Track Listing

1. White Riot
2. Remote Control
3. Complete Control
4. Clash City Rockers
5. (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
6. Tommy Gun
7. English Civil War
8. I Fought the Law
9. London Calling
10. Train in Vain
11. Bankrobber
12. Call Up
13. Hitsville U.K.
14. Magnificent Seven
15. This Is Radio Clash
16. Know Your Rights
17. Rock the Casbah
18. Should I Stay or Should I Go

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84841 in Music
• Released on: 2000-01-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered

Album Description
European only Gold-Disc pressing is housed in a die-cut slip case, exposing the gold disc. In a few short years, the Clash transformed themselves from one of English punk's hardest-edged bands to an adventurous outfit with their hands in reggae, dub, dance, and funk. Nowhere is that range more evident than in this collection of singles spanning their entire career, from the three-chord fury of 'White Riot' through the swooning pop of 'Train in Vain' to the dance groove of 'Rock the Casbah'. While no substitute for the likes of the self-titled debut, London Calling, or Sandinista!, The Singles does offer up a succession of tunes that helped make the Clash the world's biggest punk band. The addition of two tunes not released on any of their original albums ('Bankrobber' and 'This Is Radio Clash') add to the value of this retrospective. 18 total tracks. BMG. 2005.

Amazon.com
In a few short years, the Clash transformed themselves from one of English punk's hardest-edged bands to an adventurous outfit with their hands in reggae, dub, dance, and funk. Nowhere is that range more evident than this collection of singles spanning their entire career, from the three-chord fury of "White Riot" through the swooning pop of "Train in Vain" to the dance groove of "Rock the Casbah." While no substitute for the likes of the self-titled debut, London Calling, or Sandinista!, The Singles does offer up a succession of tunes that helped make the Clash the world's biggest punk band. The addition of two tunes not released on any of their original albums ("Bankrobber" and "This Is Radio Clash") add to the value of this retrospective. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews

Excellent Greatest Hits CD
I hadn't planned on reviewing this CD until I saw all of the negative reviews here. I agree with many of the points, but wanted to add my humble opinion. If you're a big fan of the Clash (as I am), then you have all of these songs already. Likewise, fans of the Clash probably don't even like the concept of a 'greatest hits' CD...why bother when they released such great albums??!!!

However, even though the Clash are 'the only band that matter' to their fans, there are many music fans (some with good taste!) who likely are not hard-core Clash collectors. For people who want a taste of The Clash and their punk, this CD is pretty good. It covers their biggest US hits (Train in Vain, Rock the Casbah, Should I Stay?) and their biggest UK hits (London Calling, Bankrobber, & Tommy Gun - all hit the UK Top 20). Part of the appeal of the Clash is that they kept trying to expand themselves, which can clearly be seen in this CD.

With the sad and recent passing of Joe Strummer, fans of the Clash should do all they can to make sure that their music can reach as many people as possible...that's the purpose of a 'greatest hits' CD. In those terms, I think that this CD suceeds, and it will appeal to casual fans.

Of course, with their upcoming induction into the R&R Hall of Fame, many people will like be paying attention to the Clash's back catalogue. If you're curious, start with their 1977 debut or "London Calling," both are pretty brilliant.

This CD Has No Reason To Exist - Pass On It
Well I just love The Clash to death, but I have to be honest: there is absolutely no reason for The Singles to exist. It's a compilation, and an honest one (in that it is exactly what it purports to be: a collection of the A-sides of Clash singles and nothing more, nothing less), but a meaningless one.

Because, quite simply, the WORST way to get acquainted with The Clash is through their singles. This is not to say that their singles were bad (though some, like "Remote Control" and "Hitsville U.K." are pretty darn weak); in fact, some of their most memorable songs, like "White Riot," "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais," "London Calling," and "Train In Vain" were singles. But SO much of their best work is NOT here, simply because it didn't make it out on the topside of a 45. To the extent that a large preponderance of their finest music didn't come out on singles The Clash were an ALBUM act, unlike say the early Who. So what this CD gives you is a wholly unsatisfying and incomplete view of the greatness of this band.

As an alternative I'd recommend one of two options: if you (like me) dislike compilations as a rule, go buy their debut and London Calling, both of which are considered absolute classics, and if you like what you see, explore further. If you're a casual fan, go get The Story Of The Clash, which in its remastered form shouldn't be that much more expensive than this disc; it's also a bit incomplete (and sequenced oddly) but it provides a much more well-rounded view of The Clash.

Obsolete!
This used to be an OK disc...until they came out with The Essential Clash. This one has 18 tracks, that one has 40 tracks. This one costs 50 cents per song, that one costs 40 cents/song. This one is a cursory, szichophrenic-sounding overview, that one includes nearly all their greatest songs and gives the listener a full picture of their amazing evolution.

You definitely need to get to know The Clash, but this CD is no longer the best way to do that.