The Essential Clash

Infobox Album
Name = The Essential Clash
Type = Compilation album
Artist = The Clash


Released = Start date|2003|3|11 (U.S.)
April 22 2003 (UK)
Recorded = 1977-1985
Genre = Punk rock
Length = Disc one: 60:01
Disc two: 76:03
Label = Epic E2K 89056
Producer = The Clash, Micky Foote, Sandy Pearlman, Bill Price, Guy Stevens, Jose Unidos
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:4mkcu3eaandk link]
* The Music Box (5/5) [http://www.musicbox-online.com/cl-ess.html link]
* Pitchfork Media (10/10) [http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/16201/Clash_The_Essential_Clash link]
* Rolling Stone Rating|5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theclash/albums/album/317166/review/5940929/essential_clash link]
* NME (10/10) [http://www.nme.com/reviews/the-clash/7024 link]
Chronology = The Clash compilations
Last album = ""
(1999)
This album = "The Essential Clash"
(2003)
Next album = ""
(2004)

"The Essential Clash" is a career-spanning greatest hits album by The Clash first released in 2003. It is part of the on-going 'The Essential' Sony BMG compilation series.

The compilation is dedicated to Joe Strummer, who died during production of the album.

Reception

"Professional reviews":
*"Spin" (6/03, p.104) - "These two discs are a pretty hot crib sheet....The first 11 cuts are a shuffle mix of highlights from the U.S. and U.K. versions of 1977's incendiary The Clash, and if they don't inspire you to punch holes in the plaster, you're too well-adjusted."

*"Uncut" (5/03, p.114) - 4 stars out of 5 - "They never lost sight of Britain's strange mix of supermarket torpor and multicultural high energy."

Track listing

Disc one

*All songs written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted.
#"White Riot" – 1:59
#"London's Burning" – 2:10
#"Complete Control" – 3:13
#"Clash City Rockers" (original version) – 3:56
#"I'm So Bored with the U.S.A." – 2:25
#"Career Opportunities" – 1:52
#"Hate & War" – 2:05
#"Cheat" – 2:06
#"Police & Thieves" (Murvin-Perry) – 6:00
#"Janie Jones" – 2:05
#"Garageland" – 3:13
#"Capital Radio One" – 2:09
#"(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" – 4:01
#"English Civil War (song)" (traditional, arranged by Jones-Strummer) – 2:36
#"Tommy Gun" – 3:17
#"Safe European Home" – 3:51
#"Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad" – 3:04
#"Stay Free" – 3:40
#"Groovy Times" – 3:30
#"I Fought the Law" (Curtis) – 2:39

UK version adds "1977" - 1.41 as track 2.

Disc two

*All tracks written by The Clash, except where noted.
#"London Calling" (Jones-Strummer) – 3:20
#"The Guns of Brixton" (Paul Simonon) – 3:10
#"Clampdown" (Jones-Strummer) – 3:50
#"Rudie Can't Fail" (Jones-Strummer) – 3:29
#"Lost in the Supermarket" (Jones-Strummer) – 3:47
#"Jimmy Jazz" (Jones-Strummer) – 3:55
#"Train in Vain (Stand by Me)" (Jones-Strummer) – 3:11
#"Bankrobber" (Jones-Strummer) – 4:35
#"The Magnificent Seven" – 5:33
#"Ivan Meets G.I. Joe" – 3:07
#"Police On My Back" (Grant) - 3:17 (UK version replaces this track with "Broadway" - 4:56, placing it between "The Street Parade" and "This Is Radio Clash")
#"Stop the World" – 2:33
#"Somebody Got Murdered" – 3:34
#"The Street Parade" – 3:29
#"This Is Radio Clash" – 4:11
#"Ghetto Defendant" – 4:44
#"Rock the Casbah" – 3:42
#"Straight to Hell" – 5:30
#"Should I Stay or Should I Go" – 3:08
#"This Is England" (Rhodes-Strummer) – 3:50

DVD

Track listing

# Clash On Broadway Trailer including "London Calling" and "Radio Clash"
# "White Riot"
# "Complete Control"
# "Tommy Gun"
# "Clampdown"
# "Train In Vain"
# "London Calling"
# "Bankrobber"
# "The Call Up"
# "Rock The Casbah"
# "Should I Stay Or Should I Go? (Live)"
# "Career Opportunities (Live)"

pecial features

* "Hell W10" - written and directed by Joe Strummer. Filmed in the summer of 1983 and filmed in black and white.
* Promo Footage (1976) - including "1977", "White Riot" and "London's Burning"
* Discography
* "I Fought The Law" (Live, from the film "Rude Boy")
* Interview clip (London Weekend Show 1976)

Credits

* All videos directed by Don Letts except "Tommy Gun" directed by Keef & Co and "White Riot" directed by Lindsey Clinell.
* "Hell W10" soundtrack features excerpts from; "Version City", "Rudy Can't Fail", "First Night Back In London (Instrumental)", "Know Your Rights (Instrumental)", "Long Time Jerk (Instrumental)", "Cool Confusion (Instrumental)", "Ghetto Defendant (Instrumental)", "Junco Version (Instrumental)", "Atom Tam (Instrumental)", "Silicone On Sapphire", "Wrong 'Em Boyo", "Overpowered By Funk (Instrumental)", "The Call Up", "Red Angel Dragnet (Instrumental)", "Jimmy Jazz", "Mensforth Hill", "Junkie Slip", "Time Is Tight", "Armagideon Time", "Listen", "The Equaliser", "Police On My Back", "One More Dub", "Rock The Casbah (Instrumental)". The Essential Clash DVD Sleeve: Clash soundtrack produced from the clash archives for 2003 DVD release of "Hell 10"]

References