Artist: The ClashLP: 7" single
Song: "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"
[ listen ]
Everyone knows this song, right? It's probably even more popular in the USA today than their #8 hit "Rock the Casbah," from the same LP. the strange thing is, "Should I Stay/Go" never entered the US Billboard top 40, though there were two separate attempts to get it there. "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" was first released in the summer of 1982 with the picture sleeve shown above; the song spent 13 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, peaking at #45. After the top-ten success of follow-up single "Rock the Casbah" in late 1982, "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" was released again as a single in the spring of 1983—with a different picture sleeve (shown below)—in hopes that this time it would be a hit. Unfortunatley, the song stayed in the Hot 100 just 10 weeks the second time around and peaked at #50.
Song: "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"
[ listen ]
Everyone knows this song, right? It's probably even more popular in the USA today than their #8 hit "Rock the Casbah," from the same LP. the strange thing is, "Should I Stay/Go" never entered the US Billboard top 40, though there were two separate attempts to get it there. "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" was first released in the summer of 1982 with the picture sleeve shown above; the song spent 13 weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 Singles chart, peaking at #45. After the top-ten success of follow-up single "Rock the Casbah" in late 1982, "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" was released again as a single in the spring of 1983—with a different picture sleeve (shown below)—in hopes that this time it would be a hit. Unfortunatley, the song stayed in the Hot 100 just 10 weeks the second time around and peaked at #50.
Someone from The Clash is missing from the photos on the sleeve of the 1983 release, and I'm guessing it's drummer Topper Headon, who was asked to leave the band shortly after the "Combat Rock" recording sessions because of his herion use. If anyone can confirm that's who's missing from the pictures, let me know. You can read all about The Clash [here] and [here]. 
Truly a classic recording, and one of the first albums (Combat rock, that is) that I ever bought as a kid. Thanks for featuring this single!!
ReplyDeleteYou're correct, Headon's the one missing. Strummer on the left, Simonen in the middle, & Mick Jones on the right. Jones didn't last much longer, either.
ReplyDeletecool, thanks Chris.
ReplyDelete