The Story of the Clash, Volume 1
Encyclopedia
The Story of the Clash, Vol. 1 is a double-disc compilation album by the English punk rock
band The Clash
. It was released with 28 tracks on 29 February 1988 through Epic Records
. The compilation presents a relatively thorough overview of their career (except Cut the Crap
). An anticipated second volume was to have consisted of live recordings but remains unreleased. The original albums on vinyl were released with 4 different colored covers, Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green.
and Mick Jones
except where noted.
, Devo
, and Roxy Music
. The notes end with "If I had to sum it up, I'd say we played every gig on the face of the earth and that's what its all about...I've just heard they'll give me some room on Vol. 2 so maybe I will be able to tell the bits I've had to skip or leave out."
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
. It was released with 28 tracks on 29 February 1988 through Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
. The compilation presents a relatively thorough overview of their career (except Cut the Crap
Cut the Crap
Cut the Crap is the sixth and final album by the English punk rock band The Clash, released on 4 November 1985 by Epic Records.Following the ejection of founding member Mick Jones from the group, The Clash hired guitarists Nick Sheppard and Vince White to replace him...
). An anticipated second volume was to have consisted of live recordings but remains unreleased. The original albums on vinyl were released with 4 different colored covers, Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green.
Track listing
All songs written by Joe StrummerJoe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
and Mick Jones
Mick Jones (The Clash)
Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...
except where noted.
Disc 1
- "The Magnificent SevenThe Magnificent Seven (song)"The Magnificent Seven" is a song and single by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was the third single from their fourth album Sandinista!. It reached number 34 on the UK Singles Chart....
" (12" version) (The Clash) (original version from Sandinista!Sandinista!Sandinista! is the fourth studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash. It was released on 12 December 1980 as a triple album containing 36 tracks, with 6 songs on each side...
, 1980) - 4:27 - "Rock the CasbahRock the Casbah"Rock the Casbah" is a song by the English punk rock band The Clash in 1982. It was released as the third single from their fifth album, Combat Rock. The song reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. and, along with the track "Mustapha Dance," it also reached number eight on...
" (US single mix) (The Clash) (original version from Combat Rock, 1982) - 3:42 - "This Is Radio ClashThis Is Radio Clash"This Is Radio Clash" is a song by the English punk rock band The Clash. The single was released in 1981 and was never released on any of their studio albums, though it was included in the track listing of their compilations: The Singles, The Story of the Clash, Volume 1, Singles Box, The Singles ...
" (The Clash) (A-side of non-album single, 1981) - 4:10 - "Should I Stay or Should I GoShould I Stay or Should I Go"Should I Stay or Should I Go" is a song by the English punk rock band The Clash, from their album Combat Rock. It was written in 1981 and featured Mick Jones on lead vocals. It became the band's only number-one single on the UK Singles Chart, a decade after it was originally released. In November...
" (The Clash) (from Combat RockCombat RockThe album received positive reviews from critics, and reached the number two on the UK Albums Chart, the number seven on the Billboard Pop albums, and the top ten on many charts in other countries...
, 1982) - 3:06 - "Straight to HellStraight to Hell (song)"Straight to Hell" is a song by The Clash, from their album Combat Rock. It was released as a double A-side single with "Should I Stay or Should I Go" on 17 September 1982 in 12" and 7" vinyl format format. A slow, mournful ballad, it is one of the most popular songs in the Clash canon due to its...
" (The Clash) (from Combat RockCombat RockThe album received positive reviews from critics, and reached the number two on the UK Albums Chart, the number seven on the Billboard Pop albums, and the top ten on many charts in other countries...
, 1982) - 5:30 - "Armagideon Time" (Willi WilliamsWilli WilliamsWilli Williams is a Jamaican reggae and dub musician and producer. He is known as the "Armagideon Man" after his hit, "Armagideon Time", first recorded in 1978 at Studio One in Kingston. The song was covered by The Clash as the flipside of their "London Calling" single.-Biography:Williams was born...
, Jackie MittooJackie MittooJackie Mittoo was a Jamaican keyboardist, songwriter and musical director. He was a founding member of The Skatalites and was a mentor to many younger performers, primarily through his work as musical director for the Studio One record label.-Biography:He was born Donat Roy Mittoo in Browns Town,...
) (B-side of "London Calling" single, 1979)- 3:50 - "ClampdownClampdownStrummer, like Simonon, spent time on the dole, but Strummer did not come from a lower-class family. In the same interview with the LA Times Strummer said,...
" (from London CallingLondon CallingLondon Calling is the third studio album by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was released in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1979 through CBS Records, and in the United States in January 1980 through Epic Records...
, 1979) - 3:50 - "Train in VainTrain in Vain"Train in Vain" is a song by the British punk rock band The Clash. It was released as the third and final single from their third album, London Calling...
" (from London Calling, 1979) - 3:10 - "The Guns of Brixton" (Simonon) (from London Calling, 1979) - 3:12
- "I Fought the Law" (Sonny CurtisSonny CurtisSonny Curtis is an American singer and songwriter. Most of his work falls into the Pop and Country genres. He was a teenage pal and band member with Buddy Holly in Lubbock, Texas...
) (from The Cost of Living EP, 1979) - 2:35 - "Somebody Got Murdered" (The Clash) (from Sandinista!Sandinista!Sandinista! is the fourth studio album by the English punk rock band the Clash. It was released on 12 December 1980 as a triple album containing 36 tracks, with 6 songs on each side...
, 1980) - 3:34 - "Lost in the SupermarketLost in the Supermarket"Lost in the Supermarket" is a 1979 song by The Clash. Written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones and produced by Guy Stevens, it is credited to the Strummer/Jones songwriting partnership. It was released on their third studio album London Calling. It is the eighth song on the track listing...
" (from London Calling, 1979) - 3:47 - "BankrobberBankrobber"Bankrobber" is a song, and single by The Clash. The song was not released on any of their studio albums, instead appearing on their compilation Black Market Clash...
" (A-side of non-album single, 1980) - 4:31
Disc 2
- "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" In Hammersmith Palais" is a song by The Clash, self produced and first released as a 7" single, backed with the track "The Prisoner", in June 1978....
" (non-album single, 1978) - 3:58 - "London's Burning" (from The ClashThe Clash (album)The album received positive reviews from critics and peaked at number 12 in the UK charts. In December 1979, critic Robert Christgau named it his favorite album of the 1970s....
, 1977) - 2:09 - "Janie Jones" (from The Clash, 1977) - 2:04
- "Tommy GunTommy Gun (song)"Tommy Gun" is a song by the British punk rock band The Clash, released as the first single from their second album Give 'Em Enough Rope ....
" (from Give 'Em Enough RopeGive 'Em Enough RopeGive 'Em Enough Rope is the second studio album by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was released on 10 November 1978 through CBS Records. It was their first album released in the United States, preceding the US version of The Clash...
, 1978) - 3:14 - "Complete ControlComplete Control"Complete Control" is a song by The Clash, released as a 7" single and featured on the U.S. release of their debut album.The song is often cited as one of punk's greatest singles, and is a fiery polemic on record companies, managers and the state of punk music itself, the motivation for the song...
" (non-album single, 1977) - 3:12 - "Capital Radio One" (preceded by Circle Line Interview Part 2) (from Capital Radio EP, 1977) - 5:18
- "White RiotWhite Riot"White Riot" is a song by English punk rock band The Clash, released as the band's first single in 1977 and also featured on their debut album. There are two versions: the single version , and a different version on the UK album...
" (single version) (album version from The Clash, 1977) - 1:59 - "Career Opportunities" (from The Clash, 1977) - 1:51
- "Clash City RockersClash City Rockers"Clash City Rockers" is a song and single by The Clash. First released in February 1978 with the b-side "Jail Guitar Doors," a re-worked version of a song from Joe Strummer's pub rock days, it was later included as the opening track of the belated US version of the band's eponymous debut album.The...
" (non-album single, 1978) - 3:57 - "Safe European Home" (from Give 'Em Enough Rope, 1978) - 3:49
- "Stay Free" (from Give 'Em Enough Rope, 1978) - 3:37
- "London CallingLondon CallingLondon Calling is the third studio album by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was released in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1979 through CBS Records, and in the United States in January 1980 through Epic Records...
" (from London Calling, 1979) - 3:18 - "Spanish BombsSpanish Bombs"Spanish Bombs" is a song by The Clash, with principal vocals by Joe Strummer and additional vocals by Mick Jones, and featured on their 1979 double album London Calling...
" (from London Calling, 1979) - 3:18 - "English Civil WarEnglish Civil War (song)"English Civil War" is a song by British punk rock band The Clash, featured on their second album Give 'Em Enough Rope, and released as a single on 23 February 1979...
" (trad. arr. Strummer/Jones) (from Give 'Em Enough Rope, 1978) - 2:34 - "Police & ThievesPolice and Thieves"Police and Thieves" is a well-known reggae song, first recorded in the Jamaican reggae style by the falsetto singer Junior Murvin in 1976 , and one year later in a punk-reggae version by The Clash. Murvin's first commentary was "They have destroyed Jah work!".The song was written by Murvin and the...
" (Junior MurvinJunior MurvinJunior Murvin is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is best known for the single "Police and Thieves", produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry in 1976. Murvin's soaring voice and the infectious rhythm made "Police and Thieves" into an international hit during the summer of that year. It peaked at #23 in the...
, Lee "Scratch" Perry) (from The Clash, 1977) - 6:00
Liner notes
The extensive inner notes are told from the perspective of Joe Strummer's alter-ego, one Albert Transom. Transom, described by himself as "...their valet from the early beginnings to the bitter end...", tells many anecdotes, including one about the beginning of the rioting at the Notting Hill Carnival in 1976. Many of the stories are about shows, such as one where, after their "3rd or 4th time out", Transom and a fellow punk named Sebastian barricaded themselves in a small room and were attacked by a group of "Teddy Boys". The story went that Sebastian's tie was ripped, and the general consensus was that the tie was now "much more punk". Many other musicians are mentioned in the liners, including experiences with Bo DiddleyBo Diddley
Ellas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...
, Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
, and Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
. The notes end with "If I had to sum it up, I'd say we played every gig on the face of the earth and that's what its all about...I've just heard they'll give me some room on Vol. 2 so maybe I will be able to tell the bits I've had to skip or leave out."
External links
- [ The Story of the Clash, Volume 1] at Allmusic