Joe Strummer 001 is a career-spanning compilation album by the English musician Joe Strummer. The 32 song album was released on 28 September 2018 by Ignition Records and features 12 previously unreleased songs, as well as known favourites from his recordings with the 101ers, the Mescaleros and his extensive soundtrack work along with alternate versions of previously released songs. The album was preceded by the singles "London Is Burning", one of the last songs Strummer recorded before his death in 2002 (an alternative version titled "Burnin' Street" was posthumously released on Strummer's final studio album, 2003's Streetcore), and "Rose of Erin", an unreleased song used in the 1993 film When Pigs Fly.[1][2][3]
Background
Following Strummer's death in December 2002, it was discovered that Strummer had barns full of writings and tapes stored in his back garden. There are now over 20,000 items in the Joe Strummer Archive. The archiving of this material and compiling of Joe Strummer 001 was overseen by Strummer's widow, Lucinda Tait, and compilation producer Robert Gordon McHarg III.
All tracks were restored and mastered by Grammy Award winner Peter J. Moore at the E. Room in Toronto, Canada. Upon going through cassettes and recording tapes it was discovered that Strummer was rather frugal and keen on hiding tracks. On cassettes he would leave 20 minutes between songs. On the 1-inch 8-track recordings it was discovered there were hidden tracks superimposed onto each other. For example, tracks 1-4 were taken by one song and tracks 5-8 by two other songs which were thought, when played back, to be caused by tape dedgradation until the tapes went to Moore, who was able to separate one song from another.
(Song from the 1993 unreleased soundtrack for the film When Pigs Fly)
"Pouring Rain (1993)" — 4:06
(Song from the 1993 unreleased soundtrack for the film When Pigs Fly)
"Rose of Erin" — 4:12
(Song from the 1993 unreleased soundtrack for the film When Pigs Fly)
"The Cool Impossible" - 4:32
(Unreleased, one of the final songs Strummer recorded)
"London Is Burning" - 4:32
Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros (Unreleased, one of the final songs Strummer recorded, alternate version of "Burnin' Streets" from the 2003 album Streetcore)
A super deluxe boxset with Wibalin wrap, containing both the deluxe CD book as well as the 4LP vinyl product will also be released. The box set will contain three demos that are exclusives to this set.
2CDs and 4LPs containing rare and unheard audio - restored and remastered by Peter J Moore.
64-page hardback book featuring rarely seen and previously unpublished memorabilia from Joe's personal collection as well as historical press reviews and technical notes about the albums.
Additional 7-inch (180 mm) single of previously unreleased demos of "This Is England" (Side A) and "Before We Go Forward" (Side B)
Cassette of previously unheard and unreleased "Full Moon (Basement Demo)" - with artwork replicated from the original cassette recording from Joes's archive. Originally, this was going to be a cassette with a second demo of US North called "US North (Basement Demo)". However, the people responsible for the compilation vetoed this decision and replaced it with Full Moon.
Envelope containing a screen print, a high-quality image of Joe, two original art prints, and a sticker sheet.
Replica of Joe's Californian driving license.
Enamel Pin badge
"This Is England"
The Clash (Unreleased demo included only in the limited edition deluxe set on 7" vinyl)
"Before We Go Forward" - 2:49
The Clash (Unreleased demo included only in the limited edition deluxe set on 7" vinyl)
"Full Moon" - 3:02
(Unreleased basement demo included only in the limited edition deluxe set as a cassette single)