However even by the standard of collection of songs strength. I much prefer The Clash UK version. In fact I dislike the debut album until I heard the UK version.
The problem here is I dislike pretty much all the singles.
Clash City Rockers seems like a melodically underwritten version of I Can't Explain. There is only a single memorable hook in the entire song "So don't complain" and starts the album on a bad note. While Janie Jones is a tremendous opener
(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais was the main reason why I took so long to appreciate the debut album in the first place and the main reason I only enjoyed it when I switched to the UK version. Some repetitive groove base music destroys the aggressive "punk" momentum of the album and my pick of the worst song in the debut.
White Riot on the UK version sounds so much better than the tame polished single version in the US
Complete Control is hookless with essentially sing/speak verse an extended outro that goes too long
With the dropped song I quite like Deny. The supporting lead guitar during the verse and the outro. The backing vocals "what a liar" is pretty cool
I can't pretend that Cheat, Protex Blue (although that has a cool riff and a decent short solo) and 48 Hours are masterpiece in songwriting. However just look at the song length. 2:06, 1:42, 1:34
Compact song length can cover any deficit in songwriting as at least it's doesn't overstay it's welcome. It doesn't last long enough to actively annoy me.
Compare the song length to the US single 3:56, 3:14, 3:05, 3:59
US Version of the album goes for 43:20 minutes while the UK version is far more compact with 35:18 minutes. UK version is more efficient with my time.
The only song that would have improved the UK album is I Fought The Law but the benefit of that song doesn't outweigh all the other tracklisting changes
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