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Rock&Roll, Rythm&Blues, Folk rock and Joe Strummer, all of this is the 101ers.
Within the Pub scene, the band stands out as one of the most spirited and lively, bearers of that sacred fire that belongs only to a chosen few.
Born in 1974 in an occupied Squat, they began playing right away in the London underground, initially with various covers, then developing their own repertoire mostly written by Strummer himself.
Released posthumously in 2005, it is, in effect, their entire musical repertoire and includes the original version (also posthumous from '81) plus eight other live tracks.
The start is sizzling with the wild "Letsagetabitarockin," and standout tracks include "Motor Boys Motor," a Rock&Roll that blends with Country and Ska, "5 Star R'n'R," "Keys Of Your Heart" Version 2, cheerful and amusingly strummed, "Sweety of St Moritz," a compelling boogie that makes you want to move your ass, "Don't Let It Go" live, a Rythm'n'Blues jam spat out at full steam, "Junco Partner," a blend of Salsa and Blues also covered by the Clash, "Maybelline" as a dutiful and devout tribute to Chuck Berry, and "Gloria" by Van Morrison, decidedly angry and, in some ways, closer to the one reworked by Patty Smith than to the original!
The rhythm section of the 101'ers is always present, precise, and driving, and Joe Strummer's voice is easily recognizable and already poised for the great leap that awaits him.
Subsequent events did not leave the band time to fully emerge, and their image will forever be linked to the smoky London Pubs, the drunks that infested them, and the liters of Ale that flowed from their taps.
Punk was just around the corner and Joe was ready, indeed very ready for the decisive challenge; he would take other paths, and in 1976, shortly after meeting their support band at a concert, certain Sex Pistols, the 101ers disbanded with Strummer's transition to the Clash, convinced, I would say converted to the raw instinctive charge shown to him by Lydon and company!
Judging this album is not easy, given the significance of the subsequent works of their frontman. Certainly, being part of the band allowed Joe to learn and grow, developing clear political and musical ideas, leaving him with a heavy legacy that would reflect in a historically significant album like "London Calling," but it is equally true that compared to fellow groups within the Pub movement, they stand decidedly above average, leaving us insatiable listeners with that gut feeling you get when faced with any band that plays with passion, emotion, and fun!
There, perhaps, these are the 101'ers!
Passionate
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