The Clash = ザ・クラッシュ* – Singles = シングルズ'77∼'79 45s Box Set

	£		65
	$		86

The Clash = ザ・クラッシュ* – Singles = シングルズ'77∼'79

Excellent box set of the early singles by The Clash, up to and including “London Calling”.

As the box is now 45 years old, it is no longer in pristine condition. As the photos show, the top half has been a little crushed and one corner is split. The rear of the bottom half is wrinkled but intact. This houses the 8 singles.

The set comes with 3 inserts and an obi. The obi, which used to wrap around the box has come unstuck but could probably be reattached. However, it is quite wrinkled and has a slight tear. The insert which advertises other releases is slightly wrinkled. The two other inserts with bilingual lyrics are in great shape, save for the rear of one (or is it the start) which is a little grubby. This can all be seen in my photos.

Now to the records themselves. These are without exception in excellent condition , sleeves and discs themselves. Each one reproduces the original UK sleeves. The records are clean and glossy and play flawlessly. Not a mark on them. I have chosen a couple to take photos of and this reflects the condition throughout.

However the first single, “White Riot” has a slight stain (coffee or wine, it looks like) on the A-side. That is the only flaw across 16 sides.

Naturally for records of this vintage there will be a considerable amount of dust which I will do my best to remove.

Records

Japanese-only box set reissuing the band's first eight UK singles:

White Riot

Remote Control

Complete Control

Clash City Rockers

(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais

Tommy Gun

English Civil War (Johnny Comes Marching Home)

London Calling And Armagideon Time

All in reproductions of their original picture sleeves. Includes an obi, insert picturing the 8 records, and two lyric booklets in both English and Japanese. Each single has its own catalogue number in sequential order, and the whole set is identified as 44•5P-103~110.

ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE PLEASE ASK. I intend playing all 16 sides today (14/04/24) to confirm that they all play well.

As the set will require special packaging to minimise any further damage to the box, postage will be higher than is usual.

UPDATE 14/04/24

I have now played all 16 sides listening intently. Playback is on a Linn Sondek.

I am pleased to report that all 16 sides play back flawlessly. They are perfect. Sound is deliriously good. If one wished to be pernickety, there is a bit of crackle on the lead-in on most sides. This disappears the second the music kicks in. There are no ticks, pops, scratches major or minor, skips, jumps or sticks.

These releases are on Epic, CBS’ sister label in Japan. The first 7 singles use the 70s CBS sunburst label, the exception being ‘London Calling’ whose label was white internationally (except in Ireland where some copies came out on the CBS sunburst label ). All labels are clean with the aforementioned exception of ‘White Riot’ which has a small stain on the A-side only.

A White Riot

Producer – Micky Foote*

Written-By – Strummer*, Jones*

1:54

1-B 1977

Producer – Micky Foote*

Written-By – Strummer*, Jones*

1:40

2-A Remote Control

Producer – Micky Foote*

Written-By – Strummer*, Jones*

3:00

2-B London's Burning (Live)

Producer – Micky Foote*

Written-By – Strummer*, Jones*

2:10

3-A Complete Control

Producer – Lee Perry, Micky Foote*

Written-By – Strummer*, Jones*

3:13

3-B The City Of The Dead

Producer – Micky Foote*

Written-By – Strummer*, Jones*

2:22

4-A Clash City Rockers

Producer – Micky Foote*

Written-By – J. Strummer*, M. Jones*

3:59

4-B Jail Guitar Doors

Producer – Micky Foote*

Written-By – J. Strummer*, M. Jones*

3:02

5-A (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais

Producer – The Clash

Written-By – J. Strummer*, M. Jones*

3:59

5-B The Prisoner

Producer – The Clash

Written-By – J. Summer*, M. Jones*

3:02

6-A Tommy Gun

Producer – Sandy Pearlman

Written-By – J. Strummer*, M. Jones*

3:16

6-B 1-2 Crush On You

Saxophone [Uncredited] – Gary Barnacle

Written-By – J. Strummer*, M. Jones*

2:59

7-A English Civil War 2:36

7-B Pressure Drop 3:25

8-A London Calling

Producer – Guy Stevens

Written-By – J. Strummer*, M. Jones*

3:19

8-B Armagideon Time 3:49