The Clash

On 27 January 1977 The Clash signed contract with CBS Records, one of the major international labels, which caused controversial reactions among the then punk rock. The group immediately began to record the first single and album. It should be noted that by that time the group has taken a very important decision for yourself - do not restrict themselves rock, but also play reggae music at that time associated with the black protest, and is generally considered to be the voice of the Third World. In one of the first punk-reggae rockers willingly listened to punk-club «Roxy» DJ Don Letsie to play the latest Jamaican music, for which was considered in The Clash bass player Paul Simonon, grew up in the black quarter and the youth listened ska and reggae.

The debut album, called simply «The Clash» and released April 8th, 1977, consisted of early punk arsenal team (the song «I'm So Bored With The USA», «Career Opportunities», «London's Burning»). Album unexpectedly ended 6-minute cover versions of reggae hits, Junior Mervyn «Police And Thieves». Despite the fact that predefined album debut single «White Riot» took only 38 th place, the album reached the 12th position in the British hit parade - to the great surprise of the label and the group. In subsequent years, The Clash singles also enjoyed little commercial success, while the albums necessarily fall into the «twenty».

In April 1977 the group entered a new, became a permanent drummer Topper Hidon (b. 1955) - before the group was not a drummer since departed Terry Chayms (it is, nevertheless, was invited to record their debut album The Clash). The new, now the «classic», consisting of The Clash went on a tour on May 1, «White Riot» in support of his album, speaking before in Paris. Concerts were accompanied by violence by the audience (fighting, destroying furniture, smashing glass and the like vandalism), heated by the Panel. As the tour was also attended by The Buzzcocks, Subway Sect and The Slits.

In summer, The Clash want to record a new single with Jamaican producer Lee Perry, whose work they admired. Perry, like Bob Marley, lived in a time in London and the interest agreed to produced the record. However, Perry version has been too overloaded technology Daba and not for commercial godilas single. Re-mixed, without Perry, the single «Complete Control» was released in late September 1977 and took 28 th place. At the same time, Marley learned from Perry of The Clash, a song written «Reggae Punk Party», released on the single «Jammin '».