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    The Jock of Rock posted an update 4 years, 11 months ago

    RockChat Rewind with Joe Milliken.
    On this day in 1982 The Clash released their fifth studio album on the Epic/CBS label titled “Combat Rock.” Recorded at Ear Studios in London and Electric Lady Studios in New York City, the album was produced by the band and Glyn Johns (The Who, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Eric Clapton).
    With the working title of “Rat Patrol From Fort Bragg” and after several sessions in London, the recording continued in New York City’s Electric Lady Studios where their previous album, Sandinista!” had been recorded. After the recording was complete, the band went on a two-month tour of Japan, Australia and Thailand before the album was released. The album cover was shot while touring in Thailand.
    The band had recorded 18 new songs and debated whether they should release a double-album, which caused friction between Mick Jones and the rest of the band, for Mick wanted the tracks to be longer, dance/club-type mixes. They eventually went with the shorter mixes and cut the songs down to 12 for a single-album release. The album was quite political, with some of the songs revolving around the aftermath of the Vietnam War and U. S. foreign policy.
    “Combat Rock” would become the highest-selling album of the band’s career, reaching #7 on the Billboard album chart and #2 on the UK chart. It was included on several publication lists as being one of the top albums of 1982 and in the 80s decade. The song “Rock The Casbah” reached #8 on the Billboard singles chart and “Should I Stay Or Should I go” reached #45. “Combat Rock” also cracked the Top 10 in New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and Canada, and has gone on to sell more than three million copies worldwide.
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