The Clash "The Clash" (1977)

The Clash [debut]
release date: Apr. 8, 1977
format: vinyl (CBS 82000) / cd
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,32]
producer: Mickey Foote
label: CBS Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "Janie Jones" (4 / 5) - 2. "Remote Control" (4,5 / 5) - 3. "I'm so Bored With the USA" - 4. "White Riot" - 5. "Hate & War" (4 / 5) - 6. "What's My Name?" - 7. "Deny" (4,5 / 5) - 8. "London's Burning" (live) - 9. "Career Opportunities" (live) - 10. "Cheat" - 11. "Protex Blue" - 12. "Police & Thieves" (4,5 / 5) - 13. "48 Hours" (4 / 5) - 14. "Garageland" (4 / 5) (live)

Studio debut album by British punk rock quartet The Clash consisting of Joe Strummer (aka John Graham Mellor) and Mick Jones (aka Michael Geoffrey Jones) both on vocals and guitars, Paul Simonon (aka Paul Gustave Simonon) on bass and with Tory Crimes (aka Terry Chimes) on drums. Actually, drummer Chimes had left the band in Nov. '76 before the band signing with CBS (Jan. '77), but he was brought back to the recording sessions but eventually replaced by Topper Headon.

This album has a special status in the history of punk rock. Unfortunately, I only listened to this around 1980, after discovering London Calling (1979), which was the first album, I purchased and listened to by The Clash. At the time, I thought, this was great, it still is, but the production is poor and the songs are much alike [Gee, I never thought I'd hear myself say that.]. I know punk rock is very much like similar, but still.... I think, Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978) just offers more than poor sound and 3-chords kicking away. Having said that, this is one of the best and most important of the original punk rock albums ever made. Imho, Sex Pistols never made it to this level of musical creativity or skills.
The album is enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".
[ allmusic.com, Blender, Q Magazine, Rolling Stone 5 / 5 stars ]

1977 Favourite releases: 1. Ramones Rocket to Russia - 2. The Clash The Clash - 3. The Jam In the City