Top Artists – The Clash

The Clash – Combat Rock

xxxxx

An insanely good sounding copy with Triple Plus (A+++) sound from start to finish – exceptionally quiet vinyl too
Both the two big jammers are on this killer side one: Should I Stay or Should I Go and Rock the Casbah – you’ve never heard them sound like this!
Glyn Johns produced and mixed Combat Rock, so its sonic credentials are certainly in order
If you’re a fan of meaty bass, grungy guitars and punchy drums, this is the copy for you
…its finest moments — “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” “Rock the Casbah,” “Straight to Hell” — illustrate why the Clash were able to reach a larger audience than ever before with the record.”

NOTE: There is a mark on track two that looks serious but in actuality can only be heard a few times very lightly during the second half of the track. For the most part it is completely obscured by the music.

If you can tolerate this one mark you are in for some amazing Clash music and sound. If for any reason you are not happy with the sound or condition of the album we are of course happy to take it back for a full refund, including the domestic return postage.

Full and natural, energetic and high-res, no other copy came close. A stunning copy, absolutely as good as it gets for this punk classic.

Most of the other copies we played failed in one of two ways: if they weren’t too bright, they were dead as a doornail. But this copy knocked them all out with correct tonal balance and tons of energy. (more…)

The Clash – Combat Rock – Our Shootout Winner from 2010

A distinguished member of the Better Records Rock and Pop Hall of Fame.

White Hot Stampers on side two with a side one that’s right up there with it, this Glyn Johns-mixed rocker is really ROCKIN’! The big hits — Rock The Casbah and Should I Stay or Should I Go? — sound SUPERB on this copy. Last time around we played nearly a dozen pressings including imports and reissues, but this time we stuck with the copies we knew to have real Hot Stamper potential, and that meant original pressings made right here in the good old U. S. of A. (Look for Masterdisk in the dead wax, the mark of quality.)

Side two is the real killer here. It’s very lively with great bass and lots of WHOMP. Most of the other copies we played failed in one of two ways: either they were too bright, a sound we didn’t care for much; or they were smeary, veiled and pretty much dead as a doornail. But this copy knocked them all out with correct tonal balance and tons of energy.

Side One

Side one earned a sonic grade of A++ to A+++, a close second to the best we heard. It’s full-bodied and smooth, but still clear and open. Up against one other copy it was just a tad lacking in energy, so we dropped the grade half a plus. Side two has the full energy of the best copies, so when you flip this one over listen for that quality, it should be subtle but still quite noticeable. (If you have big speakers and don’t hear it, try turning up the volume. Rock records like being played loud and this is no exception.) (more…)

The Clash – London Calling – Our Shootout Winner from 2015

A distinguished member of the Better Records Rock and Pop Hall of Fame.

Absolutely stunning sound for all four sides, Triple Plus on one and two, very close on three and four. Huge and open, full and rich, present and energetic — absolutely as good as it gets. An album that almost never makes it on to the site with grades like this.

AUDIOPHILE SOUND FOR THIS PUNK ROCK CLASSIC?! You better believe it, baby! The sound here is absolutely superb for all four sides, earning at or near our top grade.

Dub Style!

What really sets this album apart sonically is The Clash’s use of reggae and dub influences. You can really hear it when you tune in to the bottom end; your average late ’70s punk record isn’t gonna have such rich and meaty bass, that’s for sure. Drop the needle on The Guns Of Brixton (last track on side two) to hear exactly what I’m talking about. On a Hot Stamper copy played at the correct levels (read: quite loud!) the effect is positively HYPNOTIC. (more…)

The Clash – London Calling

More The Clash

More London Calling

Truly stunning sound, with shootout winning Triple Plus (A+++) sound on all four sides
A shockingly well-recorded album that comes to life with the combo of a great copy and a hi-res, full-range system
Five stars in the AMG: “A stunning statement of purpose and one of the greatest rock & roll albums ever recorded.”

AUDIOPHILE SOUND FOR THIS PUNK ROCK CLASSIC?! You better believe it, baby! The sound here is superb for all four sides.

Dub Style!

What really sets this album apart sonically is The Clash’s use of reggae and dub influences. You can really hear it when you tune in to the bottom end; your average late ’70s punk record won’t have this kind of rich and meaty bass, that’s for sure. Drop the needle on The Guns Of Brixton (last track on side two) to hear exactly what I’m talking about. On a Hot Stamper copy played at the correct levels (read: quite loud!) the effect is positively HYPNOTIC.

Bill Price engineered and as we like to day, he knocked this one out of the park. The best sounding record from 1979? I have the feeling it just might be.

Nobody would have accused The Clash of being an audiophile-friendly band, but a copy like this might make you think twice about that! We had a blast doing this shootout and we hope whoever takes this home has just as much fun with it. (more…)