Even the name of The Clash was aggressive.  With their 1977 debut album, Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Terry Chimes (soon to depart the band) made a fast and furious attack on rock complacency.  Punk, after all, was the music heard ‘round the world when it re-lit a fire in the belly of rock-and-roll that had lain dormant in an era of increasingly complex, often progressive rock (sans the roll) in the 1970s.  And at the vanguard of that initial wave of English punk was, inevitably, The Clash.  Yet the punk band’s sound was musically diverse, incorporating reggae, ska, funk, rap and even “traditional” rock-and-roll and rockabilly into its heady stylistic brew.  Though the band broke up in 1986 after suffering a series of personnel changes, the music of The Clash reverberates, and come September 10, its small catalogue and significant legacy will be celebrated by Sony with a variety of releases.  The crown jewel is Sound System, a boom box-shaped box set collecting remastered editions of The Clash’s studio albums on eight CDs plus three CDs of demos, non-LP singles, B -sides and rarities and a DVD with music videos and previously unseen footage.  Joining Sound System will be a new 2-CD or 3-LP compilation The Clash Hits Back, and an 8-CD or 8-LP box set with only the studio albums, simply titled The Clash 5-Studio Album Set.

Sound System contains the following studio albums, all in remastered editions overseen by The Clash with engineer Tim Young:

1. The Clash (1977)
2. Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978)
3. London Calling (1979, 2 CDs)
4. Sandinista! (1980, 3 CDs)
5. Combat Rock (1982)

These eight discs are joined by:

• Three more CDs featuring rare tracks, demos, non-album singles, B-sides and previously unreleased music;
• DVD including unseen Julien Temple footage, early Super 8 film shot by Don Letts, all the band’s promotional videos and previously unseen live footage;
• “Owner’s Manual” booklet;
• Folder containing reprints of Armagideon Times 1 & 2 and Armagideon Times 3 (new edition of fanzine compiled and designed by Paul Simonon);
• Merchandise including dog tags, badges, stickers, a replica cigarette (!) and a Future Is Unwritten note book designed by Harland Miller; and
• An exclusive photo poster.

After the jump, we have more on Sound System, plus details on the other two Clash releases and full track listings for all titles!

The bonus discs in Sound System offer 14 never-before-released tracks out of 52 total on the three CDs from Strummer, Jones, Simonon and Nicky “Topper” Headon. (Headon joined the band in time for the reshuffled U.S. release of The Clash and remained a member until just prior to the release of Combat Rock).  The first bonus disc concentrates on non-LP material from various singles and EPs.  The second disc includes more non-LP singles as well as unreleased material like Bob Clearmountain’s 12-inch mix of “Rock the Casbah,” extended versions of “Sean Flynn” and “Ghetto Defendant,” and outtakes “The Beautiful People Are Ugly Too” and “Idle in Kangaroo Court.”  The third disc offers the largest bounty of previously unissued material, boasting never-before-released Polydor demos of “London’s Burning,” “1977” and “White Riot,” and live tracks from London’s Lyceum Theatre recorded in December 1978.  The DVD showcases more rare material such as a Sussex University performance from 1977, Don Letts’ Super 8 Medley, and a number of promo videos and Clash on Broadway footage.  (Unsurprisingly absent from the box set is 1985’s studio album Cut the Crap, which only featured Strummer and Simonon from the classic line-up.  This LP has been excised from the official Clash story as documented via numerous compilations, books and films by request of the band.)

Joining the Sound System box is The Clash Hits Back, a new 2-CD or 3-LP anthology with a most intriguing conceit: it’s been sequenced by surviving members Simonon, Jones and Headon to reflect the band’s Brixton Fairdeal performance from July 10, 1982.  The Clash writes, “Every show was different.  Joe would spend a lot of time composing the running order, considering dynamics, emotional impact and the key the songs were in.”  And so the first disc begins with “London Calling,” and the second disc concludes the set list with “Garageland.”  Eight additional tracks selected by the band round out the package.

Lastly, Sony is releasing an optimal Clash primer.   The Clash 5-Studio Album Set will be available as both 8-vinyl LP and 8-CD sets, containing just the core remastered studio albums from Sound System: The Clash, Give 'Em Enough Rope, London Calling, Sandinista!, Combat Rock.

When Joe Strummer died on December 22, 2002, any chance for a true reunion of The Clash came to an end.  In March, 2003, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and since then, further reunions between Headon, Simonon and Jones have been rare.  Jones and Headon recorded together with Billy Bragg in 2009, and Simonon and Jones joined with Gorillaz in 2010 in the studio and on tour.  Sound System and its accompanying releases afford another chance to celebrate Strummer’s legacy and that of The Clash.

You can pre-order the various collections at the links below!  All titles are due in stores on September 10.

The Clash, Sound System (Columbia/Epic/Legacy/Sony Music (U.K.), 2013) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Disc 1: The Clash (released as CBS Records LP S-CBS 82000, 1977)

1. Janie Jones
2. Remote Control
3. I'm So Bored with the U.S.A.
4. White Riot
5. Hate & War
6. What's My Name?
7. Deny
8. London's Burning
9. Career Opportunities
10. Cheat
11. Protex Blue
12. Police & Thieves
13. 48 Hours
14. Garageland

Disc 2: Give 'Em Enough Rope (released as CBS Records LP S-CBS 82431, 1978)

1. Safe European Home
2. English Civil War (Johnny Comes Marching Home)
3. Tommy Gun
4. Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad
5. Last Gang in Town
6. Guns on the Roof
7. Drug-Stabbing Time
8. Stay Free
9. Cheapskates
10. All the Young Punks (New Boots and Contracts)

Discs 3-4: London Calling (released as CBS Records LP S-CBS 88478, 1979)

1. London Calling
2. Brand New Cadillac
3. Jimmy Jazz
4. Hateful
5. Rudie Can't Fail
6. Spanish Bombs
7. The Right Profile
8. Lost in the Supermarket
9. Clampdown
10. The Guns of Brixton

1. Wrong 'Em Boyo
2. Death or Glory
3. Koka Kola
4. The Card Cheat
5. Lover's Rock
6. Four Horsemen
7. I'm Not Down
8. Revolution Rock
9. Train in Vain

Discs 5-7: Sandinista! (released as CBS Records LP FSLN-1, 1980)

1. The Magnificent Seven
2. Hitsville UK
3. Junco Partner
4. Ivan Meets G.I. Joe
5. The Leader
6. Something About England
7. Rebel Waltz
8. Look Here
9. The Crooked Beat
10. Somebody Got Murdered
11. One More Time
12. One More Dub

1. Lightning Strikes (Not Once But Twice)
2. Up in Heaven (Not Only Here)
3. Corner Soul
4. Let's Go Crazy
5. If Music Could Talk
6. The Sound of Sinners
7. Police on My Back
8. Midnight Log
9. The Equaliser
10. The Call Up
11. Washington Bullets
12. Broadway

1. Lose This Skin
2. Charlie Don't Surf
3. Mensforth Hill
4. Junkie Slip
5. Kingston Advice
6. The Street Parade
7. Version City
8. Living in Fame
9. Silicon on Sapphire
10. Version Pardner
11. Career Opportunities
12. Shepherd's Delight

Disc 8: Combat Rock (released as CBS Records LP FMLN-2, 1982)

1. Know Your Rights
2. Car Jamming
3. Should I Stay or Should I Go
4. Rock the Casbah
5. Red Angel Dragnet
6. Straight to Hell
7. Overpowered by Funk
8. Atom Tan
9. Sean Flynn
10. Ghetto Defendant
11. Inoculated City
12. Death is a Star

Disc 9: Non-LP material

1. White Riot (Single Version) (single A-side - CBS 5058, 1977)
2. 1977 (single B-side - CBS 5058, 1977)
3. Listen/Interview with The Clash on the Circle Line (from Capital Radio EP - CBS CL-1, 1977)
4. Capital Radio One (from Capital Radio EP - CBS CL-1, 1977)
5. London's Burning (Live) (B-side to "Remote Control" - CBS 5293, 1977)
6. Complete Control (single A-side - CBS 5664, 1977)
7. City of the Dead (single B-side - CBS 5664, 1977)
8. Clash City Rockers (single A-side - CBS 5834, 1978)
9. Jail Guitar Doors (single B-side - CBS 5834, 1978)
10. (White Man in) Hammersmith Palais (single A-side - CBS 6383, 1978)
11. The Prisoner (single B-side - CBS 6383, 1978)
12. 1-2 Crush on You (B-side to "Tommy Gun" - CBS 6788, 1978)
13. Time is Tight (from Black Market Clash - Epic/Nu-Disk 4E 36846 (U.S.), 1980)
14. Pressure Drop (B-side to "English Civil War" - CBS 7082, 1979)
15. I Fought the Law (from The Cost of Living EP - CBS 7324, 1979)
16. Groovy Times (from The Cost of Living EP - CBS 7324, 1979)
17. Gates of the West (from The Cost of Living EP - CBS 7324, 1979)
18. Capital Radio Two (from The Cost of Living EP - CBS 7324, 1979)
19. Armagideon Time (B-side to "London Calling" - CBS 8087, 1979)
20. Bankrobber (single A-side - CBS 8323, 1980)
21. Rockers Galore...U.K. Tour (single B-side - CBS 8323, 1980)

Disc 10: More non-LP material and outtakes

1. The Magnificent Dance (12" B-side to "The Call Up" - Epic 48-02036 (U.S.), 1981)
2. Midnight to Stevens (from Clash on Broadway box set - Epic/Legacy E3K 46991, 1991)
3. Radio One (B-side to "Hitsville UK" - CBS 9480, 1980)
4. Stop the World (B-side to "The Call Up" - CBS 9339, 1980)
5. The Cool Out (12" B-side to "The Call Up" - Epic 48-02036 (U.S.), 1981)
6. This is Radio Clash (single A-side - CBS A-1797, 1981)
7. Radio Clash (single B-side - CBS A-1797, 1981)
8. First Night Back in London (B-side to "Know Your Rights" - CBS A-2309, 1982)
9. Rock the Casbah (Bob Clearmountain 12" Mix) *
10. Long Time Jerk (B-side to "Rock the Casbah" - CBS A-2749, 1982)
11. The Beautiful People Are Ugly Too *
12. Idle in Kangaroo Court *
13. Ghetto Defendant (Unedited/Extended Version) *
14. Cool Confusion (B-side to "Should I Stay or Should I Go" - CBS A-3186, 1982)
15. Sean Flynn (Extended "Marcus Music" Version) *
16. Straight to Hell (Unedited) (from Clash on Broadway box set - Epic/Legacy E3K 46991, 1991)

Disc 11: Demos and live cuts

1. I'm So Bored with the U.S.A. (Beaconsfield Film School Demo, 1976)
2. London's Burning (Beaconsfield Film School Demo, 1976) (from Selections from "Revolution Rock" promo CD - Epic/Legacy 88697 28275 2, 2008)
3. White Riot (Beaconsfield Film School Demo, 1976) (from Selections from "Revolution Rock" promo CD - Epic/Legacy 88697 28275 2, 2008)
4. 1977 (Beaconsfield Film School Demo, 1976) (from Selections from "Revolution Rock" promo CD - Epic/Legacy 88697 28275 2, 2008)
5. Janie Jones (Polydor Demo) (from Clash on Broadway box set - Epic/Legacy E3K 46991, 1991)
6. Career Opportunites (Polydor Demo) (from Clash on Broadway box set - Epic/Legacy E3K 46991, 1991)
7. London's Burning (Polydor Demo) *
8. 1977 (Polydor Demo) *
9. White Riot (Polydor Demo) *
10. City of the Dead (Live @ The Lyceum, London - 12/28/1978) (from From Here to Eternity: Live - Columbia 496183 2, 1999)
11. Jail Guitar Doors (Live @ The Lyceum, London - 12/28/1978) *
12. English Civil War (Live @ The Lyceum, London - 12/28/1978) (from Clash on Broadway box set - Epic/Legacy E3K 46991, 1991)
13. Stay Free (Live @ The Lyceum, London - 12/28/1978) *
14. Cheapskates (Live @ The Lyceum, London - 12/28/1978) *
15. I Fought the Law (Live @ The Lyceum, London - 12/28/1978) (from Clash on Broadway box set - Epic/Legacy E3K 46991, 1991)

Disc 12: DVD

-Julien Temple Archive
-White Riot Interview
-Promo and interviews with Tony Parsons

• 1977
• White Riot
• London’s Burning

-Sussex University 1977 *

• I’m So Bored with the USA
• Hate & War
• Career Opportunities
• Remote Control

- Don Letts Super 8 Medley

• White Riot
• Janie Jones
• City of the Dead
• Clash City Rockers
• White Man in Hammersmith Palais
• 1977

Clash 0n Broadway

• London Calling
• This is Radio Clash
• The Magnificent Seven
• Guns of Brixton
• Safe European Home

Promo videos

• Tommy Gun
• London Calling
• Bankrobber
• Clampdown (Live)
• Train in Vain (Live)
• The Call Up
• Rock the Casbah
• Should I Stay or Should I Go (Live at Shea Stadium)
• Career Opportunities (Live at Shea Stadium)

(*) denotes previously unreleased tracks

The Clash, The Clash Hits Back (Columbia/Epic/Legacy/Sony Music (U.K.), 2013)

Available on CD (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.) and Vinyl

Disc 1

1. London Calling
2. Safe European Home
3. Know Your Rights
4. (White Man) in Hammersmith Palais
5. Janie Jones
6. The Guns of Brixton
7. Train in Vain
8. Bankrobber
9. Wrong 'Em Boyo
10. The Magnificent Seven
11. Police on My Back
12. Rock the Casbah
13. Career Opportunities
14. Police & Thieves
15. Somebody Got Murdered
16. Brand New Cadillac
17. Clampdown

Disc 2

1. Ghetto Defendant
2. Armagideon Time
3. Stay Free
4. I Fought the Law
5. Straight to Hell
6. Should I Stay or Should I Go
7. Garageland
8. White Riot
9. Complete Control
10. Clash City Rockers
11. Tommy Gun
12. English Civil War
13. The Call Up
14. Hitsville UK
15. This is Radio Clash

The Clash, 5 Studio Album Set (Columbia/Epic/Legacy/Sony Music (U.K.), 2013) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

Available on CD (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. not yet available) and Vinyl

Disc 1: The Clash (released as CBS Records LP S-CBS 82000, 1977)

1. Janie Jones
2. Remote Control
3. I'm So Bored with the U.S.A.
4. White Riot
5. Hate & War
6. What's My Name?
7. Deny
8. London's Burning
9. Career Opportunities
10. Cheat
11. Protex Blue
12. Police & Thieves
13. 48 Hours
14. Garageland

Disc 2: Give 'Em Enough Rope (released as CBS Records LP S-CBS 82431, 1978)

1. Safe European Home
2. English Civil War (Johnny Comes Marching Home)
3. Tommy Gun
4. Julie's Been Working for the Drug Squad
5. Last Gang in Town
6. Guns on the Roof
7. Drug-Stabbing Time
8. Stay Free
9. Cheapskates
10. All the Young Punks (New Boots and Contracts)

Discs 3-4: London Calling (released as CBS Records LP S-CBS 88478, 1979)

1. London Calling
2. Brand New Cadillac
3. Jimmy Jazz
4. Hateful
5. Rudie Can't Fail
6. Spanish Bombs
7. The Right Profile
8. Lost in the Supermarket
9. Clampdown
10. The Guns of Brixton

1. Wrong 'Em Boyo
2. Death or Glory
3. Koka Kola
4. The Card Cheat
5. Lover's Rock
6. Four Horsemen
7. I'm Not Down
8. Revolution Rock
9. Train in Vain

Discs 5-7: Sandinista! (released as CBS Records LP FSLN-1, 1980)

1. The Magnificent Seven
2. Hitsville UK
3. Junco Partner
4. Ivan Meets G.I. Joe
5. The Leader
6. Something About England
7. Rebel Waltz
8. Look Here
9. The Crooked Beat
10. Somebody Got Murdered
11. One More Time
12. One More Dub

1. Lightning Strikes (Not Once But Twice)
2. Up in Heaven (Not Only Here)
3. Corner Soul
4. Let's Go Crazy
5. If Music Could Talk
6. The Sound of Sinners
7. Police on My Back
8. Midnight Log
9. The Equaliser
10. The Call Up
11. Washington Bullets
12. Broadway

1. Lose This Skin
2. Charlie Don't Surf
3. Mensforth Hill
4. Junkie Slip
5. Kingston Advice
6. The Street Parade
7. Version City
8. Living in Fame
9. Silicon on Sapphire
10. Version Pardner
11. Career Opportunities
12. Shepherd's Delight

Disc 8: Combat Rock (released as CBS Records LP FMLN-2, 1982)

1. Know Your Rights
2. Car Jamming
3. Should I Stay or Should I Go
4. Rock the Casbah
5. Red Angel Dragnet
6. Straight to Hell
7. Overpowered by Funk
8. Atom Tan
9. Sean Flynn
10. Ghetto Defendant
11. Inoculated City
12. Death is a Star