Song of the Day 1/25: The Equals, “Police on My Back”
This one’s for Roger Stone, who famously has a criminal tattooed on his back.
Most people know this tune because The Clash covered it, but the original was done in 1968 by The Equals, probably best remembered today because their founder and leader, Eddy Grant, went on to a solo career and a big hit with “Electric Avenue.” The band was ahead of its time in both its multi-racial lineup and the jokey video they made to go with it.
Here’s how the Only Band That Mattered raved it up during a live show in Japan in 1982:
Thanks, Alby! Now I have to go and listen to “Baby Come Back.” There was some amazing music in ’68! People tend to forget that The Equals were a British band.
People tend not to have ever heard of them, in my experience.