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Flint’s Classic Rock – 103.9 The Fox

Writers: The Clash

Producers: The Clash

Recorded: Fall 1980 and spring 1982 in London

Released: May 1982

    Players: Mick Jones–vocals, guitar
    Joe Strummer–guitar, vocals
    Paul Simonon–bass
    Nicky “Topper” Headon–drums
    Album: Combat Rock (Epic)

    The Clash started work on “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” in sessions for the group’s 1980 triple album Sandinista!, and then revived it for its successor, Combat Rock.

    Singer-guitarist Mick Jones recalled, “It was just a good rockin’ song, our attempt at writing a classic…When we were just playing, that was the kind of thing we used to like to play.”

    Lyrically, Jones said the acerbic song “wasn’t about anybody specific, and it wasn’t pre-empting my leaving the Clash.”

    ” Should I Stay Or Should I Go” was one of the Clash’s most successful singles, hitting Number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Number 17 on the U.K. pop chart.

    The group performed the song on Saturday Night Live on October 9, 1982, while in the midst of supporting the Who on that band’s first farewell tour.

    The working title for the Combat Rock album was Rat Patrol From Fort Bragg.

    The album was produced by the band but mixed by Glyn Johns.
    Combat Rock is the Clash’s most successful album in the U.S., hitting Number Seven on the Billboard 200 and selling more than two million copies.

    Combat Rock debuted at Number Two on the U.K. album chart.