The Clash

 Today in 1979 The Clash released the album London Calling

London, United Kingdom Punk rock

Status:Split Up

Years active 1976–86

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."

 Epic

Compilation

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

"White Riot" – 1:57

"Remote Control" – 2:58

"Complete Control" – 3:11

"Clash City Rockers" – 3:46

"(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" – 3:58

"Tommy Gun" – 3:13

"English Civil War" (Trad arr. Strummer/Jones) – 2:34

"I Fought the Law" (Sonny Curtis) – 2:38

"London Calling" – 3:17

"Train in Vain" – 3:06

"Bankrobber" – 4:32

"The Call Up" (Strummer/Jones/Paul Simonon/Topper Headon) – 5:21

"Hitsville U.K." (Strummer/Jones/Simonon/Headon) – 4:19

"The Magnificent Seven" (Strummer/Jones/Simonon/Headon) – 4:26

"This Is Radio Clash" (Strummer/Jones/Simonon/Headon) – 4:08

"Know Your Rights" – 3:35

"Rock the Casbah" (Strummer/Jones/Headon) – 3:35

"Should I Stay or Should I Go" (Strummer/Jones/Simonon/Headon) – 3:08

The Singles is a compilation album by The Clash. It includes all their singles, in their single versions, except for 1977's Capital Radio (which, whilst not eligible for chart entry due to being a free EP, is still considered a single) as well as 1985's "This Is England" due to the Cut the Crap album being disowned by the band at that time.

This collection contains the actual A-side recording of the "This Is Radio Clash" single. Some other compilations such as The Essential Clash and the remastered version of Super Black Market Clash contain the B-side "Radio Clash" under the title "This Is Radio Clash" instead.

A remastered version, (495353 2) with slightly altered artwork, was released in 1999 as part of Sony's Clash reissue campaign.