The Clash UK/US
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
- Posts: 58972
- Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am
The Clash UK/US
No not another debate on who thinks which version is best. I think all sane people would agree that the tracks on the US edition that replaced those removed from the UK edition were better.
My question is this.
Should The Clash/CBS have only replaced those songs with ones that better fitted the time frame.
UK version:
Side one :
1. Janie Jones
2. Remote Control
3. I'm So Bored with the U.S.A.
4. White Riot
5. Hate and War
6. What's My Name
7. Deny
8. London's Burning
Side two :
1. Career Opportunities
2. Cheat
3. Protex Blue
4. Police & Thieves
5. 48 Hours
6. Garageland
US version:
Side one :
1. Clash City Rockers
2. I'm So Bored with the USA
3. Remote Control
4. Complete Control
5. White Riot
6. (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
7. London's Burning
8. I Fought the Law
Side two :
1. Janie Jones
2. Career Opportunities
3. What's My Name
4. Hate & War
5. Police & Thieves
6. Jail Guitar Doors
7. Garageland
So instead of the US version containing ''(White Man) in Hammersmith Palais'' (1978), ''I Fought the Law'' (1979),
Should they have used ''1977'', ''Capital Radio'', ''City of the Dead''.
''Clash City Rockers/Jail Guitar Doors'' (1978) was recorded late 1977 so that would still work.
This would've made the US version feel a lot less disjointed and less like a compilation.
My question is this.
Should The Clash/CBS have only replaced those songs with ones that better fitted the time frame.
UK version:
Side one :
1. Janie Jones
2. Remote Control
3. I'm So Bored with the U.S.A.
4. White Riot
5. Hate and War
6. What's My Name
7. Deny
8. London's Burning
Side two :
1. Career Opportunities
2. Cheat
3. Protex Blue
4. Police & Thieves
5. 48 Hours
6. Garageland
US version:
Side one :
1. Clash City Rockers
2. I'm So Bored with the USA
3. Remote Control
4. Complete Control
5. White Riot
6. (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
7. London's Burning
8. I Fought the Law
Side two :
1. Janie Jones
2. Career Opportunities
3. What's My Name
4. Hate & War
5. Police & Thieves
6. Jail Guitar Doors
7. Garageland
So instead of the US version containing ''(White Man) in Hammersmith Palais'' (1978), ''I Fought the Law'' (1979),
Should they have used ''1977'', ''Capital Radio'', ''City of the Dead''.
''Clash City Rockers/Jail Guitar Doors'' (1978) was recorded late 1977 so that would still work.
This would've made the US version feel a lot less disjointed and less like a compilation.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
- Wolter
- Half Foghorn Leghorn, Half Albert Brooks
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Re: The Clash UK/US
I’m pretty amazed Sony never considered an expanded edition of at least the first two albums that included non-album bonus tracks.
”INDER LOCK THE THE KISS THREAD IVE REALISED IM A PRZE IDOOT” - Thomas Jefferson
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"
- Flex
- Mechano-Man of the Future
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Re: The Clash UK/US
I like your proposed tracklist Marky, because it makes for a song-for-song better album while removing the biggest complaint about the US s/t, which is that it's aesthetically inconsistent.
That said, I love those raw early punk numbers as that's my jam aesthetically, so I'd have always been one of those kids yearning for the import version.
And agreed with Wolt, it seems like it would have been an obvious move circa early aughts to release a "deluxe edition" of the s/t with both track configurations and attendant non-album singles and b-sides.
That said, I love those raw early punk numbers as that's my jam aesthetically, so I'd have always been one of those kids yearning for the import version.
And agreed with Wolt, it seems like it would have been an obvious move circa early aughts to release a "deluxe edition" of the s/t with both track configurations and attendant non-album singles and b-sides.
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a bowl of soup
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a rolling hoop
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a ton of lead
Wiggle - you can raise the dead
Pex Lives!
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a rolling hoop
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a ton of lead
Wiggle - you can raise the dead
Pex Lives!
Re: The Clash UK/US
That makes a lot more sense, Marky. Eventhough the US version has better songs, I'm still a purist and the UK version feels "right." Even swapping out the more time-relevant songs still feels wrong in a way, but it would definitely be a more cohesive listen.
Look, you have to establish context for these things. And I maintain that unless you appreciate the Fall of Constantinople, the Great Fire of London, and Mickey Mantle's fatalist alcoholism, live Freddy makes no sense. If you want to half-ass it, fine, go call Simon Schama to do the appendix.
- Wolter
- Half Foghorn Leghorn, Half Albert Brooks
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Re: The Clash UK/US
In the days when the other tracks are readily available by other means, I tend to listen to the UK more as an album. But yeah the US is ojectively a better Clash experience on the whole for a listener who just wants good songs.
”INDER LOCK THE THE KISS THREAD IVE REALISED IM A PRZE IDOOT” - Thomas Jefferson
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"
- Flex
- Mechano-Man of the Future
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Re: The Clash UK/US
If you weren't a person who wanted a deep dive on the clash, but wanted a bit more that just a pure greatest hits, something like a collection consisting of the US S/T, London Calling and, like Story of, Vol. 1 would set you up pretty danged well.
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a bowl of soup
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a rolling hoop
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a ton of lead
Wiggle - you can raise the dead
Pex Lives!
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a rolling hoop
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a ton of lead
Wiggle - you can raise the dead
Pex Lives!
- Wolter
- Half Foghorn Leghorn, Half Albert Brooks
- Posts: 55432
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Re: The Clash UK/US
If you tossed SBMC in there you’d have essentially the first 4 Clash albums I bought in high school.
”INDER LOCK THE THE KISS THREAD IVE REALISED IM A PRZE IDOOT” - Thomas Jefferson
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"
"But the gorilla thinks otherwise!"
- Flex
- Mechano-Man of the Future
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- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:50pm
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Re: The Clash UK/US
yeah, that's actually exactly the first four clash albums I had (well, I had a dubbed cassette of combat rock I pilfered from my old man's collection first, I suppose).
I pulled out my old unremastered copy of Story Of recently (spurred on by the polls, no doubt) and it's GREAT. Such a good song selection and the old CD pressing has a great sound quality. Can really crank it up. And now that folks like Bowie have put out reverse-chronological career spanning comps the Clash just come off as forerunners of the style.
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a bowl of soup
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a rolling hoop
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a ton of lead
Wiggle - you can raise the dead
Pex Lives!
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a rolling hoop
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a ton of lead
Wiggle - you can raise the dead
Pex Lives!
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
- Posts: 58972
- Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am
Re: The Clash UK/US
The early CD's sounds way better than the '99 remasters of course both supplanted by the SS box.Flex wrote: ↑18 Apr 2019, 11:26amyeah, that's actually exactly the first four clash albums I had (well, I had a dubbed cassette of combat rock I pilfered from my old man's collection first, I suppose).
I pulled out my old unremastered copy of Story Of recently (spurred on by the polls, no doubt) and it's GREAT. Such a good song selection and the old CD pressing has a great sound quality. Can really crank it up. And now that folks like Bowie have put out reverse-chronological career spanning comps the Clash just come off as forerunners of the style.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
- Flex
- Mechano-Man of the Future
- Posts: 35943
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:50pm
- Location: The Information Superhighway!
Re: The Clash UK/US
Much better bottom end on the Sound System remasters and more clarity in general, but more compression too. Generally, I much prefer Sound System when listening on headphones, but I actually prefer (some) of those old non-remastered CDs when I'm listening on the home stereo, since I can really crank the volume on those old CDs. The old unremastered album CDs are all pretty bad sounding, but the compilations were mostly pretty good. So my Clash CD collection actually all fits together pretty well.Marky Dread wrote: ↑18 Apr 2019, 11:48amThe early CD's sounds way better than the '99 remasters of course both supplanted by the SS box.
Your versions, obviously, tend to surpass all the competition.
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a bowl of soup
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a rolling hoop
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a ton of lead
Wiggle - you can raise the dead
Pex Lives!
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a rolling hoop
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a ton of lead
Wiggle - you can raise the dead
Pex Lives!
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
- Posts: 58972
- Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am
Re: The Clash UK/US
I really like the sound on The Story of Vol.1 first version. Yeah the original bunch of CDs were not great.Flex wrote: ↑18 Apr 2019, 11:52amMuch better bottom end on the Sound System remasters and more clarity in general, but more compression too. Generally, I much prefer Sound System when listening on headphones, but I actually prefer (some) of those old non-remastered CDs when I'm listening on the home stereo, since I can really crank the volume on those old CDs. The old unremastered album CDs are all pretty bad sounding, but the compilations were mostly pretty good. So my Clash CD collection actually all fits together pretty well.Marky Dread wrote: ↑18 Apr 2019, 11:48amThe early CD's sounds way better than the '99 remasters of course both supplanted by the SS box.
Your versions, obviously, tend to surpass all the competition.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
- TeddyB Not Logged In
- Graffiti Bandit Pioneer
- Posts: 2013
- Joined: 06 Feb 2009, 8:42pm
Re: The Clash UK/US
I think anything released in the UK before the second album was pretty much fair game for the US release. It’s I Fought the Law that jumps out at me as being most inappropriate. It should have been on Black Market Clash if they weren’t going to release COL in the States.
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
- Posts: 58972
- Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am
Re: The Clash UK/US
I agree.TeddyB Not Logged In wrote: ↑20 Apr 2019, 3:16amI think anything released in the UK before the second album was pretty much fair game for the US release. It’s I Fought the Law that jumps out at me as being most inappropriate. It should have been on Black Market Clash if they weren’t going to release COL in the States.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
- Posts: 58972
- Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am
Re: The Clash UK/US
So I propose this as the running order.
US version:
Side one :
1. Clash City Rockers
2. I'm So Bored with the USA
3. Remote Control
4. Complete Control
5. White Riot
6. Capital Radio
7. London's Burning
8. City of the Dead
Side two :
1. Janie Jones
2. Career Opportunities
3. What's My Name
4. Hate & War
5. 1977
6. Police & Thieves
7. Jail Guitar Doors
8. Garageland
The only other discussion would be to go with the Beaconsfield ''White Riot'' or the single version as is on the US version. I actually think they chose the best option with the single version on the US version as it fits with the better produced later singles added.
My only thought is the first side is top heavy with 5 A-side singles. I wonder if they should spread over the two sides more evenly.
US version:
Side one :
1. Clash City Rockers
2. I'm So Bored with the USA
3. Remote Control
4. Complete Control
5. White Riot
6. Capital Radio
7. London's Burning
8. City of the Dead
Side two :
1. Janie Jones
2. Career Opportunities
3. What's My Name
4. Hate & War
5. 1977
6. Police & Thieves
7. Jail Guitar Doors
8. Garageland
The only other discussion would be to go with the Beaconsfield ''White Riot'' or the single version as is on the US version. I actually think they chose the best option with the single version on the US version as it fits with the better produced later singles added.
My only thought is the first side is top heavy with 5 A-side singles. I wonder if they should spread over the two sides more evenly.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
Re: The Clash UK/US
Swap Janie Jones with Clash City Rockers and you are not only partially addressing having 5 A sides on the first side, but returning Janie Jones as the opening track like the UK version. I also think CCR would be better later, so starting the second side with that would have made more sense to me.
I agree I Fought The Law was out of place, but the Canadian labum, with the Groovy Times/Gates Of The West helped it to fit in with that collection. Is that opening another can of worms?
I agree I Fought The Law was out of place, but the Canadian labum, with the Groovy Times/Gates Of The West helped it to fit in with that collection. Is that opening another can of worms?