Disco de The Clash: “The Story of the Clash, Volume 1 [Remaster]”

If you have visions of spittle-spewing, tattoed and pierced, odd-haired miscreants who have as much facility on their instruments as the average zoo monkey when you hear the phrase "punk music", this collection will likely be quite a surprise. The dirty truth is this: Underneath the exterior image and the left-leaning politics, The Clash are really, at heart, a great pop/rock band (albeit an "edgy" one). Listen to "Stay Free" and you'll hear echoes of Merseybeat bands. The faux disco beat underlying "This is Radio Clash" and "The Magnificent Seven" dare you not to dance. The handclaps slathered throughout "Rock the Casbah" are straight out of bubblegum. Reggae also pops up in "Straight to Hell" and "Armagideon Time" among others. Most of the stereotypical "punk" numbers are found on Disc 2, but there's quite a bit here if you aren't necessarily a fan of scream/shout raveups.

HIGHLIGHTS:

"Rock the Casbah" makes the case that Middle Eastern rockers are revolutionaries and took it to the charts while doing so with its irrestible "Shariff don't like it!" chorus. "This is Radio Clash" is "aural ammunition" against the status quo, while "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" poses that eternal question of troubled relationships. "Train in Vain" recounts the aftermath: once she's decided to "go". ("All the times/When we were close/I'll remember these things the most/I see all my dreams come tumbling down/I won't be happy without you around..")Despite the dark subject, it rides a brisk harmonica/guitar rhythm. "I Fought the Law" is a nifty remake of the 60s rabblerouser, while "White Riot" is their own anthem of unrest. "Career Opportunities" are hard to find for the working class of England. "Stay Free" is their "Glory Days", a reminiscence of their days of youth and not-so-innocence. "London Calling" is a punk "The Times they are A-Changing". ("Engines stop running but I have no fear/Cos London is drowning and I live by the river..") "English Civil War" appropriates the ancient military ballad "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", turning it into an anthem for the angry English underclass young.

LOW SPOT:

"Capital Radio" suffers from a roughly 3 minute long (and not particularly interesting) "interview" with the band prior to getting into the song. The song itself is only average, making it completely anti-climactic.

BOTTOM LINE:

You don't have to be a "punk" fan to like the Clash. Give 'em a try if you like basic bare bones rock and roll.

If you're only buying one Clash album, buy this one. It has all the great songs on it, including the hard-to-find Armagideon Time, my personal all-time favorite Clash song. Plus most all of the great hits -- Radio Clash, Should I Stay, I Fought the Law, London Calling, Police & Thieves -- too many to name. The production quality is fantastic - sounds GREAT at high volume (which you should use of course). I was lucky enough to see the Clash live twice -- this is the album that brings it all back for me.

This is indeed the first Clash CD I purchased about 12 years ago. I already owned some tapes and albums but this was really the first recording I spent a lot of time with. I'm happy to say that, unlike most GH compilations, this actually encouraged me to purchase original albums. To be sure, if you want to truly explore a band, don't start with greatest hits... but the albums, especially with a band so great and so IMPORTANT as The Clash. Their style varied greatly over the years and treat them objectively - if you approach them expecting rotten-teeth-spitting punk, you'll be disapointed with alot of their work - which really transcends the genre. THEY WERE MUSICIANS.

Specifically, this album is superior to any other GH compilation of The Clash (Crucial, Essential, etc., etc.) because it has MORE MATERIAL. It's roughly split between the old and new and contains an interesting, amusing interview track on one disc. Also note, the Rock the Casbah is a slightly different mix than on the original album, you wouldn't notice unless you knew the original well.

The Clash didn't release too many albums in their short time - but don't waste your money trying on any GH of them with only one CD!!!

What a superb band and how well captured. The fantastic white reggae of 'Guns of Brixton', the rap-influenced 'Magnificent Seven', the punked-up version of Bobby Fuller's 'I fought the Law'- it's all on here. This is a must for anyone who likes punk but the Clash were always open to other influences and managed far better than almost any other punk band to move out of that genre. So even if you don't like punk check this one out. This was one of the most influential and significant bands of the late-70's/early-80's. A must for any record collection. And if you like this check out Stiff Little Fingers and Mano Negra.

I absolutely love this album, but for the last 20 years or so I've been waiting for Volume 2. C'mon guys hurry up!