The Clash- The Story of the Clash Vol. 1

I personally think that if you're already buying 2 CDs worth of the Clash, you might as well just go out and buy their first 3 albums instead. That's just my opinion.
I guess this is a good starting point for people who haven't gotten into them yet.

The Clash: "The Story of the Clash Vol. 1" (CD 1)
The Clash: "The Story of the Clash Vol. 1" (CD 2)

Comments

[The Mike]

I beg to differ : for the Clash, you need the 1st - UK version, then London Calling, then The Singles Collection and finally Super Black Market Clash. This way, you have every important songs they recorded and pretty much, everything that the non-hardcore fan must live with.
But as far as the Stones are concerned, you should try "12*5" and "Between the Buttons". I think they could be a good entry point for you.

[BW]

Thanks for the suggestion Mr Biez. I personally just want the first 3 albums myself. Super Black Market Clash is just kinda "eh" in my book. Too much dub crap on the 2nd half of it, if you ask me.
As far as the Stones go...At this point i've heard pretty much every album of theirs. I think that you even gave me BTB. I'm just not into them. I've tried. I really have...

[The Mike]

Hey Ben,
I know what you mean about the second half of Super Black... It's just to me a good way to have the three good songs of the second album and a taste of Sandinista without having to go through all of it. Plus this way, you also get 1977, which although I acknowledge is a little weak, I absolutely love... Joe Strummer yelling : "No more Beatles and no more Rolling Stones", I can't resist.

As for the Stones, well, since I know you listened to a lot of their albums, I was suggesting Between the Buttons because it's their most pop album and I know how much you love pop.
And 12*5 is their second one and to me, that is a killer. It's all about immediate, straight forward, crazy reading of classic songs. It might sound tamed now. But I listen to it and I can feel all this excitation going on. It was definitely fresh then, so fresh it still sounds as such today. Plus it's THE inspiration of these great bands we love: The Sonics, Chocolate Watchband, etc.
Later.