Give 'Em Enough Rope - The ClashJoe Strummer – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
Mick Jones – lead guitar, backing and lead vocals
Paul Simonon – bass guitar, backing vocals
Topper Headon – drums
Allen Lanier - piano on "Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad" (uncredited)
CBS wanted a much clearer sound than the debut album and enlisted Sandy Pearlman to be the Producer. He was best known for founding, writing for, producing, or co-producing many LPs by Blue Öyster Cult. It seemed like an odd pairing and it probably didn't help that Pearlman didn't particularly like Joe Strummer's voice and so he mixed the drums to be louder than Joe's vocal! This cleaner sound CBS were hoping would make the band more accesible to American audiences and of course to American Radio, after all this would be the American Debut Album by The Clash. CBS in America had decided that the actual debut album was 'not radio friendly', so it was initially only available in the States during 1977–1978 as an import, and as such became the best-selling import of the year, selling over 100,000 copies. It was eventually released with a very revised tracklist on 26th July 1979.
On its release it was taken to the cleaners by Melody Maker's Jon Savage and didn't fair so well with other UK critics, though Sounds did name it Album of the Year.
In the States Greil Marcus, writing for Rolling Stone, said it was:
"a poised, unpretentious record of straight English punk with a grip on
the future"
I remember at the time that friends who liked The Clash were quite dismissive of it as well, toeing a similar line to the music press, and that was mainly due to Sandy Pearlman's involvement I think.
A2 English Civil War⭐⭐⭐⭐
A3 Tommy Gun⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A4 Julie's Been Working For The Drug Squad⭐⭐
A5 Last Gang In Town⭐⭐⭐⭐
B2 Drug-Stabbing Time⭐⭐⭐
B3 Stay Free⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
B4 Cheapskates⭐⭐⭐⭐
B5 All The Young Punks (New Boots And Contracts)⭐⭐⭐
"Stay Free is embarrassing in the failure of Mick Jones' vocal to carry the weight of the song, overburdened by 'tasteful' arrangements and the attempt at personal dedication."
Two singles were released from the album:
Tommy Gun / 1-2 Crush On You
24 November 1978
UK Chart #19
Danny Baker on Tommy Gun
NME 25th November 1978:
"This track has been around since early this year, and isn't made any more attractive by a shabby rendering of the ancient '1-2 Crush On You' on the B-Side (complete with Pleasers-style rising "Ah's" on the intro). With (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais, I thought The Clash were untouchable, but this is a sad report on the state of things. Collectors Item?"
English Civil War / Pressure Drop
23rd February 1979
UK Chart #25
Danny Baker (again!) on English Civil War
NME 24 February 1979:
"A wise enough if miscued and rock 'n' rolly warning about all things uniformed and sinister that this chap can flow easier to than any tuppenny ha'penny 'Oliver's Army'. But then it was a CBS choice, we hear. The flip is the old Toots 'Pressure Drop' from the set of yore but done more professionally, less manic. Now is this a good thing? It sounds OK anyway and they at least feel - which is more can be said for the disgusting rubbish "Ol' Keef" pays his bills with. Despite myself, The Clash are still the only rock group I would cross the road for."
After 43 years the album still sounds good. My view of 'Julie's Been Working For The Drug Squad' hasn't changed since I first heard it, possibly the weakest song on the album. The presence of Topper on the drums certainly made a difference and added a bigger sound to the band (no disrespect to Terry Chimes who played on the debut) and no matter what Jon Savage thinks 'Stay Free' is still one of the finest songs by The Clash.
If I was hearing this album for the first time ever I would be tempted to give it ⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating.
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