Who sings on The Clash's "Hitsville U.K."?

Cafe Society
1

I don’t know much about The Clash, but that song is on the Millions soundtrack. I’ve heard The Clash often enough to think, “Hmm…doesn’t sound like their usual stuff.”

What’s the story behind this…did they write it?

Thanks in advance!

2

I think that’s from Sandinista, which is a hodge-podge triple CD. Not everyone loved that album, because they did a lot of experimental stuff on it. Maybe left some stuff on that could have been taken off. At least it’s in that timeframe if not on the LP. I don’t know who would have sung on it other than Joe Strummer.

3

The singers are Mick Jones and his then-girlfriend, Ellen Foley. The songwriting is credited collectively to the Clash.

4

Young-sounding backing vocals, but it is hard sussing out just who they were from the liner notes.

Listed ‘guest musicians’:

Mickey Gallagher
Timon Dogg
Norman Nat-Rot
J.P. Nicholson
Ellen Foley
David Payne
Ray Gasconne
Band Sgt. Dave Yates
Den Hogarty
Luke n’ Ben’ n’ Marcia Gallagher ( I’m guessing this is some of them - they sound like kids, perhaps children of Mickey Gallagher above )
Gary n’ Bill Baranacle
Jody Winscott
Ivan Julien
Noel Temple Bailey
Anthony Nelson Steele
Lew Lewis
Gerald Baxter-Warman
Terry McQuade
Rudolf Adolphus Jordan
Battersea

  • Tamerlane
5

The Gallagher kiddies sing on the remake of “Career Opportunities” and the unlisted “Guns of Brixton” fragment.

6

While we’re on it, and not to hijack the thread too much, but who is singing on “Lose This Skin”?

I’ve been listening to the Clash since before I was born, and growing up I listened to my father’s records of Sandanista!, and the cover was so old and battered, I never saw much in terms of credits. Or was that the album with all the lyrics, etc, written on the record sleeves? Can’t remember, it was so long ago.

7

Yes. Or, IIRC, each song’s lyrics is done in a different format: some are simple scrawls, others on record sleeves, others in comic format. Weirdly enough was listening to this this morning on the rainy bus ride. “The Leader” is superb.

8

Timon Dogg wrote it, sang it, and played the fiddle. And since it’s bound to come up, the singer on “Ivan Meets G.I. Joe” is Topper Headon.

The Sandinista! lyrics weren’t actually on the record sleeves; you’re probably thinking of London Calling. Sandinista! came with a foldout insert titled “The Armagideon Times” with the lyrics and credits.