Cut the Crap by The Clash

Cut the Crap is the sixth and final studio album by the English punk band the Clash, released on 4 November 1985 by Epic Records. It was recorded in early 1985 at Weryton Studios, Munich, following a turbulent period: co-founder, lead guitarist and co-principal songwriter Mick Jones and drummer Topper Headon had been dismissed by lead vocalist Joe Strummer and bassist Paul Simonon. Their recently re-instated manager Bernie Rhodes replaced Jones and Headon with three unknowns: guitarists Vince White and Nick Sheppard and drummer Pete Howard. During the tense recording sessions, Rhodes and Strummer fought with each other for control over the band's songwriting and musical direction. Strummer wrote most of the songs. During production, Rhodes tried to take control of arrangements, track sequencing and the final mix. His production choices, which rely heavily on synthetic drum sounds and sampling, are widely derided. One writer described the album’s sound as brash and seemingly "designed to sound hip and modern—'80s style!". Rhodes chose the often-mocked album title, taken from a line in the 1981 post-apocalyptic film Mad Max 2. On release, Cut the Crap was maligned in the UK music press as "one of the most disastrous [albums] ever released by a major artist". Strummer disowned the album and dissolved the Clash within weeks of its release. The tension between Rhodes and Strummer left other band members disillusioned. Simonon refused from the outset to take part in any activity involving Rhodes. White's and Sheppard's contributions are almost entirely absent in the final mix, and Howard was replaced by an electronic drum machine. Epic Records hoped the album would advance the Clash's success in the United States, and planned an expensive video for lead single "This Is England"; by the album's release, the band members were so discouraged that they did not turn up for the first day's shoot. Strummer moved to Spain, in part due to family issues, but also to escape the backlash. After being disparaged by critics upon release, Cut the Crap is still generally regarded as the band's worst album; Strummer performed only one song from the album live during his solo career, and the album has been excluded altogether from most of the Clash’s compilations and box sets. Some retrospective assessments have been more sympathetic or measured; critics and band biographers have found merit in Strummer's songwriting and vocal performance, especially on the tracks "This Is England", "Dirty Punk" and "Three Card Trick".