The Clash made several important and legendary albums in their brief run at world’s favourites.  What they never issued was a live album.  Back in those days, it was unheard of that a band didn’t have a Live album tucked into their collection of album releases.  With The Clash Live at Shea Stadium, that missing element is corrected. 

This album reflects a disintegrating period of the band (listening, you could never tell it).  By the time of its recording, the band had already dismissed Topper Headon, their drummer for the band’s recording years, and replaced him with original drummer, Terry Chimes.  Headon’s heroin usage was painful for the band but even it didn’t come close to the in-fighting that the band was engaged in by this point.  That disagreeable period would all but dismantle the band, ending an era of music that we still hold closely to our hearts.

Live at Shea Stadium was recorded from the band’s two nights at Shea Stadium in October of 1982.  The band was a support attraction for The Who’s first farewell tour of the US, sharing a bill with David Johansen (New York Dolls).  Playing in front of a massive audience, with many there to see them rather than The Who, they took to the stage in camouflage and military garb (if you remember the “Should I Stay or Should I Go “Clash MTV video, which was taken from this concert, then you know a bit about their appearance there).

I love this Live album, largely because we get such a wonderful cross-section of the band’s classics, all performed at the peak of their powers.  They begin with a powerful version of “London Calling” and move through essential tunes like “Guns of Brixton,” “Tommy Gun,” “The Magnificent Seven,” and “Armagideon Time.”  These songs are performed before the band’s then currently popular “Rock the Casbah,” the hidden track treat of London Calling -“Train in Vain,” “English Civil War,” “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” and a perfect performance of “I Fought the Law.”

With 15 unreal Clash performances on this album, The Clash Live at Shea Stadium is an essential inclusion to your Clash library.  The sound is clean and crisp having been restored from tapes found by Joe Strummer before his death.  The songs (set-list) are superb, and the concert air is exciting and electric, elements that lionize this album.  With a short liner note from Bob Gruen (photographer), who also provides the cover shot and most of the booklet photos, and a descriptive booklet, Live at Shea Stadium puts a powerful finishing touch to the Clash catalogue.