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The Clash discography

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The Clash discography
The Clash live in Oslo, 1980.
Studio albums6
EPs2
Live albums2
Compilation albums9
Singles31
Video albums2
Music videos13
Box sets4

The discography of the British punk rock band the Clash consists of six studio albums, two extended plays, two live albums and 31 singles.

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 on the UK Albums Chart[3] and number 126 on 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, was Topper Headon's first recording with the band. It 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] London Calling, released in December 1979 by CBS and regarded as one of the greatest rock albums ever recorded,[8] 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 a 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.[9] The album's final track, "Train in Vain"—included at the last minute and thus not appearing in the track listing on the cover—was released in the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Brazil, New Zealand, and Australia in June 1980. The single was not released in the UK, and in the US was backed with "London Calling". It turned out to be the band's biggest US 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 US. The compilation reached number 74 in the US. 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][10] The album fared well in America, charting at number 24.[4][11]

During 1981, the band came out with a single, "Hitsville UK". Released in January, the single reached number 56 in the UK and number 53 on the US 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 US 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.

They set to work on their fifth studio album in the fall of 1981. Combat Rock was originally planned to be a 2-LP set with the title Rat Patrol from Fort Bragg, but were unable to mix it to either the group's or to CBS's satisfaction. Glyn Johns, brought in by manager Bernie Rhodes to edit and mix the album, reconceived it as a single LP and had Joe Strummer re-record several vocals. In April 1982, the band released the first single from the album, "Know Your Rights", which reached number 43 in the UK. The album contains two "US-radio friendly"[according to whom?] 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 US Billboard Hot 100 chart, while "Rock the Casbah" peaked at number 17 in the UK and number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[1][12] The album itself was the band's most successful, hitting number 2 in the UK[3] and number 7 in the US.[4]

1983–present

After Combat Rock was released, Topper Headon was asked to leave the band,[1][13] and then in September 1983, 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.[14] It reached number 16 in the UK[3] and number 88 in the US.[4] The Clash effectively disbanded in early 1986.

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 1993, 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 Award for the best long form music video.[4][15] 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, missing recordings made by the band in mid-1979 during the London Calling sessions,[16] 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.

September 2013 saw the arrival of three releases by The Clash: the 12-CD box set Sound System, featuring the band's entire studio catalogue re-mastered (minus Cut the Crap), plus three extra CDs, one DVD and various other materials; 5 Album Studio Set, featuring the band's first five studio albums re-mastered; and the 2-CD, 33-song best of collection The Clash Hits Back.[19] All the music within the three releases had been remastered, mainly by Mick Jones, from the original tapes. Sound System had an enthusiastic reception,[20] and both the 12-CD box set and the best of compilation both entered the UK Albums Chart.[9]

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and sales certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[9] 		AUS
[21] 		AUT
[22] 		CAN
[23] 		NOR
[24] 		NZ
[25] 		SPA
[26] 		SWE
[27] 		SWI
[28] 		US
[4]
The Clash
  • Release date: 8 April 1977 (UK), 26 July 1979 (US)
  • Label: Sony Music/Columbia; Epic
  • Notes: Two versions: UK and US
 12 — — — — — — 42 — 126
Give 'Em Enough Rope
  • Release date: 10 November 1978
  • Label: Sony Music/Columbia; Epic
 2 79 — — — 15 — 36 — 128
London Calling
  • Release date: 14 December 1979
  • Label: Sony Music/Columbia; Epic
  • Notes: Released as a double album
 9 16 17 12 4 12 52 2 72 27
Sandinista!
  • Release date: 12 December 1980
  • Label: Sony Music/Columbia; Epic
  • Notes: Released as a triple album
 19 36 — 3 8 3 — 9 — 24
Combat Rock
  • Release date: 14 May 1982
  • Label: Sony Music (SME)/Columbia; Epic
 2 32 — 12 7 5 — 9 56 7
Cut the Crap
  • Release date: 4 November 1985
  • Label: Sony Music/Columbia; Epic
 16 69 — 59 — 35 — 30 — 88
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

Live albums

Title Album Peak chart positions
BEL
[33] 		FRA
[34] 		SWE
[27] 		UK
[9] 		US
[4]
From Here to Eternity: Live
  • Release date: 4 October 1999
  • Label: Columbia/Sony Music; Epic
  • Notes: Live Recordings, 1978–1982
 — 17 47 13 193
Live at Shea Stadium 75 57 26 31 93
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

Compilations

Title Album details Peak chart positions
AUS
[21][35] 		BEL
[36] 		FRA
[34] 		GER
[37] 		NZ
[25] 		POR
[38] 		SPA
[26] 		SWE
[27] 		UK
[9][9] 		US
[4] 		Certifications
Black Market Clash
  • Release date: 1980
  • Label: Epic/Sony Music
  • Notes: 10" EP collection of B-sides (re-released as a 12" EP in 1981)
 — — — — 15 — — — — 74
The Story of the Clash, Volume 1
  • Release date: 29 February 1988
  • Label: Sony Music/Columbia; Epic
  • Notes: Double album, Greatest hits collection
 52 — — 53 3 — — 50 7 142
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
 — — — — — — — — — —
The Singles (1991)
  • Release date: November 1991
  • Label: Sony Music/Columbia; Epic
  • Notes: Collection of 18 UK and US singles in chronological order
 — — — — 2 — — — 68 —
Super Black Market Clash
  • Release date: 26 October 1993
  • Label: Columbia/Sony Music; Legacy/Epic
  • Notes: Collection of b-sides and rarities
 — — — — — — — — — —
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
 76 — — — 50 — — 22 18 99
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
 57 — — — 36 22 83 — 13 —
The Clash Hits Back
  • Release date: 9 September 2013 (UK), 10 September 2013 (US)[19]
  • Label: Sony Legacy
  • Notes: 2-CD, 33-song best of collection sequenced to copy the set played by the band at the Brixton Fair Deal on 19 July 1982
 — 120 174 — 27 — — — 13 —
Joe Strummer 001
  • Release date: 28 September 2018
  • Label: Sony Legacy
  • Notes: 32-song collection spanning Strummer's career and includes demos and unreleased versions of songs from the post-Mick Jones era
 — 145/98 — 68 — — 27 — 30 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

Box sets

Title Album details Peak chart positions
BEL
[36] 		UK
[9] 		Certifications
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
 — —
Singles Box
  • Release date: 30 October 2006
  • Label: Sony BMG
  • Notes: Set of 19 UK singles across 19 CDs
 — —
Sound System
  • Release date: 9 September 2013 (UK), 10 September 2013 (US)[19]
  • Label: Sony Legacy
  • Notes: 12-CD box set featuring the band's entire studio catalogue re-mastered (minus Cut the Crap) plus an additional three discs, DVD and various other items
 99 53
5 Album Studio Set
  • Release date: 9 September 2013 (UK), 10 September 2013 (US)[19]
  • Label: Sony Legacy
  • Notes: 8-CD box set featuring the band's first five studio albums re-mastered
 — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

Extended plays

Title EP details Chart positions
UK
[9] 		IRE
[39]
Capital Radio
  • Release date: 9 April 1977
 — —
The Cost of Living
  • Release date: 11 May 1979
 22 24

Singles

Single Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
UK
[9] 		AUS
[40] 		AUT
[22] 		BEL
[36] 		CAN FRA
[34] 		GER
[37] 		IRE
[39] 		NLD
[41] 		NOR
[24] 		NZ
[25] 		SWE
[27] 		SWI
[28] 		US
[4] 		US Dance
[4] 		US Main
[4]
"White Riot" 1977 38 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — The Clash
"Remote Control" 52[A] — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"Complete Control" 28 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Non-album singles (included on the US release of The Clash)
"Clash City Rockers" 1978 35 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais" 32 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"Tommy Gun" 19 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Give 'Em Enough Rope
"English Civil War" 1979 25 — — — — — — 29 — — — — — — — —
"Groovy Times" — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — The Cost of Living
"I Fought the Law" — — — — — — — 24 — — — — — — — —
"London Calling" 11 28 — — — — — 16 — — 23 — — — 30 [A] — London Calling
"Clampdown" (AUS only) — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"Train in Vain" 1980 — — — — 62 — — — — — 26 — — 23 30 [A] —
"Rudie Can't Fail" (NL only) — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"Bankrobber" 12 — — — — — — 14 — — 14 — — — — — Non-album single
"The Call Up" 40 69 — — — — — — — — 42 13 — — 21 [B] — Sandinista!
"Police on My Back" (AUS only) — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 21
"Hitsville U.K." 1981 56 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 53
"The Magnificent Seven" 34 — — 18 — — — — 21 — — — — — 21 [B] —
"Somebody Got Murdered" (Spain only) — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"This Is Radio Clash" 47 40 — — — — — — — — 28 9 — — 17 45 Non-album single
"Know Your Rights" 1982 43 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Combat Rock
"Rock the Casbah" 30 3 — — 26 — — — 21 — 4 16 — 8 8 [C] 6
  • BPI: Platinum[29]
  • RIAA: 2× Platinum[30]
"Should I Stay or Should I Go" / "Straight to Hell" 17 37 — — 40 — — 16 — — — — — 45 — 13
"This Is England" 1985 24 62 — — — — — 13 — — 26 16 — — — — Cut the Crap
"Are You Red..Y" (AUS only) — 85 — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
"London Calling" (re-release) 1988 46 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — The Story of the Clash
"I Fought the Law" 29 — — — — — — — — — 17 — — — — —
"Return to Brixton" 1990 57 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Non-album single
"Should I Stay or Should I Go" (re-release) 1991 1 — 5 3 — 25 5 2 3 3 2 6 4 — — — The Singles
"Rock the Casbah" (re-release) 15 — — 22 — — — 10 — — — — — — — —
"London Calling" (second re-release) 64 — — — — — — 18 — — — 30 — — — —
"Train in Vain" (re-release) — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Notes

  • A^ "London Calling" and "Train in Vain" charted together on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.
  • B^ "The Magnificent Seven", "The Magnificent Dance", "The Call Up" and "The Cool Out" charted together on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.
  • C^ "Rock the Casbah" and "Mustapha Dance" charted together on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Video albums

Year Title Director
1982 The Clash: Live in Tokyo The Clash
1985 This Is Video Clash Lindsey Clinell, Don Letts, Keef & Co
2003 The Essential Clash (DVD)
Features: Music videos and live performances; Hell W10 (1983); London Weekend Show's Interview 1976.[42] 		Don Letts, Joe Strummer, Keef & Co, Lindsey Clinell
2008 The Clash Live: Revolution Rock Don Letts

Film/documentaries

Year Title Director
1980 Rude Boy Jack Hazan and David Mingay
2000 Westway to the World Don Letts
2006 The Clash: Up Close and Personal
2007 Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten Julian Temple
2012 The Rise and Fall of The Clash Danny Garcia
2013 Audio Ammunition[43] Google

Music videos

Year Title Director
1977 "White Riot" Don Letts
"Complete Control"
1978 "Tommy Gun" Keef & Co
1979 "London Calling" Don Letts
"Clampdown"
1980 "Train in Vain"
"Bankrobber"
"The Call Up"
1981 "This Is Radio Clash"
1982 "Rock the Casbah"
1984 "Should I Stay or Should I Go" (live at Shea Stadium)
"Career Opportunities" (live at Shea Stadium)
1988 "I Fought the Law"
1991 "Should I Stay or Should I Go"
2020 "The Magnificent Seven"

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Letts 2001.
  2. ^ Henke 1980, pp. 38–41.
  3. ^ a b c d e UK Top 40 Chart Archive.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Billboard.
  5. ^ BBC News 2002.
  6. ^ Marcus 1979.
  7. ^ Metzger 2004.
  8. ^ Erlewine.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Official Charts Company.
  10. ^ Jaffee 1987, pp. 19–30.
  11. ^ The Clash: inducted in 2003.
  12. ^ Gray 2005, p. 380.
  13. ^ Cromelin 1988.
  14. ^ Martens 1997.
  15. ^ The Clash: Westway to the World - Awards.
  16. ^ Gilbert 2004.
  17. ^ Letts 2008.
  18. ^ Morrow 2008.
  19. ^ a b c d Hann 2013.
  20. ^ Sound System Reviews.
  21. ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 65. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  22. ^ a b Austriancharts.at.
  23. ^ Canadian Charts.
  24. ^ a b Norwegiancharts.com.
  25. ^ a b c Charts.nz.
  26. ^ a b Spanishcharts.com.
  27. ^ a b c d Swedishcharts.com.
  28. ^ a b Swisscharts.com.
  29. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q BPI certifications.
  30. ^ a b c d e f RIAA certifications.
  31. ^ a b Music Canada certifications.
  32. ^ a b c d "French certifications – The Clash" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 12 February 2022. Select THE CLASH and click OK. 
  33. ^ Ultratop.be Wallonia.
  34. ^ a b c Lescharts.com.
  35. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  36. ^ a b c Ultratop.be Flanders.
  37. ^ a b Charts.de.
  38. ^ Portuguesecharts.com.
  39. ^ a b Irish Charts.
  40. ^ Australian-charts.com.
  41. ^ Dutchcharts.nl.
  42. ^ The Essential Clash (Video 2003).
  43. ^ Dredge, Stuart (10 September 2013). "The Clash: Audio Ammunition YouTube documentary includes unseen Joe Strummer interview footage" – via theguardian.com.
  1. ^ Chart position is from the official UK "Star Breakers List".

Sources

Books

Awards

Journals and magazines

Videos

  1. ^ The Clash (3 October 2009). "The Clash - London Calling (Official Video)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  2. ^ The Clash (3 October 2009). "The Clash - Rock the Casbah (Official Video)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  3. ^ The Clash (9 February 2013). "The Clash - Should I Stay or Should I Go (Live at Shea Stadium)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  4. ^ The Clash (14 January 2011). "The Clash - Train in Vain (Live at the Lewisham Odeon)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
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