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"This Is Radio Clash" is a song by the English punk rock band the Clash, released as a single in 1981. It received mixed reviews from critics who wanted the Clash to return to its anarchic punk roots. The experimental nature of the song drew praise, as well as the Clash's signature anti-authoritarian political lyrics. The song continued the Clash's shift to rap rock and funk, a combination which had succeeded in the American market.
| "This Is Radio Clash" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by the Clash | ||||
| B-side | "Radio Clash" | |||
| Released | 20 November 1981 (U.K.) | |||
| Recorded | 1981 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:10 | |||
| Label | CBS | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon | |||
| Producer(s) | The Clash | |||
| The Clash singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Release
edit7-inch single
editThe 7-inch single also contains a B-side titled simply "Radio Clash", which is a remix of the title track with additional lyrics. The Clash stated at the time that they intended the songs to be heard as a single entity.[citation needed] The two recordings have the same playing time.
"This Is Radio Clash" begins with the lyric:
"This is Radio Clash on pirate satellite
Orbiting your living room, cashing in the bill of rights."
"Radio Clash" begins with:
"This is Radio Clash resuming all transmissions
Beaming from the mountain tops, using aural ammunition."
On some versions of the Super Black Market Clash CD, the B-side "Radio Clash" is included, but incorrectly listed as "This Is Radio Clash". The same error was repeated on the US version of the 2003 collection The Essential Clash.
12-inch single
editOn side one of the 12-inch single, "This Is Radio Clash" is followed by "Radio Clash". Side two contains two additional remixes of the title track: "Outside Broadcast" and "Radio Five". In 2006, a CD compilation called Singles Box was released which collected all four versions in the same order with original cover art.
Legacy
editAmerican critic Eric Schafer described the song as "a magnificent, daring, challenging record that was years ahead of its time; one of the great rock records of the 1980s, it has never been given its just credit. Twenty-eight years after its debut, were it released today it would still burn up the radio."[3]
The song is not featured on any of the Clash's original studio albums, but is included on their compilations The Story of the Clash, Volume 1 (1988), Clash on Broadway (1991), The Singles (1991), Sound System (2013), Singles Box (2006) and The Singles (2007). The song is included on the experimental compilation album called Disco Not Disco 2 (2002), as well as the radio soundtrack in the video game Battlefield Hardline (2015). The song was also briefly featured in season 2, episode 4 of Stranger Things.
Track listing
editAll tracks written and composed by The Clash (Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon).
- 7" vinyl
- "This Is Radio Clash" – 4:12
- "Radio Clash" – 4:12
- 12" vinyl / Cassette
- "This Is Radio Clash" – 4:12
- "Radio Clash" – 4:12
- "Outside Broadcast" – 7:23
- "Radio 5" – 3:38
Personnel
edit- The Clash
- Joe Strummer – vocal, rhythm guitar
- Mick Jones – vocal, lead guitar
- Paul Simonon – bass guitar
- Topper Headon – drums
- Additional musician
- Gary Barnacle – saxophones
Charts
edit| Year | Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | UK Singles Chart | 47 |
| 1982 | Australia (ARIA)[4] | 40 |
| 1982 | New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[5] | 28 |
| 1982 | Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[6] | 9 |
| 1982 | US Billboard Club Play Singles[7] | 17 |
| 1982 | US Mainstream Rock[7] | 45 |
Notes
edit- ^ Aaron, Charles (11 February 2014). "Rap-Rock: From 'Punk Rock Rap' to Mook Nation". Spin. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- ^ Popoff, Martin (2018). The Clash: All the Albums, All the Songs. Voyageur Press. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-76036-426-0.
- ^ Faulk, Dr Barry; Harrison, Professor Brady (28 April 2014). Punk Rock Warlord: the Life and Work of Joe Strummer. p. 154. ISBN 9781472410559. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- ^ "The Clash – This Is Radio Clash". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "The Clash – This Is Radio Clash". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "The Clash – This Is Radio Clash". Singles Top 100.
- ^ a b The Clash > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles at AllMusic. Retrieved 20 December 2007.
References
edit- Gilbert, Pat (2005) [2004]. Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash (4th ed.). London: Aurum Press. ISBN 1-84513-113-4. OCLC 61177239.
- Gray, Marcus (2005) [1995]. The Clash: Return of the Last Gang in Town (5th revised ed.). London: Helter Skelter. ISBN 1-905139-10-1. OCLC 60668626.
- Green, Johnny; Garry Barker (2003) [1997]. A Riot of Our Own: Night and Day with The Clash (3rd ed.). London: Orion. ISBN 0-7528-5843-2. OCLC 52990890.
- Gruen, Bob; Chris Salewicz (2004) [2001]. The Clash (3rd ed.). London: Omnibus. ISBN 1-903399-34-3. OCLC 69241279.
- Needs, Kris (25 January 2005). Joe Strummer and the Legend of the Clash. London: Plexus. ISBN 0-85965-348-X. OCLC 53155325.
- Topping, Keith (2004) [2003]. The Complete Clash (2nd ed.). Richmond: Reynolds & Hearn. ISBN 1-903111-70-6. OCLC 63129186.
External links
edit- This Is Radio Clash at MySpace (streamed copy where licensed)
- Radio Clash at MySpace (streamed copy where licensed)