The Clash (album)

The Clash
Standard UK edition
Studio album by The Clash
Released	8 April 1977
Recorded	10–27 February 1977 at CBS Studios in London and National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, England
Genre	Punk rock
Length	35:18
Label	CBS
Producer	Mickey Foote
The Clash chronology
The Clash (1977) Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978)
Singles from The Clash
"White Riot" Released: 18 March 1977 "Remote Control" Released: 13 May 1977

Professional ratings
Retrospective reviews
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Alternative Press	5/5
Blender
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
The Great Rock Discography	10/10
Q
Rolling Stone
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Select	5/5
Spin Alternative Record Guide	10/10

The Clash is the eponymous debut studio album by English punk rock band the Clash. It was released on 8 April 1977, through CBS Records. It is widely celebrated as one of the greatest punk albums of all time.

Most of the album was conceived on the 18th floor of a council high rise on London's Harrow Road, in a flat that was rented by Mick Jones's grandmother, who frequently went to see their live concerts. The album was recorded over three weekend sessions at CBS Studio 3 in February 1977. By the third of these sessions the album was recorded and mixed to completion, with the tapes being delivered to CBS at the start of March. It cost £4000 to produce.

The cover artwork was designed by Polish artist Rosław Szaybo. The album's front cover photo, shot by Kate Simon, was taken in the alleyway directly opposite the front door of the band's 'Rehearsal Rehearsals' building in Camden Market. Drummer Terry Chimes, though a full member of the Clash at the time, did not appear in the picture as he had already decided to leave the group. Another picture from the same Kate Simon photoshoot appears on the UK Special Edition DVD of Rude Boy, released in 2003. The picture of the charging police officers on the rear, shot by Rocco Macauly, was taken during the 1976 riot at the Notting Hill Carnival—the inspiration for the track "White Riot".

The subject of the opening track, "Janie Jones", was a famous brothel keeper in London during the 1970s. "Remote Control" was written by Mick Jones after the Anarchy Tour and contains pointed observations about the civic hall bureaucrats who had cancelled concerts, the police, big business and especially record companies. CBS decided to release the song as a single without consulting the band. "I'm So Bored with the USA", developed from a Mick Jones song, entitled "I'm So Bored with You", condemns the Americanization of the UK. "White Riot" was the Clash's debut single. The song is short and intense, punk style of two chords played very fast (5 chords in total song). Lyrically, it is about class economics and race.