THE CLASH – THE STORY OF THE CLASH 2LP – Nr MINT A1 1988  PUNK STRUMMER

The Story Of The Clash
(CBS Records  1988  4602441)
Matrix No’s: A1/B1/C1/D1

Sleeve in Nr MINT- condition
– perfect apart from faint sticker discolouration mark in top right corner
Inner Sleeves in Nr MINT condition

Double Vinyl in Nr MINT condition

The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, dub, funk, ska and rockabilly. For most of their recording career the Clash consisted of Joe Strummer (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Mick Jones (lead guitar, lead vocals), Paul Simonon (bass guitar, vocals) and Nicky “Topper” Headon (drums, percussion). Headon left the group in 1982, and internal friction led to Jones’s departure the following year. The group continued with new members, but finally disbanded in early 1986.

The Clash achieved commercial success in the United Kingdom with the release of their self-titled debut album, The Clash, in 1977. Their third album, London Calling, released in the UK in December 1979, earned them popularity in the United States when it was released there the following month. It was declared the best album of the 1980s a decade later by Rolling Stone. In 1982 they reached new heights of success with the release of Combat Rock, which spawned the US top 10 hit “Rock the Casbah”, helping the album to achieve a 2× Platinum certification there. Their final album, Cut the Crap, was released in 1985.

The Clash’s politicised lyrics, musical experimentation, and rebellious attitude had a far-reaching influence on rock, and alternative rock in particular.^[2] They became widely referred to as “The Only Band That Matters”, originally a promotional slogan introduced by the group’s record label, CBS. In January 2003, shortly after the death of Joe Strummer, the band—including original drummer Terry Chimes—were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked the Clash number 28 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.

Critic Sean Egan summarised what made them exceptional by writing, “They were a group whose music was, and is, special to their audience because that music insisted on addressing the conditions of poverty, petty injustice, and mundane life experienced by the people who bought their records. Moreover, although their rebel stances were often no more than posturing, from The Clash’s stubborn principles came a fundamental change in the perception of what is possible in the music industry, from subject matter to authenticity to quality control to price ceilings.”

The Story of the Clash, Vol. 1 is a double vinyl compilation album by the English punk rock band The Clash. It was released with 28 tracks on 29 February 1988 through Epic Records. The compilation presents a relatively thorough overview of their career (except Cut the Crap). An anticipated second volume was to have consisted of live recordings but remains unreleased. The original albums on vinyl were released with 4 different colored covers, Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green.

Track listing

All songs written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones except where noted.

Disc 1

1. “The Magnificent Seven” (12″ version) (The Clash) (original version from Sandinista!, 1980) – 4:27
2. “Rock the Casbah” (US single mix) (The Clash) (original version from Combat Rock, 1982) – 3:42
3. “This Is Radio Clash” (The Clash) (A-side of non-album single, 1981) – 4:10
4. “Should I Stay or Should I Go” (The Clash) (from Combat Rock, 1982) – 3:06
5. “Straight to Hell” (The Clash) (from Combat Rock, 1982) – 5:30
6. “Armagideon Time” (Willi Williams, Jackie Mittoo) (B-side of “London Calling” single, 1979)- 3:50
7. “Clampdown” (from London Calling, 1979) – 3:50
8. “Train in Vain” (from London Calling, 1979) – 3:10
9. “The Guns of Brixton” (Simonon) (from London Calling, 1979) – 3:12
10. “I Fought the Law” (Sonny Curtis) (from The Cost of Living EP, 1979) – 2:35
11. “Somebody Got Murdered” (The Clash) (from Sandinista!, 1980) – 3:34
12. “Lost in the Supermarket” (from London Calling, 1979) – 3:47
13. “Bankrobber” (A-side of non-album single, 1980) – 4:31

Disc 2

1. “(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais” (non-album single, 1978) – 3:58
2. “London’s Burning” (from The Clash, 1977) – 2:09
3. “Janie Jones” (from The Clash, 1977) – 2:04
4. “Tommy Gun” (from Give ‘Em Enough Rope, 1978) – 3:14
5. “Complete Control” (non-album single, 1977) – 3:12
6. “Capital Radio One” (preceded by Circle Line Interview Part 2) (from Capital Radio EP, 1977) – 5:18
7. “White Riot” (single version) (album version from The Clash, 1977) – 1:59
8. “Career Opportunities” (from The Clash, 1977) – 1:51
9. “Clash City Rockers” (non-album single, 1978) – 3:57
10. “Safe European Home” (from Give ‘Em Enough Rope, 1978) – 3:49
11. “Stay Free” (from Give ‘Em Enough Rope, 1978) – 3:37
12. “London Calling” (from London Calling, 1979) – 3:18
13. “Spanish Bombs” (from London Calling, 1979) – 3:18
14. “English Civil War” (trad. arr. Strummer/Jones) (from Give ‘Em Enough Rope, 1978) – 2:34
15. “Police & Thieves” (Junior Murvin, Lee “Scratch” Perry) (from The Clash, 1977) – 6:00