From billboard.com:

Epic Readies Clash Essentials

As first reported here yesterday, Epic/Legacy will on March 11 release a two-disc collection chronicling the legendary career of the Clash. The 40 songs for "Essential Clash" were chosen by Clash principal Joe Strummer before his sudden death last month and have been digitally remastered. Rare photos and liner notes by journalist Pat Gilbert round out the package.

"Essential Clash" joins previously released Clash compilations "The Singles," the boxed set "Clash on Broadway," the odds-and-sods compilation "Super Black Market Clash," and the two-disc, 28-track "The Story of the Clash, Vol. 1." Unlike earlier collections, "Essential Clash" presents the tracks in something resembling chronological order, leading off with such classics as "Complete Control," "Janie Jones," and "White Riot" from the group's 1977 self-titled debut.

"Essential Clash" winds down with latter-period favorites such as "Rock the Casbah" (the band's biggest ever U.S. hit, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100), "Should I Stay or Should I Go," and "Straight to Hell."

As he told Billboard.com in April, Strummer made Clash songs such as "Police on My Back," "Bankrobber," and "Rudie Can't Fail" a frequent part of his setlists with his band, the Mescaleros. "Any musician would like to play a song that has a good beat, good chords, and interesting lyrics," he said. "It's fun to communicate with other people like that."

Here is the tracklisting for "Essential Clash":

Disc one:
"Complete Control"
"London's Burning"
"Garageland"
"Clash City Rockers"
"I'm So Bored With the USA"
"Career Opportunities"
"(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais"
"Capital Radio One"
"White Riot"
"Police & Thieves"
"Janie Jones"
"I Fought the Law"
"English Civil War"
"Tommy Gun"
"Safe European Home"
"Guns on the Roof"
"Drug Stabbing Time"
"Stay Free"
"Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad"
"Wrong 'Em Boyo"

Disc two:
"Clampdown"
"Guns of Brixton"
"London Calling"
"Train in Vain"
"Lost in the Supermarket"
"Brand New Cadillac"
"Rudie Can't Fail"
"Police On My Back"
"The Magnificent Seven"
"This Is Radio Clash"
"Stop the World"
"Bankrobber"
"Broadway"
"Somebody Got Murdered"
"The Call Up"
"Know Your Rights"
"Rock the Casbah"
"Straight to Hell"
"Should I Stay or Should I Go"
"This Is England"

"Charlie Don't Surf" isn't listed. Guess I'll have to buy one of the other 50 Clash compilations.



We've been told to keep the strangers out
We don't like 'em starting to hang around

I just (L) ya for your awsome musicla tastes.

gooeythehamster said:

Thanks.

I knew that the record industry wouldn't wait to make money around the Joe Strummer's death..., anyways most of today's rappers would give their balls to have lyrics like those of The Magnificents 7
[This message was edited Wed Jan 15 2:12:31 PST 2003 by jnoel]

jnoel said:

VERY TRUE!

I SALUTE YOU!

RESPECT!

Supernova said:

Not a bad selection all the same, but yes, you're spot on about "Charlie Don't Surf". I hope they release the original mixes of "Combat Rock" sometime soon.

Nice to see This Is England included. One of their best songs from their worst and last album, Cut The Crap. Sometimes i forget that album even exists.

I need to get this !!! Soo sad about joe... I cried when I found out...

Just get London Calling and Black Market Clash--thems is essentials.