~~~~~~~~**Story of The Clash Volume One**~~~~~~~~
Joe Strummer (Lead vocals, guitar), Paul Simonon (Bass guitar and backing vocals) and Mick Jones (Lead guitar and backing vocals) were the consistent members of the Clash. During their 10 year line up they had different drummers.
They ... Read review
Advantages: Some iconic stuff here. Disadvantages: Couple of weak tracks.
...(Siouxsie). Basically it is the story of a mixed race Vietnamese child trying to get to America. Thrown into this mix is the decimation of Northern England steel foundries, 'junkiedom USA'. It is a depressing song yes, but also brilliant in it's insight, 'There aint no asylum here', how contemporary that was and prophetic. This is lyrically and politically quite stunning as a song.
'Clear as winter ice, this is your paradise "there ... ...ya", straight to hell boy'. (the steel), followed by "Let me tell you about your blood kid, it aint Coca Cola, it's rice", to the Vietnamese child. So harsh, so raw. 10/10.
~*~*~*Police and Thieves*~*~*~
A punked up version of the Junior Marvin song, bloomin' fantastic, the echo on the lead guitar is just the business. How they manage to turn this song into what it becomes is sheer brilliance. If you heard this ... more
~~~~~~~~**Story of The Clash Volume One**~~~~~~~~
Joe Strummer (Lead vocals, guitar), Paul Simonon (Bass guitar and backing vocals) and Mick Jones (Lead guitar and backing vocals) were the consistent members of the Clash. During their 10 year line up they had different drummers.
They are described almost universally as a punk group, but in my opinion they were a bit different. For a start the main characteristics of most punk of the day was that of anarchism and destruction. The Clash were different they were socially aware, left wing, anti racists.
My two favourite bands of 1978 - 1982 were the Clash and the Jam. I think there were real similarities; songs with meaning, fast drums and guitars and brilliant catchy choruses. The thing that the Clash had that I liked most was a tendency to play with a reggae bass line, and even cover reggae songs such as Police and Thieves.
This major compilation of their songs showing what they had achieved in a few short years was released in 1988 a good few years after they had disbanded, and only a few years before Joe Strummer sadly died at 50. Two CD's, 28 songs, a very moody looking cover and pure brilliance for most of the way through. A few weak tracks, but some absolute stonkers. I cannot review every single track so will review my highlights.
~~~~~~~~~~The Track list~~~~~~~~~~ Disc 1 1. The Magnificent Seven 1981 2. Rock the Casbah 1982 3. This Is Radio Clash 1981 4. Should I Stay or Should I Go 1982 5. Straight to Hell 1982 6. Armagideon Time 1979 7. Clampdown 1979 8. Train in Vain 1979 9. The Guns of Brixton 1979 10. I Fought the Law 1979 11. Somebody Got Murdered 1981 12. Lost in the Supermarket 1979 13. Bankrobber 1980
Disc 2 1. (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais 1978 2. London's Burning 1977 3. Janie Jones 1977 4. Tommy Gun 1978 5. Complete Control 1977 6. Capital Radio 1979 7. White Riot 1977 8. Career Opportunities 1977 9. Clash City Rockers 1978 10. Safe European Home 1978 11. Stay Free 1978 12. London Calling 1979 13. Spanish Bombs 1979 14. English Civil War 1978 15. Police & Thieves 1977
~~~~~~~~~~Top Tracks~~~~~~~~~~
Okay the songs that I am singling out:
~*~*~*Straight to Hell*~*~*~ This is for me, the best Clash song there is, certainly not the best known, but just sublime. The first 40 seconds is very Oriental in bamboo stick type percussion and lead guitar, sound very like the start of Hong Kong Garden (Siouxsie). Basically it is the story of a mixed race Vietnamese child trying to get to America. Thrown into this mix is the decimation of Northern England steel foundries, 'junkiedom USA'. It is a depressing song yes, but also brilliant in it's insight, 'There aint no asylum here', how contemporary that was and prophetic. This is lyrically and politically quite stunning as a song.
'Clear as winter ice, this is your paradise "there aint no need for ya, there aint no need for ya", straight to hell boy'. (the steel), followed by "Let me tell you about your blood kid, it aint Coca Cola, it's rice", to the Vietnamese child. So harsh, so raw. 10/10.
~*~*~*Police and Thieves*~*~*~ A punked up version of the Junior Marvin song, bloomin' fantastic, the echo on the lead guitar is just the business. How they manage to turn this song into what it becomes is sheer brilliance. If you heard this before Junior Marvin's original you would say that his was a poor imitation. The bass line is the same 8 notes throughout and just gets into the bones. The lead guitar solo near the end just could not be 'cleaner' and more raw. 10/10.
~*~*~*Bankrobber*~*~*~ Another heavy reggae influence, even more so than Police anfd Theives, maybe not the best Clash song, but I have chosen this because of it's iconic, anthem like appeal. Everyone I know, knows the lyrics. The backing vocals are a bit like those in Ghost Town, the Specials, just as haunting. Great stuff. 9/10.
~*~*~*Should I stay or should I go*~*~*~ The guitar start could be Rolling Stones, it's not, the opening vocals could be Free, but it's not, it is the Clash in full frontal punk rock, the emphasis on the rock. The ultimate screaming chorus that gets louder and faster, bit like 'Shout' only much, much better. The backing vocals to the chorus are in Spanish for some reason, and there is an element of punky anarchy in this song that we don't see a lot with the Clash. It is like they have just ';let go' for this song. I just love the way it gets faster and faster (I am typing faster as I write this listening to the song). My only criticism is that it is too short, I am always left wanting another few verses. 9/10.
*************Finally************* I am going to have to stop writing otherwise I will review every song. Alright just a few word on 'The guns of Brixton', sampled by many bands since, the great line: "When they kick at your front door how you gonna come, with your hands on your head, or on the trigger of your gun?" Enough, honestly. I am making up my punky roots playlist on my iPod now, and I have put nearly every one of these songs on. What a piece of work this album is. I bow in sheer idolation.
paulhanton 25.06.2008 (25.06.2008)
Ciao members have rated this review on average:
very helpful
Review of Story Of The Clash Vol.1, The [Remastered] - Clash (The)
Advantages: Own some of the finest Angry Rock to even be written Disadvantages: Your neighbours may never speak to you again (could be a plus tho)
Two discs, you lucky people. This definitive album is full to brimming with the very best of the heart-pounding sound that was The Clash. Arguably they are the best group (Mick Jones, Joe Strummer, Tipper Headon, and Paul Simonon) to come out of the punk era; their guitars and drums a-blazing. This is pure London rock that sometimes mixes its in-your-face agression with gentle reggae and comes out with a stunning combination. And after all these ... ...which made it feel so dangerous and intimidating. Listen to some real classics - "Rock The Casbah", "Should I Stay Or Should I go", "I Fought The Law", "Lost in The Supermarket", "Tommy Gun", "White Riot", "English Civil War", especially if you like to headbang and pogo yourself into a frenzy.
Or "Straight To Hell", "Armagideon Time", "Bank Robber", "Police And Thieves" and "London Calling" for the tracks that get as laid back as The Clash could ...
Salgirl 17.03.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Story Of The Clash Vol.1, The [Remastered] - Clash (The)
Advantages: double album of brilliant songs Disadvantages: none if your a clash fan
This is a good double album of the clash's greatest hits. It spans their career from the start untill when Mick Jones left in 1983. There are a few welcome suprises which include the interveiw with them on track 6 and the origional version of capital radio. Other than that there are some B-sides like this ir radio clash and armagideon time. The opening song Magnificent seven seems to be a strange choice because you here the clash not in there punk ... ...CD1 doesnt get started in my opinion untill Clampdown song number 7. CD2 is more like it with classics like Tommy Gun and Safe European home. The CD cover looks good with a shot of the clash live and on the inside some cool pictures of the group members. One thing that bugs me is the 7 page memoirs written by their valet. The writting is too small and hard to read.
Cd2 is definatly the best. ...
zef 24.07.2000
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Story Of The Clash Vol.1, The [Remastered] - Clash (The)
Advantages: 2 C.D's full of some of the best Clash songs Disadvantages: You may not be able to stop listening to it!!
...love it, especially if you like other rock bands of the time like The Specials.
Even the booklet is something special, it's a letter to Chris from Albert Transom, it's 12 pages long and just tells the story of the clash basically, there are also photographs of the band members! ...
james-b 10.01.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Story Of The Clash Vol.1, The [Remastered] - Clash (The)
One of the best ideas for a compilation album ever, this double-disc set takes music from the whole of the Clash's recording career, including singles, b-sides, album tracks and rarities. Which means that not only do we get hits like 'White Riot' and 'Rock The Casbah', we also get gems like 'Straight To Hell' and 'Armigideon Time'. There are plenty of non-album recordings here too, such as the excellent 'Bank Robber' and 'White Man (In Hammersmith ...
juliebushnell 28.09.2000
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Story Of The Clash Vol.1, The [Remastered] - Clash (The)
Advantages: maost of their famous tracks Disadvantages: too much reggae
The story of The clash includes the greatest hits form all of the clash’s albums from ’The Clash’ their self titled album to Sandista their final album. The story of the clash contains too many of their reggae tracks such as Rock the casbah and does not contain much of their pure punk sound found on their first album. However they have maybe covered how the clash’s music changed form Punk to more of a variety of type’s of music. I f you are looking ...
mattbarnes 14.06.2000
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Story Of The Clash Vol.1, The [Remastered] - Clash (The)
Product Information for "Story Of The Clash Vol.1, The [Remastered] - Clash (The)" »
Product details
Title
Story Of The Clash Vol.1, The [Remastered]
Performer
Clash (The)
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Punk Rock
Release Date
22/03/2004
Recomended Retail Price
14.99 GBP
Original Release Year
1988
Label / Distributor
Columbia / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Pieces in Set
2
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
5099749535121
Catalogue Number
4953512
SPAR code
AAD
Additional notes
Album Notes
Producers include: The Clash, Guy Stevens, Mikey Dread, Lee Perry, Sandy Perlman. Includes liner notes by Albert Transom. Digitally remastered by Ray Staff & Bob Whitney (Whitfield Street Studios, London, England). Though not the definitive anthology that the CLASH ON BROADWAY box is, THE STORY OF THE CLASH is an appealing, if confusing, two-disc compilation of the second World's Greatest Rock & Roll Band. Any collection that draws on the early-to-mid-period recordings of the Clash (as this one does) is bound to be worthwhile, and THE STORY OF THE CLASH sweetens the pot by throwing in some relative obscurities, like "Armagideon Time" and "Spanish Bombs" along with classics like "London Calling" and "Career Opportunities." The mildly disconcerting aspect of this set is the lack of chronological or thematic order; songs from all phases of the band's career are thrown together in seemingly random fashion, so this doesn't really function as a history of the band. It does, however, put a whole lot of great Clash songs in one place, and you can't go wrong with that.
Album Reviews
Q (12/99, pp.152-3) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...tells its tale well, if not comprehensively..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Magnificent Seven
2.
This Is Radio Clash
3.
Straight To Hell
4.
Train In Vain
5.
I Fought The Law
6.
Somebody Got Murdered
7.
Bankrobber
8.
Rock The Casbah
9.
Should I Stay Or Should I Go
10.
Armagideon Time
11.
Guns Of Brixton
12.
Clampdown
13.
Lost In The Supermarket
14.
White Man In Hammersmith Palais
15.
London's Burning
16.
Janie Jones
17.
Tommy Gun
18.
Complete Control
19.
Capital Radio
20.
White Riot
21.
Career Opportunities
22.
Clash City Rockers
23.
Safe European Home
24.
Stay Free
25.
London Calling
26.
Spanish Bombs
27.
English Civil War
28.
Police And Thieves
Titles on disc 2
1.
In Hammersmith Palais, (White Man)
2.
London's Burning
3.
Janie Jones
4.
Tommy Gun
5.
Complete Control
6.
Capitol Radio
7.
White Riot
8.
Career Opportunities
9.
Clash City Rockers
10.
Safe European Home
11.
Stay Free
12.
London Calling
13.
Spanish Bombs
14.
English Civil War
15.
Police And Thieves
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
08/06/2000
Compare Story Of The Clash Vol.1, The [Remastered] - Clash (The) to other similar Rock & Pop »
Similar products and search queries by other users »
Story Remastered, Story Of Remastered, Story The Remastered, Story Clash Remastered, Story Vol1 Remastered, Story Of The Remastered, Story Of Clash Remastered, Story Of Vol1 Remastered, Story The Clash Remastered, Story The Vol1 Remastered, Story The The Remastered, Story Clash Vol1 Remastered, Story Clash The Remastered, Story Vol1 The Remastered, Story Of The Clash Remastered
Are you the manufacturer / provider of Story Of The Clash Vol.1, The [Remastered] - Clash (The)? Click here