Groovy Times
Encyclopedia
"Groovy Times" is a song by The Clash
, featured on their The Cost of Living EP, and released as a promotional single
in 1979 in Australia by Epic Records
(AE7 1178). It was originally recorded as "Groovy Times Are Here Again" during the recording sessions for Give 'Em Enough Rope
, however this demo has never been officially released, but can be found on many Clash bootlegs. It was never performed live.
The song's lyrics are filled with images of urban decay and civil unrest and focus on recurring Clash themes of alienation, monotony and oppression. According to their author, Joe Strummer
, the lyrics were sparked by his disgust at the erection of fences in Britain's football terraces, built to keep fans apart in response to football hooliganism. Ten years later the Hillsborough Disaster
would prove these fences fatal and his concerns irrefutably correct. The 'King of Early Evening ITV
' mentioned in the song is confirmed as Bill Grundy
, whose career was ruined after his infamous interview with the Sex Pistols
and was indeed presenting early evening television on British terrestrial channel ITV. 'I can remember his first appearance now look what's happened to him, so they put him in a dog suit like from 1964' is about singer-songwriter Elvis Costello
.
The music, acoustic and guitar based, was predominantly written by Mick Jones
and feature harmonica
parts by him but credited to 'Bob Jones', a pseudonym that was apparently a reference to singer/songwriter Bob Dylan
.
"Groovy Times" has subsequently been re-released on the Clash on Broadway
and Singles Box
box sets, its single-disc equivalent The Singles and the Super Black Market Clash
and The Essential Clash
compilations.
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...
, featured on their The Cost of Living EP, and released as a promotional single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
in 1979 in Australia by Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
(AE7 1178). It was originally recorded as "Groovy Times Are Here Again" during the recording sessions for Give 'Em Enough Rope
Give 'Em Enough Rope
Give 'Em Enough Rope is the second studio album by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was released on 10 November 1978 through CBS Records. It was their first album released in the United States, preceding the US version of The Clash...
, however this demo has never been officially released, but can be found on many Clash bootlegs. It was never performed live.
The song's lyrics are filled with images of urban decay and civil unrest and focus on recurring Clash themes of alienation, monotony and oppression. According to their author, 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...
, the lyrics were sparked by his disgust at the erection of fences in Britain's football terraces, built to keep fans apart in response to football hooliganism. Ten years later the Hillsborough Disaster
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
would prove these fences fatal and his concerns irrefutably correct. The 'King of Early Evening ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
' mentioned in the song is confirmed as Bill Grundy
Bill Grundy
William "Bill" Grundy was an English television presenter and former host of Today, a regional news programme broadcast on Thames Television...
, whose career was ruined after his infamous interview with 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...
and was indeed presenting early evening television on British terrestrial channel ITV. 'I can remember his first appearance now look what's happened to him, so they put him in a dog suit like from 1964' is about singer-songwriter Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
.
The music, acoustic and guitar based, was predominantly written by Mick Jones
Mick Jones (The Clash)
Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...
and feature harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
parts by him but credited to 'Bob Jones', a pseudonym that was apparently a reference to singer/songwriter Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
.
"Groovy Times" has subsequently been re-released on the Clash on Broadway
Clash on Broadway
-Track listing:All songs written by Mick Jones and Joe Strummer except where noted otherwise.-Disc one:# "Janie Jones" — 2:11# "Career Opportunities" — 1:58#* early demo versions produced by Guy Stevens# "White Riot" — 1:59# "1977" — 1:41...
and Singles Box
Singles Box
Singles Box is a compilation album by The Clash. Included within is all the singles that they released in the UK , with the single mixes and edits with the B-sides released, and also containing B-sides from different parts of the world.The discs are packaged in a sleeve which reproduces the...
box sets, its single-disc equivalent The Singles and the Super Black Market Clash
Super Black Market Clash
Super Black Market Clash is a compilation album released by The Clash in 1993 that contains B-sides and rare tracks not available on their other albums. It is a repackaging of the original 1980 Black Market Clash, which was a single 10" EP, containing only 9 songs...
and The Essential Clash
The Essential Clash
The Essential Clash is a career-spanning greatest hits album by The Clash first released in 2003. It is part of the on-going 'The Essential' Sony BMG compilation series...
compilations.
Charts
|
Sources
- The Complete Clash Topping, Kieth. Reynolds & Hern LTD, 2003.
- Passion is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash Gilbert, Pat. Aurum Press Ltd, 2005