It's not easy being the World's Greatest Rock & Roll Band (a tag the Clash inherited from the Rolling Stones, who had traded their emotional commitment for tax exile). What you do after changing the world with your first few releases? The previous SANDINISTA was the Clash's WHITE ALBUM, exploring just about every musical style they could think of over the course of three LP's. COMBAT ROCK, then, could be their LET IT BE, an attempt to focus on visceral, accessible material, kidney-punching instead of bobbing and weaving. There's an increased focus on funk here, as on the unlikely hit "Rock the Casbah" and "Overpowered by Funk." Naturally, there's also a pronounced political element to the lyrics (the anti-authoritarian rant of "Know Your Rights," the post-Vietnam morality play of the moving "Straight to Hell.") Despite the renewed sense of focus, though, there's still a high degree of artistic ambition revealed in both the polysyllabic lyrics and the textured, overdub-heavy arrangements. The Clash: Joe Strummer, Mick Jones (vocals, guitar); Paul Simonon (vocals, bass); Topper Headon (drums).Additional personnel: Gary Barnacle (saxophone); Tymon Dogg (piano); Poly Mandrell (keyboards); Allen Ginsberg, Joe Ely, Ellen Foley, Futura 2000 (background vocals).Digitally remastered by Ray Staff & Bob Whitney (Whitfield Street Studios, London, England). Format: Vinyl Genre: Rock, Alternative Remember, for our lowest prices, always order directly from Joco Records! Track Listing: A1 Know Your Rights 3:40A2 Car Jamming 4:00A3 Should I Stay Or Should I Go 3:09A4 Rock The Casbah 3:43A5 Red Angel Dragnet 3:45A6 Straight To Hell 5:30B1 Overpowered By Funk 4:52B2 Atom Tan 2:30B3 Sean Flynn 4:31B4 Ghetto Defendant 4:44B5 Inoculated City 2:42B6 Death Is A Star 3:11
