The Clash album by album

 

Wikipedia

The Clash were an English rock band formed in London in 1976 who were key players in the original wave of British punk rock. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they also contributed to the post-punk and new wave movements that emerged in the wake of punk and employed elements of a variety of genres including reggae, dub, funk, ska, and rockabilly. For most of their recording career, the Clash consisted of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Joe Strummer, lead guitarist and vocalist Mick Jones, bassist Paul Simonon, and drummer Nicky "Topper" Headon.

Headon left the group in 1982 due to internal friction surrounding his increasing heroin addiction. Further internal friction led to Jones' departure the following year. The group continued with new members, but finally disbanded in early 1986. The Clash achieved critical and commercial success in the United Kingdom with the release of their self-titled debut album, The Clash (1977) and their second album, Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978). Their experimental third album, London Calling, released in the UK in December 1979, earned them popularity in the United States when it was released there the following month. A decade later, Rolling Stone named it the best album of the 1980s. Following continued musical experimentation on their fourth album, Sandinista! (1980), the band reached new heights of success with the release of Combat Rock (1982), which spawned the US top 10 hit "Rock the Casbah", helping the album to achieve a 2× Platinum certification there. A final album, Cut the Crap, was released in 1985 with a new lineup, and a few weeks later, the band broke up.^[1]

In January 2003, shortly after the death of Joe Strummer, the band—including original drummer Terry Chimes—were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked the Clash number 28 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".^[2] 

AllMusic


The Sex Pistols may have been the first British punk rock band, but the Clash were the definitive British punk rockers. Where the Pistols were nihilistic, the Clash were fiery and idealistic, charged with righteousness and a leftist political ideology. From the outset, the band was more musically adventurous, expanding its hard rock & roll with reggae, dub, and rockabilly among other roots musics. Furthermore, they were blessed with two exceptional songwriters in Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, each with a distinctive voice and style. The Clash copped heavily from classic outlaw imagery, positioning themselves as rebels with a cause. As a result, they won a passionately devoted following on both sides of the Atlantic. While they became rock & roll heroes in the U.K., second only to the Jam in terms of popularity, it took the Clash several years to break into the American market, and when they finally did in 1982, they imploded several months later. Though the Clash never became the superstars they always threatened to become, they restored passion and protest to rock & roll. For a while, they really did seem like "the only band that mattered."

Recordings

 

The 101ers   
Elgin Avenue Breakdown 
(1981 - recorded 1975-1976) 

Joe Strummer's band before The Clash was The 101ers. 

Released	March 1981 June 14, 2005 (re-release)
Recorded	November 28, 1975 - May 22, 1976
Genre	Pub rock
Length	32:22 / 65:04
Label	Andalucia (original) Astralwerks / EMI (re-released)
Producer	Vic Maile

1. "Letsagetabitarockin'" - 2:08
2. "Silent Telephone" - 2:21
3. "Keys To Your Heart" (Strummer) (version 1) (Chiswick Single Version) - 3:44
4. "Rabies (From the Dogs of Love)" - 3:13
5. "Sweet Revenge" - 2:58
6. "Motor Boys Motor" - 2:23
7. "Steamgauge 99" (previously unreleased) - 3:36
8. "5 Star R'n'R" (Strummer, Kelleher) - 2:56
9. "Surf City" (Kelleher, 101ers)- 2:49
10. "Keys To Your Heart" (Strummer) (version 2) - 3:08
11. "Sweety Of The St.Moritz" - 2:24
12. "Hideaway" (previously unreleased) - 2:48
13. "Shake Your Hips" (live) (Slim Harpo)(previously unreleased) - 3:37
14. "Lonely Mother's Son" (live) (previously unreleased) - 3:46
15. "Don't Let It Go" (live) (Bo Diddley) - 2:51
16. "Keep Taking the Tablets" (live) (previously unreleased) - 4:04
17. "Junco Partner" (live) (Traditional; arranged by James Wayne) (previously unreleased) - 3:31
18. "Out of Time" (live) (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) (previously unreleased) - 2:56
19. "Maybelline" (live) (Chuck Berry) (previously unreleased) - 1:57
20. "Gloria" (live) (Van Morrison) (previously unreleased) - 8:04

Tracks 1,2,6,7,11,12 recorded 28/11/75, Jackson's Studio, Rickmansworth
Track 3 recorded 10/03/76, Pathway Studios, Kentish Town
Tracks 4,5 recorded 04/03/76, Pathway Studios, Kentish Town
Tracks 8,9,10 recorded 28/03/76 and 10/04/76, BBC Studios, Maida Vale
Tracks 13,14,16,17,19 recorded 21/05/76, Camberwell Art School, London
Track 15 recorded 18/04/76, The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm
Track 18 recorded 21/03/76, Wandsworth Prison, London
Track 20 recorded 22/05/76, Cellar Club, Bracknell

• Joe Strummer - vocals, guitar
• Clive Timperley - guitar, backing vocals
• Dan Kelleher - keyboards, bass, backing vocals, vocals on "Surf City" and "Keep Taking the Tablets"
• John Mole - bass
• Richard Dudanski - drums, backing vocals

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 8 

Score: 

The Clash (1977)

Debut album is strong and energetic and carries a lot of the imagery of the punk era. I like this. Stand out tracks: "White Riot" and "I'm So Bored With The USA". 

Released	8 April 1977
Recorded	10–27 February 1977
Studio	CBS (London) National Film and Television School (Beaconsfield, England)
Genre	Punk rock
Length	35:18
Label	CBS
Producer	Mickey Foote

All lead vocals by Joe Strummer, except where noted.

All tracks are written by Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted.

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Janie Jones"			2:03
2.	"Remote Control"		Jones, Strummer	3:00
3.	"I'm So Bored with the USA"			2:25
4.	"White Riot"			1:56
5.	"Hate and War"		Jones, Strummer	2:05
6.	"What's My Name"	Strummer, Jones, Keith Levene		1:40
7.	"Deny"			3:03
8.	"London's Burning"			2:12

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Career Opportunities"			1:52
2.	"Cheat"			2:06
3.	"Protex Blue"		Jones	1:42
4.	"Police & Thieves"	Junior Murvin, Lee Perry		6:01
5.	"48 Hours"			1:34
6.	"Garageland"			3:12

• Joe Strummer − lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar on "48 Hours" 
• Mick Jones − lead guitar, backing vocals
• Paul Simonon − bass guitar
• Terry Chimes (listed as "Tory Crimes") − drums,

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 7

 

Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978)

Surprisingly dull after the debut. A lot less energy and focus, yet more musical, and certainly more diverse. Kinda interesting, but less exciting and worthwhile than the debut. Not a punk rock album. Stand out track "Tommy Gun". 

Released	10 November 1978
Recorded	March–April 1978 August–September 1978
Studio	Basing Street (London) The Automatt (San Francisco)
Genre	Rock
Length	36:57
Label	CBS  Epic
Producer	Sandy Pearlman

All tracks are written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted. All lead vocals by Strummer, except "Stay Free" by Jones.

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Safe European Home"		3:50
2.	"English Civil War"	Traditional; arranged by Jones and Strummer	2:35
3.	"Tommy Gun"		3:17
4.	"Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad"		3:03
5.	"Last Gang in Town"		5:14

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Guns on the Roof"	Topper Headon, Jones, Paul Simonon, Strummer	3:15
2.	"Drug-Stabbing Time"		3:43
3.	"Stay Free"		3:40
4.	"Cheapskates"		3:25
5.	"All the Young Punks (New Boots and Contracts)"		4:55

• Joe Strummer – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
• Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Stay Free"
• Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Topper Headon – drums

Wikipedia
AllMusic: 5 
Score:


 

London Calling (1979)

The band's most famous and acclaimed album. Double album. It's kinda varied and scattered. Might have been stronger as a single album. Moves even further away from the attitude of punk rock. The cover, albeit with echoes of The Who and Jimi Hendrix, and referencing Elvis Presley,  is punky, and is a classic.  Stand out track is "London Calling". 

Released	14 December 1979
Recorded	August–November 1979
Studio	Wessex, London
Genre	Rock, post-punk  new wave
Length	65:07
Label	CBS  Epic
Producer	Guy Stevens

All lead vocals by Joe Strummer, except where noted.

All tracks are written by Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted.

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"London Calling"			3:19
2.	"Brand New Cadillac"	Vince Taylor; originally performed by Vince Taylor and his Playboys		2:09
3.	"Jimmy Jazz"			3:52
4.	"Hateful"			2:45
5.	"Rudie Can't Fail"		Strummer, Jones	3:26

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Spanish Bombs"		Strummer, Jones	3:19
2.	"The Right Profile"			3:56
3.	"Lost in the Supermarket"		Jones	3:47
4.	"Clampdown"		Strummer, Jones	3:49
5.	"The Guns of Brixton"	Paul Simonon	Simonon	3:07

Side three

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Wrong 'Em Boyo"	Clive Alphonso; originally performed by the Rulers; including "Stagger Lee"		3:10
2.	"Death or Glory"			3:55
3.	"Koka Kola"			1:46
4.	"The Card Cheat"	Strummer, Jones, Simonon, Topper Headon	Jones	3:51

Side four

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Lover's Rock"			4:01
2.	"Four Horsemen"			2:56
3.	"I'm Not Down"		Jones	3:00
4.	"Revolution Rock"	Jackie Edwards, Danny Ray; originally performed by Danny Ray and the Revolutionaries		5:37
5.	"Train in Vain"		Jones	3:09

• Joe Strummer – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar, piano
• Mick Jones – lead guitar, piano, harmonica, backing and lead vocals
• Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "The Guns of Brixton"
• Topper Headon – drums, percussion

• Mickey Gallagher – organ

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 5 

  

Sandinista! (1980)

Sprawling album. Difficult to get into. 

Released	12 December 1980
Recorded	February 1980, Pluto, Manchester; March 1980, Power Station, New York City; March–April 1980, Electric Lady, New York City; May 1980, Channel One, Kingston, Jamaica; August 1980, Wessex, London
Genre	Post-punk[1][2] experimental[3][4] dub[5]
Length	144:09
Label	CBS, Epic
Producer	The Clash

All lead vocals by Joe Strummer, except where noted.

All tracks are written by the Clash, except where noted.

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"The Magnificent Seven"	Mick Jones, Strummer, Topper Headon, Norman Watt-Roy, Mickey Gallagher		5:28
2.	"Hitsville UK"		Jones, Ellen Foley	4:20
3.	"Junco Partner"	Bob Shad aka Robert Ellen		4:53
4.	"Ivan Meets G.I. Joe"		Topper Headon	3:05
5.	"The Leader"			1:41
6.	"Something About England"		Jones, Strummer	3:42
Total length:				23:09

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Rebel Waltz"			3:25
2.	"Look Here"	Mose Allison	The Clash, Mikey Dread	2:44
3.	"The Crooked Beat"		Paul Simonon	5:29
4.	"Somebody Got Murdered"		Jones	3:34
5.	"One More Time"	The Clash, Mikey Dread		3:32
6.	"One More Dub" (dub version of "One More Time")	The Clash, Dread	Instrumental	3:34
Total length:				22:18

Side three

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Lightning Strikes (Not Once but Twice)"			4:51
2.	"Up in Heaven (Not Only Here)"	The Clash, Phil Ochs	Jones	4:31
3.	"Corner Soul"			2:43
4.	"Let's Go Crazy"			4:25
5.	"If Music Could Talk"	The Clash, Dread		4:36
6.	"The Sound of Sinners"			4:00
Total length:				25:06

Side four

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Police on My Back"	Eddy Grant; originally performed by the Equals	Jones	3:15
2.	"Midnight Log"			2:11
3.	"The Equaliser"			5:47
4.	"The Call Up"			5:25
5.	"Washington Bullets"			3:51
6.	"Broadway" (features an epilogue of "The Guns of Brixton" sung by Maria Gallagher)			5:45
Total length:				26:14

Side five

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Lose This Skin"	Tymon Dogg	Tymon Dogg	5:07
2.	"Charlie Don't Surf"		Strummer, Jones	4:55
3.	"Mensforth Hill" ("Something About England" backwards with overdubs)		Instrumental	3:42
4.	"Junkie Slip"			2:48
5.	"Kingston Advice"		Strummer, Jones	2:36
6.	"The Street Parade"			3:26
Total length:				22:34

Side six

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Version City"		Jones and Strummer	4:23
2.	"Living in Fame" (dub version of "If Music Could Talk")	The Clash, Dread	Dread	4:36
3.	"Silicone on Sapphire" (dub version of "Washington Bullets")			4:32
4.	"Version Pardner" (dub version of "Junco Partner")			5:22
5.	"Career Opportunities" (Re-recorded version sung by as credited)		Luke Gallagher, Ben Gallagher	2:30
6.	"Shepherds Delight" (dub version of “Police & Thieves”)		Instrumental	3:25
Total length:				24:48

• Joe Strummer – lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards
• Mick Jones – guitar, keyboards, lead and backing vocals
• Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "The Crooked Beat"
• Topper Headon – drums, lead vocals on "Ivan Meets G.I. Joe" and backing vocals in "The Sound of Sinners"

Wikipedia 
AllMusic:
Score: 4 


 

Combat Rock (1982)

Best selling Clash album, and understandably so. Very commercial - more Sixties RnB (Kinks, Who, etc) than punk.  Contains the band's best two (and best selling) songs: "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" and "Rock The Casbah". 

Released	14 May 1982
Recorded	1980 September 1981 November 1981–January 1982 April 1982
Studio	Ear (London) Electric Lady (New York) Warnford (Hampshire)
Genre	Post-punk  new wave
Length	46:21
Label	CBS  Epic
Producer	The Clash  Glyn Johns

All tracks are written by the Clash, except where noted.

Side one^[62]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Know Your Rights"	Strummer, Jones	Joe Strummer	3:39
2.	"Car Jamming"		Strummer	3:58
3.	"Should I Stay or Should I Go"		Mick Jones	3:06
4.	"Rock the Casbah"	Topper Headon, Strummer, Jones	Strummer and Jones	3:42
5.	"Red Angel Dragnet"		Paul Simonon and Kosmo Vinyl	3:48
6.	"Straight to Hell"		Strummer	5:30

Side two^[63]

No.	Title	Lead vocals	Length
1.	"Overpowered by Funk"	Strummer and Futura 2000	4:55
2.	"Atom Tan"	Jones and Strummer	2:32
3.	"Sean Flynn"	Strummer	4:30
4.	"Ghetto Defendant"	Strummer and Allen Ginsberg	4:45
5.	"Inoculated City"	Jones and Strummer	2:43
6.	"Death Is a Star"	Strummer and Jones	3:13

• Joe Strummer – lead and backing vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano
• Mick Jones – guitar, backing and lead vocals, keyboard, sound effects
• Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Red Angel Dragnet"
• Topper Headon – drums, piano and bass guitar on "Rock the Casbah"

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:

 

Cut the Crap (1985)

The band have split, with just Strummer and Simonon left, who recruited new members to record this album. The recording was fractious with arguments between Strummer and band manager Rhodes over the direction of the album.  In the end only Strummer of the original band was involved in recording the album, and he broke up the band after the album was made, and now disowns it. Widely panned at the time, and disregarded by most fans. It's probably the most adventurous and interesting of the band's albums, though too electronic Eighties for my taste. 

Released	4 November 1985
Recorded	January–March 1985
Studio	Weryton, Unterföhring, Germany[1]
Genre	New wave [2]
Length	38:21 41:29 (with "Do It Now")
Label	CBS (UK)
Producer	Jose Unidos (a.k.a. Bernard Rhodes)[1]

The liner notes credit all songs to Strummer and Rhodes.^[37]

Side one

1. "Dictator" – 3:00
2. "Dirty Punk" – 3:11
3. "We Are the Clash" – 3:02
4. "Are You Red..Y" – 3:01
5. "Cool Under Heat" – 3:21
6. "Movers and Shakers" – 3:01

Side two

1. "This Is England" – 3:49
2. "Three Card Trick" – 3:09
3. "Play to Win" – 3:06
4. "Fingerpoppin'" – 3:25
5. "North and South" – 3:32
6. "Life Is Wild" – 2:39

Joe Strummer – lead vocals, guitars

Nick Sheppard – guitar, lead vocals on "North and South"

Vince White – additional guitars

Norman Watt-Roy – bass guitar

Hermann Weindorf (as "Herman Young Wagner") – keyboards, synthesizers

Michael Fayne – drum machines, vocals on "Play to Win"

Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score: 4 




 

The Essential Clash (2003)

Useful compilation. 

Disc one

• All songs written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted.

1. "White Riot" – 1:59
2. "London's Burning" – 2:10
3. "Complete Control" – 3:13
4. "Clash City Rockers" (original version) – 3:56
5. "I'm So Bored with the U.S.A." – 2:25
6. "Career Opportunities" – 1:52
7. "Hate & War" – 2:05
8. "Cheat" – 2:06
9. "Police & Thieves" – 6:00 (Junior Murvin, Lee "Scratch" Perry)
10. "Janie Jones" – 2:05
11. "Garageland" – 3:13
12. "Capital Radio One" – 2:09
13. "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" – 4:01
14. "English Civil War" – 2:36 (traditional, arranged by Jones and Strummer)
15. "Tommy Gun" – 3:17
16. "Safe European Home" – 3:51
17. "Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad" – 3:04 (uncredited Piano by Allen Lanier)^[7]
18. "Stay Free" – 3:40
19. "Groovy Times" – 3:30
20. "I Fought the Law" – 2:39 (Sonny Curtis)

Disc two

• All tracks written by The Clash, except where noted.

1. "London Calling" – 3:20 (Jones, Strummer)
2. "The Guns of Brixton" – 3:10 (Paul Simonon)
3. "Clampdown" – 3:50 (Jones, Strummer)
4. "Rudie Can't Fail" – 3:29 (Jones, Strummer)
5. "Lost in the Supermarket" – 3:47 (Jones, Strummer)
6. "Jimmy Jazz" – 3:55 (Jones, Strummer)
7. "Train in Vain (Stand by Me)" – 3:11 (Jones, Strummer)
8. "Bankrobber" – 4:35 (Jones, Strummer)
9. "The Magnificent Seven" – 5:33
10. "Ivan Meets G.I. Joe" – 3:07
11. "Police on My Back" – 3:17 (Eddy Grant) (UK release replaces this recording with "Broadway" – 4:56, between "The Street Parade" and "This is Radio Clash")
12. "Stop the World" – 2:33
13. "Somebody Got Murdered" – 3:34
14. "The Street Parade" – 3:29
15. "This Is Radio Clash" (on US release this recording is the B-side "Radio Clash (remix)", not the A-side "This Is Radio Clash") – 4:10
16. "Ghetto Defendant" – 4:44
17. "Rock the Casbah" – 3:42
18. "Straight to Hell" – 5:30
19. "Should I Stay or Should I Go" – 3:08
20. "This Is England" – 3:50 (Bernard Rhodes, Strummer)

Wikipedia 

AllMusic: 

Score: 

 

Live At Shea Stadium (2008) 

Recorded in 1982 while supporting The Who on their American tour.  Strummer had sacked Topper Headon because he was using heroin. The band's original drummer from the demo album, Terry Chimes, replaced him for the tour. 

Released	6 October 2008
Recorded	13 October 1982 at Shea Stadium in New York City
Genre	Rock
Length	49:05
Label	Epic
Producer	The Clash

All tracks are written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Kosmo Vinyl Introduction" (Concert introduction)	1:10
2.	"London Calling"	3:29
3.	"Police on My Back" (written by Eddy Grant; originally performed by The Equals)	3:28
4.	"The Guns of Brixton" (written by Paul Simonon)	4:06
5.	"Tommy Gun"	3:19
6.	"The Magnificent Seven" (written by The Clash)	2:33
7.	"Armagideon Time" (written by Willi Williams and Jackie Mittoo; originally performed by Willi Williams)	2:55
8.	"The Magnificent Seven (Return)" (written by The Clash)	2:23
9.	"Rock the Casbah" (written by The Clash)	3:21
10.	"Train in Vain"	3:45
11.	"Career Opportunities"	2:05
12.	"Spanish Bombs"	3:18
13.	"Clampdown"	4:26
14.	"English Civil War" (Traditional; arranged by Strummer and Jones)	2:39
15.	"Should I Stay or Should I Go" (written by The Clash)	2:44
16.	"I Fought the Law" (written by Sonny Curtis)	3:22

• Joe Strummer - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, bass on "The Guns of Brixton"
• Mick Jones - guitar, vocals
• Paul Simonon - bass, backing vocals, lead vocals and rhythm guitar on "The Guns of Brixton"
• Terry Chimes - drums

***

Best Of The Best