The Clash

Epic/Legacy reissued the Clash's classic third album, London Calling, in 2000, remastering the album and restoring the original artwork, much of which didn't make the original CD issue. No bonus material was added to this or any of the other Clash reissues of 2000, largely because nearly all of the B-sides and useable rare material had already appeared on compilations ranging from Super Black Market Clash to the box set Clash on Broadway…

The Singles is exactly what the title says – a collection of the Clash's U.K. single A-sides. The Singles does illustrate the progression of the Clash's music from raw, energetic punk to eclectic dabblings in rockabilly, reggae, and dance-rock (even if it doesn't do so as seamlessly as London Calling), and so far, it is the only single-disc Clash comp to feature the original version of the non-LP single "Bankrobber" (the one on Super Black Market Clash is a dub version with most of the lyrics missing).

The Singles is exactly what the title says – a collection of the Clash's U.K. single A-sides. This approach can hardly result in a definitive compilation, since the Clash's albums were such cohesive, important works in their own right, and even more erratic LPs like Sandinista! and Combat Rock had their share of fine album tracks…

The Clash - From Here To Eternity (1999) {Columbia 496183 2 rec 1978-1982}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 482 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 153 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 41 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1978-82, 1999 Columbia / Sony Music | 496183 2
Rock / Punk Rock / British Punk

Years after the Clash disintegrated, their live performances remained legendary, partially because most things concerning the band entered rock legend. Bootlegs offered proof of those great performances, but only hardcore collectors would seek those out, which is why From Here to Eternity: Live, the Clash's first official live album, is a welcome addition to their catalog – it confirms that the legend is deserved. Sequenced as "the ultimate live concert," as so many compiled live albums are, this is one time the trick actually works. All the performances were recorded between 1978 and 1982, but they're sequenced according to the date of the song, not the date of the performance.

Many may disagree, but it’s always struck me as rather peculiar that The Clash were labelled as a punk band. It seems no mention of the movement can go by without the obligatory namedropping of the (utterly brilliant) Sex Pistols – so here it is – but whereas they and contemporaries such as The Buzzcocks seemed to plunder traditional rock’n’roll as their main inspiration, The Clash looked more to blues and the sounds of their native Brixton – which in turn were predominantly the sounds of Jamaica.