The Essential Clash is a career-spanning
greatest hitsalbum by
The Clash first released in 2003. It is part of the ongoing 'The Essential'
Sony BMG compilation series. The album is dedicated to
Joe Strummer, who died during its compilation.
The "This Is Radio Clash" track
The B-side recording "
Radio Clash" was released on the US version of this album with the incorrect A-side title of "
This Is Radio Clash". The B-side is a
remix of the A-side with additional lyrics. Both tracks have the same length.
Spin (6/03, p. 104) – "These two discs are a pretty hot crib sheet....The first 11 cuts are a shuffle mix of highlights from the U.S. and U.K. versions of 1977's incendiary The Clash, and if they don't inspire you to punch holes in the plaster, you're too well-adjusted."
Uncut (5/03, p. 114) – 4 stars out of 5 – "They never lost sight of Britain's strange mix of supermarket torpor and multicultural high energy."
Charlotte Robinson on
Popmatters says that: Given its breadth, however, The Essential Clash will probably be the preferred collection of most listeners.[6]
Track listing
Disc one
All songs written by Joe Strummer and
Mick Jones, except where noted.
"
Police on My Back" – 3:17 (
Eddy Grant) (UK release replaces this recording with "
Broadway" – 4:56, between "The Street Parade" and "This is Radio Clash")
"Stop the World" – 2:33
"Somebody Got Murdered" – 3:34
"The Street Parade" – 3:29
"
This Is Radio Clash" (on US release this recording is the B-side "Radio Clash (remix)", not the A-side "This Is Radio Clash") – 4:10
All videos directed by
Don Letts except "Tommy Gun" directed by Keef & Co and "White Riot" directed by Lindsey Clinell.
Hell W10 soundtrack features excerpts from; "Version City", "Rudie Can't Fail", "First Night Back in London (Instrumental)", "Know Your Rights (Instrumental)", "Long Time Jerk (Instrumental)", "Cool Confusion (Instrumental)", "Ghetto Defendant (Instrumental)", "Junco Version (Instrumental)", "Atom Tam (Instrumental)", "Silicone on Sapphire", "Wrong 'Em Boyo", "
Overpowered by Funk (Instrumental)", "The Call Up", "Red Angel Dragnet (Instrumental)", "Jimmy Jazz", "Mensforth Hill", "Junkie Slip", "Time Is Tight", "Armagideon Time", "Listen", "The Equaliser", "Police on My Back", "One More Dub", "Rock the Casbah (Instrumental)".[8]