The Essential Clash


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

  • Spin – "These two discs are a pretty hot crib sheet....The first 11 cuts are a shuffle mix of highlights from the U.S. and U.K. versions of 1977's incendiary The Clash, and if they don't inspire you to punch holes in the plaster, you're too well-adjusted."
  • Uncut – 4 stars out of 5 – "They never lost sight of Britain's strange mix of supermarket torpor and multicultural high energy."
  • Charlotte Robinson on Popmatters says that: Given its breadth, however, The Essential Clash will probably be the preferred collection of most listeners.

    Track listing

Disc one

  • All songs written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted.
  1. "White Riot" – 1:59
  2. "London's Burning" – 2:10
  3. "Complete Control" – 3:13
  4. "Clash City Rockers" – 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
  10. "Janie Jones" – 2:05
  11. "Garageland" – 3:13
  12. "Capital Radio One" – 2:09
  13. " In Hammersmith Palais" – 4:01
  14. "English Civil War" – 2:36
  15. "Tommy Gun" – 3:17
  16. "Safe European Home" – 3:51
  17. "Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad" – 3:04
  18. "Stay Free" – 3:40
  19. "Groovy Times" – 3:30
  20. "I Fought the Law" – 2:39
UK version adds "1977" – 1:41 as track 2.

Disc two

  • All tracks written by The Clash, except where noted.
  1. "London Calling" – 3:20
  2. "The Guns of Brixton" – 3:10
  3. "Clampdown" – 3:50
  4. "Rudie Can't Fail" – 3:29
  5. "Lost in the Supermarket" – 3:47
  6. "Jimmy Jazz" – 3:55
  7. "Train in Vain " – 3:11
  8. "Bankrobber" – 4:35
  9. "The Magnificent Seven" – 5:33
  10. "Ivan Meets G.I. Joe" – 3:07
  11. "Police on My Back" – 3:17
  12. "Stop the World" – 2:33
  13. "Somebody Got Murdered" – 3:34
  14. "The Street Parade" – 3:29
  15. "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

    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?"
  12. "Career Opportunities"

    Special features

  • Hell W10 – written and directed by Joe Strummer. Filmed in black and white during the winter of early 1983.
  • Promo Footage – including "1977", "White Riot" and "London's Burning"
  • Discography
  • "I Fought the Law"
  • Interview clip

    Credits

  • All videos directed by Don Letts except "Tommy Gun" directed by Keef & Co and "White Riot" directed by Lindsey Clinell.
  • Hell W10 soundtrack features excerpts from; "Version City", "Rudie Can't Fail", "First Night Back in London ", "Know Your Rights ", "Long Time Jerk ", "Cool Confusion ", "Ghetto Defendant ", "Junco Version ", "Atom Tam ", "Silicone on Sapphire", "Wrong 'Em Boyo", "Overpowered by Funk ", "The Call Up", "Red Angel Dragnet ", "Jimmy Jazz", "Mensforth Hill", "Junkie Slip", "Time Is Tight", "Armagideon Time", "Listen", "The Equaliser", "Police on My Back", "One More Dub", "Rock the Casbah ".

    Charts

Certifications