The Clash (album)
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The Clash is the first full-length recording released by the English punk band The Clash.
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The UK version
Released by CBS Records in 1977 and produced by Mickey Foote, The Clash, Lee Perry, and The Clash & Bill Price. This first album by the Clash was unusually varied for a punk band, with reggae and dub influences setting the stage for what would be elaborated on with future albums.
Personnel
- Mick Jones: guitars, vocals
- Joe Strummer: guitars, vocals
- Paul Simonon: bass
- Tory Crimes: drums
Track Listing
All tracks written by Mick Jones and Joe Strummer, except where indicated.
- "Janie Jones"
- "Remote Control"
- "I'm So Bored with the U.S.A."
- "White Riot" (album version)
- "Hate & War"
- "What's My Name" (Jones/Levene/Strummer)
- "Deny"
- "London's Burning"
- "Career Opportunities"
- "Cheat"
- "Protex Blue"
- "Police & Thieves" (Murvin/Perry)
- "48 Hours"
- "Garageland"
Trivia
- "I'm So Bored with the U.S.A." was came about as the result of Joe Strummer mishearing Mick Jones, who suggested "I'm So Bored With You".
- "Protex Blue", sung by Mick Jones, is about a 1970s brand of condom. The song ends with the shouted phrase "Johnny Johnny!" which is British slang for condom.
The US version
Like many other British punk albums of its day, the UK version of the album was originally denied release into the United States market because it was thought to be too controversial and it wouldn't be successful in the American market. However, after The Clash's second album Give 'Em Enough Rope hit 128 on the USA Billboard album chart, and the UK version of the debut album became the best-selling import album of all time in the United States, Epic finally relented and released a modified version of the debut for the United States market.
The American version of the debut was released in the summer of 1979, six months before the release of London Calling. It had a different track listing, removing four songs from the British version and replacing them with five non-album singles and b-sides, some of which were recorded and released after The Clash's second album, Give 'Em Enough Rope. It also used the single version of "White Riot", rather than the re-recorded take used on the UK album. As a result, the flow is altered considerably, but most fans agree that, on a track-by-track basis, the US album is superior. Debates still rage today about which version of the album is better.
This was another successful American album for The Clash, even though the sales were likely diluted by the longstanding popularity of the UK version on the import market. The Clash peaked at 126 on the Billboard charts, setting the stage for the critical and commercial breakthrough of London Calling later that year.
Personnel
- Mick Jones: guitars, vocals
- Joe Strummer: guitars, vocals
- Paul Simonon: bass
- Topper Headon: drums on "Clash City Rockers", "Complete Control", "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais", "I Fought the Law", and "Jail Guitar Doors"
- Tory Crimes: drums on all other songs
Track Listing
All tracks written by Mick Jones and Joe Strummer, except where indicated.
- "Clash City Rockers"
- "I'm So Bored with the U.S.A."
- "Remote Control"
- "Complete Control"
- "White Riot" (single version)
- "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais"
- "London's Burning"
- "I Fought the Law" (Curtis)
- "Janie Jones"
- "Career Opportunities"
- "What's My Name" (Jones/Levene/Strummer)
- "Hate & War"
- "Police & Thieves"
- "Jail Guitar Doors"
- "Garageland"