1. Movers And Shakers, 2. Cool Under Heat, 3. The Guns Of Brixton, 4. Spanish Bombs, 5. Police On My Back, 6. Jimmy Jazz, 7. White Man In Hammersmith Palais, 8. Straight To Hell, 9. Clash City Rockers, 10. I Fought The Law, 11. Brand New Cadillac, 12. White Riot, 13. Bankrobber, 14. Stepping Stone   Bonus Tracks: (Jaap Ede Hal, Amsterdam, May 10th, 1981) 15. Safe European Home, 16. Janie Jones, 17. Washington Bullets, 18. Junco Partner, 19. One More Time, 20. Bankrobber

This is a VERY interesting release from the new Play This! Label. 

In late Spring of 1985, Joe Strummer and Paul Simonon convinced the guys to venture around the U.K. on a "busking" tour.  This was an informal, acoustic and rudimentary presentation.  (Busking is usually associated with performers playing for passer-bys on city streets and walk-ways for any contributions they can garner.)  Anyway, this particular recording was produced while the band was performing outside The Station in Gateshead, Newcastle in front of what sounds like a VERY lucky 50 or so people!  You hear a single acoustic guitar with some clavinets or wood blocks clapping out the beat...and then the reaction from the crowd in -between. 

The sound is crisp and clear but the band is playing "off-mike" so at first, you aren't too sure just what the situation is.  It is an audience recording but it's got that DAT recording sound providing the clarity....but clearly this was before the digital age so, whatever equipment documented this rare performance, the mikes were high-end.

What makes this such a fascinating listen is the enthusiastic renditions of some of the best Clash tunes like "Spanish Bombs" and "Police On My Back".  Not to mention the rarities performed like the lead-off track "Movers And Shakers"..and "Cool Under Heat".  Like I said, very interesting stuff.

The supplementary material is an outstanding partial soundboard tape  from Amsterdam in May of '81.  The sound hear is excellent quality stereo and the selection of tunes included hear are brilliant.  I love the sequence of "Junco Partner", "One More Time" and "Bankrobber".  This recording really captures the band at the height of their performing. 

"Acoustic Nation" is both interesting and highly recommended.  Along with the above you get it all presented in a high quality digipack case.