Joe Strummer Compilation Shows Singer’s ‘Timeless Legacy’

To help promote the upcoming release of Assembly, a newly remastered collection of solo cuts from the late Joe Strummer, Dark Horse Records just released “Junco Partner (Acoustic).” The track arrives with an accompanying animated mixed-media video created by Spencer Ramsey. Discovered deep in the legendary artist’s vaults on a hand-labeled cassette tape, “Junco Partner” was a song that Strummer revisited throughout his career.

Strummer first discovered the song on a scratchy R&B compilation in the 1970s and it became a staple on the setlist of Joe’s first band, the 101ers, before he recorded it for the Clash’s Sandinista! album in 1980. It then became a mainstay of live shows with the Mescaleros. This previously unreleased home recording of “Junco Partner” finds Strummer delivering the song with just a guitar.

“Calling out social injustices and giving a voice to the struggles of the working class, Strummer’s politically-charged lyrics struck a chord with legions of fans and the press alike, with Rolling Stone calling the Clash “the greatest rock & roll band in the world,'” reads a press release about the album. “’People can change anything they want to,’ he famously once said, ‘and that means everything in the world.’ Through his art, Joe Strummer played his part in shaping the musical landscape of the world and with it left an unrivaled and timeless legacy.”

“Junco Partner (Acoustic)” is available now at all DSPs and streaming services; Assembly arrives March 26 on Limited Edition 2xLP Red vinyl, gatefold 2xLP 180g black vinyl and CD. It’ll also be available digitally for streaming and download.

The album features carefully curated remastered singles, fan favorites and archival rarities from the Joe Strummer solo catalog, including “Coma Girl,” “Johnny Appleseed,” and “Yalla Yalla” (with the Mescaleros). The compilation also includes Strummer’s rendition of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” and soundtrack contributions like “Love Kills” (from the 1986 film Sid and Nancy). Remastered by three-time Grammy-winning engineer Paul Hicks (The Beatles / John Lennon / The Rolling Stones / David Bowie), the 16-track compilation features three previously unreleased versions of classic The Clash tracks, including the never-before-heard recording of “Junco Partner” and live performances of “Rudie Can’t Fail” and “I Fought The Law” recorded by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros at London’s Brixton Academy on November 24, 2001. In addition, Assembly includes exclusive liner notes written especially for this collection by Jakob Dylan.

Assembly marks the first new Joe Strummer title released via the newly relaunched Dark Horse that’s now led by Dhani Harrison and David Zonshine. For more, please visit www.darkhorserecords.com.