A British punk band formed in London in 1976. Called "The Only Band That Matters", they had a huge influence on punk, post-punk, new wave, etc. Disbanded in 1986.

tek's rating: ¾

The Singles
AllMusic; Amazon; Discogs; Wikipedia

This is a greatest hits collection, released in 1991. The liner notes contain lyrics that are printed in very small type. For most of the songs, I can't make out most of the lyrics, but that's pretty common for punk music, and doesn't really hinder my appreciation of the songs. (And I'm not gonna try to read the lyrics while listening to the songs.) At least a few songs are familiar to me, but most of them aren't. The ones I didn't already know probably aren't going to become memorable to me, but they still sound cool.

1. "White Riot": This is from the debut album "The Clash", released in 1977 ('79 in the U.S.). It's unfamiliar to me.

2. "Remote Control": From "The Clash". Unfamiliar.

3. "Complete Control": Released as a single in the U.K., and included on the U.S. version of "The Clash". Unfamiliar.

4. "Clash City Rockers": A single in the U.K., and the U.S. version of "The Clash". Unfamiliar.

5. "(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais": A single in the U.K., and the U.S. version of "The Clash". Unfamiliar.

6. "Tommy Gun": From "Give 'Em Enough Rope" (1978). Mostly unfamiliar.

7. "English Civil War": From "Give 'Em Enough Rope". Mostly unfamiliar.

8. "I Fought the Law": From "The Cost of Living" (1979). Finally one that's familiar to me. Although I think I might be more familiar with a version (probably an earlier one) by some other group that's less familiar to me than the Clash. Probably The Bobby Fuller Four (a name I wouldn't even know if not for Wikipedia).

9. "London Calling": From "London Calling" (1979) This one's also familiar.

10. "Train in Vain": From "London Calling". I wasn't sure from the title whether or not I'd be familiar with this, but I am. And it doesn't really sound punk, so it's easier to make out the lyrics.

11. "Bankrobber": From "Black Market Crash" (1980). Unfamiliar.

12. "The Call Up": From "Sandinista!" (1980). Unfamiliar.

13. "Hitsville U.K.": From "Sandinista!". Unfamiliar. More pop than punk.

14. "The Magnificent Seven": From "Sandinista!" Unfamiliar. Inspired by old school hip-hop, according to Wikipedia, and it definitely sounds like it.

15. "This Is Radio Clash": Released as a single, 1981. This one's familiar. Not entirely punk; Wikipedia calls is "rap-rock" and "funk", and I guess I can kind of hear both elements.

16. "Know Your Rights": From "Combat Rock". Unfamiliar. Wikipedia calls this "rockabilly", which I guess I can kind of hear, but it still sounds somewhat like punk, to me.

17. "Rock the Casbah": From "Combat Rock". This is one of the more familiar tracks. Wikipedia calls it "new wave" and "dance-punk".

18. "Should I Stay or Should I Go": From "Combat Rock". This is, for me, probably the most familiar Clash song. To me it kinda sounds like pop-punk (but heavier on the punk than most pop-punk bands).

So anyway, I like all the songs on the album, even if most of them are unfamiliar to me. (But I can't help liking the familiar ones more.)