The Story of the Clash, Volume 1

Infobox Album
Name = The Story of the Clash, Volume 1
Type = compilation
Longtype =
Artist = The Clash


Released = Start date|1988|2|29
Recorded =
Genre = Punk rock
Length = 100:10
Label = Epic
Producer = The Clash, Mickey Foote, Mikey Dread, Sandy Pearlman, Bill Price, Guy Stevens, Lee Perry
Reviews = * Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:otklu3y5an4k link]
* Review-Christgau
rating = C+
artist = 1400
name = The Clash
review = http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=The+Clash
* Rolling Stone Rating|4|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theclash/albums/album/98651/review/6212185/the_story_of_the_clash_volume_1 link]
Chronology = The Clash compilations
Last album = "Black Market Clash"
(1980)
This album = "The Story of the Clash, Volume 1"
(1988)
Next album = "Clash on Broadway"
(1991)
The Clash's 1988 double-disc, 28-track compilation "The Story of the Clash, Vol. 1" presents a relatively thorough overview of their career (except "Cut the Crap").

Track listing

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

Disc 1

# "The Magnificent Seven" (12" version) (The Clash) (original version from "Sandinista!", 1980) - 4:27
# "Rock the Casbah" (US single mix) (The Clash) (original version from "Combat Rock", 1982) - 3:42
# "This Is Radio Clash" (The Clash) (non-album single, 1981) - 4:10
# "Should I Stay or Should I Go" (The Clash) (from "Combat Rock", 1982) - 3:06
# "Straight to Hell" (The Clash) (from "Combat Rock", 1982) - 5:30
# "Armagideon Time" (Willi Williams, Jackie Mittoo) (B-side of "London Calling" single, 1979)- 3:50
# "Clampdown" (from "London Calling", 1979) - 3:50
# "Train in Vain" (from "London Calling", 1979) - 3:10
# "The Guns of Brixton" (Simonon) (from "London Calling", 1979) - 3:12
# "I Fought the Law" (Sonny Curtis) (from "The Cost Of Living" EP, 1979) - 2:35
# "Somebody Got Murdered" (The Clash) (from "Sandinista!", 1981) - 3:34
# "Lost in the Supermarket" (from "London Calling", 1979) - 3:47
# "Bankrobber" (non-album single, 1980) - 4:31

Disc 2

# "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" (non-album single, 1978) - 3:58
# "London's Burning" (from "The Clash", 1977) - 2:09
# "Janie Jones" (from "The Clash", 1977) - 2:04
# "Tommy Gun" (from "Give 'Em Enough Rope", 1978) - 3:14
# "Complete Control" (non-album single, 1977) - 3:12
# "Capital Radio One" (preceded by Circle Line Interview Part 2) (from "Capital Radio" EP, 1977) - 5:18
# "White Riot" (single version) (album version from "The Clash", 1977) - 1:59
# "Career Opportunities" (from "The Clash", 1977) - 1:51
# "Clash City Rockers" (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 Calling" (from "London Calling", 1979) - 3:18
# "Spanish Bombs" (from "London Calling", 1979) - 3:18
# "English Civil War" (trad. arr. Strummer/Jones) (from "Give 'Em Enough Rope", 1978) - 2:34
# "Police & Thieves" (Junior Murvin, 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 Diddley, 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."

External links

*MusicBrainz album|id=3cdf68e3-ea90-46e3-bfc2-630eca9ddc18|name=The Story of the Clash, Volume 1 (disc 1)
*MusicBrainz album|id=64321cbb-a5c9-40e0-b35b-53f6b3701f04|name=The Story of the Clash, Volume 1 (disc 2)
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hq63tr59klox~T0 "The Story of the Clash, Volume 1"] at Allmusic