Sandinista! Tribute Album Coming In May

Just over twenty-six years after The Clash first unleashed the 36 tracks of Sandinista! on the world, a few dozen artists have tackled the immense task of paying tribute to what has been called the most ambitious album of the legendary band’s career.

Spearheaded by author/journalist Jimmy Gutman, The Sandinista! Project: A Tribute to the Clash features contributions from artists such as Camper Van Beethoven, Amy Rigby, Matthew Ryan, Katrina Leskanich, The Smithereens, and Illinois-based Clash cover band London Calling of Chicago.

Each of the album’s original 36 tracks have been reworked by the participating artists. Some remain faithful to the original versions, while others chose to interpret the tunes in entirely surprising, personal ways. Katrina Leskanich of Katrina & the Waves performs “Hitsville, U.K.,” with which the Waves’ hit “Walking on Sunshine” shared a bass line (originally borrowed from the Motown hit “You Can’t Hurry Love”); Sid Griffin of the Coal Porters drew upon his Kentucky roots to transform “Something About England” into a bluegrass jam. Other artists, such as Matthew Ryan (“Somebody Got Murdered”) and Willie Nile (“Police on My Back”) had previously recorded Sandinista! tracks for their own albums, making them a shoe-in for the project.

The Sandinista! Project will be released on May 1st, 2007, by 00:02:59 Records (which actually takes its name from “Hitsville, U.K.”). Proceeds from the album’s sales will be split between two Clash-supported charities, Amnesty International and the Joe Strummer Memorial Forest (a division of global warming-battling organization Future Forests).

Complete tracklisting:

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