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We Say...
Cutting away Sandinista!’s relaxed sprawl for a single disc of arty urban grit on Combat Rock was a smart move – “Rock the Casbah,” “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” the haunting “Straight to Hell” and “Overpowered by Funk” broke free of the new wave marketing ghetto, making the Clash chart stars. (A terminal condition, as it happened.) Setting up shop in New York City recharged the group, upping the rhythmic ante and returning purpose to their lyrics and playing. But it also encouraged such dubious ingredients as Allen Ginsberg, a toilet bowl cleaner commercial and dialogue from Taxi Driver. In many ways a blueprint for Jones’ subsequent adventures with Big Audio Dynamite, Combat Rock will forever be the Clash’s Big Album, but it is adamantly not their best.
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They Say...
On the surface of things, Combat Rock appears to be a retreat from the sprawling stylistic explorations of London Calling and Sandinista! The pounding arena rock of "Should I Stay or Should I Go" makes the Clash sound like an arena rock band, and much of the album boasts a muscular, heavy sound courtesy of producer Glyn Johns. But things aren't quite that simple. Combat Rock contains heavy flirtations with rap, funk, and reggae, and it even has a cameo by poet Allen Ginsberg -- if this album is, as it has often been claimed, the Clash's sellout effort, it's a very strange way to sell out. Even with the infectious, dance-inflected new wave pop of "Rock the Casbah" leading the way, there aren't many overt attempts at crossover success, mainly because the group is tearing in two separate directions. Mick Jones wants the Clash to inherit the Who's righteous arena rock stance, and Joe Strummer wants to forge ahead into black music. The result is an album that is nearly as inconsistent as Sandinista!, even though its finest moments -- "Should I Stay or Should I Go," "Rock the Casbah," "Straight to Hell" -- illustrate why the Clash were able to reach a larger audience than ever before with the record. [In 2000 Columbia/Legacy reissued and remastered Combat Rock.]
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| 01. |  |
Know Your Rights |
3:39 |
|
| 02. | |
Car Jamming |
3:58 |
|
| 03. | |
Should I Stay Or Should I Go |
3:06 |
|
| 04. | |
Rock The Casbah |
3:14 |
|
| 05. | |
Red Angel Dragnet |
3:48 |
|
| 06. | |
Straight To Hell |
5:30 |
|
| 07. | |
Overpowered By Funk |
4:55 |
|
| 08. | |
Atom Tan |
2:32 |
|
| 09. | |
Sean Flynn |
4:30 |
|
| 10. | |
Ghetto Defendant |
4:45 |
|
| 11. | |
Inoculated City |
2:43 |
|
| 12. | |
Death Is A Star |
3:08 |
|
12 Total Tracks, 45:48 Total Length
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Credits
- Allen Ginsberg - Vocals // Allen Ginsberg - Vocals (Background) // The Clash - Main Performer // Joe Ely - Vocals // Joe Ely - Vocals (Background) // Joe Strummer - Guitar // Joe Strummer - Guitar // Joe Strummer - Vocals // Joe Strummer - Vocals // Ellen Foley - Vocals // Ellen Foley - Vocals (Background) // Jerry Green - Engineer // Gary Barnacle - Saxophone // Joe Blaney - Engineer // Tymon Dogg - Piano // Tymon Dogg - Vocals // Glyn Johns - Mixing // Topper Headon - ? // Glyn Jones - Mixing // Mick Jones - Guitar // Mick Jones - Vocals // Poly Mandell - Keyboards // Paul Simonon - Bass // Ray Staff - Remastering // Pennie Smith - Photography // Pennie Smith - Sleeve Photo // Bob Whitney - Remastering
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