Give 'Em Enough Rope is the second studio album by the Clash, released on 10 November 1978 through CBS Records. It followed their self-titled debut and was the first Clash album to come out in the United States, arriving ahead of the American edition of that first record. It also introduced drummer Topper Headon, who had joined shortly after the debut was recorded.
Most of the songs were written by guitarists Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, as before. The exceptions are "English Civil War", a reworking of the American folk song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", and "Guns on the Roof", credited to all four members. Critics and fans received it warmly, and it reached number two in the UK, level with Combat Rock as the band's highest-placed album there. It's a punk record with a hard rock edge, and it sits as the step between the debut and London Calling.
Give ’Em Enough Rope: tracklist, credits and charts
10 tracks · 36:58Tracklist
- 1Safe European HomeMick Jones and Joe Strummer3:50
- 2English Civil War[traditional] and The Clash2:35
- 3Tommy GunMick Jones and Joe Strummer3:17
- 4Julie’s Been Working for the Drug SquadMick Jones and Joe Strummer3:03
- 5Last Gang in TownMick Jones and Joe Strummer5:13
- 6Guns on the RoofHeadon, Jones, Simonon, Strummer3:15
- 7Drug‐Stabbing TimeMick Jones and Joe Strummer3:43
- 8Stay FreeMick Jones and Joe Strummer3:40
- 9CheapskatesMick Jones and Joe Strummer3:25
- 10All the Young Punks (New Boots and Contracts)Mick Jones and Joe Strummer4:57
- Produced by
- Sandy Pearlman
- Recorded at
- Basing Street (London), The Automatt (San Francisco)
- Mixed by
- Corky Stasiak
- Engineered by
- Corky Stasiak
- Labels
- CBS, Epic
- Length
- 36:58
Line-up
- Topper Headon · drums (drum set)
- Mick Jones · guitar, vocals
- Paul Simonon · bass guitar
- Joe Strummer · guitar, vocals
Singles
- “Tommy Gun” · 24 November 1978
- “English Civil War” · 23 February 1979
Peak chart positions
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart · 1978–1979 | 2 |
| US Billboard 200 · 1978–1979 | 128 |
| New Zealand Albums · 1978–1979 | 15 |
| Swedish Albums · 1978–1979 | 36 |
| Scottish Albums · 2017 | 58 |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) · 1978–1979 | 79 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom · 1979 | Gold |
From Wikipedia, MusicBrainz and Wikidata. Only what the sources record is shown.
Released the same week
Also released on 10 November
Every year →
More from The Clash
Full discography →
The best of 1978
All of 1978 →
Releases and pressings
How we know the release date wikipedia + musicbrainz + wikidata
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 10 November 1978 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 10 November 1978 | |
| Wikidata | 10 November 1978 | |
| US release | 10 November 1978 | earliest US date |
| UK / Europe release | 10 November 1978 | earliest UK or European date |
21 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | XE | Columbia | 5099703244427 | other |
| — | GB | CBS | 5099703244427 | other |
| — | GB | CBS | 5099703244427 | other |
| 1978 | JP | — | other | |
| 10 November 1978 | GB | CBS | original | |
| 10 November 1978 | US | Epic | original | |
| 1984 | XE | CBS | other | |
| 1988 | AU | CBS | 9399746285026 | other |
| 1 August 1988 | JP | Epic | 4988010221652 | other |
| 1990 | US | Epic | 074643554329 | other |
| 21 March 1991 | JP | Epic | 4988010526726 | other |
| 1 October 1999 | DE | Columbia | 5099749534629 | remaster |
| 2 November 1999 | US | Epic | 074646388426 | other |
| 2000 | US | BMG Direct Marketing, Inc. | other | |
| 25 January 2000 | CA | Epic | 074646388426 | other |
| 17 November 2004 | JP | Epic Records International | 4562109409451 | other |
| 2013 | US | Sony Music UK | 886443520714 | other |
| 2013 | XW | Sony Music UK | 886443520714 | other |
| 1 January 2013 | XW | — | other | |
| 9 September 2013 | GB | Columbia | 887254469827 | deluxe |
| 9 September 2013 | NL | Music on Vinyl | 8718469533527 | other |
Cover art sources
deezer · upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25)
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| deezer ✓ | 1200×1200 | upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25) |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |
| coverartarchive | 600×600 | upscaled |