Never Mind The Bollocks versus The Clash

Take two contemporary albums - both cornerstones of a genre, and both superb slabs of debut albumage, and compare/contrast on a track-by-track basis.
Who wins?

The Clash debut is from April 1977, and was the first 33.3 RPM outing for CBS - the single "White Riot" came a month before, and the "Capital Radio" EP (featuring 4 songs not on the album, or (in truth) 1 song, a brief excerpt of a track and a 2 part interview) appeared at the same time.
The album was modified for release in the US with 4 tracks knocked out and replaced by "Complete Control", "(White Man) in Hammersmith Palais", "Clash City Rockers", "Jail Guitar Doors" and "I Fought The Law" were added - can't improve on perfection?  The US version very nearly does.

'Never Mind The Bollocks' was the long awaited Sex Pistols debut arriving in October 1977.  It contained all 4 singles to date and 8 other prime cuts.
The band themselves were nearing breaking point - Glen Matlock (the bass player) had been sacked to be replaced by Sid Vicious (not the bass player), and there was very little mileage left.  Indeed by January 1978, John Lydon had left and there were only to be 8 more original songs would be added to the catalogue (plus a few more cover versions).

A note on production: The Clash debut was produced by their sound man Mickey Foote, whilst the Pistols secured the services of Chris Thomas (previous work including production for Roxy Music, mixing of Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side Of The Moon' and (un-credited) Production Assistant duties on The Beatles' 'White Album').
Whilst 'The Clash' can sometimes sound sparse, almost amateur-ish, 'Never Mind The Bollocks' is at the other end of the spectrum almost sounding claustrophobic with mutliple guitars layered over each other.

'Never Mind The Bollocks' only has 12 tracks, 'The Clash' has 14 – so with a little bit of re-jigging (ie adding a couple of B-Sides), let battle commence:

"Holidays in the Sun" vs "Janie Jones"
Every album needs a strong opener, and the sound of marching jack boots broken by a near copy of The Jam’s In The City riff fits the bill.  But Janie Jones is one of those damn near perfect “Album 1 Side 1 Track 1” moments.

Sex Pistols 0 The Clash 1

"Bodies" vs "Remote Control"
"Bodies" continues the NMTB onslaught with one of their finest riffs, a mad story and some choice sweary bits.
"Remote Control" is not one of The Clash’s strongest, and an odd choice for a single.  You can see why they were annoyed with CBS (on the plus side, it did give the world “Complete Control”)

Sex Pistols 1 The Clash 1

"No Feelings" vs "I'm So Bored with the USA"
"I'm So Bored with the USA" is a great track but just cannot compete with the riffing and sneering of "No Feelings".  The Pistols take the lead

Sex Pistols 2 The Clash 1

"Liar" vs "White Riot"
A bit of a one sided match-up here – 2 minutes of righteous fury and a seeming call to arms versus one of the weaker Pistols tracks.  "White Riot" probably deserves 2 points here, but it’s the equaliser anyway.

Sex Pistols 2 The Clash 2

"God Save the Queen" vs "Hate and War"
Another uneven match – despite all the familiarity, controversy, hoo-hah etc, "God Save The Queen" is one phenomenal track

Sex Pistols 3 The Clash 2

"Problems" vs "What's My Name"
Both competent, although "What’s My Name" just edges it in my ears.  I’m tempted to award half a point each, but the incessant stating of “Problems” on the play-out just gets on my wick (why can’t they just finish it on a nice piano flourish, or an explosion, or something else?)

Sex Pistols 3 The Clash 3

"Seventeen" vs "Deny"
Nothing on The Clash debut could be classed as “filler”, but "Deny" is (for me) on of the lesser tracks.  "Seventeen" scores the point (and not just because it could be my theme song – I am a lazy sod)

Sex Pistols 4 The Clash 3

"Anarchy in the UK" vs "London's Burning"
The most even match of the contest, and similar sentiments in both - now is the time for a change.
"Anarchy" wins, no "London’s Burning" wins, no "Anarchy", no "London's Burning".  Can’t split them. They’re both as urgent and exasperated as each other.  Half points each.

Sex Pistols 4.5 The Clash 3.5

"Submission" vs "Career Opportunities"
"Submission" always sound a bit laboured, whilst "Career Opportunities" is constantly on the money – urgent, direct, not outstaying it’s welcome.  (And not even the Sandinsta version with Micky Gallagher’s kids singing does not sully it)

Sex Pistols 4.5 The Clash 4.5

"Pretty Vacant" vs "Cheat"
Nip and tuck all the way so far, and a score back for the Pistols again.  Why?  Because this is Pretty Vacant.  OK, this might be a trick of production, but I doubt a slickly produced version of "Cheat"(with Topper’s drums on it) would beat "Pretty Vacant".

Sex Pistols 5.5 The Clash 4.5

"New York" vs "Protex Blue"
"New York" is a veiled attack on Malcolm McLaren, "Protex Blue" is a song about buying rubber johnnies.  For that reason, it wins.

Sex Pistols 5.5 The Clash 5.5

"No Fun" (B-Side of "Pretty Vacant") vs "Police & Thieves"
The cover version moment:
"No Fun" is straight out of the rehearsal room, "Police & Thieves" shows more ambition in it’s choice and execution.

Sex Pistols 5.5 The Clash 6.5

"Satellite" (B-Side of "Holidays in the Sun") vs "48 Hours"
"Satellite" should’ve been on '... Bollocks' (at the expense of "Problems", "Liar" or "New York" in my opinion).  The song is one of the best in the Pistols canon – "48 Hours" just can’t compete

Sex Pistols 6.5 The Clash 6.5

"EMI" vs "Garageland"
Ooo – a decider (and not a contrived one – honest)
"EMI" tells the story of the Sex Pistols time at the titular record label, "Garageland" is an answer to Charles Shaar Murray who said "The Clash are the kind of garage band who should be returned to the garage immediately".
Both songs of overcoming adversity – but only one ends with a raspberry blown in the general direction of their detractors.  And for this childish but amusing finale, "EMI" wins through.

Sex Pistols 7.5 The Clash 6.5

'Never Mind The Bollocks' wins - just!