16. The Magnificent Seven (Sandinista!, 1980)
This song is probably the progenitor of Mick Jones’ post-Clash band Big Audio Dynamite, and as far as I know it was the first song to consciously mix rap and rock. No, it sounds nothing like modern hip hop—but you can definitely hear the old school style beats. And yes, it came out a year before Blondie did a similar thing with “Rapture.” But Magnificent Seven is so much more authentic—it’s content is about the streets, the feel has the grit of true hip hop–not the pop-rap that was big at the time, like Jamonit by Newcleus or Roxanne Roxanne, but real rap that spoke about life and hardship, like Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow, and Afrika Bambaataa. It was even recorded in New York City!
Further listening: The Magnificent Dance, a remix of the song that was the B-side to the 1981 single.
Covers: Magnificent Romeo is a great mash up (above).
15. Safe European Home (Give ’Em Enough Rope, 1978)
Although a lot of people found The Clash’s second album dull (it was produced by mainstream metal producer Sandy “Blue Öyster Cult” Pearlman), I really like it. And I love this song. It’s fitting that it’s about how dull it is to be safe (“Don’t wanna go back there again”) when the band had just had a huge hit record and now had a big budget and a real recording studio.
Further listening: Career Opportunities (The Clash, 1977), another song about the working class.
14. Should I Stay or Should I Go (Combat Rock, 1982)
Say what you want about this being too commercial, but it has one of the most recognizable riffs in rock history and some of the best vocals as well.
Further listening: Mustapha Dance (Rock The Casbah Single, 1982), Overpowered By Funk (Combat Rock, 1982)
Covers: Lots and lots and lots. But check this out, it’s Mick Jones’ band carbon/Silicon reuniting with Topper Headon!
