities. The album is heavy on acoustic instruments, especially in the instrumental "Minstrel Boy", a nearly 18-minute-long arrangement of a traditional Irish song. Other topics covered include Strummer's radio show, which was broadcast on the BBC World Service (Global a Go-Go) and left-wing political issues Strummer was well known for expounding as a member of The Clash. The album was well received by critics and fans, making much more of an impact than the group's previous effort Rock Art and the X-Ray Style. The title track, "Global A Go-Go", features backing vocals from longtime friend of Strummer, Roger Daltrey. Pete Townshend is also rumoured to be buried in the mix of "Minstrel Boy", but this has never been positively confirmed. The cover-art for the album was designed by Josh Shoes and Strummer.{{cite web

|url = http://www.crcradio.net/issue10/Joestrummer.html

|last = Hasagawa

|first = Mariah

|title = Joe Strummer: Putting a Scare Into The Hearts of All Things Corporate

|publisher = Post-Global 2002 CRCRadio.net

|accessdate = 22 December 2010

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100125131650/http://www.crcradio.net/issue10/Joestrummer.html

|archivedate = 25 January 2010

}}

The lead track and album's only single, "Johnny Appleseed" was the opening theme to the HBO show John from Cincinnati. A music video for the song was also filmed. A different version of "Minstrel Boy" was used as the closing track on the Ridley Scott film Black Hawk Down. This film version, which can also be found on the soundtrack, is significantly shorter and does feature the actual lyrics to the song. The "Minstrel Boy" track is also known as the "Worldcom Dirge" after being featured in a commercial by the soon-to be-bankrupt telecommunications company. Likewise, "Mondo Bongo" is featured in the Doug Liman film Mr. & Mrs. Smith. In Orphan Black, lines from "Bummed Out City" are recited at Sarah Manning's funeral as her eulogy.

A remastered version of the album along with Strummer's other two Hellcat released albums was released as a special 57 song digital download titled Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros: The Hellcat Years on 21 August 2012 to celebrate what would have been Strummer's 60th birthday. Hellcat will also release each remastered album individually on CD and vinyl on 25 September 2012.[https://www.wired.com/geekmom/2012/08/new-joe-strummer-album/ ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825022005/http://www.wired.com/geekmom/2012/08/new-joe-strummer-album/ |date=25 August 2012 }}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| total_length = 73:19

| all_lyrics = Joe Strummer, except for "Minstrel Boy"

| all_music = Joe Strummer, Martin Slattery, Pablo Cook, Scott Shields and Tymon Dogg, except where noted

| title1 = Johnny Appleseed

| length1 = 4:03

| title2 = Cool 'n' Out

| writer2 = Joe Strummer, Martin Slattery, Scott Shields, Richard Flack, Antony Genn

| length2 = 4:22

| title3 = Global a Go-Go

| length3 = 5:55

| title4 = Bhindi Bhagee

| length4 = 5:47

| title5 = Gamma Ray

| length5 = 6:58

| title6 = Mega Bottle Ride

| length6 = 3:33

| title7 = Shaktar Donetsk

| length7 = 5:57

| title8 = Mondo Bongo

| length8 = 6:14

| title9 = Bummed Out City

| length9 = 5:33

| title10 = At the Border, Guy

| length10 = 7:08

| title11 = Minstrel Boy

| writer11 = Thomas Moore, credited as Traditional; arranged by The Mescaleros

| length11 = 17:49

}}

Personnel

{{div col}}

  • Joe Strummer – Vocals (1-10), Off Stage Voice (11)
  • Martin Slattery – Hammond Organ (1, 5, 6, 10), Wurlitzer (1, 3-5, 7, 9), Flute (1 ,4, 8), Drones (1), Backing Vocals (1, 3, 6-8), Synthesizer (2, 3, 7, 9), Saxophone (2), Electric Guitar (3), Acoustic Guitar (3, 4, 6, 11), Piano (3, 6, 10), Russian Choir (3), African Guitar (4), Bedroom Fuzzbox Solo (4), Station Bass (4), Filtered Synthesizer (6), Melodica (6, 10), Hammer Dulcimer (7), French Horn (7), Accordion (8), Warping & Filtration (9), Cardboard Box (9), Twin Speed Electric Guitar (10), Organ (11), Hi-Life Guitar (11)
  • Scott Shields – Acoustic Guitar (1, 3-6, 9), Bass (1-8, 10), Backing Vocals (1, 3, 4, 6, 8-10), Guitar (2), Drums (2-4, 6, 7), Vocals (2, 7), Electric Riff (3), Russian Choir (3), Electric Guitar (4, 5), Filtered Guitar (4), Raga Riffs (5), Slide Guitar (6), Hammond Organ (6), Eastern Guitar (7), Homemade Loops (7), 2-String Bass (9), Bongos (9), Witchdoctor Bells (9), Rhythm Guitar (10), Electric Guitar Picking (10), Triple Tracked Drumkit (10), Timbales Break (10), Low Humming Choir (10)
  • Pablo Cook – Drums (1), Percussion (1, 7, 9, 11), Weirdo Bank Noises (3), Ayahuesca (3), Rhythm Track (4), Bodhran (4), Wavedrum (4, 6), Congas (5, 6, 11), Bongos (5, 11), Guiro (5), A-Go-Go Bells (5), Shaker (5, 6), Tambourine (6, 10), Udu (6), Multiple Personality Vox (7), Cuban Drum Section (8), Glass Harmonica (8), Whistle (10), Screaming (10), Vibing (10), Gope Rhythm (11)
  • Tymon Dogg – Violin (1, 3-5, 7-9, 11), Mandolin (1), Spanish Guitar (3, 8), Electric Guitar (4), Sheep Charmer (5), Acoustic Guitar (11)
  • Richard Flack – Crash Cymbals (1), Alter Riff Filter (2), Backing Vocals (2, 7), Sherman Filter (4), Live Echo Plating (10), Sound Destruction (10), Muffled Snare Loops (11)
  • Roger Daltrey – Vocals (3)
  • Antony Genn – Loops (2), Strings (2)
  • Wags Wagstaff – Unusual Plinky Guitar (2)

;Technical

  • Chris Lasalle – sequencing
  • Bob Gruen – photography
  • Josh Cheuse – cover-art

{{end div col}}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Joe Strummer}}

{{The Clash}}

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Category:2001 albums

Category:Epitaph Records albums

Category:Joe Strummer albums