By Doug Simpson

The name says it all. The Clash weren't the first punk band, and had limited chart success, but the foursome delivered more power, passion, and honesty than any of the band's contemporaries.

"From Here To Eternity Live" contains performances recorded between '78 and '82, sequenced according to song release date, but not necessarily when tunes were taped live. The oldest tune, "Complete Control," comes from an '81 NYC club appearance, while "London's Burning" is from a '78 UK gig. It's nearly impossible to tell when or where particular cuts came from, despite lack of overdubs or remixing.

There are radio hits like "Should I Stay or Should I Go" and "London Calling," but the more subversive pieces form the all-important punk-rock blaze, such as "Clash City Rockers," "City of the Dead" and "Career Opportunities." Sometimes the uneven mix obscures the drums, or Joe

Strummer's Cockney slur rides too high, but you can't deny the defiant declarations of Strummer's and Mick Jones' twin guitars.

The Clash's first official live release is invigorating, teeming with righteous fervor and energy, from the opening punk chords of "Complete Control" to the closing bars of the slow-burning reggae rejoinder "Straight to Hell." "From Here To Eternity Live" could have been an incidental historical document. Instead this CD forcefully sums up The Clash's legacy as one of the best groups of any musical genre.