Product Description

Originally released as a 10-inch EP, BLACK MARKET CLASH effectively bridged the gap between LONDON CALLING and SANDINISTA, both literally and figuratively. While most collections of b-sides and outtakes are of interest only to hardcore fans, this one turned out to be an artistic statement nearly equal to the two classic album that sandwiched it. Halfway between the punk fervour of LONDON CALLING (as on the raging "Cheat") and the reggae/funk experimentation of SANDINISTA (see "Bankrobber" and "Armagideon Time",) the EP stood up as a singular, worthwhile entry in the band's canon.
Years later, supplemented by a bounty of bonus cuts, the album was reissued as SUPER BLACK MARKET CLASH. With the added cuts, this recording provides a real insight into the workings of theband, including everything from their first dub workouts toromantic pop dabblings. It's a bit like reading between thelines of LONDON CALLING and SANDINISTA and discovering an entire world of musical subtext. Essential not only to Clash completists, but anyone interesting in the evolution of punkinto something deeper and grander.

Track Listing

1. 1977
2. Listen
3. Jail Guitar Doors
4. The City of the Dead
5. The Prisoner
6. Pressure Drop
7. 1-2 Crush On You
8. Groovy Times
9. Gates of the West
10. Capital Radio Two
11. Time Is Tight
12. Justice Tonight / Kick It Over
13. Robber Dub
14. The Cool Out
15. Stop the World
16. The Magnificent Dance
17. This Is Radio Clash
18. First Night Back In London
19. Long Time Jerk
20. Cool Confusion
21. Mustapha Dance
22. Cool Confusion
23. Magnificent Dance
24. This Is Radio Clash
25. Mustapha Dance

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47016 in Music
• Released on: 1999-10-04
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Does anyone really like the clash??
Oh dear I thought I liked them but listening to this I now realise they were just a pub rock band who did bad cover versions of classic reggae and soul songs. The whole clash thing has been totally overated compare the original Junior Mervins Police and Thieves - Booker T's Time is Tight (appauling and should never have been released) - Toots and The maytals Pressure Drop. If you ask me the Clash lacked sense of humour and took themselves far too seriously! And who is Don Letts?? Sorry Joe.........

Flogging everything but the kitchen sink
I bought this album for one reason really and that was to get hold of "1977", the riff-driven (and perhaps Kinks inspired?)
song that boldly declares "no Elvis, Beatles or the Rolling Stones", because I'd never really seen it anywhere else. For serious clash fans theres loads of stuff out of the back catalogues including alternate versions and previously unreleased demos. However, there are perhaps a few tracks that arent up to scratch so really I think this album is only for serious Clash listeners only. But it is cheap!

A great bag of gems
This compilation may reek, to some, of a corporate cash-in on one of the greatest bands of all time.
But its content makes it a fantastic addition to the collection of those who cannot get hold of rare slabs of vinyl which contain the tracks featured here.
We get the rawness of '1977' and 'jail Guitar Doors', the power of 'Capital Radio' and the heartaching melody of Mick Jones on '1-2 Crush on You'. Other greats are a top cover of 'Pressure Drop' and Booker T and the MG's 'Time is Tight'. This album is fantastic. Ok it may peter out at the end with remixes etc. but it does show a enjoyable history of The Clash and the way they evolved throughout their career.