Dial A Hitman

Album: No. 10, Upping St. (1986)
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Songfacts®:

  • This contains a comical sample from a movie called Lafayette Zero Six featuring Matt Dillon and Lawrence Fishburne. Unfortunately this "movie" (credited to "Jan Tarmush" on the album) doesn't exist. It's likely that Big Audio Dynamite faked this as a joke to friend and film director/writer "Jim Jarmusch." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Chaz - San Francisco, CA
  • Joe Strummer co-wrote this song along with Big Audio Dynamite members Mick Jones and Don Letts. This was a feat of reconciliation, as Strummer booted Jones from The Clash in 1983. Jones took the opportunity to form Big Audio Dynamite, which released their self-titled debut in 1985. No. 10, Upping St. was their second album, and it featured production and songwriting contributions from Strummer.
  • This song is about a guy who is ordering up a hitman to kill his wife, as she's become a drag. It's a sardonically humorous song that plays up the various "dial-a" services, which would allow you to ring for just about anything: a maid, a ride, even a song.

    The No. 10, Upping St. album (a play on 10 Downing St., where some British government officials reside) takes place in London and is filled with songs about crime and mayhem in the city. True to form for Strummer and Jones, there is lots of rebellion and plenty of colorful characters.

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