The Essential Clash
| The Essential Clash | ||||
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| Greatest hits album by The Clash | ||||
| Released | 11 March 2003 (U.S.) 22 April 2003 (UK) |
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| Recorded | 1977-1985 | |||
| Genre | Punk rock | |||
| Length | Disc one: 60:01 Disc two: 76:03 |
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| Label | Epic E2K 89056 | |||
| Producer | The Clash, Micky Foote, Sandy Pearlman, Bill Price, Guy Stevens, Jose Unidos | |||
| The Clash compilations and lives chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| The Music Box | (5/5) |
| NME | (10/10) |
| Pitchfork Media | (10.0/10.0) |
| Rolling Stone | |
The Essential Clash is a career-spanning greatest hits album by The Clash first released in 2003. It is part of the on-going 'The Essential' Sony BMG compilation series. The album is dedicated to Joe Strummer, who died during its compilation.
The B-side recording titled "Radio Clash" was accidentally released on the US version of this album with the incorrect A-side title of "This Is Radio Clash", much like it had been on Super Black Market Clash. Both tracks have the same length and the only notable difference is in the two mixes and the lyrics (they also feature an uncredited performance by Gary Barnacle on Electric Saxophone). The similarities of the titles and the recordings has led to quite a bit of confusion not only by fans but by record companies as well. The two songs can be identified by the opening lyrics. "This Is Radio Clash" begins with "This is radio clash on pirate satellite, Orbiting your living room, cashing in the bill of rights" and "Radio Clash" begins with "This is radio clash resuming of transmission, beaming from the mountain tops using aural ammunition." Apart from these two compilations, every other compilation (including the European version of "The Essential Clash") where "This Is Radio Clash" is listed on the sleeve includes the original song rather than its similarly titled B-side.
UK version adds "1977" – 1:41 as track 2.
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Wikipedia