The Clash in the Studio - Polydor Demos

updated July 2022 with Terry Chimes comment
Updated July 2024

Polydor Demos CD

Polydor demos / Guy Stevens / Mid Nov 1976
+Capital Radio 7" [free with NME coupon] 9 April 1977

Rare early recordings by The Clash to be released

Furthee information at Discogs

Audio (official release: Sound System box set)

Sound 4.5 - 17mins - Tracks 7

White Riot

BBC Radio London radio interview (2003)

With Paul and Mick. At 42,55 mins they talk about siging to CBS and not Polydor.

Sound Quality

Muffled at the top end but with not bad for a poor master audience recording.

This Cd was released by Sonic Books in a dual language format (Italian and English) It also contains a booklet which just repeats much of what is already written about the Clash. The CD contains just 7 tracks.

Also released previously on vinyl as A Fashion Mall Production (amongst others) - see bootleg links below for details - and 2 of the tracks on the official Clash on Broadway Box Set as well as White Riot being remixed for the debut LP.

To which is added here the b-side of the freebie single Capital Radio given away by the NME in April 77, a track titled Listen.

This is the original version which is mixed with the Tony Parsons Tube interview. Also added is the later B-side to Tommy Gun, 1-2 Got a Crush on You.

The sound quality for the Polydor session is studio standard though these songs come accross a little flat.

From Terry Chimes autobiography, 'The Strange Case of Dr Terry and Mr Chimes', Chapter 2.

Mid November. Prior to the Anarchy Tour with Terry Chimes on drums, The Clash entered Polydor Studios to record 5 songs with Guy Stevens producing with Polydor looking to sign the band. Within days the band had signed to CBS.

Bootleg details can be found here

Visit these websites for a comprehensive catalogue of unofficially released CD's and Vinyl (forever changing) or If Music Could Talk for all audio recordings

Discogs - PDF - webpage
Punky Gibbon - PDF - webpage
Jeff Dove - PDF - webpage
Ace Bootlegs - PDF - webpage

For all recordings go to If Music Could Talk / Sound of Sinners

Prior to the Anarchy Tour

The Clash prior to the Anarchy Tour [which would be about mid Nov 77], with Terry Chimes on drums to record 5 songs with Guy Stevens producing.

The Polydor Demos were recorded by The Clash in mid-November 1976 at Marble Arch Studios. The tracks recorded during these sessions included "Janie Jones," "Career Opportunities," "London's Burning," and "White Riot." The lineup for these recordings consisted of Joe Strummer on vocals and guitar, Mick Jones on guitar, Paul Simonon on bass, and Terry Chimes on drums.

The producer for these sessions was Guy Stevens, and the engineer was Vic Smith[1].

Additionally, a photo taken on November 5, 1976, at the Clash's rehearsal studio in Camden Town, London, features Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, and Paul Simonon, providing a glimpse into the band's activities during that time[2][3].

These recordings and rehearsals were significant in the early development of the band and laid the groundwork for their later success, culminating in the release of their self-titled debut album in 1977[4].

1 Clash City Forum - The Clash Studio Recording Information
2 British Photography - The Clash: Mick Jones, Joe Strummer (1976)
3 Wikipedia - White Riot
4 Wikipedia - The Clash (album)
5 The Guardian - Flashback: 18 March 1977