Here’s what the Yanks missed with the Clash

Losing a great band can leave the same kind of void as losing a friend, and the Clash was such a great band that the absence seems immense 20 years after its breakup.

Unlike the Beatles or U2, whose music was so accessible and inspiring that it reached out to almost everyone, the Clash grew out of the defiant, supercharged punk movement that took pride in alienating some “outsiders.”

Though that punk approach caused radio programmers in this country to resist the Clash for years, the British band finally broke through to mainstream audiences here with the melodic hit singles “Train in Vain (Stand by Me)” in 1980 and “Should I Stay or Should I Go” and “Rock the Casbah,” both in 1982.

Some pop fans here probably enjoyed those singles so much that they bought Clash albums and got a deeper understanding of the band’s music. But other listeners may think those were the only appealing singles the group ever made.

A new box set, “The Clash -- The Singles,” showcases more than a dozen other singles that were catchy enough to become hits in England, and it’s an excellent way for mainstream fans here to catch up on what they may have missed. Among the highlights of the 19-disc package: “London Calling,” “Tommy Gun,” “Police on My Back” and a fabulous cover version of the Bobby Fuller Four hit “I Fought the Law.”

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The Clash

“The Clash -- The Singles”

(Epic/Legacy)

The back story: Along with the Sex Pistols and Ramones, the Clash is viewed by most punk historians as part of the Holy Trinity, and the Clash left us with a richer body of work than either of the other two.

The band -- whose core lineup consisted of singer-guitarist-writers Joe Strummer and Mick Jones plus bassist Paul Simonon and drummer Topper Headon -- added to the musical range of punk by incorporating elements of rockabilly and reggae. The Clash too pushed the subject matter of punk to greater levels of sophistication.

In many ways, the ‘60s British band that the Clash most reminds you of today is the Who, so it’s only fitting that Pete Townshend is one of the many pop culture figures who contributed to the liner notes. Others include U2’s the Edge, the Stone Roses’ John Squire and “High Fidelity” novelist-critic Nick Hornby.

Writing about the single “(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais,” Hornby declares, “It wasn’t just that Joe Strummer made you believe his outrage; he made you share it, too.... This is a great single by one of England’s one or two greatest-ever bands.”

Special features: There are much cheaper Clash singles collections available than this one (which I found selling for about $55 online), but the joys of this set are the format (each of the 19 singles is placed on a separate disc complete with a replica of the original picture sleeve) and the presence of bonus tracks. Bonuses include tunes from non-U.S. B-sides, a rare promotional disc and a 44-page booklet with photos and commentaries. The set is also available in a 7-inch vinyl version but without some of the added features.

Further study: Once hooked by this set, the next step is the full Clash albums. Start with the superb “London Calling.”

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The Jesus & Mary Chain

“Psychocandy”

(Blanco Y Negro/Rhino)

The back story: This band, led by brothers Jim and William Reid, is also on my short list of all-time great rock groups. The Mary Chain’s greatest contribution was helping define one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most glorious sonic pleasures: an absolutely absorbing mixture of brutal guitar feedback and lovely, seductive melodies. The London-based team, which called it quits in 1998, never connected with a mass audience in this country. But it was a sensation for a while in the mid-’80s in England, and its sound has influenced scores of quality groups.

Despite the dark, threatening edge to much of the brothers’ music, there was a life-affirming quality to such tracks as “Head On,” which the Pixies turned into a hit in this country. In a burst of emotion rivaling Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run,” the song’s lyrics proclaim: “Makes you want to feel, makes you want to try / Makes you want to blow the stars from the sky.”

Special features: The album contains a DVD with lyrics to the songs and videos for three of the album’s tunes.

Further study: Every Mary Chain album was a gem, and Rhino has also re-released the four that followed “Psychocandy”: “Darklands,” “Automatic,” “Honey’s Dead” and “Stoned and Dethroned.” Each also contains a bonus DVD.

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Backtracking, a biweekly feature, highlights CD reissues with special attention to artists or albums deserving of greater attention than they received originally.