Czechoslovak Song/Where Is England demo lifted from Joe Strummer 001

With Joe Strummer 001 out tomorrow, the previously unreleased 1983 demo of This Is England has been made available to preview under the title Czechoslovak Song/Where Is England.

This new compilation is set to bring 32 recordings of Strummer’s work away from The Clash together, featuring cuts with the 101ers, The Mescaleros, solo album work, soundtracks and 12 previously unreleased songs. “In September 1975, I finally got Joe to type up his lyrics, along with a rough recording,” photographer Julian Yewdall has remembered of a 1975 cassette tape demo recorded at 101 Elgin Avenue.

“I then posted these back to myself, and deposited the sealed envelope in my bank’s vault, as this was the easiest way I knew of legally protecting his copyright. Over 30 years later and long after I had closed the account, I came across the forgotten bank receipt amongst some old letters, and on returning to the bank, was amazed and delighted when they handed me back the envelope free of charge.”