There is as yet no resolution to the various cases he is facing in court, but I did rather enjoy last week’s news that Numpty Trumpty had been arraigned on charges relating to his incitement of the riots at the Capitol on 6 January 2021. Yes, I know the law says that people are innocent until found guilty but in his case we really do need to state the blindingly obvious: guilty until proven guilty! This reminded me that I had run a set much earlier in this series about lawbreakers, and I thought it might be worth another go. Having looked at the first set, though, I realised that I had already made some good choices so, as the previous one was two and a half years ago, I’m updating and replaying several of the songs from it, on the assumption that no one will remember, and they are all great! I’ve also swapped one out for a tune that narrowly missed the cut last time.

I could only really start the tunes with one, but which version? I originally ran both the obvious versions of this song but today I am going with what I think is probably the more familiar one:

This track was originally released as part of an EP, The Cost Of Living, in 1979: it reached #22 in our singles chart and #24 in Ireland. It was re-released in 1988 as part of the promotion for the compilation album The Story Of The Clash, when it charted at #29 here. The compilation peaked at #7 on the UK albums chart, and climbed all the way to #142 in the US. I love the song and the video, which looks like they had a lot of fun making, and it is good to see my old schoolfriend again (Nick Headon, the drummer), before drugs took him over and led to his sacking from the band – he’s doing well now, I’m glad to report. The song was originally recorded by the Crickets, became a hit on both sides of the Atlantic for the Bobby Fuller Four, and has been covered by many others: Bruce Springsteen has included it in live shows, for example.

People who break the law often go to jail: is it so wrong of me to hope that Numpty will suffer that fate? I just hope that, if and when he does, it doesn’t end like this:

Jailbreak was the title track of Thin Lizzy’s sixth album, released in 1976, which reached #10 in our albums chart and #18 in the US. It was also a #31 single hit here. I’ve never understood why they didn’t do better in the States, as I would have thought they were made for that market. The best Irish rock band ever (yes, I know of that other one). I saw Thin Lizzy twice, and they really were as tight a unit as this video suggests, and Phil Lynott was the epitome of cool. Sadly, he was one of those who succumbed to heroin but didn’t make it through: such a waste. I love the bit in the video where he says ‘hey, good looking female’ and the girl in shot has a ‘does he mean me’ look on her face!

Taking the next step with the theme of Numpty in jail, I guess he could just stay there and entertain himself:

That was released in 1957, and was #1 both in the US and over here. Those were very much the days when singles ruled, and I think I’m right in saying that the song has featured on compilations but wasn’t originally released on an album. I was never a huge fan, but that song and video are great pop music.

One thing that might not be advisable if you’re in trouble with the law is to admit one crime whilst denying another. Numpty would do well to remember that, as it seems that every time he opens his mouth or posts on his social media site he does just that. On this evidence, it isn’t likely to go well:

Bob Marley was another one taken from us far too young: in his case, the cause was melanoma, and he was only 36. This is one of his best known songs – possibly from the Eric Clapton cover, which was a big hit, peaking at #9 here but hitting #1 in the US. Bob’s own version was on his 1974 album, Burnin’, which reached #151 in the US but didn’t chart here. Conversely, as a single it reached #67 here but wasn’t a US hit. Bob Marley remains a legendary figure in the music world, and it was fitting that his 1984 posthumous greatest hits album, which features this one, was called Legend. To date, that album has spent over 600 weeks in the US albums chart and more than 900 in ours. In total, Bob has sold over 75m records worldwide: few have done better.

For today’s final tune I’m playing one that I left out of my previous selection, but to which I gave serious thought. It is another that I’m hoping tells what Numpty might be facing:

Somehow I don’t think I’m likely to get that wish: there is a rather large clue as to why not in that video! Sam Cooke first released Chain Gang as a non-album single in July 1960, and it peaked at #2 in the US and #9 in the UK: his first top ten single here. It was included on his album, Swing Low, the following year but that record didn’t make the charts anywhere. The track was also reissued here in 1986 as a double A-side with Wonderful World, promoting a compilation album, and got to #2 second time round. Sam had such a wonderful voice, and is another of those I feel should have been better rewarded by his chart placings here.

Sam also completes a set by artists who left us far too soon. Starting with Joe Strummer of the Clash, who was 50, then Phil Lynott, at 36, Elvis Presley, 42, Bob Marley, also 36, and finally Sam Cooke, at just 33. If ‘only the good die young’ is true, that may explain how Numpty has made it to 77!

That’s it for today, but something tells me this theme may have some more mileage in it, especially when the verdict is finally handed down and the orange man begins wearing clothes that match his face. Have a great week, and I’ll see you again soon 😊