- The Clash discography
-
The Clash discography 
The Clash live in Oslo, 1980.Releases ↙Studio albums 6 ↙Live albums 2 ↙Compilation albums 7 ↙EPs 2 ↙Singles 31 ↙Video albums 2 ↙Music videos 13 ↙Box sets 2 This article presents the discography of the English punk rock band The Clash.
Contents
1977–1978
The Clash's first official recording was the single for "White Riot", released by CBS Records in March 1977. In April, CBS released their self-titled debut album, The Clash, in the United Kingdom, but refused to release it in the United States, saying that the sound was not “radio friendly”.[1] A US version of the album with a modified track listing – four songs from the original version were replaced with five non-album singles and B-sides – was released by Epic Records in 1979, after the UK original became the best-selling import album of all time in the United States.[2] Terry Chimes left the band for the second time soon after the recording, so only Joe Strummer, Mick Jones and Paul Simonon were featured on the album's cover, and Chimes was credited as "Tory Crimes". The album ranked number 12 in the UK Albums Chart[3] and number 126 in the Billboard Pop albums chart.[4]
In the same month, the band also released an EP single, Capital Radio, which was given away to NME's readers. In May, CBS released the single "Remote Control" without asking them first, and, in September, "Complete Control", produced by Lee "Scratch" Perry, it was Topper Headon's first recording with the band, and rose to number 28 on the British Singles Chart.[5]
In February 1978, the band came out with the single "Clash City Rockers". June saw the release of "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais". The Clash second album, Give 'Em Enough Rope, was released by CBS and produced by Sandy Pearlman in November, receiving largely positive reviews.[6] It hit number 2 in the UK,[3] and number 128 on the Billboard chart.[4] The album's first UK single, "Tommy Gun", rose to number 19.
1979–1982
In February 1979, CBS released the single, "English Civil War", and in May the EP, The Cost of Living. In August and September 1979, the Clash recorded their third studio album, London Calling. Produced by Guy Stevens, the double album was a mix of different styles, with greater maturity and production polish.[7][8] London Calling, released on December 1979 by CBS and regarded as one of the greatest rock albums ever recorded,[9] reached number 9 on the British chart[3] and number 27 on the US chart.[4] In the UK, London Calling's title track, released few days before the album's release, rose to number 11—the highest position any Clash single reached in the UK before the band's breakup.[10] The album's final track, "Train in Vain", included at the last minute and thus did not appear in the track listing on the cover, was released in Holland, Germany, Spain, Brazil, New Zealand and Australia in June 1980. The single was not released in the UK, and in the U.S. was backed with "London Calling". It turned out to be the band's biggest U.S. hit to date, reaching number 23 on the Billboard chart.
In August, the band came out with another single, "Bankrobber", which reached number 12 in the UK. In October, Epic released the compilation album Black Market Clash, only in the U.S.. The compilation reached number 74 in the U.S.. In the following November, CBS released the single "The Call Up", which reached number 40 in the UK. In December, CBS released the 3-LP, 36-song Sandinista!. The album again reflected a broad range of musical styles, including extended dubs and the first forays into rap by a major rock band. Produced by the band members with the participation of Mikey Dread, Sandinista! was their most controversial album to date, both politically and musically.[1][11] The album fared well in America, charting at number 24.[4][12]
During 1981, the band came out with a single, "Hitsville UK". Released on January 1981, the single reached number 56 in the UK and number 53 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart. In April, CBS released the single for the song "The Magnificent Seven" which peaked at number 34 on the UK Singles Chart in 1981, and at number 21 on the U.S. Billboard Club Play Singles in 1982. In the same month, CBS released the 12-inch single "The Magnificent Dance". In November, CBS released the single, "This Is Radio Clash", which further demonstrated their ability to mix diverse influences such as dub and hip hop. It reached number 47 on the UK Singles Chart.
In April 1982, CBS released the single "Know Your Rights", which reached number 43 in the UK. They set to work on their fifth studio album Combat Rock in the fall, originally planned to be a 2-LP set with the title Rat Patrol from Fort Bragg, the album's producer, Glyn Johns, reconceived it as a single LP. It contains two "radio friendly" singles, "Should I Stay or Should I Go" and "Rock the Casbah". "Should I Stay or Should I Go" reached number 17 in the UK and number 45 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, "Rock the Casbah" peaked at number 17 in the UK and number 8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.[1][13] The album itself was the band's most successful, hitting number 2 in the UK[3] and number 7 in the U.S..[4]
1983–present
After Combat Rock, Topper Headon was asked to leave the band,[1][14] and in September, Mick Jones was fired. The first single from Cut the Crap, "This Is England", was released by CBS in September 1985. It reached number 24 in the UK. Cut the Crap, the last studio album of the band, actually composed by Strummer, Simonon, Pete Howard, Nick Sheppard and Vince White, was produced by manager Bernard Rhodes and released by CBS in November.[15] It reached number 16 in the UK[3] and number 88 in the U.S..[4] The Clash effectively disbanded in early 1986.[8]
In 1988, Epic released the double-disc, 28-track compilation The Story of the Clash, Volume 1 presenting a relatively thorough overview of their career. In March 1991, a reissue of "Should I Stay or Should I Go" gave the band its first and only number 1 UK single. In the same year, CBS and Epic released the triple-disc, 64-song box set Clash on Broadway that covers their entire career, and the compilation album The Singles, that includes all their singles, except for 1985's "This Is England". In 1994, Epic released Super Black Market Clash, a compilation that contains B-sides and rare tracks not available on their other albums. In 1999, Epic released the compilation album of live material, From Here to Eternity: Live.
The Clash: Westway to the World, a documentary film about the band, was released by Sony Music Entertainment in 2000, and, in 2003, it won the Grammy Awards for the best long form music video.[16] In 2003, Epic and Sony BMG released The Essential Clash, a career-spanning greatest hits album and DVD, dedicated to Joe Strummer, who died during the production of the album. In 2004, Sony Legacy released London Calling: 25th Anniversary Edition. It contains The Vanilla Tapes as a bonus disc, and a DVD featuring the making of the album, the music videos for "London Calling", "Train in Vain" and "Clampdown", and video footage of The Clash recording sessions in Wessex Studios. In 2006, Sony BMG released the box set Singles Box which includes all the singles that they released in the UK. In 2007, Sony Bmg released The Singles that presents a stripped down view of the singles of the band. In 2008, Sony Music Entertainment released The Clash Live: Revolution Rock, produced and directed by Don Letts, it features live material and interviews from 1978 to 1983,[17][18] and, in October, the live album Live at Shea Stadium, which features the recording of the band's second night at Shea Stadium in 1982.
Studio albums
Year Album Peak chart positions Certifications
(sales thresholds)AUT [19] NOR [20] SWE [21] UK [10] U.S. [4] 1977 The Clash - Release date: 8 April 1977, July 26,1979 (US)
- Label: Sony Music/Columbia; Epic
- Notes: Two versions: UK and US
— — 42 12 126 UK: Gold[22]
US: Gold[23]1978 Give 'Em Enough Rope - Release date: 10 November 1978
- Label: Sony Music/Columbia; Epic
— — 36 2 128 UK: Gold[24] 1979 London Calling - Release date: 14 December 1979
- Label: Sony Music/Columbia; Epic
- Notes: Released as a double album
17 4 2 9 27 CAN: Gold[25]
UK: Gold[26]
US: Platinum[23]1980 Sandinista! - Release date: 12 December 1980
- Label: Sony Music/Columbia; Epic
- Notes: Released as a triple album
— 8 9 19 24 UK: Gold
US: Gold[23]1982 Combat Rock - Release date: 14 May 1982
- Label: Sony Music (SME)/Columbia; Epic
— 7 9 2 7 CAN: Gold[25]
UK: Silver[27]
US: 2x Platinum[23]1985 Cut the Crap - Release date: 4 November 1985
- Label: Sony Music/Columbia; Epic
— — 30 16 88 UK: Silver[28] "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country. Live albums
Year Album Peak chart positions FRA [29] SWE [21] UK [10] U.S. [4] 1999 From Here to Eternity: Live - Release date: 4 October 1999
- Label: Columbia/Sony Music; Epic
- Notes: Live Recordings, 1978–1982
17 47 13 193 2008 Live at Shea Stadium - Release date: 6 October 2008
- Label: Sony International
- Notes: Live Recording of second night of Shea Stadium 1982 Performance
57 26 31 93 Compilations
Year Album Peak chart positions Certifications NZ [30] SWE [21] UK [10] U.S. [4] 1980 Black Market Clash - Release date: 1980
- Label: Epic/Sony Music
- Notes: 10" EP collection of B-sides
— — — 74 1988 The Story of the Clash, Volume 1 - Release date: 29 February 1988
- Label: Sony Music/Columbia; Epic
- Notes: Double album, Greatest hits collection
— 50 7 142 UK: Gold[31] US: Platinum
1990 1977 Revisited - Release date: 1990
- Label: Relativity
- Notes: Also published by Sony Special Products as A Collection of Rare Tracks and B Sides in 1990
— — — — 1991 The Singles (1991) - Release date: November 1991
- Label: Sony Music/Columbia; Epic
- Notes: Collection of 18 UK and US singles in chronological order
— — 68 — 1993 Super Black Market Clash - Release date: 26 October 1993
- Label: Columbia/Sony Music; Legacy/Epic
- Notes: Collection of b-sides and rarities
— — — — 2003 The Essential Clash - Release date: 11 March 2003 (US), 22 April 2003 (UK)
- Label: Columbia/Sony Music; Legacy/Epic
- Notes: Collection of "essential" recordings; two versions: UK and US
50 22 18 99 2007 The Singles (2007) - Release date: 4 June 2007
- Label: Sony BMG
- Notes: Single disc of 19 UK singles including "This is England" and not in chronological order
36 — 13 — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country. Box sets
Year Album 1991 Clash on Broadway - Release date: 19 November 1991
- Label: Columbia/Sony Music; Legacy/Epic
- Notes: Comprehensive 3 CD box set; includes several alternate versions and unreleased tracks
2006 Singles Box - Release date: 30 October 2006
- Label: Sony BMG
- Notes: Set of 19 UK singles across 19 CDs
Extended plays
Year Title Chart positions UK [10] IRE [32] 1977 Capital Radio - Release date: 1 April 1977
– – 1979 The Cost of Living - Release date: 11 May 1979
22 24 Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions[10][32][33][34][35][36] Album UK AUS CAN IRE NL NZ US US Dance US Main 1977 "White Riot" 38 — — — — — — — — The Clash "Remote Control" — — — — — — — — — "Complete Control" 28 — — — — — — — — 1978 "Clash City Rockers" 35 — — — — — — — — "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" 32 — — — — — — — — "Tommy Gun" 19 — — — — — — — — Give 'Em Enough Rope 1979 "English Civil War" 25 — — 29 — — — — — "Groovy Times" 107 — — — — — — — — The Cost of Living "I Fought the Law" 22 — — — — — — — — The Cost of Living "London Calling" 11 28 — 16 — 23 — — — London Calling "Clampdown" — — — — — — — — — 1980 "Train in Vain" — — 62 — — 26 23 30 — "Bankrobber" 12 — — 14 — 14 — — — Non-album song "The Call Up" 40 69 — — — 42 — — — Sandinista! 1981 "Hitsville U.K." 56 — — — — — — — 53 "The Magnificent Seven" 34 — — — 21 — — 21 — "This Is Radio Clash" 47 40 — — — 28 — 17 45 Non-album song 1982 "Know Your Rights" 43 — — — — — — — — Combat Rock "Rock the Casbah" 30 3 26 — 21 4 8 8 6 "Should I Stay or Should I Go" / "Straight to Hell" 17 37 40 16 3 — 45 — 13 1985 "This Is England" 24 62 — 13 — 26 — — — Cut the Crap Video albums
Year Title Director 1985 This Is Video Clash — 2003 The Essential Clash (DVD) - Features: Music videos and live performances; Hell W10 (1983); London Weekend Show's Interview 1976.[37]
Don Letts, Joe Strummer, Keef & Co, Lindsey Clinell Music videos
Year Title Director 1977 "White Riot" Lindsey Clinell "Complete Control" Don Letts 1978 "Tommy Gun" Keef & Co 1979 "I Fought the Law" Don Letts "London Calling" Don Letts[38] "Clampdown" Don Letts[39] 1980 "Train in Vain" Don Letts[40] "Bankrobber" Don Letts "The Call Up" Don Letts 1981 "This Is Radio Clash" Don Letts[41] 1982 "Rock the Casbah" Don Letts[42] 1991 "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" (live) Don Letts[43] — "Career Opportunities" (live) Don Letts See also
- List of The Clash songs
- The Clash on film
Notes
- ^ a b c d Letts Don; Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon, Terry Chimes, Rick Elgood, The Clash (2001). The Clash: Westway to the World (Documentary). New York, NY: Sony Music Entertainment; Dorismo; Uptown Films. ISBN 0738900826. OCLC 49798077.
- ^ Henke, James (3 April 1980). "There'll Be Dancing In The Streets: The Clash". Rolling Stone: 38–41.
- ^ a b c d e "UK Chart Archive". everyHit.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "The Clash > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved 26 October 2008.
- ^ "Clash star Strummer dies" (STM). Entertainment. BBC News World Edition. 2002-12-27. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2600669.stm. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
- ^ Marcus, Greil (1979-01-25). "The Clash: Give 'Em Enough Rope". Album Reviews. Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/theclash/albums/album/248769/review/5940574/give_em_enough_rope. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
- ^ Metzger, John (11 2004). "The Clash London Calling 25th Anniversary Legacy Edition". The Music Box. http://www.musicbox-online.com/cl-lc.html. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
- ^ a b "The Clash". Artist History. Aversion.com. http://www.aversion.com/bands/histories.cfm?directory=clash. Retrieved 2007-11-20.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "London Calling Review". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r4095. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
- ^ a b c d e f "Chart Stats - The Clash". chartstats.com. http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=2777. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
- ^ Jaffee, Larry (1987). The Politics of Rock. Popular Music and Society. pp. 19–30.
- ^ "The Clash". Induction. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. 2003-03-10. http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/the-clash. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
- ^ Gray (2005), p. 380.
- ^ Cromelin, Richard (31 January 1988). "Strummer on Man, God, Law and the Clash". Los Angeles Times. http://www.strummernews.com/latimes88.html. Retrieved 2007-11-19.
- ^ "Ex-Clash singer breaks ground". joestrummer.us. http://www.joestrummer.us/rc00.html. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
- ^ "The Clash: Westway to the World (2000) (V) - Awards". IMDb The Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com/rg/title-tease/awards/title/tt0321711/awards. Retrieved 2007-11-27.
- ^ Clash, The; Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon, Don Letts (2008-04-15). The Clash: Live - Revolution Rock (Documentary). New York, NY: Legacy Recordings. OCLC 227211002.
- ^ "Revolution rock: Documentary pays tribute to Clash frontman Joe Strummer". CBC. 2008-02-01. http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/strummer.html. Retrieved 2008-04-13.
- ^ "Discographie The Clash". Hung Medien, austriancharts.at. Retrieved on 2008-12-10.
- ^ "Discographie The Clash". Steffen Hung, norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-12-10.
- ^ a b c "Discographie The Clash". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-12-10.
- ^ Platinum Awards Content. THE BPI, bpi.co.uk. Retrieved on 2009-02-21.
- ^ a b c d "Gold and Platinum: Searchable Database". RIAA. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=The%20Clash&after=on&startMonth=11&startYear=1982&sort=CertificationDate&perPage=50. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
- ^ Platinum Awards Content. THE BPI, bpi.co.uk. Retrieved on 2009-02-21.
- ^ a b "Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA): Certification Results - Search Certification Database". CRIA. http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php. Retrieved 2009-02-21.
- ^ Platinum Awards Content. THE BPI, bpi.co.uk. Retrieved on 2009-02-21.
- ^ Platinum Awards Content. THE BPI, bpi.co.uk. Retrieved on 2009-02-21.
- ^ Platinum Awards Content. THE BPI, bpi.co.uk. Retrieved on 2009-02-21.
- ^ "Discographie The Clash". Steffen Hung, lescharts.com. Retrieved on 2008-12-10.
- ^ "Discography The Clash". Steffen Hung, charts.org.nz. Retrieved on 2008-12-10.
- ^ Platinum Awards Content. THE BPI, bpi.co.uk. Retrieved on 2009-02-21.
- ^ a b "The Irish Charts". IRMA. http://www.irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ "The Clash > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic.
- ^ "Discografie The Clash". dutchcharts.nl. http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The+Clash.
- ^ "Discography The Clash". charts.org.nz. http://charts.org.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The+Clash.
- ^ "Discography The Clash". australian-charts.com. http://www.australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=The+Clash.
- ^ "The Essential Clash (2003) (V)". IMDb The Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478574/. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
- ^ "London Calling | The Clash | Music Video". MTV. MTV Networks. http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-clash/20402/london-calling.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
- ^ "Clampdown | The Clash | Music Video". MTV. MTV Networks. http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-clash/303181/clampdown.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
- ^ "Train in Vain | The Clash | Music Video". MTV. MTV Networks. http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-clash/296183/train-in-vain.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
- ^ "Radio Clash | The Clash | Music Video". MTV. MTV Networks. http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-clash/295727/radio-clash.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
- ^ "Rock The Casbah | The Clash | Music Video". MTV. MTV Networks. http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-clash/95315/rock-the-casbah.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
- ^ "Should I Stay Or Should I Go? (Live) | The Clash | Music Video". MTV. MTV Networks. http://www.mtv.com/videos/the-clash/24931/should-i-stay-or-should-i-go-live.jhtml. Retrieved 2009-02-24.
References
- Gilbert, Pat (2005) [2004]. Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash (4th ed.). London: Aurum Press. ISBN 1845131134. OCLC 61177239.
- Gray, Marcus (2005) [1995]. The Clash: Return of the Last Gang in Town (5th revised ed.). London: Helter Skelter. ISBN 1905139101. OCLC 60668626.
- Green, Johnny; Garry Barker (2003) [1997]. A Riot of Our Own: Night and Day with The Clash (3rd ed.). London: Orion. ISBN 0752858432. OCLC 52990890.
- Gruen, Bob; Chris Salewicz (2004) [2001]. The Clash (3rd ed.). London: Omnibus. ISBN 1903399343. OCLC 69241279.
- Needs, Kris (2005-01-25). Joe Strummer and the Legend of the Clash. London: Plexus. ISBN 085965348X. OCLC 53155325.
- Topping, Keith (2004) [2003]. The Complete Clash (2nd ed.). Richmond: Reynolds & Hearn. ISBN 1903111706. OCLC 63129186.
External links
- The Clash discography on The Clash Official Site.
- The Clash Discography at Allmusic
- The Clash at Discogs
- The Clash at Rate Your Music
- The Clash RIAA
Categories:- The Clash
- Discographies of British artists
- Punk rock groups discographies
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