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| The ClashThe Clash1977 Epic 
 Review by: Chris Gorman See others by this writer Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on January 9th 2002
In 1977 the Clash released what is probably the most important punk record of all time. Sure, the Sex Pistols, The Ramones, and The Damned all got records out before the Clash did, but nothing could touch this. This is not the best Clash record ("London Calling" gets that honor) and it didn't even get released in the US until 2 years later. However, this particular record layed the blueprint for what punk should be. The American version of the album opens with the epic song "Clash City Rockers", one of many songs not on the original. Also not on the original release were the incredible tracks "Complete Control", "White Man in Hammersmith Palais", "I fought the Law" and "Jail Guitar Doors". These songs replaced tracks that I wish had remained on the release, including "Cheat", "48 Hours" and "Protex Blue". Either way, getting back on track, this album contains some of the most angry, anthemic, revolutionary music ever recorded. My favorite track on here is definitely "Im So bored with the USA". To me, this is the quintessential punk track, and upon hearing this song for the first time, I can honestly say I formulated a new understanding of punk. Other songs on here are almost as powerful, tracks like "White Man in Hammersmith Palais", which was one of the first songs to ever utilize both punk rock and jamaican styles. From "London's Burning" to "Janie Jones", every track blazes with an honest passion absent from the works of many of the bands contemporaries. There is so much more one can say about this album, because it was groundbreaking in so many ways. This album marks the beginning of the Mick Jones/ Joe Strummer musical dream team. Its a cornerstone of the punk/reggea/ska genre. It was more intelligent then the Sex Pistols and as catchy as the Ramoes. It even has a well-chosen cover of Sonny Curtis's "I fought the Law". If you don't have this, I suggest you go out and get it, as I am sure it should pretty easy to find cheap. There are many Clash classics on this disc, and it is truly one of the most important relics left from the punk days of old. The urgency of this record still sounds fresh today, so whether you like your punk old skool and raw, or new skool and slick, I think anyone could like this album. It is the perfect punk record. p.s. Pick up this albums follow-up "Give Em Enough Rope" if you like the punk sound of this record. People who liked this also liked:           Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
Easily my most favourite punk album of all time. This is my favorite album of all time. My favorite band of all time. This album is beyond the greatest word ever invented. the uk releas is qway better than the us release i dont no why they even bothered changing the songs great albumn uk version is better though though the u.s version does have their cover of 'i fought the law' UK version is better, the songs on the US version are good but mess up the punk feel of the record. The U.S. version. Complete Control. The best 'fuck you' to the music industry that also rocks. Can't sit down when that song's playing. This album changed my life. White riot, (white man) in the hammersmith palice, remote control. This whole album is holy. There will never be another band like this. This a great cd lets start off buy saying that. The music is more punk than ska-punk like what you hear on later records. This cd has a huge sex pistols influence to it. The lyrics are mostly about politics like usual. This cd may not be on par with London calling but is still a classic in my mind ! LMFAO @ "...And yes saves the day will be talked about in 40 years, unlike you."! I own the UK Version and I have to say that this is a fuckin great cd from The Clash. Great songs such as "What's my name?", "London's Burning", and "Janie Jones" makes this my favorite cd that they put out. Although London Calling is a great cd also. uk versien is bettR The Clash at their best made the greatest punk songs the world will ever hear. dated ? you idiot ! Its classic. dated ? you idiot ? Its classic. Best Clash song = White Man in Hammersmith Palais Yeah, tough call on this or London Calling. London Calling gets all the attention but this is equally classic. "Career Opportunities" is one of my favorite songs ever. I cant decide which is my favourite, this or london calling. Either way, they are both two of the best records off all time, whether you get the U.K. or the U.S. format of this album your going to love it. I reccomend the U.S. format because it came out later than in the U.K. and contains the best clash song - white man in hammersmith palais. Actually fuck it, there both cheap, get the two. Best Album ever. question: somebody down there said the remastered version was not the best. well, i just go it and there's some weird clicking noise i hear throughout the entire cd. anybody else getting that too? "I know i said i was done but i cant resist this, ok dad im glad you put your input on the 60's into this CD, now can you tell me what you liked about there music? "It was more intelligent then the Sex Pistols and as catchy as the Ramoes." "But the debut LP's of the Sex Pistols and the Damned where released after The Clash." hehe, savestheday guy is a fucking moron. he's calling the clash one hit wonders and trashing them. and he's comparing them to saves the day? Good album, but the digital remastering does not sound the best. "Fact: The Self -Titled Clash cd was released in 1976. possibly the greatest punk album of all time... January 9th??! It took that long to get a review of this album? What the fuck??! Anyway, for those of you who cluelessly bag on the Clash, I assume none of you are musicians. Regardless, the truth is--painful as it may be to you heretics--each punk rock record that has come out in the past 20 years has had some trace (albeit miniscule at times, but more often not miniscule at all)of the Clash. WE CAN'T FUCKING ESCAPE THEM! On the 7th year of the 7th decade, the Clash said, "Let there be punk", and there was punk. Long live the Clash, as if we coul help it anyway! Admittedly the US version is better than the UK version - god I love the clash. You think what you want. I am a guitarist, The Clash has no influence on me, "Calling London"? please, the only thing in that band that influenced was the singers accent and you know it. There for any one with an accent back then could have had the biggest influence on punk to date in your words. I don't see an accent as an accomplishment. You people are sick, im done on this album, later kids. Sorry, this cd was released in '77, not '76. Typing error, not a wrong fact. Fact: The Descendents were formed in 1979, and split up like a year later and came back togeter in '81. Like i said in my last comment- "Then we don't shair the same oppinion". Thank you chris-oldpunker Uh Savesthedaypunk, the Descendents didnt come out before the Clash did....did I read that right? Dude, its seeming more and more like you are fighting a battle that you are not qualified to be in, cuz your knowledge of the Clash seems redmedial at best. Look you dont have to like the Clash, thats fine, but just understand that most lovers of fine music do like them. Nobody is saying that they like them just based on the fact that they are old school. They transcended punk, they were a great rock band. So many classic songs. Songs that touched people. Ok this is getting corny, sorry. We don't share the same oppinion then. You're not trying to say the Descendents came out before the Clash are you savesthedaypunk? oh, and to answer your question about who will be remembered in 50 years, if not Saves the Day, here's a list of what i think are/will be memorable bands... alright savesthedaypunk, you say no one has said they like the clash for their music. Well, i've collected a bunch of quotes from posts on this thread that clearly state "i like their music". Here they are: Well, i wanna thank u guys for not just cursing me off like most "punks" do lol, but any way, STILL none of you say you like there music here look at this comment by chris The Clash? A One-Hit Wonder? "Four English Punk Lads Who Shook The World" is one way I've heard them described. Oh yeah, Saves the Day is a One-Hit Wonder. I heard the first song off of "Stay What You Are" on the radio about four times and I haven't heard from them since. One Hit Wonder. The Clash. HA! To all the fellow true punks who do remember the clash for what they were,what they are,and what they will always be,it gives me hope for the true punk community. -oldpunker- I'm the guy that originally said "Fuck Saves the Day". I might retract that, because I do like the one song they had on the Equal Vision 50th comp thingy.. the first track. But, if you claim your a Clash fan, thats cool, but to claim that I am not is ludicrous, also... If anyone would dare claim that Saves the Day will be even mentioned in the same breath as The Clash, even right now, at the height of STD's popularity, they would be laughed out of the room by anyone with even a respectable amount of musical credibility. I go back to my original comment that Saves the Day is trendy right now, but fifty years from now, people will still be shaking their heads in amazement at "London Calling", or The Clash's "s/t" record, and NOT A FUCKING SOUL will remember Saves the Day. Actually, I take that back, people will remember Saves the Day, the same way we joke about, "Hey, whatever happened to Jawbreaker, remember when they played 'that one song' on the trendy modern rock radio station for like two months.... what ever happened to them????????????" Saves the Day will suffer the same fate, believe me. Five years from now they'll be touring with Jimmy Eat World and Dashboard Confessional on the "When Emo Was Cool Tour: 2007". It will do slightly less numbers than another Poison reunion tour. BTW, Saves the Day looked so HOT on Craig Kilborn... wow, they were like... so punk.... fer sure. Savesthedaypunk, STD would not even exist if not for this band. I mean, say you like pseudo-emocore stuff like STD, well, I mean, you can trace that stuff back to like "Lost In the Supermarket" and "Stay Free". Im not saying the Clash were the forefathers of emo, but lets just say that any punk you hear today is in some way derived from them, and handfull of others of course. The Clash had many, many great songs. And one hit wonders? In America perhaps, "Rock The Casbah" was their one real U.S. Hit, but be aware that other countries have music charts too. Besides, when did having a hit mean anything in terms of how good a punk band you are? I mean by that logic, Rancid, Bad Religion, Descendents, all one hit wonders. In the UK, the Clash had hits with "London Calling", "Should I Stay or Should I Go", "Radio Clash", "White Man In Hammersmith Palais", and more. You dont have to like the Clash, but you have to look at their accomplishments, and put them in perspective. They are my (and many, many other people's) favorite band. The mouse pad Im using right now has the London Calling cover printed on it. The only band that matters. Oh, sorry, i included samplers in there CD count, just incase you care enough to look up how many CD's they have... well for one thing i said saves the day had 4 CD's full of good songs, they have 6 out, i didnt really like cant slow down ether, alot of it was acustic n i think there ok like that but not great, I own 4 clash CD's i comment on this album knowing something about there history, you comment on saves the day knowing one album. You can't begin to compair with me...And yes saves the day will be talked about in 40 years, unlike you. holy shit...2 good songs? You say none of their music is good? Saves the Day has 4 full albums of good songs? At some point last year, my friend played me some Saves the Day, and I thought it was pretty good, so i got on amazon, and picked out an album fairly randomly. It was Can't Slow Down. When the album arrived, i listened to it, and i must say, the album sucked. I listened to almost the whole album, and every song sounded pretty generic, uninspired, started out pretty cool, but got boring after about 10 seconds. Now, i've heard a bunch of other songs, and some have been pretty good. I'm not saying i dislike Saves the Day, but i know they have atleast one terrible album. The Clash? I own London Calling and the UK self titled. There's maybe 3 bad songs on those two albums altogether. 99% of those songs are fucking masterpieces. This grouop has been dubbed "the ONLY band that matters" by both critics and fans, and you say they're one hit wonders? FUCK YOU savesthedaypunk. You are not even worth speaking to. 2 good songs? How many of their songs have you actually heard? And another thing, 25 years from now do you think anyone will be talking about Saves the Gay? Not a fucking chance. Not even you will trendy fuck. I know i said i was done but i cant resist this, ok dad im glad you put your input on the 60's into this CD, now can you tell me what you liked about there music? I'm disgusted that some people on this board call this record "overrated shit". You fucking filthy little bastards. The Clash were the most important band in the world, and deserve every ounce of respect they get. The "punk" world is so diluted with post hardcore/Quicksand wannabe/emocore crap, that we... you have forgotten the BASIC principles of what punk rock means. The last I checked, punk was about social change, NOT ABOUT FASHION... not wearing cord pants, big green shirts with 60's mod haircuts, and everyone looking DOWN. And, oh yeah, you've gotta have your hands in your pockets too, because, you know, your insecure because your girlfriend broke up with you. And oh yeah, you've gotta be on some MTV Buzz clip, or on regular rotation on M2, to be punk. Fuck it all. Fuck Saves the Day. No appreciation... DIY or DIE. I saw the video for "London Calling" on MTV Extreme yesterday. I was shocked, to say the least. Im tired of commenting on this album so this is my last comment: You can't please everyone, including me... The Clash put out some beautiful music man. "Lost In the Supermarket" off of "London Calling" and "Straight To Hell" off of "Combat Rock" are both really beautiful songs. They also put out a lot of high quality anthemic punk on their first two releases. There is not a single bad song on this disc, or on the the follow up, "Give Em Enough Rope" See he said the same thing everyone else said, you like them because they had one good original song which "impacted" on all other punk bands... hey savestheday,The Clash put out music that is literally the foundation of punk today.I first got into them in 1978 and to see and hear the impact they had and still have is quite astounding.I agree that the Decendents and Ramones were big guns as well,but the clash brought every element of what punk is to the table and that is to be respected--OLDPUNKER- I think it's funny the way you all praise them... I havent heard one person say they like the album because of its music, you all basically say "there an old band so its a good record". Wake up and smelled the god dammn roses kids. You don't have to like the clash to be a "punk". Uh yeah, obviously those bands influenced a lot, but not nearly as many as the Clash. That's kinda funny that you're trying to pretend you know a little about punk though. Isnt "boi" spelled boy and sickboy sick(space)boy. And if saves the day isnt punk then what is it smart ass? Oh, and i didnt say i didnt like the album i just said it's not better then process of belief, and i doubt they influenced as many bands as you imposed. Try the decendants, and The Ramones if you wanna go back to punk roots. NEGATIVE, not negaive, i hate computers there's a reason why the only negaive comments for this album are marked "anonymous". Isn't Saves the Day/Punk an oxymoron? If you think the Clash overrated, you better start listening to radio pop. These guys inspired every band today, probably even lameass emo bands. You must repect the masters. Yeah savesthedaypunk, I'll bet the guys in Bad Religion do own this CD. Every self-respecting punk should. Bad Religion owns this CD, try listening to it before you judge it... i find it absurd that over 10 times as many people have read a review of the crappy new bad religion record, rather than one of the greatest punk rock records of all time. What are you talking about? It was rumored that they were gonna do a reunion, and Joe Strummer pissed on Rolling Stone about how much hype they were giving it but how they didn't give a shit 20 years before. Personally, I like the UJ Version much better. Best song: London's Burning. they blow, if they were around today they'd have videos in steady rotation on mtv and would be opening for blink182 and green day. I could be wrong, as it was Malcolm McClaren who said he named it, and he was quite the liar. Not to carry on this pointless debate, but Im not sure thats right, about the Pistols being the first to give it a name. Never Mind the Bollocks came out in 77. The Ramones first record came out in 76, and had a song called "Judy is a punk". Now Im not saying the Ramones coined the term, they didn't. As far as I know, its a media term. I've heard so many rumors about where it came from, including the one about Lester Bangs first using it. Either way, it doesn't really matter. Ramones, Blondie, Clash, Sex Pistols, The Damned and and more are our founding fathers. The first band that actually called themselves punks were the Sex Pistols. Obviously the Ramones, Stooges, New York Dolls, etc. came out first but the Sex Pistols were the first to give it a name. I would give this 20 stars but we cant Iggy and the Stooges came out in like 69, 70. They weren't a punk band though, so it really doesn't matter. They were like proto-punk, they layed the groundwork, but they weren't a punk band per se. Some may disagree. didnt iggy pop come out before the ramones, i thoght his stuff started coming out early and mid 70's. In reference to what was the first punk LP released, I'm pretty sure that a little known punk band from Brisbane, Australia, called The Saints, released their debut LP before the Sex Pistols, The Damned and definetly before The Ramones. Just thought I'd point that out. please don't get into the whole "who came first" argument. It never goes anywhere, and the fact is, they all formed around the same time, probably took influence from each other, and probably were known before records were released. Anyway, I JUST bought this CD yesterday because I know it's a pretty essential CD in the persuit of a punk rock education. I've been a fan of the Clash for a while now. These guys were the real thing. How can anyone, and I mean anyone, call a band that changed the music world so much 'overated shit'? That's one thing that pisses me off on this site. Would you fucking people who listen to emo and nothing else please fuck the hell off. This IS PUNKnews.org not mygirlfrienddumpedmeboohoo.org. I have no problem with emo. I like a fair share of it, but please show a little respect to the bands that invented punk rock, like em or not. I could go on for hours. 25 years later, this album is still better than just about every "punk" album that's come out since. i mean, when i hear this record i remember the feelings that got me into punk....which i definitely don't feel when i hear the generic fatdonsvagrantthru crap. To anyone who thinks this is too soft to be punk listen to White Riot or listen to Anti-Flags cover of White Riot for that matter. Great album and good review. The guy who said the Clash came out before the Damned and the Sex Pistols is wrong. The Damned released what is considered the first punk rock record in I believe 1976. Also, Joe Strummer formed the Clash after seeing the Sex Pistols play live and falling in love with the music. However, I guess just because the Sex Pistols were playing before the Clash does not mean that their album came out first, but I am pretty sure it did. Thanks for the comment, but I am pretty positive that The Damned and The Sex Pistols both had stuff out before the Clash. Its no big deal, but I am pretty sure. If you can prove me wrong, please do. Id rather be proved wrong then go around thinking Im right. Yes this is the best Punk Rock LP ever! |
