Sound System (album)

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Sound System
Box set by The Clash
Released 9 September 2013 (2013-09-09)
Recorded 1977–1982
Genre Punk rock
Label Sony Legacy
Producer The Clash, Micky Foote, Sandy Pearlman, Bill Price, Guy Stevens, Jose Unidos, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Julian Temple, Don Letts
The Clash compilations and lives chronology

Live at Shea Stadium
(2008)		 Sound System
(2013)		 The Clash Hits Back
(2013)

Sound System is a box set collection by The Clash released in September 2013.[1][2] The box contains the band's studio albums (minus their final album, Cut the Crap) newly re-mastered by Mick Jones, with a further three discs featuring demos, non-album singles, rarities and B-sides, a DVD with previously unseen footage by both Don Letts and Julien Temple, original promo videos and live footage, plus an owner's manual booklet, reprints of the band's original 'Armagideon Times' fanzine and merchandise including dog tags, badges, stickers and a poster. The boom box packaging was designed by Paul Simonon. The set was released simultaneously with 5 Album Studio Set, which contains only the five studio albums, and a greatest hits package titled The Clash Hits Back.

In a September 2013 interview, Mick Jones announced the box sets and hits package will be the final time he works on anything involving The Clash and their music. "I’m not even thinking about any more Clash releases. This is it for me, and I say that with an exclamation mark." Jones said.[3]

Remastering

Clash guitarist, Mick Jones, who oversaw the re-mastering said "The concept of the whole thing is best box set ever. Re-mastering's a really amazing thing. That was the musical point of it all, because there's so much there that you wouldn't have heard before. It was like discovering stuff, because the advances in mastering are so immense since the last time [the Clash catalogue] was remastered in the 90s."

All the music has been remastered from the original tapes, Jones said. "We had to bake the tapes beforehand – the oxide on them is where the music is, so if you don't put them in the oven and bake them, that all falls off, because they're so old."

Bassist Simonon highlighted a guitar line on "Safe European Home", from the band's second album Give 'Em Enough Rope, saying he'd never even heard it before. "It's probably some session musician, while I was asleep," Jones joked.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 96/100[4]
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [5]
Filter 90/100[6]
PopMatters [7]
Rolling Stone [8]
Spin 9/10[9]
The Telegraph [10]
Under the Radar 90/100[4]

PopMatters journalist J.C. Maçek III wrote "The initial interest may come in the fact that the packaging looks like a classic Boom Box emblazoned with “THE CLASH” in a military stencil with the overall box decorated in a Combat Rock reminiscent camouflage. This is definitely a visual treat for Clash fans to add to their mantle."[7]

Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone said "It takes a band as myth-saturated as the Clash to live up to a career-summing box as ambitious as this one. But Joe Strummer and his crew of London gutter-punk romantics fit the bill."[8]

The Telegraph's Patrick Sawer wrote "The tracks, remastered by the band’s guitarist Mick Jones and Tim Young (who won a Grammy for his work on the Beatles 2006 ‘Love’ album), sound fresh as ever, crisper even. Jones, the official muso of the band, said that during the remastering process he discovered guitar lines he couldn’t remember and previously buried instrumental details certainly stand out – along with Strummer’s biting ad-libs."[10]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted. 
The Clash (UK Version) (1 CD)
No. TitleLead vocals Length
1. "Janie Jones"  Strummer 2:03
2. "Remote Control"  Jones, Strummer 3:00
3. "I'm So Bored with the USA"  Strummer 2:25
4. "White Riot"  Strummer 1:56
5. "Hate & War"  Jones, Strummer 2:05
6. "What's My Name?" (written by Strummer, Jones, Keith Levene)Strummer 1:40
7. "Deny"  Strummer 3:03
8. "London's Burning"  Strummer 2:12
9. "Career Opportunities"  Strummer 1:52
10. "Cheat"  Strummer 2:06
11. "Protex Blue"  Jones 1:42
12. "Police & Thieves" (written by Junior Murvin, Lee Perry)Strummer 6:01
13. "48 Hours"  Strummer 1:34
14. "Garageland"  Strummer 3:12
All songs written and composed by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted. All lead vocals by Strummer, except "Stay Free" by Jones. 
Give 'Em Enough Rope (1 CD)
No. Title Length
1. "Safe European Home"   3:50
2. "English Civil War" (Traditional; arranged by Jones and Strummer) 2:35
3. "Tommy Gun"   3:17
4. "Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad"   3:03
5. "Last Gang in Town"   5:14
6. "Guns on the Roof" (written by Topper Headon, Jones, Paul Simonon, Strummer) 3:15
7. "Drug-Stabbing Time"   3:43
8. "Stay Free"   3:40
9. "Cheapskates"   3:25
10. "All the Young Punks (New Boots and Contracts)"   4:55
All songs written and composed by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted. 
London Calling (2 CDs)
No. TitleLead vocals Length
1. "London Calling"  Strummer 3:19
2. "Brand New Cadillac" (written and originally performed by Vince Taylor)Strummer 2:09
3. "Jimmy Jazz"  Strummer 3:52
4. "Hateful"  Strummer 2:45
5. "Rudie Can't Fail"  Strummer, Jones 3:26
6. "Spanish Bombs"  Strummer, Jones 3:19
7. "The Right Profile"  Strummer 3:56
8. "Lost in the Supermarket"  Jones 3:47
9. "Clampdown"  Strummer, Jones 3:49
10. "The Guns of Brixton" (written by Paul Simonon)Simonon 3:07
11. "Wrong 'Em Boyo" (written by Clive Alphonso; originally performed by the Rulers; including Stagger Lee)Strummer 3:10
12. "Death or Glory"  Strummer 3:55
13. "Koka Kola"  Strummer 1:46
14. "The Card Cheat"  Jones 3:51
15. "Lover's Rock"  Strummer 4:01
16. "Four Horsemen"  Strummer 2:56
17. "I'm Not Down"  Jones 3:00
18. "Revolution Rock" (written by Jackie Edwards, Danny Ray; originally performed by Danny Ray and the Revolutionaries)Strummer 5:37
19. "Train in Vain"  Jones 3:09
All songs written and composed by The Clash, except where noted. 
Sandinista! (3 CDs)
No. TitleLead vocals Length
1. "The Magnificent Seven"  Joe Strummer 5:28
2. "Hitsville U.K."  Mick Jones, Ellen Foley 4:20
3. "Junco Partner" ("writer, at present, unknown" on liner notes)Joe Strummer 4:53
4. "Ivan Meets G.I. Joe"  Topper Headon 3:05
5. "The Leader"  Joe Strummer 1:41
6. "Something About England"  Mick Jones, Joe Strummer 3:42
7. "Rebel Waltz"  Joe Strummer 3:25
8. "Look Here" (written by Mose Allison)Joe Strummer 2:44
9. "The Crooked Beat"  Paul Simonon 5:29
10. "Somebody Got Murdered"  Mick Jones 3:34
11. "One More Time" (written by The Clash and Mikey Dread)Joe Strummer 3:32
12. "One More Dub" (Dub version of "One More Time"; written by The Clash and Dread)Instrumental 3:34
13. "Lightning Strikes (Not Once but Twice)"  Joe Strummer 4:51
14. "Up in Heaven (Not Only Here)"  Mick Jones 4:31
15. "Corner Soul"  Joe Strummer 2:43
16. "Let's Go Crazy"  Joe Strummer 4:25
17. "If Music Could Talk" (written by The Clash and Dread)Joe Strummer 4:36
18. "The Sound of Sinners"  Joe Strummer 4:00
19. "Police on My Back" (written by Eddy Grant; originally performed by The Equals)Mick Jones 3:15
20. "Midnight Log"  Joe Strummer 2:11
21. "The Equaliser"  Joe Strummer 5:47
22. "The Call Up"  Joe Strummer 5:25
23. "Washington Bullets"  Joe Strummer 3:51
24. "Broadway" (Features an Epilogue of "The Guns of Brixton" sung by Maria Gallagher)Joe Strummer 5:45
25. "Lose This Skin" (written by Tymon Dogg)Tymon Dogg 5:07
26. "Charlie Don't Surf"  Joe Strummer, Mick Jones 4:55
27. "Mensforth Hill" ("Something About England" backwards with overdubs)Instrumental 3:42
28. "Junkie Slip"  Joe Strummer 2:48
29. "Kingston Advice"  Joe Strummer 2:36
30. "The Street Parade"  Joe Strummer 3:26
31. "Version City"  Joe Strummer 4:23
32. "Living in Fame" (Dub Version of "If Music Could Talk"; written by The Clash and Dread)Mikey Dread 4:36
33. "Silicone on Sapphire" (Dub version of "Washington Bullets")Joe Strummer 4:32
34. "Version Pardner" (Dub version of "Junco Partner")Joe Strummer 5:22
35. "Career Opportunities"  Luke Gallagher, Ben Gallagher 2:30
36. "Shepherds Delight" (Dub Version of "Police & Thieves")Instrumental 3:25
All songs written and composed by The Clash, except where noted. 
Combat Rock (1 CD)
No. TitleLead vocals Length
1. "Know Your Rights" (Strummer/Jones)Joe Strummer 3:39
2. "Car Jamming"  Joe Strummer 3:58
3. "Should I Stay or Should I Go"  Mick Jones 3:06
4. "Rock the Casbah" (Headon/The Clash)Joe Strummer 3:44
5. "Red Angel Dragnet"  Paul Simonon/Kosmo Vinyl 3:48
6. "Straight to Hell"  Joe Strummer 5:30
7. "Overpowered by Funk"  Joe Strummer/Futura 2000 4:55
8. "Atom Tan"  Mick Jones/Joe Strummer 2:32
9. "Sean Flynn"  Joe Strummer 4:30
10. "Ghetto Defendant"  Joe Strummer/Allen Ginsberg 4:45
11. "Inoculated City"  Mick Jones 2:43
12. "Death Is a Star"  Joe Strummer/Mick Jones 3:13
Sound System extras (1 CD)
No. TitleLead vocals Length
1. ""White Riot"" (Single version)Joe Strummer 1:59
2. "1977"  Joe Strummer 1:40
3. "Listen / Interviews"  Instrumental 11:08
4. "Capital Radio"  Joe Strummer 2:08
5. "London's Burning"  Joe Strummer 2:11
6. "Complete Control"  Joe Strummer 3:13
7. "City Of The Dead"  Joe Strummer 2:22
8. "Clash City Rockers"  Joe Strummer 3:57
9. "Jail Guitar Doors"  Mick Jones 3:04
10. "White Man in Hammersmith Palais"  Joe Strummer 4:01
11. "The Prisoner"  Mick Jones 3:03
12. "1-2 Crush On You"  Mick Jones 2:59
13. "Time Is Tight" (Booker T. Jones)Instrumental 4:04
14. "Pressure Drop" (Toots Hibbert)Joe Strummer 3:25
15. "I Fought The Law" (Sonny Curtis)Joe Strummer 2:43
16. "Groovy Times"  Joe Strummer 3:26
17. "Gates of the West"  Mick Jones 3:25
18. "Capital Radio II"  Joe Strummer 3:20
19. "Armagideon Time" (Willi Williams)Joe Strummer 3:52
20. "Bankrobber"  Joe Strummer 4:33
21. "Rockers Galore On A UK Tour" (written by The Clash and Mikey Dread)Mikey Dread 4:39
Sound System extras disc 2 (1 CD)
No. TitleLead vocals Length
1. "The Magnificent Dance" (Dance remix of "The Magnificent Seven")Joe Strummer 5:36
2. "Midnight To Stevens"  Joe Strummer 4:36
3. "Radio One"  Mikey Dread 6:17
4. "Stop The World"  Joe Strummer 2:32
5. "The Cool Out" (Dub version of "The Call Up")Instrumental 3:53
6. "This Is Radio Clash"  Joe Strummer 4:11
7. "Radio Clash"  Joe Strummer 4:11
8. "First Night Back in London"  Joe Strummer 2:59
9. "Rock The Casbah" (Bob Clearmountain 12" mix)Joe Strummer 3:42
10. "Long Time Jerk"  Joe Strummer 5:08
11. "The Beautiful People Are Ugly Too" (Combat Rock outtake; Previously Unreleased)Joe Strummer 3:46
12. "Idle In Kangaroo Court" (Combat Rock outtake listed as Kill Time; Previously Unreleased)Joe Strummer 5:04
13. "Ghetto Defendant" (Unedited version; Previously Unreleased)Joe Strummer/Allen Ginsberg 6:13
14. "Cool Confusion"  Joe Strummer 3:12
15. "Sean Flynn" (Extended 'Marcus Music' version; Previously Unreleased)Joe Strummer 7:22
16. "Straight to Hell" (Extended unedited version from Clash on Broadway)Joe Strummer 6:50
Sound System extras disc 3 (1 CD)
No. TitleLead vocals Length
1. "I'm So Bored With The USA" (first ever recording session at Beaconsfield Film School 1976 produced by Julian Temple)Joe Strummer 2:22
2. "London's Burning" (first ever recording session at Beaconsfield Film School 1976 produced by Julian Temple (Previously Unreleased))Joe Strummer 1:57
3. "White Riot" (first ever recording session at Beaconsfield Film School 1976 produced by Julian Temple)Joe Strummer 1:53
4. "1977" (first ever recording session at Beaconsfield Film School 1976 produced by Julian Temple (Previously Unreleased))Joe Strummer 1:50
5. "Janie Jones" (second ever recording session November 1976, Polydor demos produced by Guy Stevens)Joe Strummer 2:05
6. "Career Opportunities" (second ever recording session November 1976, Polydor demos produced by Guy Stevens)Joe Strummer 1:53
7. "London's Burning" (second ever recording session November 1976, Polydor demos produced by Guy Stevens (Previously Unreleased))Joe Strummer 1:58
8. "1977" (second ever recording session November 1976, Polydor demos produced by Guy Stevens (Previously Unreleased))Joe Strummer 1:40
9. "White Riot" (second ever recording session November 1976, Polydor demos produced by Guy Stevens (Previously Unreleased))Joe Strummer 1:58
10. "City of the Dead" (Live at The Lyceum, London 28 December 1978)Joe Strummer 2:55
11. "Jail Guitar Doors" (Live at The Lyceum, London 28 December 1978 (Previously Unreleased))Mick Jones 3:02
12. "English Civil War" (Live at The Lyceum, London 28 December 1978)Joe Strummer 2:31
13. "Stay Free" (Live at The Lyceum, London 28 December 1978 (Previously Unreleased))Mick Jones 3:27
14. "Cheapskates" (Live at The Lyceum, London 28 December 1978 (Previously Unreleased))Joe Strummer 3:12
15. "I Fought the Law" (Live at The Lyceum, London 28 December 1978)Joe Strummer 2:25
All songs written and composed by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted.  All songs written and composed by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted. 

Bonus DVD

Julien Temple Archive - 6:15

White Riot Promo Film (Promo and interview with Tony Parsons) - 7:11

  • 1977
  • White Riot
  • London's Burning

Sussex University '77 - 8:29 (previously unreleased)

  • I'm So Bored with the USA
  • Hate & War
  • Career Opportunities
  • Remote Control

Don Letts Super 8 Medley - 11:45

  • White Riot
  • Janie Jones
  • City of the Dead
  • Clash City Rockers
  • White Man in Hammersmith Palais
  • 1977

Clash on Broadway - 22:31

  • London Calling
  • This Is Radio Clash
  • The Magnificent Seven
  • The Guns of Brixton
  • Safe European Home

Promo Videos - 37:37

  • Tommy Gun
  • London Calling
  • Bankrobber
  • Clampdown (Live)
  • Train in Vain (Live)
  • The Call Up
  • Rock the Casbah
  • Radio Clash
  • Should I Stay or Should I Go (Live at Shea Stadium)
  • Career Opportunities (Live at Shea Stadium)

Personnel

The Clash
  • Joe Strummer − backing vocals, bass guitar, lead guitar, lead vocals, piano, rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Mick Jones − backing vocals, harmonica, lead guitar, lead vocals, piano, vocals
  • Paul Simonon − backing vocals, bass guitar, lead vocals, rhythm guitar, vocals
  • Topper Headon − bass guitar, drums, percussion, piano, vocals
  • Tory Crimes (Terry Chimes) − drums
Featured artists
  • Composers: Mose Allison, Clive Alphonso, Michael Campbell, The Clash, Sonny Curtis, Clement Dodd, Tymon Dogg, Mikey Dread, Jackie Edwards, Robert Ellen, Eddy Grant, Topper Headon, Frederick Hibbert, FBooker T. Jones, Mick Jones, Keith Levine, Jackie Mittoo, Junior Murvin, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Danny Ray, Paul Simonon, Joe Strummer, Vince Taylor, Wilbert Williams
Production
  • Engineering: Joe Blaney, Gregg Caruso, Kevin Dalimore, Dennis Ferranti, Eddie Garcia, Jerry Green, Simon Humphreys, Glyn Johns, Lancelot "Maxie" McKenzie, Chris Mingo, J.P. Nickolson, Bill Price, Corky Stasiak, Paul Subblebine, and Julien Temple
  • Editing: Robin Banks, Pablo D'Ambrosie, and Kris Needs
  • Mixing: Mikey Dread, Glyn Johns, Bill Price, Corky Stasiak, and Richard Whittaker
  • Remastering: The Clash, Mick Jones, Paul Subblebine, and Tim Young
  • Sound Effects: Steve Bell
  • Art Editor: Robert Gordon McHarg III
  • Artwork: Mikey Dread, Eddie, Gene Greif, Jules, Robert Gordon McHarg III, Chris Musto, Kate Simon, Paul Simonon, and Joe Strummer
  • Design: Hugh Brown, The Clash, Wes Geral, Gene Greif, Jules, Ray Lowry, Robert Gordon McHarg III, Robbin Panks, Terry Razor, and Paul Simonon
  • Liner Notes: The Baker, Robin Banks, John Cooper Clarke, Mikey Dread, Johnny Green, Topper Headon, Mick Jones, Ray Jordan, Don Letts, Alex Michon, Bill Price, Chris Salewicz, Paul Simonon, Pennie Smith, Joe Strummer, Julien Temple, Tim Young, and Kosmo Vinyl
  • Photography: M. Arscott, Jane Ashley, Hugh Brown, Caroline Coon, Bob Gruen, Sho Kikuchi, Krystyna Kolowska, Grzegorz Lepiarz, Des Letts, Rocco Macauley, Kate Simon, Paul Slattery, Pennie Smith, Joe Strummer, Julien Temple, and Julian Yewdall
  • Cartoonist: Steve Bell
  • Layout: Chris Musto
  • Executive Producer: Don Letts
  • Producers: Ama Chana, The Clash, Micky Foote, Sandy Pearlman, and Guy Stevens
  • Project Manager: Joanna Kalli
  • Project Consultant: Andy Street
  • Consultant: Bill Price
  • Assistants: Steve Levine, Joe Pullen
  • A&R: Bruce Dickinson and Matt Gibbon

Charts

Chart Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[ 1] 99
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[ 1] 99
UK Albums (OCC)[ 1] 53

References

  1. ↑ Hann, Michael (21 May 2013). "The Clash to release new box set of remastered albums and rarities: Sound System set to be accompanied by best-of album, sequenced to copy a 1982 Brixton show". The Guardian. 
  2. ↑ "The Clash Announce Deluxe "Sound System" Box Set". Yahoo! Finance. 21 May 2013. 
  3. ↑ Greene, Andy (30 August 2013). "The Clash's Mick Jones: 'This Is It for Me': Expects the band's huge new box set to be last reissue project". Rolling Stone. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Sound System". Metacritic. Retrieved 15 October 2013. 
  5. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Sound System (album) at AllMusic. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  6. ↑ Martell, Nevin (10 September 2013). "The Clash: Sound System [box set] - SONY LEGACY". Filter. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Maçek III, J.C. (2013-09-20). "The Clash: Sound System". PopMatters. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Sheffield, Rob (10 September 2013). "The Clash: Sound System (Album Review)". Rolling Stone. 
  9. ↑ Aswad, Jem (10 September 2013). "New Clash, Sly & the Family Stone Box Sets Clean the Vaults, Test Fans' Boundaries". Spin. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Sawer, Patrick (21 July 2013). "The Clash Sound System, box set review". The Telegraph. 

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