The Cost of Living
Encyclopedia
The Cost of Living is an EP
by the English punk rock
band The Clash
. It was released on 11 May 1979 in a gatefold
sleeve. The EP was produced by the band and Bill Price
, it marked a transition in musical styles for the band, bridging the intensity of their earlier, punky albums with the broader, more American influenced rock and roll yet to come on London Calling
, most evident on the folk rock
ing "Groovy Times
" and "Gates of the West".
The Clash's cover of Sonny Curtis
' "I Fought the Law
" became one of the definitive recordings of the song, and remained in the band's live set list for much of the rest of their career. Joe Strummer
also performed it with his later bands, including during his stint with The Pogues
. The early single "Capital Radio
" was re-recorded because the band learned that copies of the original Capital Radio EP were selling for high prices. "Capital Radio", later listed as "Capital Radio Two", is much longer, mainly because of a protracted outro.
Gates of the West clearly describes the ecstacy of The Clash in their first encounter with the United States - "Eastside Jimmy & Southside Sue both said they needed something new". "From Camden Town Station to 44th & 8th" describes their journey from their London neighborhood to the middle of Manhattan.
It was recorded in Highbury
, London, and features "extra high vocal" credited to Dennis Ferranti and harmonica credited to Bob Jones (in reality Mick Jones).
/Jones
except where noted.
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
by the English punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band The Clash
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...
. It was released on 11 May 1979 in a gatefold
Gatefold
A gatefold is a type of fold used for advertising around a magazine or section, and for packaging of media such as vinyl records.- LP covers :...
sleeve. The EP was produced by the band and Bill Price
Bill Price (record producer)
Bill Price is a producer and engineer famed for his work with The Clash, The Sex Pistols, Guns N' Roses, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Nymphs and The Waterboys....
, it marked a transition in musical styles for the band, bridging the intensity of their earlier, punky albums with the broader, more American influenced rock and roll yet to come on London Calling
London Calling
London Calling is the third studio album by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was released in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1979 through CBS Records, and in the United States in January 1980 through Epic Records...
, most evident on the folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
ing "Groovy Times
Groovy Times
"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 . It was originally recorded as "Groovy Times Are Here Again" during the recording sessions for Give 'Em Enough Rope, however this demo has never...
" and "Gates of the West".
The Clash's cover of Sonny Curtis
Sonny Curtis
Sonny Curtis is an American singer and songwriter. Most of his work falls into the Pop and Country genres. He was a teenage pal and band member with Buddy Holly in Lubbock, Texas...
' "I Fought the Law
I Fought the Law
"I Fought the Law" is a song written by Sonny Curtis of The Crickets and became popularized by a cover by the Bobby Fuller Four, which went on to become a top-ten hit for the band in 1966 and was also recorded by The Clash in 1979...
" became one of the definitive recordings of the song, and remained in the band's live set list for much of the rest of their career. 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...
also performed it with his later bands, including during his stint with The Pogues
The Pogues
The Pogues are a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. The band reached international prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. MacGowan left the band in 1991 due to drinking problems but the band continued first with Joe Strummer and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before...
. The early single "Capital Radio
Capital Radio One
Capital Radio is a song and an EP by The Clash.The original 2:07-2:09 song has been included as "Capital Radio" or "Capital Radio One" on Capital Radio E.P...
" was re-recorded because the band learned that copies of the original Capital Radio EP were selling for high prices. "Capital Radio", later listed as "Capital Radio Two", is much longer, mainly because of a protracted outro.
Gates of the West clearly describes the ecstacy of The Clash in their first encounter with the United States - "Eastside Jimmy & Southside Sue both said they needed something new". "From Camden Town Station to 44th & 8th" describes their journey from their London neighborhood to the middle of Manhattan.
It was recorded in Highbury
Highbury
- Early Highbury :The area now known as Islington was part of the larger manor of Tolentone, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Tolentone was owned by Ranulf brother of Ilger and included all the areas north and east of Canonbury and Holloway Road. The manor house was situated by what is now...
, London, and features "extra high vocal" credited to Dennis Ferranti and harmonica credited to Bob Jones (in reality Mick Jones).
Track listing
All songs written by StrummerJoe 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...
/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...
except where noted.
Side one
- "I Fought the Law" (Sonny CurtisSonny CurtisSonny Curtis is an American singer and songwriter. Most of his work falls into the Pop and Country genres. He was a teenage pal and band member with Buddy Holly in Lubbock, Texas...
) - 2:40 - "Groovy TimesGroovy Times"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 . It was originally recorded as "Groovy Times Are Here Again" during the recording sessions for Give 'Em Enough Rope, however this demo has never...
" - 3:25
Side two
- "Gates of the West" - 3:26
- "Capital Radio" - 4:05
- "The Cost of Living Advert" (only on original vinyl and Japanese version of the singles box set)
Charts
| Chart | Position | Year |
|---|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
22 | 1979 |
| Irish Singles Chart Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
24 | Jun 1979 |