The Clash - Sound System (2013) [11CD+DVD Box Set, Columbia 887254600022 rec 1977-1982}

The Clash's Sound System is the band’s re-mastered recorded works collected together for the first time. Contained within classic boombox packaging designed by Paul Simonon, this boxset contains the band’s five seminal studio albums in their original eight-disc format, newly re-mastered by The Clash; 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; an owner’s manual booklet; reprints of the band’s original Armagideon Times fanzine as well as a brand new edition curated and designed by Paul Simonon; and merchandise including dog tags, badges, stickers and an exclusive Clash poster.

Conceived and compiled by The Clash, Sound System is a significant and unique collection of the complete recorded works by the 20th century’s most influential British band. Greatly enhanced by the careful re-mastering rendering the original recordings more vital and crisp, it's all contained in Paul Simonon’s iconic design, with a selection of bonus material.

1xCD - The Clash (1977)
1xCD - Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978)
2xCD - London Calling (1979)
3xCD - Sandinista (1980)
1xCD - Combat Rock (1982)
3xCD - The Clash Sound System Extras (bonus material, 1976-1982)
1xDVD - The Clash (contains interviews, live performances and all the promo videos)
"Service Manual" (a hardback guide to the contents of the box set)
Dog Tags
5 Badges
3 DIY Stickers
The Clash Paperback Book (blank!)
The Clash Folder
Armagideon Times Special Edition (36 pages)
Armagideon Times 1 (Reprint - 24 pages)
Armagideon Times 2 (Reprint - 24 pages)
2 Bumper Stickers
The Clash Vintage Sticker Set
15" x 15" Poster

Most box sets are designed to enshrine an artist in the amber of posterity. The idea is that the artist has transcended their time, that they can now be appreciated outside of the context of their era. The digital age, where recordings from the past sit comfortably with tunes from the present, accelerates this trend, suggesting that all the classic artists exist upon their own continuum, that their development was almost a product of self-divination. What is interesting about Sound System is that it throws this notion out the window and celebrates the era that produced the Clash as much as it celebrates the band itself. As designed by Clash bassist Paul Simonon, Sound System looks like an old-school ghetto blaster, and it's filled with replicas of fanzines, stickers, badges, press photos, posters, dog tags – all manner of period-specific tchotchkes that walk the line between nostalgia and commercial art. This aesthetic trickles down to the presentation of the music itself, with London Calling split over two CDs where it could easily fit onto one and Sandinista! taking up a full three discs. Such details slightly impede playability if Sound System is listened to as a series of CDs, but once the set is ripped and listened to digitally, the divided discs are simply another design flourish, one of many little things to appreciate. But Sound System is also attractive in delivering what effectively is the Complete Clash in one sitting. Apart from the disowned Cut the Crap, all the albums are here – the U.K. version of The Clash, Give 'Em Enough Rope, London Calling, Sandinista!, Combat Rock – along with three discs of extras that include all the non-LP singles (i.e., the singles that were added to the U.S. pressing of the debut, plus everything that wound up on the clearinghouse Super Black Market Clash, such as the Cost of Living EP), oddities that appeared on the first Clash box Clash on Broadway in 1991, and B-sides; then, most attractively for collectors, previously unreleased mixes, outtakes from Combat Rock, "extracts" from the band's first recording session in 1976, Polydor demos from that same year produced by Guy Stevens, and six live cuts from the Lyceum in 1979. Then, there's the DVD which contains all the band's promo videos, the Clash on Broadway video, the White Promo Film, footage from Sussex University in 1977, and individual selections from Clash compatriots Don Letts and Julian Temple. Perhaps there are still some stray tracks in the vaults – this seems to excavate all the unheard songs from Rat Patrol from Fort Bragg, aka the original version of Combat Rock and some cuts may be left behind – but this is as complete as we'll get and if it doesn't present any fresh revelations, it brings the Clash's era back to life, both sonically and visually.

tracklist:
CD1 The Clash (UK Version)
01. "Janie Jones" Strummer 2:03
02. "Remote Control" Jones, Strummer 3:00
03. "I'm So Bored with the USA" Strummer 2:25
04. "White Riot" Strummer 1:56
05. "Hate & War" Jones, Strummer 2:05
06. "What's My Name?" (written by Strummer, Jones, Keith Levene) Strummer 1:40
07. "Deny" Strummer 3:03
08. "London's Burning" Strummer 2:12
09. "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



CD2 Give 'Em Enough Rope
01. "Safe European Home" 3:50
02. "English Civil War" (Traditional; arranged by Jones and Strummer) 2:35
03. "Tommy Gun" 3:17
04. "Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad" 3:03
05. "Last Gang in Town" 5:14
06. "Guns on the Roof" (written by Topper Headon, Jones, Paul Simonon, Strummer) 3:15
07. "Drug-Stabbing Time" 3:43
08. "Stay Free" 3:40
09. "Cheapskates" 3:25
10. "All the Young Punks (New Boots and Contracts)" 4:55

CD3-4 London Calling
01. "London Calling" Strummer 3:19
02. "Brand New Cadillac" (written and originally performed by Vince Taylor) Strummer 2:09
03. "Jimmy Jazz" Strummer 3:52
04. "Hateful" Strummer 2:45
05. "Rudie Can't Fail" Strummer, Jones 3:26
06. "Spanish Bombs" Strummer, Jones 3:19
07. "The Right Profile" Strummer 3:56
08. "Lost in the Supermarket" Jones 3:47
09. "Clampdown" Strummer, Jones 3:49
10. "The Guns of Brixton" (written by Paul Simonon) Simonon 3:07

01. "Wrong 'Em Boyo" (written by Clive Alphonso; originally performed by the Rulers; including Stagger Lee) Strummer 3:10
02. "Death or Glory" Strummer 3:55
03. "Koka Kola" Strummer 1:46
04. "The Card Cheat" Jones 3:51
05. "Lover's Rock" Strummer 4:01
06. "Four Horsemen" Strummer 2:56
07. "I'm Not Down" Jones 3:00
08. "Revolution Rock" (written by Jackie Edwards, Danny Ray; originally performed by Danny Ray and the Revolutionaries) Strummer 5:37
09. "Train in Vain" Jones 3:09

CD5-7 Sandinista!
01. "The Magnificent Seven" Joe Strummer 5:28
02. "Hitsville U.K." Mick Jones, Ellen Foley 4:20
03. "Junco Partner" ( "writer, at present, unknown" on liner notes) Joe Strummer 4:53
04. "Ivan Meets G.I. Joe" Topper Headon 3:05
05. "The Leader" Joe Strummer 1:41
06. "Something About England" Mick Jones, Joe Strummer 3:42
07. "Rebel Waltz" Joe Strummer 3:25
08. "Look Here" (written by Mose Allison) Joe Strummer 2:44
09. "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

01. "Lightning Strikes (Not Once but Twice)" Joe Strummer 4:51
02. "Up in Heaven (Not Only Here)" Mick Jones 4:31
03. "Corner Soul" Joe Strummer 2:43
04. "Let's Go Crazy" Joe Strummer 4:25
05. "If Music Could Talk" (written by The Clash and Dread) Joe Strummer 4:36
06. "The Sound of Sinners" Joe Strummer 4:00
07. "Police on My Back" (written by Eddy Grant; originally performed by The Equals) Mick Jones 3:15
08. "Midnight Log" Joe Strummer 2:11
09. "The Equaliser" Joe Strummer 5:47
10. "The Call Up" Joe Strummer 5:25
11. "Washington Bullets" Joe Strummer 3:51
12. "Broadway" (Features an Epilogue of "The Guns of Brixton" sung by Maria Gallagher) Joe Strummer 5:45

01. "Lose This Skin" (written by Tymon Dogg) Tymon Dogg 5:07
02. "Charlie Don't Surf" Joe Strummer, Mick Jones 4:55
03. "Mensforth Hill" ( "Something About England" backwards with overdubs) Instrumental 3:42
04. "Junkie Slip" Joe Strummer 2:48
05. "Kingston Advice" Joe Strummer 2:36
06. "The Street Parade" Joe Strummer 3:26
07. "Version City" Joe Strummer 4:23
08. "Living in Fame" (Dub Version of "If Music Could Talk"; written by The Clash and Dread) Mikey Dread 4:36
09. "Silicone on Sapphire" (Dub version of "Washington Bullets" ) Joe Strummer 4:32
10. "Version Pardner" (Dub version of "Junco Partner" ) Joe Strummer 5:22
11. "Career Opportunities" Luke Gallagher, Ben Gallagher 2:30
12. "Shepherds Delight" (Dub Version of "Police & Thieves" ) Instrumental 3:25



CD8 Combat Rock
01. "Know Your Rights" (Strummer/Jones) Joe Strummer 3:39
02. "Car Jamming" Joe Strummer 3:58
03. "Should I Stay or Should I Go" Mick Jones 3:06
04. "Rock the Casbah" (Headon/The Clash) Joe Strummer 3:44
05. "Red Angel Dragnet" Paul Simonon/Kosmo Vinyl 3:48
06. "Straight to Hell" Joe Strummer 5:30
07. "Overpowered by Funk" Joe Strummer/Futura 2000 4:55
08. "Atom Tan" Mick Jones/Joe Strummer 2:32
09. "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

CD9-11 Sound System Extras
01. ""White Riot" (single version)" Joe Strummer 1:59
02. "1977 (B-side)" Joe Strummer 1:40
03. "Listen / Interviews (Capital Radio EP)" Instrumental 11:08
04. "Capital Radio (Capital Radio EP)" Joe Strummer 2:08
05. "London's Burning (Live B-side Remote Control)" Joe Strummer 2:11
06. "Complete Control (Single version)" Joe Strummer 3:13
07. "City Of The Dead (B-side)" Joe Strummer 2:22
08. "Clash City Rockers (Original single version)" Joe Strummer 3:57
09. "Jail Guitar Doors (B-side)" Mick Jones 3:04
10. "White Man in Hammersmith Palais" Joe Strummer 4:01
11. "The Prisoner (B-side)" Mick Jones 3:03
12. "1-2 Crush On You (B-side)" Mick Jones 2:59
13. "Time Is Tight (Booker T. Jones) (Black Market Clash)" Instrumental 4:04
14. "Pressure Drop (Toots Hibbert) (B-side)" Joe Strummer 3:25
15. "I Fought The Law (Sonny Curtis) (The Cost of Living EP)" Joe Strummer 2:43
16. "Groovy Times (The Cost of Living EP)" Joe Strummer 3:26
17. "Gates of the West (The Cost of Living EP)" Mick Jones 3:25
18. "Capital Radio II (The Cost of Living EP)" 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)(B-side)" Mikey Dread 4:39

01. "Magnificent Dance (12" )" Joe Strummer 5:36
02. "Midnight To Stevens (Outtake)" Joe Strummer 4:36
03. "Radio One (B-side)" Joe Strummer 6:17
04. "Stop The World (B-side)" Joe Strummer 2:32
05. "The Cool Out (US 12" B-side)" (Dance version of "The Call Up" ) Instrumental 3:53
06. "This Is Radio Clash" Joe Strummer 4:11
07. "This Is Radio Clash (B-side 7" different lyrics)" Joe Strummer 4:11
08. "First Night Back in London (B-side)" Joe Strummer 2:59
09. "Rock The Casbah (Bob Clearmountain 12" mix)" Joe Strummer 3:42
10. "Long Time Jerk (B-side)" 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 (Extended version - unedited)" (Previously Unreleased) Joe Strummer/Allen Ginsberg 6:13
14. "Cool Confusion (B-side)" 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

01. "I'm So Bored With The USA" (first ever recording session at Beaconsfield Film School 1976 produced by Julian Temple) Joe Strummer 2:22
02. "London's Burning" (first ever recording session at Beaconsfield Film School 1976 produced by Julian Temple (Previously Unreleased)) Joe Strummer 1:57
03. "White Riot" (first ever recording session at Beaconsfield Film School 1976 produced by Julian Temple) Joe Strummer 1:53
04. "1977" (first ever recording session at Beaconsfield Film School 1976 produced by Julian Temple (Previously Unreleased)) Joe Strummer 1:50
05. "Janie Jones" (second ever recording session November 1976, Polydor demos produced by Guy Stevens) Joe Strummer 2:05
06. "Career Opportunities" (second ever recording session November 1976, Polydor demos produced by Guy Stevens) Joe Strummer 1:53
07. "London's Burning" (second ever recording session November 1976, Polydor demos produced by Guy Stevens (Previously Unreleased)) Joe Strummer 1:58
08. "1977" (second ever recording session November 1976, Polydor demos produced by Guy Stevens (Previously Unreleased)) Joe Strummer 1:40
09. "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



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)