Review Summary: One of the finest b-side collections I've heard. Some of The Clash's greatest and most overlooked material is found on Super Black Market Clash, even if it's mainly in the first half
Super Black Market Clash is basically an expanded version of the EP
Black Market Clash released in 1980, (after
London Calling but before
Sandinista!) but with other rare tracks as well. When all of The Clash's albums were being reissued in late 1993, Sony decided to expand Black Market Clash bringing it to 21 songs. Though this album contains B-sides, singles, remixes of original songs and instrumentals, it shows some of The Clash's best and overlooked work. The album is basically divided up into two sections, the first being the rock/punk side, and then after number 12, the dub, remixes, reggae ect.
This record contains some of the finest Clash songs including the opener,
1977, one of the very first Clash songs recorded, which is a great example of their early raw punk work. This song was recorded on September 20th, 1976 along with
White Riot and was originally found on the White Riot single. Other highlights of the album include the Toots Hibbert Cover
Pressure Drop (b-side to
English Civil War), the Mick Jones sung
The Prisoner (b-side to
White Man in Hammersmith Palais), and all the tracks originally off the
Cost of Living EP:
Gates Of The West, the harmonica and acoustic driven
Groovy Times (also found on
The Essential Clash), and my favorite song on the album
Capitol Radio Two (Capitol Radio One being on Black Market Clash as well as the Cost of Living EP). The song is not drastically different from the first version, only longer and with an alternate beginning. The track starts with a nice acoustic intro and then blasts into a rockin' song about a local radio station and the hit songs it plays in which Joe pokes fun at by telling Mick of how he's gonna get on the radio. Joe sings in the song:
"I've been studyin' the charts usin' my mind, and my imagination".
The City Of The Dead (b-side to Complete Control) is also one of the best, with highlighted by a great riff, a cool saxaphone solo, and lyrics about living in London.
1-2 Crush On You (b-side to Tommy Gun) is a fun and very poppy song that Jones sings well. This song dates back to the earliest days of The Clash of just Paul and Mick in 1976 before Joe joined the band. Another solid track song is
Jail Guitar Doors which was originally a 101'ers song (Strummer's previous band) which you have probably heard as it is on
The Clash (US).
The standard instrumentals (guitars, bass, drums) on this album (
Listen,
Time Is Tight) are both done well, though not overly complicated or standouts.
Listen being of the better of the two with a great bassline. There are many dub versions of original songs including the nine minute
Justice Tonight/Kick It Over being the dub version to Armagideon Time (B-side to London Calling and also found on Black Market Clash),
The Cool Out (The Call Up) and
Robber Dub (Bankrobber). Most of these songs have little to no lyics. Other dub remixes include
The Magnificent Dance (The Magnificent Seven) and
Mustapha Dance, which is basically a remix of
Rock the Casbah but with lack of words, though still an enjoyable song.
Radio Clash, the poppy synth dominated track, was originally just one long song, but was too big to fit on the 7" "Black Market Clash", so this is literally the other half and practically identical to
This Is Radio Clash with only the lyrics being different..
Stop The World is one of the better dub/reggae songs. Joe sings this one all the way through with a somewhat agressive tone with echoing effects at which is done well. The song flows very well, and doesn't drag on too long at two and a half minutes. Most of these remix songs were recorded during the
Combat Rock sessions between 1981 and 1982.
Although there are some skipable tracks like
First Night Back In London, this album is essential to any fan of The Clash as it has some classic songs and some you won't find anywhere else. It is kind of like a behind-the-scenes of the band. If you purchase this album, inside you will find more interesting facts about each song and where/when they were recorded it and the story behind it. As I had already stated, some of these songs are The Clash's best (mostly the first half of the album) and very surprising that they didn't make it on to any albums. But I guess when your making albums like London Calling, it all makes sense.
Super Black Market Clash explores many types of music including punk, reggae, dub, pop and rock making for an interesting listen that never gets old or repetitive. I wouldn't recommend this album if you are just getting into The Clash, but other then that, get it!
4/5
The Clash:
Joe Strummer- Guitar/Lead Vocals
Mick Jones- Lead Guitar/Vocals
Paul Simonon- Bass
Topper Headon- Drums
Recommended Tracks:
Capitol Radio Two
Groovy Times
Gates Of The West
Pressure Drop
The Prisoner
1977
Stop The World
