Topper Headon - Waking up (Hard to find 1986 by Spikkie)

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--------------Topper Headon / Waking up (Hard to find 1986)--------------

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------------TORRENT BY SPIKKIE: thepiratebay.org/user/spikkie------------

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Topper Headon was the drummer-percussionist of the Clash from 78 till 82



This album was originally released on vinyl in 1986,

in 1992 it was released on CD with 5 bonus tracks.

I've found it recently in a second-hand store and want to share this on TPB.

In 1986 I was one of the privileged ones who went backstage on the

Torhout-Werchter (TW) festival in Belgium and enjoyed this performance live.



All tracks 256kb/s cbr

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Topper Headon - Waking Up(CD release 92) tracklist:

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01 - Leave It To Luck (3:08)

02 - I'll Give You Everything (3:16)

03 - Hope For Donna (4:17)

04 - Got To Keep On Going (4:43)

05 - Dancing (3:29)

06 - Du Cane Road (Jaz mix) (5:13) [Bonus track]

07 - Drumming Man (2:54)

08 - You're So Cheeky (3:02) [Bonus track]

09 - Pleasure And Pain (4:10)

10 - Time Is Tight (3:39)

11 - When You're Down (3:04)

12 - Just Another Hit (2:59)

13 - Got to get out of this heat (6:16) [Bonus track]

14 - Monkey On My Back (3:44)

15 - East Vs West (9:52) [Bonus track]

16 - Casablanca (3:45) [Bonus track]



Jerome Rimson Bass, Vocals

Bob Tench Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Vocals

Geoffrey Miller Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Martin Dobson Saxophone

Mick Gallagher Keyboards

Mark Graham Trombone

Tom Harris Saxophone

Topper Headon Drums, Main Performer

Jimmy Helms Vocals



Before meeting Headon, the Clash went through several drummers, including Terry Chimes,

who recorded on the UK version of the band's self-titled debut.

Headon -- something of a 'journeyman' drummer -- originally planned to have only a brief stay

with the band, to establish a reputation and then move on.

After a period in the Clash, however, Headon realized the full potential of the band,

and abandoned his plan to leave the group.

He played on the albums Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978), some tracks on The Clash (US version) (1979),

London Calling (1979), Sandinista! (1980) and Combat Rock (1982).

Also of note are his lead vocal on "Ivan Meets G.I. Joe" (from Sandinista!)

and his work on the hit single "Rock the Casbah" (from Combat Rock),

on which Headon composed most of the music and played drums, piano and bass guitar.



Clash singer/guitarist Joe Strummer said that Headon's drumming skills were a vital part of the band:

Headon had strength and stamina, and could play convincingly in funk, reggae and other styles,

in addition to traditional rock drumming.Tensions rose between Headon and his fellow bandmembers due

to his growing heroin addiction.

Eventually it began affecting his drumming so much that the band gave him an ultimatum: kick the habit or be kicked out.

Topper was unable to give up drugs and left the band on May 1982,

at the beginning of the Combat Rock tour.

The band covered up the real reason for Headon's departure, claiming it was due to exhaustion.

After Headon's departure the Clash re-hired original drummer Terry Chimes for the tour.



After his work with the Clash, Topper was considered briefly for the drumming stool in Mick Jones' post-Clash band Big Audio Dynamite. However, this failed to work out because of Topper's continuing addiction.

Headon subsequently focused on recording a solo album,

which resulted in the mostly unnoticed Waking Up (1986) and a 12-inch recording "Drumming Man"

and "DuKane Road" with his own composition "Hope for Donna."

After this album Headon went to jail on drug supplying charges, subsequently he has spent time in

the Priory Psychiatric Hospital in North London to deal with his addiction.



Since the Clash broke up, he has rarely been heard from, though he did produce albums for

New York band Bush Tetras.

Although he has mostly moved out of the public eye, Headon continues to play gigs;

it was after one of his shows at a pub that he was informed of the death of Clash frontman Joe Strummer.

Obviously emotional, Headon said, "It's taken Joe's death to make me realise just how big The Clash were.

We were a political band and Joe was the one who wrote the lyrics.



Well his Wake up album was cut with first-rate help from guitarist Bob Tench (of Jeff Beck fame),

ex-Clash session keyboardist Mickey Gallagher, and vocalist Jimmy Helms, who sounds appropriately gritty without being overbearing.

Musically, the album offers few surprises from the Clash's resident souljazz buff,

falling comfortably into unhurried jazz, R&B, and soul grooves.

Leave it to luck sounds as it came straight from the bluesbrothers soundtrack,

and there's more here in the same vain. East vs West could very have done with some Mick Jones' singing .

In all not a bad album from a junkie, alas he didnt got to promo it as he went straight to jail for drug trafficking (financing the album ?).

In the end Topper is another example how a skilled and succesful artist succumbed to heroin-this time

without dying, ironically he probably would be remembered better if he had,

but as it happened he faded away...

What can I say ? Stay away from heroin, crack cocaine..

There's much healthier alternatives to trip and explore the mind.

I would say "Smoke a spliff and enjoy this album"