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Give 'Em Enough Rope
Studio album by The Clash
Released	November 10, 1978 (1978-11-10)
Recorded	Basing Street Studios, London, May–June 1978, The Automatt, San Francisco, August–September 1978
Genre	Punk rock, Rock
Length	36:57
Label	Epic
Producer	Sandy Pearlman
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Robert Christgau (A) link Rolling Stone link
The Clash chronology
The Clash (1977) Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978) London Calling (1979)

Give 'Em Enough Rope was The Clash's second album. In the US it was their official debut, preceding the U.S. version of The Clash. The album was well received by critics and fans, peaking at #2 in the UK chart, and #128 in the U.S.

It was voted album of the year for 1978 by Rolling Stone and Time magazines, as well as the popular UK music weekly, Sounds. The latter gave it a glowing review upon release, with writer David Mculloch calling it "swash-buckled heavy-metal" and claiming it to be "The best LP since the last Clash LP, both, I personally feel, transcending anything ever recorded".

The cover was designed by Gene Greif. The image is of an old postcard titled 'The Last Trail'. The cover of the first US pressings showed the band's name written in block capital letters, not the now common faux-Chinese font.

The original American issue of the album also retitled "All the Young Punks" as "That's No Way to Spend Your Youth". This was revised on later editions.

"Tommy Gun" and "English Civil War" were released as the album's singles, either side of Christmas 1978. They entered the UK charts at #19 and #25 respectively.

Though the opening track of the album's B-side, "Guns On The Roof" is ostensibly a rant about global terrorism, war and corruption, it was partly inspired by an incident that resulted in the Metropolitan Police's armed anti-terrorist squad raiding The Clash's Camden Market base. Paul Simonon and Topper Headon were arrested and charged with criminal damage (and later and fined £750) for shooting racing pigeons with an air-gun from the roof of their rehearsal building. The main riff of the song is a direct steal from 'I Can't Explain' by The Who.

Sandy Pearlman, who produced the album was not a big fan of Joe Strummer's voice, so much so that he ensured the drums were mixed louder than the lead singer's vocals on the entire album.^[1]

All songs were written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted. All songs were arranged by The Clash. All lead vocals were by Joe Strummer, except "Stay Free" by Mick Jones.

1. "Safe European Home" – 3:50
2. "English Civil War" – 2:35
3. "Tommy Gun" – 3:17
4. "Julie's in the Drug Squad" – 3:03
5. "Last Gang in Town" – 5:14

1. "Guns on the Roof" (Strummer, Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon) – 3:15
2. "Drug-Stabbing Time" – 3:43
3. "Stay Free" – 3:40
4. "Cheapskates" – 3:25
5. "All the Young Punks (New Boots and Contracts)" – 4:55

• Joe Strummer – guitar, vocals
• Mick Jones – guitar, vocals
• Paul Simonon – bass
• Topper Headon – drums
• Sandy Pearlman – producer