Welcome to release date #4 here at 00:02:59!!

 

A few years ago, I went to lunch with this crazy cat named Jimmy Guterman.  He is friends with Willie Nile - and Willie had just recorded a song for Jimmy's certifiably insane idea of doing a track-by-track tribute to Sandinista! by The Clash.  We brainstormed for a while over some sushi, and I recommended artists who might be interested in contributing to the album... and told him about a very cool version of "Somebody Got Murdered" that was already recorded by my friend, Matthew Ryan.

 

When word got out that I was starting my own label called 00:02:59, Jimmy was one of the first to call me.  The first thing he said as I picked up the phone was, "You named your label after a line from Sandinista!... now you MUST put out The Sandinista! Project when it is finished!"  Inside, I laughed to myself - thinking, "Yeah right, there is NO way he will EVER get this thing done," - but, since I am a big supporter of big thinkers with big ideas, I said to him, "OK, Jimmy.  If you get it done, I will put it out on my label."

 

You see, at the time, he only had about 8 of the 36 tracks on the album completed.  Of course, all 8 of the covers were KILLER... but he still had a Herculean task in front of him...

 

Well, here we are at May 15th, 2007 - where, not only did Jimmy find 36 different artists to perform all 36 tunes... but all 36 versions are KILLER!!  The Matthew Ryan song was the only track out of the bunch that was not recorded for this project... though, as most of you know, Willie's version of "Police On My Back" was so good that we had to include it on his critically acclaimed Streets Of New York.

 

 

The profits of the album will be split between two charities: Amnesty International (heartily supported by The Clash) and the Joe Strummer Memorial Forest, which is a division of Future Forests, an organization fighting global warming.

 

The digital release date is May 29th, 2007 - so you will be able to find The Sandinista! Project on iTunes, eMusic, etc, then.  However, I strongly recommend that you head over to your local record store to pick up a hard copy of the CDs for yourself.  Or, you can order it right now off of Amazon for only $14.99 (now that's a deal!!) by clicking here: TSP.  Like the vinyl version of the original, we wanted the packaging to be a beautiful, jaw-dropping experience itself.  From the gorgeous cover painting by Jon Langford to the 36-page updated Armagideon Times liner notes... it is truly a site to behold.

 

We have already received some fantastic reviews.  Here are excerpts from three of my favorites:

 

Assembled by Clash fan and writer Jimmy Guterman, this intriguing crew of artists fulfills the original album's wide-ranging musical ambitions but evens out the performance and recording quality to make this a completely rewarding rock record.  4 stars.  - Chicago Sun-Times

 

As epic as its forever under-celebrated inspiration, TSP almost bests its template on some subatomic level in that there's barely a bad cut on it, which may be more than can be said for the original. Three LPs worth of the Clash's Sandinista (1981) is a bit overwhelming, but here... each song comes alive. - The Austin Chronicle

 

This project has the musical strength, variety, and inventiveness to stand on its own, but it will likely do what tribute albums should: Drive listeners back to the source. - Amazon.com
 

 

 

Below is the track listing of The Sandinista! Project:

 

Disc 1
1. The Magnificent Seven, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers
2. Hitsville U.K., Katrina Leskanich
3. Junco Partner, Jon Langford and Sally Timms with Ship & Pilot
4. Ivan Meets G.I. Joe, Jason Ringenberg and Kristi Rose
5. The Leader, Amy Rigby
6. Something About England, The Coal Porters
7. Rebel Waltz, Ruby on the Vine
8. Look Here, Jim Duffy
9. The Crooked Beat, Wreckless Eric
10. Somebody Got Murdered, Matthew Ryan
11. One More Time/One More Dub, Haale
12. One More Time (One More Time), Ted Harris
13. Lightning Strikes (Not Once But Twice), London Calling of Chicago
14. Up in Heaven (Not Only Here), The Smithereens
15. Corner Soul, Ethan Lipton
16. Let's Go Crazy, Storybox
17. If Music Could Talk, Steve Wynn
18. The Sound of the Sinners, Bill Lloyd

Disc 2
19. Police on My Back, Willie Nile
20. Midnight Log, Soul Food with Mick Gallagher
21. The Equaliser, Sunset Heroes
22. The Call Up, The Lothars
23. Washington Bullets, Phil Rockrohr and the Lifters
24. Broadway, Stew
25. Lose This Skin, Jim Allen
26. Charlie Don't Surf, The Crunchies
27. Mensforth Hill, Bee Maidens
28. Junkie Slip, Mark Cutler
29. Kingston Advice, Camper Van Beethoven
30. The Street Parade, Dollar Store
31. Version City, Tim Krekel
32. Living in Fame, Lou Carlozo
33. Silicone on Sapphire, The Blizzard of 78 featuring Mikey Dread
34. Version Pardner, Sally Timms and Jon Langford with Ship & Pilot
35. Career Opportunities, Sex Clark Five
36. Shepherds Delight, The Hyphens

I hope all of you enjoy the music.  Thank you to Jimmy, and to all of the super-talented artists who contributed their time and art to this fantastic project.

 

You lot! What? Don't stop! Give it all you got!

 

Abe

 

"No expense accounts,

 Or lunch discounts

 Or hypeing up the charts,

 The band went in,

 'N knocked 'em dead,

 In 2 min. 59,

 I know the boy was all alone,

 Til the Hitsville hit U.K."

 

                                   - The Clash