The Clash - Rock The Casbah (Rhythm Scholar Boogie Bombs Remix)

Mixed by Rhythm Scholar

What is punk?  At one point in time I thought it was a sound.  A raw sound with fuzzy guitars, and usually performed by guys who hadn’t quite mastered their respective instruments.  Then one day I heard Rock The Casbah.  I knew The Clash were a punk rock group but I was confused because this song didn’t fit my definition. 

So I decided to investigate a little further.  I bought a few Clash albums; The Clash, Combat Rock, Sandinista!, and London Calling.  Yeah, I went all out. Some of the songs on those albums did fit my definition but there were many that did not.  I then realized punk is an attitude more than anything else.  I had to change my definition.  To me punk is a social/political message delivered by music with attitude. Going by that definition Public Enemy is punk. But more on them another time.

The message contained in Rock The Casbah was inspired by none other than the Ayatollah Khomeini who banned rock music in Iran.  Personally I love music and if you’re reading this, you’re probably kinda partial to music yourself.  I’ve had a few incidents over the years with neighbors asking me to turn the music down.  Rock The Casbah is that situation taken to the extreme.  Maybe that’s why I identify with this song so much.

This particular remix is by the Rhythm Scholar.  The best praise I can give this mix is that it sounds like an unreleased remix from 1982.; a lost recording from the CBS vault. Many people over the years have taken a stab at remixing this song, usually relying heavily on the Mustapha Dance.  This mix is different although it does contain elements of Mustapha Dance.   From the moment I heard the spoken word intro from Joe Strummer, I had a feeling I was in for a treat.  And I was not disappointed.  Thanks to the Rhythm Scholar for remixing one of my favorite songs of all time and in the process creating one of my favorite remixes of all time.