The Essential Clash Explained

The Essential Clash
Type:greatest
Artist:The Clash
Cover:TheEssentialClash.jpg
Released:11 March 2003 (U.S.)
22 April 2003 (UK)
Recorded:1977–1985
Genre:Punk rock, post-punk, new wave
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
Chronology:The Clash compilations and lives
Prev Year:1999
Next Title:Singles Box
Next Year:2006

The Essential Clash is a career-spanning greatest hits album by The Clash first released in 2003. It is part of the ongoing 'The Essential' Sony BMG compilation series. The album is dedicated to Joe Strummer, who died during its compilation.

Reception

Track listing

Disc one

  1. "White Riot" – 1:59
  2. "London's Burning" – 2:10
  3. "Complete Control" – 3:13
  4. "Clash City Rockers" (original version) – 3:56
  5. "I'm So Bored with the U.S.A." – 2:25
  6. "Career Opportunities" – 1:52
  7. "Hate & War" – 2:05
  8. "Cheat" – 2:06
  9. "Police & Thieves" – 6:00 (Junior Murvin, Lee "Scratch" Perry)
  10. "Janie Jones" – 2:05
  11. "Garageland" – 3:13
  12. "Capital Radio One" – 2:09
  13. "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" – 4:01
  14. "English Civil War" – 2:36 (traditional, arranged by Jones and Strummer)
  15. "Tommy Gun" – 3:17
  16. "Safe European Home" – 3:51
  17. "Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad" – 3:04 (uncredited Piano by Allen Lanier)[2]
  18. "Stay Free" – 3:40
  19. "Groovy Times" – 3:30
  20. "I Fought the Law" – 2:39 (Sonny Curtis)

UK version adds "1977" – 1:41 as track 2.

Disc two

  1. "London Calling" – 3:20 (Jones, Strummer)
  2. "The Guns of Brixton" – 3:10 (Paul Simonon)
  3. "Clampdown" – 3:50 (Jones, Strummer)
  4. "Rudie Can't Fail" – 3:29 (Jones, Strummer)
  5. "Lost in the Supermarket" – 3:47 (Jones, Strummer)
  6. "Jimmy Jazz" – 3:55 (Jones, Strummer)
  7. "Train in Vain (Stand by Me)" – 3:11 (Jones, Strummer)
  8. "Bankrobber" – 4:35 (Jones, Strummer)
  9. "The Magnificent Seven" – 5:33
  10. "Ivan Meets G.I. Joe" – 3:07
  11. "Police on My Back" – 3:17 (Eddy Grant) (UK release replaces this recording with "Broadway" – 4:56, between "The Street Parade" and "This is Radio Clash")
  12. "Stop the World" – 2:33
  13. "Somebody Got Murdered" – 3:34
  14. "The Street Parade" – 3:29
  15. "This Is Radio Clash" (on US release this recording is the B-side "Radio Clash (remix)", not the A-side "This Is Radio Clash") – 4:10
  16. "Ghetto Defendant" – 4:44
  17. "Rock the Casbah" – 3:42
  18. "Straight to Hell" – 5:30
  19. "Should I Stay or Should I Go" – 3:08
  20. "This Is England" – 3:50 (Bernard Rhodes, Strummer)

DVD

Track listing

  1. Clash on Broadway Trailer including "London Calling" and "Radio Clash"
  2. "White Riot"
  3. "Complete Control"
  4. "Tommy Gun"
  5. "Clampdown"
  6. "Train in Vain"
  7. "London Calling"
  8. "Bankrobber"
  9. "The Call Up"
  10. "Rock the Casbah"
  11. "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" (live)
  12. "Career Opportunities" (live)

Special features

Credits

Notes and References

  1. https://www.popmatters.com/clash-essential-2495869063.html The Clash – The Essential Clash Album Review
  2. http://www.discogs.com/Clash-The-Essential-Clash/release/770289 Allen Lanier credit
  3. The Essential Clash DVD Sleeve: Clash soundtrack produced from the clash archives for 2003 DVD release of Hell 10
  4. Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia. pdf.