Leave It To Luck - Topper Headon

The first track of former Clash drummer Topper Headon's solo 1986 solo album Waking Up. Recorded during Headon's heroin addiction, which many of the songs deal with, the album is a curious mix of soul, jazz, funk and R&B. Headon gets excellent help from old Clash buddy and Blockheads member Mickey Gallagher on keyboards, Bobby Trench on lead guitar and Jimmy Helms supplying the vocals.
I don't know if the album is available anywhere at all these days, but if you see it, I'd say it's definitely worth a few bucks. Nothing particulary exciting, but certainly enjoyable and professional work.
The album was dedicated to the memory of late Pretenders guitarist Pete Farndon, whom Headon was planning to start a group with after his dismissal from The Clash.
This particular song a poppy funker with nice vocal work and organ work, even the lyrics are subpar to the rest of the album.

[@OPTIONALWATCH]

I consider Topper Headon an underrated drummer that no one knows about his past. I can't believe he did this album under heroin addiction.

[@randyburbach417]

He didn't. This was when he first quit before a major relapse.

[@t4egbert555]

Great song. This should be on Spotify !!!!

[@Gordy1201998]

The singer is Jimmy Helms, who had a huge solo hit, but also sang on several hits from Paul Young, en who was the leading voice of London Beat. Maybe the best black mail soul singer from the last 35 years. The female voices, ... DC Lee and Jaki Graham are excellent. Powerful song, but ofcourse not very well known.

[@StanFredo]

Topper brought "soul" to The Clash. He also kicked their collective ass to help them materialize their musical dreams so that the band became "The Only Band That Matters". And he wrote the music of "Rock The Casbah".

[@mimiouac]

topper headon is definitely my hero , i'm sixteen years old and i love this album! i begun drums just because of him , my dream is one day to meet him (even if i live in france)

[@perkydog4294]

mimiouac shall we carpool

[@philhippe5585]

He lives in Dover and Dover is in England.

[@earlbrackett6508]

The Clash's secret weapon...they fell apart without him.

[@therealsoulproduct]

Surprisingly, this song actually holds up well, even today.

[@Carl-im9gh]

he is good isn't he. one of top ten drummers on the planet.

[@kishannaconandoyle1907]

Didnt know Topper was such good author!

[@trappenweisseguy27]

I remember trying to buy this mysterious album back then in downtown Toronto record shops only to be met with “Topper Who ?” Or never heard of him. Never did find it.

Heard it on radio 1986 and now again :-) Thanks!

[@liviasegers2526]

great song, as if it ws written only yesterday, remains vibrating and stimulating ! Last time I heard it was more than 35 years ago!

[@EmmaLouise105]

Last heard this in 1989! What a FABULOUS song/album then- and STILL is now!!! Just brilliant, man!!!!!!!!!!!

[@gcf7175]

I was conceived to this record at a sex party in Fresno, CA in 1989. Then my stupid father married my mom and they moved to Florida. God I wish I wasn't allergic to tomatoes. They are in everything I want to eat.

[@32alltheway]

great drummer always thought he and Paul Simonon were vastly underrated as the clash's rhythm section

[@deerhunter2218]

Sorry mate I can't agree with you saying Topper was underrated, he was very much rated as a drummer and all round musician mate

[@nelis1965]

Just heard this song on the radio. Has been around for a long time, never heard of it before. Nice 🙂

[@TheWittewolf]

Looking for this about 10 years! finaly i found him about 5 years ago! i was only know how to "sing" it hahaha

[@alfioled]

Blues and rhythm........good luck....

[@rjjcms1]

+ a bit of 60s soul too?

[@mygreatlovenova]

I forgot all about this song. love it,loveit,loveit

[@MarcoVallentin]

I f**king LOVE this track ! Thanks for sharing ;=)

[@evaluacionmonitoreo3484]

great Topper!!

[@royphillips7435]

A lost early 60s pop soul tune ! Nice n easy ...

[@fergulikers5135]

Great

[@hansoosterbaan1740]

TOP

[@guathay]

Mannn!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW I love this song requires a yet to be invented language!

[@barrybrown2392]

Fab

[@fucktheutubeusername]

T'assures mon gars !

[@faustobe]

Topper papa's got a brand new bag...

[@PBANDSNOW]

@whitedwarf13 Math looks like my Topper teacher!

[@marcoss60]

PLEASE... I'M LOOKING FOR THE ORIGINAL PROMO CLIP OF THIS SONG. ANYONE CAN HELP ME? TNX

[@paulgrahamedwardspencer5161]

Remember no topper no clash after he was sacked the clash were a par on the original

[@TailsPunk]

Toppie Topper XD

[@whitedwarf13]

Topper looks like my maths teacher.

[@rust2000]

Geno Washington on vocals!

[@darrenlee1938]

Rejiggled James Brown Not to say it’s not great thou.. Just not very original