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Berty bass wrote: ↑Tue Jan 17, 2023 10:37 am Just learning a few songs to play a short set with a couple of friends at my 60th birthday party in a monthor so. The set includes The Clash's 'Rock the Casbah' - a favourite from my (much) younger years. I was listening to it thinking, 'Hmmm, doesn't sounds like Paul Simonon's usual style'. Sure enough, it turns out it was written and played by Norman Watt-Roy. No wonder it's got a bit more going for it!

Dissing Paul?? I'll see you outside..at dawn.

Berty Bass what is your source that Norman Watt-Roy played bass on this track? It doesn't mention it on the songs considerably comprehensive wiki entry.

A discussion here about NWR's involvement with The Clash:

https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/40370- ... the-clash/

Thanks, bit unclear though.

On Paul Simonon's wiki page it says Topper Headon played the bass on the track.

Somewhere in that discussion it says that NWR recorded sessions as Paul Simenon was involved in a film.

However, when he was done with that PS then re-recorded the bass parts himself.

Nigel wrote: ↑Tue Jan 17, 2023 9:21 pm Berty Bass what is your source that Norman Watt-Roy played bass on this track? It doesn't mention it on the songs considerably comprehensive wiki entry.

There's a Youtube vid where someone does a tutorial on the bassline and mentions it. I like PS's playing but the line has an unusual-ish interval jump in the first bar and is based around a minor pentatonic (like the predominant 'riff' in 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick'), so immediately struck me as having something more in common with the way NWR plays. That said, I'm no musicologist and would be happy to be disproven - and equally happy to give appropriate kudos to PS instead. It's a great line whoever played it.

Fretless wrote: ↑Tue Jan 17, 2023 9:54 pm Somewhere in that discussion it says that NWR recorded sessions as Paul Simenon was involved in a film.

However, when he was done with that PS then re-recorded the bass parts himself.

That sounds plausible. It's not so technically complicated as to be beyond PS's impressive chops (hell, if I can play it easily enough... ), but doesn't feel like the kind of thing he may have come up with himself.