Global a Go-Go

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Global a Go-Go

Studio album by Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros
Released	24 July 2001
Genre	Rock
Length	73:19
Label	HellCat Records
Producer(s)	Scott Shields, Martin Slattery, Joe Strummer and Richard Flack
All Music Guide link
Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros chronology
Rock Art and the X-Ray Style (1999)	Global a Go-Go (2001)	Streetcore (2003)

Global a Go-Go is the second album by Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros, displaying trademark genre-melding folk-rock and Strummer's unique lyrical style. As the title suggests, there are world music influences on the album, mostly on the title track and "Bhindhi Bhagee", a celebration of the "humble" but diverse and exciting ethnic and multi-cultural areas of London and other major cities. The album is heavy on acoustic instruments, especially in the instrumental "Minstrel Boy," an almost 18 minute long arrangement of a traditional Irish song. Other topics covered include Strummer's radio show, which was broadcast on the BBC World Service (Global a Go-Go) and left-wing political issues Strummer was well-known for expounding as a member of The Clash. The album was well-received by critics and fans, making much more of an impact than the group's previous effort Rock Art and the X-Ray Style. The title track "Global A Go-Go" features backing vocals from longtime friend of Strummer, Roger Daltrey. Pete Townshend is also rumoured to be buried in the mix of Minstrel Boy, but this has never been positively confirmed.

A different version of "Minstrel Boy" was used as the closing track on the Ridley Scott film Black Hawk Down, this film version is significantly shorter and does feature the actual lyrics to the song. Likewise, "Mondo Bongo" features in the Doug Liman film Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

The "Minstrel Boy" track is also known as the "Worldcom Dirge" after being featured in a commercial by the soon-to be-bankrupt telecommunications company.

1 Track listing
2 Personnel
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Track listing

All songs by the Mescaleros unless otherwise noted.

"Johnny Appleseed" – 4:03
"Cool 'n' Out" – 4:22
"Global a Go-Go" – 5:55
"Bhindi Bhagee" – 5:47
"Gamma Ray" – 6:58
"Mega Bottle Ride" – 3:33
"Shaktar Donetsk" – 5:57
"Mondo Bongo" – 6:14
"Bummed Out City" – 5:33
"At the Border, Guy" – 7:08
"Minstrel Boy" (traditional) – 17:49

[edit] Personnel

Joe Strummer - vocals, producer
Martin Slattery - synthesizer, bass, fuzz guitar, drones, Wurlitzer, hammer dulcimer, melodica, saxophone, Hammond organ, accordion, guitar, flute, backup vocals, producer
Scott Shields - bass, guitar, bongos, Hammond organ, bells, loops, drums, backup vocals, producer
Pablo Cook - udu, Cuban percussion, screams, guiro, shaker, bodhran, glass harmonica, noise, bells, drums, bongos, tambourine, whistle, conga
Tymon Dogg - classical guitar, violin, mandolin
Richard Flack - cymbals, backup vocals, producer
Roger Daltrey - vocals
Antony Genn - strings, loops
Chris Lasalle - sequencing
Bob Gruen - photography