Cuppy's Music Curios S2 E12: The "Lost" Clash Album?

Ellen Foley released her second studio album in March of 1981. What makes this record so unique was that the lead guitarist of The Clash, Mick Jones produced the album and co-wrote half of the songs with band mate Joe Strummer. He even managed to get his band to play on the album along with members of The Blockheads and Strummer's friend Tymon Dogg who contributed three songs and played violin on several tracks. The album charted in the U.K. Album charts in 1981, peaking at No. 57 before disappearing.

Now is this a "lost" Clash album? That depends on who you ask. Ellen Foley says that it's more of a Clash album than one of hers due to them having control of the material and her just singing (with the exception of the one track she wrote "Phases of Travel."). Others feel that this was more of a vanity project for Mick Jones who wanted to help Foley out because at the time the two more in a tempestuous relationship. The music is more mainstream compared to Strummer and Jones other material but a few of the tracks like "Shuttered Palace," "Torchlight," "Theater of Cruelty" and the Tymon Dogg songs could have appeared on "Sandinista!"

So the question remains, can this be considered a Clash album? In my opinion, not really both more of a collaboration between a pop singer and a punk rock band. But your opinion may vary. Listen to the "Illustrious Narrator" filling in for Cuppy talk about Ellen Foley's "Spirit of St. Louis."

Special thanks to the website Black Market Clash for documenting this period of The Clash and for the information provided for helping make this video possible. Check it out and read the interview that Damien Love conducted with Ellen Foley about the making of "Spirit of St. Louis" and the message board "If Music Could Talk" for their vast knowledge of The Clash's later era.