Joe Strummer 003: The 101'ers Years 1974 - 1976 (Deluxe Edition) (3CD)

"Joe Strummer 003: The 101’ers Years" is a compilation of studio and live recordings by The 101’ers—the band Joe Strummer played in before joining The Clash. The band’s name, The 101’ers, comes from the address 101 Walterton Road in Maida Vale, where the musicians lived together in a squat; they established themselves as a fixture in the London pub-rock scene of the mid-1970s. Their sound blended rock ’n’ roll, R&B, and rockabilly—just as punk was emerging. After the Sex Pistols opened for the band in 1976, Strummer felt drawn to the new punk movement and left the group shortly thereafter to join The Clash. The 101’ers’ brief existence marks an important moment, just before British punk changed everything. The deluxe edition (3 CDs) includes 48 tracks and is released as a 48-page hardcover book with a slipcase. The book features a foreword by Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock, a history of the 101’ers written by band member Richard “Nother” Dudanski, as well as illustrations and texts by Joe Strummer from his archive. CD 1 compiles the band’s studio recordings, CD 2 contains “Basement Tapes” (recordings from the rehearsal room/basement) and demos, and CD 3 is dedicated to live recordings.