Sort it Out Tour Supported by The Slits

Sort it Out CD - Sound 4 - 68min -
unknown gen - 18 tracks [plus 2 from the 28th]
this copy has an edit in Garageland and shouldn't

USA 79 CD - Sound 4 - 64min - cd/m - 18 tracks
complete but no tracks from the 28th

Buy or Die CD - Sound 4 - 68min - cd/m - 21 tracks
re-issue with all 20 tracks plus Rockers Galore b-side

confusion over official recordings and dates see below

Visit the Clash on Stage website for a comprehensive catalogue of unofficially released CD's and Vinyl.

The Lyceum dates

The Sort It Out Tour London dates were added late due to difficulty finding a suitable larger sized venue. And partly to accomodate the finishing of the Rude Boy film.

The Lyceum Ballroom, just off The Strand was chosen not just for its larger capacity but because the stalls area was seat less. The fans could dance whilst those who wanted it could sit in the Circle and Upper Circle. In the late 70’s / early 80’s the Lyceum was a faded theatre used as a disco (with its large mirror ball hanging from the ceiling) and concert venue.

Nowadays its grandeur has been restored and it hosts bland West End Musicals. But at the close of 78 (and again in October 81) the Lyceum rocked (and how) to the Clash City Rockers.

The music press had covered the Sort It Out Tour in some depth earlier and only the Record Mirror reviewed these gigs. Sheila Prophet wrote, “Possibly the best gig I've ever seen Clash do. I can't think of a nicer way of ending `78.”

All sources

The same source recording has been used for Sort It Out, USA 79 & Buy or Die CD’s.

The mis-titled USA 79 loses the last 2 songs but has a longer outro after Complete Control as the band walk off suggesting the end of the set.

Sort it Out edits this outro and rushes into London’s Burning.

Buy or Die includes Rockers Galore, the Bankrobber b/side as well.

Confusion over recordings and dates

There has been confusion as to which of the 3 Lyceum gigs are found on Sort It Out etc and which night is the source for the “Rude Boy” 16 track mobile recording which includes the tracks found on Clash On Broadway and FHTE.

FHTE gives the 28th December but Clash on Broadway has January 79. Mick himself says on the complete “Rude Boy” recording before White Riot that this was there last gig (in UK) for 6 months confirming 3rd January as the correct date.

Sort it Out has the 29th December as the date for the entire recording except the last 2 tracks credited to the 28th. Which is probably correct as this is not thet recording used for FHTE or Clash on Broadway or Rude Boy, which is from the 3rd January.

Lyceum 28th and 29th December 1978

This is one of the best sounding Clash boots available and comes from a great live period. It is a superb audience recording (individual voices near the microphones can be heard) using professional quality equipment.

Of the instrumentation Topper’s magnificently powerful drumming comes through best, guitar’s are excellent too although a touch too far back in the mix, and Paul’s bass is very good but somewhat lacking in depth and focus. Vocals too are excellent but not quite as in your face as a soundboard recording. Overall there is a slightly harsh sound but these are minor criticisms of an excellent recording of a magnificent performance.

Lyceum 28th December 1978

The Clash are really fired up throughout, producing brilliantly intense performances on almost every song. What other band could maintain this intensity of performance throughout the whole gig? Here are some of the best sounding versions of tracks off the Give Em Enough Rope Album including some that did last long in the set.

An inspired Safe European Home, leads straight into an intense I Fought The Law immediately followed by Jail Guitar Doors (so much better live than on record) with Mick singing a different third verse seemingly about himself! “See about me…it really wasn’t my fault”. Before a charged up Drug Stabbing Time Joe tries to whip up the intensity of the audience to match the band’s; “let’s hear some vocals from the back, sounds like the crowd watching Bournemouth.

Don’t know what the song is but lets get on with it!” Joe introduces Cheapskates with a side swipe at Bernie Rhodes “this song was written by a used car salesmen who lives up the Camden Road, well he gave us the idea for it, he goes, why do you always sell yourselves too cheap, the answer, because it’s the only price we can get”

Intense performances follow with every song, Guns On The Roof with heavy echo being perhaps the best live recording anywhere. Police & Thieves is maybe the least inspired performance tonight. But Capital Radio is superb, Joe introducing it with a roll call of radio DJ’s he jokes are in the Lyceum, then ad libbing with Mick including “you have the power of life and death!” before Topper’s thunderous drum rolls brings the song to its climax. There’s no let up in intensity for the final first album songs and encore, with London’s Burning being especially brilliant here with Joe screaming adlibs over the ending.

An excellent recording and magnificent performance, an essential Clash bootleg.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20	Safe European Home I fought the Law Jail Guitar Doors Drug Stabbing Time Cheapskates The City of the dead Clash City Rockers Tommy Gun White Man in Hammersmith English Civil War Stay Free Guns on the Roof Police and Thieves Julies been working.. Capital Radio Janie Jones Garageland Complete Control Londons Burning** White Riot ** ** from the 28th

Julie Been Working for the Drug Squad

Music Machine oversold - extra date added Lyceum 3 Jan

Record Mirror review

Advert

Chris Knowles
The Essential Clash Bootleg Bible
includes this gig

These dates have changed and reflect A Riot of Our Own, the NME and tape details. Belfast was the first night, Dublin the day after, a day off in London before Paris. The remaining dates fit around the Belgium tape and A Riot of Our Own. Several French dates are missing after Paris
Oct 13		Belfast, University SU, Queens Hall
		Johnny Green (A Riot of Our Own p106) states this was the opening of the tour. Date from NME gig review.
Oct 14		Top Hat, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin
		with Berlin
Oct 16		Le Stadium, Paris
		Johnny Greens book states this was Le Palace (Le Palace is the promotion company for many French gigs). As the poster says, its the 16th October at Le Stadium.
Oct 20		The Stokvishal, Arnhem, Holland
		I went a concert of The Clash at the Stokvishal in Arnhem (Holland) on friday, October 20 1978. I don't know for sure if my agenda is completely right, but it seems right. The Stokvishal was a great place at this time, it was an old factory hall based on the, during the Arnhem battle of 1945, completely distroyed  area close to the Arhem bridge. Other concerts I visited at that time at the Stokvishal: Iggy Pop, Cure, Only Ones, Undertones, Stiff Little Fingers, Specials, Madness, Theatre of Hate...
Oct 21		"Le Home" Cinema, Lewen, Nr Liege, Belgium
		Johnny Greens book A Riot of Our Own (p109) suggests a Belgium gig at Leuven just outside Brussels, following a drive up from Paris. Some suggestion that this gig followed the Brussels gig. 400 people there.
Oct 22		Ancienne Belgique, Brussels
		some tapes have this labeled the 30th. The recording (Joe) I.D.'s the venue as Brussels but Johnny Greens book A Riot of Our Own (p109) suggests the Begium date of the 22nd was Leuven just outside Brussels. Around 1500 people at the gig.
Oct 23		The Paradiso, Amsterdam, Holland.
		both these last two gig are noted on p110 of A Riot of Our Own.
Oct 25		Roxy Theatre, Harlesden, London
		Postponed on the 9th September, resheduled date of September 25th postponed and also further resheduled date of 14th October postponed. New GLC restrictions limited tickets to 900, so a second night scheduled for the other 700. Whirlwind supported. I do not know about the 26.10.78. Free t-shirts (Tommy Gun) given to audience for being messed around previously. I have two. Colin
Oct 26		Roxy Theatre, Harlesden, London
Nov 9		Village Bowl, Bournemouth
		cancelled? (NME 7 Oct 78)
Nov 10		Winter Gardens, Malvern
		cancelled?
Nov 12?		Canterbury Odeon
		A Riot of Our Own pg124
Nov 14		Locarno, Coventry
		cancelled?
Nov 15		Belle Vue, Manchester
Nov 16		Odeon, Edinburgh, Scotland
Nov 17		Town Hall, Middlesborough
Nov 18		Leeds University
		supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Nov 19		Top Rank, Sheffield
		supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Nov 20		De Montfort, Leicester
		supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Nov 21		Locarno, Bristol
		supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Nov 22		Birmingham Odeon
		cancelled?
Nov 22		Village Bowl, Bournemouth
Nov 23		Ipswich Gaumont
		cancelled?
Nov 23		Apollo, Manchester
Nov 24		Kings Hall, Derby
		supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Nov 26		Top Rank, Cardiff, Wales
Nov 27		University, Exeter
Nov 28		Tiffany’s, Coventry
		Melody Maker lists this as the Locarno at Coventry? On the Road with the Clash Traxmarx - includes Tiffany's Gig
Nov 29		Victoria Hall, Hanley, Stoke
		the 29th November '78 wasn't the Stoke Mandeville concert. '78 was with the Slits, was more rock, less anarchic, better musically, but I was a bit disappointed all the same (that isn't to say it was a bad concert, but compared to the first..). We weren't allowed backstage after the concert. Joe insisted that everyone got in for £2,25 whether they were advance sales or not, threatening not to play otherwise. (1) the gig line up was the clash slits and the innocents, viv and the rest of the slits came into the crowd to watch the clash autographs were given, when the clash arrived for the sound check, they also signed loads of stuff for the group of fans at the back door, which included me 14 years old and a clash fan then (2 nacro_killer) "During the drum intro for Tommy Gun, Topper hit himself in the eye with a drumstick, so joe shouted "tommy gun!, with one eye!" (3)
Nov 30		Wirrina Stadium, Peterborough
Dec 2		Polytechnic, Newcastle
		last night of the tour according to A Riot of Our Own pg 125 and it definately took place. It is listed on adverts in the music press as a late date for the Tour.
Dec 4		University Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
		cancelled due to student only policy which Joe found out about and objected too. A Riot of Our Own pg123
Dec 5		University Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland
		cancelled due to student only policy which Joe found out about and objected too
Dec 6		University, Liverpool
??????		Brighton Top Rank
		I saw the Clash at the Brighton top Rank in '78 or possibly the first half of '79, can't see it listed anywhere, anyone else remember it? It was well before London Calling, they opened with English Civil War, I remember it cos Topper let me and some other kids in the side door as you were sposed to be 21 to get in and the bouncers weren't having any of it! I was 16 at the time I'm pretty sure, still at school anyway and i left in '79. I'd love to know the date of the gig.
Dec 12		Pavillion Bath
		This gig definately took place. Thx for info.
Dec 17		Portsmouth Locarno
Dec 18		Tiffany’s, Purley
		[originally anounced as Purley Locarno] supported by the Slits - snowed heavily. A large cheesy nightclub in South London. Supported by the Innocents as well as by the Slits.
Dec 19		Music Machine, London
		...Sid Vicious Defence Fund benefit. Also supported by Phil Rambow and Friends.
Dec 20		Civic Hall Wolverhampton?
Dec 21		Hastings Pier Pavillion
Dec 22		Friars, Aylesbury
		On the Road with the Clash Traxmarx - includes Friars Xmas Party featuring The Clash
Dec 28		Lyceum, London
Dec 29		Lyceum, London
Jan 3		Lyceum, London
		This gig may have been the 31 December? On the Road with the Clash Traxmarx - includes this Lyceum gig