Type: Compilation (best of), Lyrics are included with the album
Genre: Rock
Review
Some would argue that if you only wanted two Clash discs in your collection, you should skip this 40-track overview and pick up The Clash and London Calling instead. No matter how transcendent those two albums are -- and they are among the very greatest popular music of the 20th century -- that overlooks the fact that the group had many, many great songs not on either album, including "Safe European Home," "Stay Free," "Bankrobber," "Rock the Casbah," "Straight to Hell," "This Is Radio Clash," and "Should I Stay or Should I Go," to begin with. That's where this 2003 compilation comes in. It fills in many of the gaps between those two records, while summarizing The Clash and London Calling well, providing a first-rate overview of the greatest punk band. It's not quite perfect, however: some great singles and B-sides fall through the cracks (notably "Gates of the West," "Jail Guitar Doors," "The Call Up," "Armagedion Time," "The Prisoner," "Protex Blue") and the Sandinista! selections feel nearly as haphazard as the album itself. Nevertheless, this does provide the best, most extensive and logical overview of the band yet assembled, and it's worthwhile not just as an introduction, but as a terrific listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
The Clash (Producer), Bruce Dickinson (Compilation Producer), Joe Strummer (Guitar), Joe Strummer (Vocals), Micky Foote (Producer), Mick Jones (Guitar), Mick Jones (Vocals), Sandy Pearlman (Producer), Bill Price (Producer), Nick Sheppard (Guitar), Paul Simonon (Bass), Guy Stevens (Producer), Jose Unidos (Producer), Tory Crimes (Drums), Micky Jones (Guitar), Micky Jones (Vocals), Vince White (Guitar), Vic Anesini (Mastering), Josh Cheuse (Art Direction), Josh Cheuse (Design), Paul Slattery (Photography), Kate Simon (Photography), Bob Gruen (Photography), Pennie Smith (Photography), Pennie Smith (Cover Photo), Tricia Ronane (Executive Producer), Nicky "Topper" Headon (Drums)
The Essential Clash is a career-spanning greatest hitsalbum by The Clash first released in 2003. It is part of the on-going 'The Essential' Sony BMG compilation series. The album is dedicated to Joe Strummer, who died during compilation of this album.
The B-side recording titled "Radio Clash" was released on this album with the incorrect A-side title of "This Is Radio Clash." Both tracks have the same length and the only notable difference is in the two mixes and the lyrics. The similarities of the titles and the recordings has led to quite a bit of confusion not only by fans but by record companies as well. The same mistake had also already been made on the remastered version of the Super Black Market Clash CD. The actual A-side recording of "This Is Radio Clash" can be found on the 1991 collection The Singles.
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.
"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" (The recording included here is actually the B-side "Radio Clash", not the A-side) – 4:11
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", "Rudie 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)".[1]
References
^ The Essential Clash DVD Sleeve: Clash soundtrack produced from the clash archives for 2003 DVD release of Hell 10
