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Cover of Combat Rock by The Clash
Cover: Combat Rock

Song · The Clash

“Rock the Casbah” by The Clash

From the album Combat Rock (1982)

“Rock the Casbah” by The Clash appears on 164 radio countdowns from 54 stations between 1982 and 2026. It was first released in 1982 on the album Combat Rock. Its best result is #1 on the KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1982. In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #2 alternative song of 1982, #36 alternative song of all time and #62 of the '80s.

164countdowns
54stations
#1best position
1#1 finishes
2top 10 finishes
1982–2026years charted

Watch

The Clash - Rock the Casbah (Official Video)

Video from YouTube (theclashVEVO). Pressing play loads YouTube's player. Watch on YouTube

"Rock the Casbah" was the second single from Combat Rock, the Clash's fifth studio album, in 1982. It followed "Should I Stay or Should I Go" out the door and handed the band the only American top-10 hit they ever had, a number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.

The writing credit is split three ways between Topper Headon, Mick Jones and Joe Strummer, and it sounds like a band that had stopped worrying about punk purity: a bouncing, springy groove, a big rubbery bottom end and a shouted chorus built for a packed floor, closer to new wave strut than street-fight thrash.

The dance floors noticed. Paired with "Mustapha Dance", it also climbed to number eight on the dance chart, which says plenty about how far this band had wandered from the garage without losing its bite.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

Indie & Adult Alternative

Classic Rock

All Rock Formats

Year-end countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
1982 1 KROQ Los Angeles, CA KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1982 107
1982 40 John Peel (BBC Radio 1) John Peel's Festive Fifty of 1982 50

All-time and decade countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
– 24 WLIR / WDRE WLIR Top 200 Songs of the 1980s 200
1988 25 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1988) 496
1988 211 Live 105 Live 105 Top 500 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1988) 501
1988 90 WLIR / WDRE WLIR Top 200 Songs of All-Time (1988) 200
1989 9 91X 91X Top 191 Songs of the 1980s (1989) 191
1989 53 WFNX WFNX Top 101 Songs of the Decade (December 1989) 101
1989 152 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1989) 495
1989 82 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1989) 500
1990 64 Live 105 Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1990) 299
1991 267 Live 105 Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1991) 302
1991 66 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1991) 500
1991 75 CFNY 102.1 The Edge CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (1991 Edition) 1002
1991 457 WNEW-FM WNEW Firecracker 500 (1991) 500
1992 196 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1992) 500
1992 108 Live 105 Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1992) 299
1994 153 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1994) 497
1994 20 Live 105 Live 105 Revolutionary 500 (July 1994) 500
1994 103 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1994) 500
1995 95 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1995) 500
1995 234 Live 105 Live 105 Revolutionary 300 (July 1995) 300
1996 88 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1996) 500
1996 116 Q101 Q101 Top 500 Songs of All-Time (1996) 500
1996 100 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1996) 498
1996 401 WNEW-FM WNEW Firecracker 500 (1996) 500
1997 754 102.3 WBAB WBAB Top 1,023 Rock and Roll Songs of All Time (1997) 1023
1997 457 104.5 KZEP KZEP Memorial Weekend Top 500 (1997) 500
1998 87 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1998) 488
1999 260 Q101 Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1017
1999 88 WLIR / WDRE WLIR Top 300 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 300
1999 59 WFNX WFNX Top 500 Songs of All-Time (June 1999) 500
1999 87 107.7 The End The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1077
1999 71 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (1999) 500
1999 44 CD101 CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 2000
1999 78 CFNY 102.1 The Edge CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999) 1002
1999 98 The Buzz The Buzz Top 99 Songs of All-Time (1999) 99
2000 32 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000) 500
2000 44 CD101 CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000) 2001
2000 79 103.3 The Edge 103.3 The Edge Top 103 New Rock Songs of the Millennium 103
2001 33 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001) 498
2001 38 CD101 CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 2002
2001 298 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 500
2001 1337 WFPK WFPK 2001 Greatest Songs of All Time 2000
2001 164 WBRU WBRU Modern Rock Top 500 (2001) 500
2002 40 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2002) 500
2002 38 CD101 CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002) 2003
2002 375 100.7 WZLX WZLX Memorial 500 (2002) 500
2002 343 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002) 2002
2003 29 91X 91X Top 91 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 91
2003 49 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2003) 500
2003 38 CD101 CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 2004
2003 18 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003) 2044
2004 15 Q101 Q101 Top 300 Party Songs of All-Time (July 2004) 300
2004 132 107.7 The End The End Original Alternative 500 (May 2004) 500
2004 38 CD101 CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 2005
2004 147 Y100 Y100 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (July 2004) 300
2004 213 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 500
2005 97 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2005) 500
2005 36 CD101 CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 1994
2005 356 99X 99X Freedom of Choice 1000 (2005) 1000
2005 251 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 500
2005 70 The Edge KEDJ Top 103 on Independent Radio 103
2005 71 96.5 The Buzz 96.5 The Buzz Top 96 of the 70s & 80s 96
2006 58 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2006) 500
2006 23 Live 105 Live 105 500 Co-Op Countdown (Memorial Day 2006) 500
2006 68 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2006) 499
2006 192 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2006) 500
2006 20 107.7 The End The End Top 107 Resurrection Songs (December 2006) 107
2007 57 CD101 CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007) 2008
2007 286 WTMD WTMD Top 897 Songs of All Time 897
2008 32 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2008) 500
2008 47 CD101 CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008) 2009
2009 124 Live 105 Live 105 Memorial 500 Song List (2009) 500
2009 54 CD101 CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009) 2010
2009 251 WXPN WXPN 885 Desert Island Songs (2009) 885
2010 57 CD101 CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010) 2011
2010 540 WXPN WXPN 885 Ultimate Road Trip Songs (2010) 885
2011 62 CD101 CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011) 2011
2011 339 97.9 The Loop The Loop Rock N Roll 500 (2011) 500
2011 424 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1100 Countdown (2011) 1100
2012 430 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1200 Countdown (2012) 1200
2012 193 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2012) 500
2012 348 WYEP WYEP Top 500 Songs Countdown 500
2012 114 WXPN WXPN 885 Greatest Rock Songs (2012) 885
2013 65 CD101 CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013) 2012
2013 304 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 500 (2013) 500
2013 79 Big 100 BIG 500 Labor Day Countdown (2013) 500
2013 135 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Grand Jam 1000 (2013) 1000
2013 61 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2013) 500
2013 371 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR CT 500 (2013) 500
2014 68 CD101 CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014) 2013
2014 247 Big 100 BIG 1000 New Year's Countdown (2014) 1000
2014 353 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX 1K Countdown (2014) 1000
2014 637 WXPN WXPN 885 All-Time Greatest Songs (2014) 885
2014 116 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 400 (2014) 400
2015 327 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 500 (2015) 499
2015 228 I-95 I-95 Memorial Day Weekend Top 500 (2015) 500
2015 180 102.9 The Whale 102.9 The Whale Hartford 500 (2015) 500
2015 135 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1007 Classic Rock Countdown (2015) 1007
2016 487 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2016) 500
2016 217 103.5 The Fox The Fox Memorial Day 500 (2016) 299
2016 123 102.9 The Whale 102.9 The Whale Hartford 500 (2016) 500
2016 66 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2016) 500
2016 80 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1007 Countdown for 2016 1007
2017 63 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2017) 500
2017 232 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2017) 500
2017 171 97.9 The Loop 97.9 The Loop Top 540 Countdown (2017) 540
2018 377 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2018) 500
2018 380 The Current The Current's 893 Essential Songs 892
2018 163 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2018) 500
2019 280 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2019) 500
2019 126 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2019) 500
2019 240 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2019) 500
2019 345 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2019) 499
2019 552 WYEP WYEP Big Spring Countdown 2019 1017
2019 272 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2019) 500
2019 552 WYEP WYEP Labor Day Weekend Countdown 2019 1099
2019 203 102.5 KZOK KZOK Top 1025 of 2019 1025
2020 676 WXPN WXPN 2020 Greatest Songs of All Time 2020
2020 205 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2020) 500
2020 306 DC101 The DC101 Top 500 500
2020 286 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2020) 500
2020 222 Q105.7 Q105.7 Memorial Day 500 (2020) 499
2020 360 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2020) 1025
2021 586 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '80s 909
2021 325 WCSX WCSX Rock & Roll 500 (2021) 499
2021 186 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2021) 500
2021 326 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2021) 1043
2021 401 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2021) 500
2021 296 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2021) 500
2021 369 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2021) 500
2022 196 97.1 The River River 500 (2022) 500
2022 147 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2022) 1025
2022 336 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2022) 500
2022 130 X96 X96 Top 500 Alternative Songs of All Time 500
2022 151 94.1 KRNA KRNA Memorial Day 500 (2022) 500
2022 381 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2022) 500
2022 474 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2022) 1043
2022 219 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2022) 500
2022 63 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2022) 500
2022 103 KEXP KEXP Top Songs of the Last 50 Years (1972-2022) 491
2023 663 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 850 Songs of the 1980s 850
2023 151 101.5 WPDH WPDH Top 1015 (2023) 1015
2023 367 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2023) 500
2023 248 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 176 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of All Time 909
2023 612 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2023) 1043
2023 152 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 525 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 800 Songs About Places 800
2024 371 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2024) 500
2024 441 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2024) 500
2024 143 WYEP WYEP Best Songs of the Past 50 Years 1049
2024 261 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2024) 500
2024 574 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2024) 1043
2024 330 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2024) 499
2024 331 KQRS KQRS KQ 500 (2024) 499
2025 499 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2025) 500
2025 367 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2025) 500
2025 456 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2025) 1043
2025 163 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2025) 500
2026 20 WFPK WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '80s 498
2026 172 100.7 KSLX KSLX Arizona 500 (2026) 500
2026 286 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2026) 500

Also listed as: Rock The Casbah; Rock the Casbach; Rock the Casabah.

Charting alongside it in 1982

Best songs of 1982 →
  1. 1Town Called MaliceThe Jam
  2. 3Should I Stay or Should I Go?The Clash
  3. 4Promised You a MiracleSimple Minds
  4. 5TemptationNew Order
  5. 6I Ran (So Far Away)A Flock of Seagulls
  6. 7Sex DwarfSoft Cell

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