It’s Sunday, and that means it’s time for the Sunday 25 playlist. In case you are new to The Sunday 25 Songs (S-25) mix, each week we put together 25 songs we love from any genre and any time period; a chance for us to take a break once a week from bringing you the best new indie rock songs, bands, albums and live events.
[zbplayer]At the core of the S-25 mix is the band profile, in which we feature a band we love (and hope our readers do/will as well). In addition to a general overview of the featured band’s members, first big breaks, best songs and albums, influence on music, etc., we also include five to seven songs from their discography in the weekly S-25 mix. Today’s featured band is The Clash.
The Clash remain as one of the most influential and popular rock bands in British music history, and they were, for all intents and purposes, the first high-profile to combine ska, punk, rock pop and reggae into their songs, giving the band a unique identity in the annals of pop music.
“Train In Vain” – The Clash from London Calling (1979)
With unforgettable hit songs like “Should I Stay or Should I Go” and “Rock The Casbah,” The Clash swayed in between underground music and the mainstream (especially in the U.K.), while staying true to their roots. Every day, new Clash fans from around the world are discovering the band’s music for the first time; whether it’s a 14 year old boy in Birmingham, U.K. playing his Dad’s old Clash vinyl records or a Mom with two kids in Des Moines, Iowa discovering the band for the first time listening to classic rock radio station, The Clash are definitely in the Top 100 Best Bands Ever, and for good reason.
The many different ways that music lovers are discovering The Clash is interesting, but if you really want interesting, and you enjoy the five Clash songs in this mix, we strongly recommend these Clash LPs: their self-titled debut (1977); Give ‘Em Enough Rope (1978); London Calling (1979).
In London during the late 1970s and early 1980s, The Clash, in many ways, would eventually surpass The Sex Pistols as the U.K.’s most popular punk rock band. Critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote in the All Music Guide: “Where The Pistols were nihilistic, The Clash were fiery and idealistic, charged with righteousness and a leftist political ideology. From the outset, the band was more musically adventurous, expanding its hard rock & roll with reggae, dub, and rockabilly among other roots musics.
Furthermore, they were blessed with two exceptional songwriters in Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, each with a distinctive voice and style. The Clash copped heavily from classic outlaw imagery, positioning themselves as rebels with a cause.”
Joe Strummer and Mick Jones were the heart of The Clash during their glory years (1977-1982). Even after they finally broke through in America in 1982 with the release, and success, of Combat Rock, the band began to implode only months later. Despite line-up changes, worldwide tours, heavy promotion, and stops and starts, The Clash officially disbanded in 1986. But, we still have their awesome albums to play for the rest of our lives.
“Should I Stay Or Should I Go” – The Clash from Combat Rock (1982)
“Weird Divide” – The Shins from Oh Inverted World (2005)
“For Agent 13” – The Besnard Lakes from The Besnard Lakes Are The Dark Horse (2007)
“This House Is A Circus” – Arctic Monkeys from Favorite Worst Nightmare (2007)
“He Said He Was A River” – Tripmaster Monkey from Practice Changes (1996)
“Rock The Casbah” – The Clash from Combat Rock (1982)
“Boys Are Back in Town” – Thin Lizzy from Jail Break (1976)
“Better Things” – The Kinks from Give The People What They Want (1981)
“Just Like (Starting Over)” – John Lennon from Double Fantasy (1980)
“Spanish Bombs” – The Clash from London Calling (1979)
“Lovers On Our Backs” – Bird By Snow from Lovers On Our Backs 7″ (2009)
“Ghost of Syllables” – Admiral Radley from I Heart California (2010)
“Got To Get You Into My Life” – The Beatles from Revolver (1966)
“The Guns of Brixton” – The Clash from London Calling (1979)
“Here Comes A Regular” – The Replacements from Tim (1985)
“Shake It Up” – The Cars from Shake It Up (1983)
“Don’t Bring Me Down” – Electric Light Orchestra from Discovery (1979)
“Hurricane” – Neil Young from Decade (1980)
“Someday” – The Silent Years from The Silent Years (2005)
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