London Calling

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Album

London Calling · After their second album, the Clash were stuck. There was a new manager, the old rehearsal room was gone and the writers Joe Strummer and Mick Jones had not made a new song for more than a year. In the summer of 1979 the band rehearsed shut off from the outside world at Vanilla Studios in Pimlico, at first with covers of rockabilly, rhythm and blues and reggae. From August they recorded the album at Wessex Sound Studios in London, in five to six weeks, with producer Guy Stevens.

It became a double album on which the punk sound opens out to reggae, rockabilly, ska, New Orleans R&B and lounge jazz. The lyrics are about unemployment, racial conflicts, drugs and the responsibilities of adulthood. London Calling reached the UK top ten and the title song became a top twenty single. The album is regarded as one of the best ever and in 2010 appeared on a British postage stamp.

Listening

• 
  London Calling · The Clash, 1979
  Apple Music ↗
• 
  Train in Vain · The Clash, 1979
  Apple Music ↗
• 
  Spanish Bombs · The Clash, 1979
  Apple Music ↗

Track list

1. 1London Calling3:20Apple Music ↗
2. 2Brand New Cadillac2:08Apple Music ↗
3. 3Jimmy Jazz3:54Apple Music ↗
4. 4Hateful2:44Apple Music ↗
5. 5Rudie Can't Fail3:29Apple Music ↗
6. 6Spanish Bombs3:19Apple Music ↗
7. 7The Right Profile3:55Apple Music ↗
8. 8Lost In the Supermarket3:47Apple Music ↗
9. 9Clampdown3:49Apple Music ↗
10. 10The Guns of Brixton3:10Apple Music ↗
11. 11Wrong 'Em Boyo3:11Apple Music ↗
12. 12Death or Glory3:55Apple Music ↗
13. 13Koka Kola1:48Apple Music ↗
14. 14The Card Cheat3:49Apple Music ↗
15. 15Lover's Rock4:03Apple Music ↗
16. 16Four Horsemen2:56Apple Music ↗
17. 17I'm Not Down3:06Apple Music ↗
18. 18Revolution Rock5:33Apple Music ↗
19. 19Train In Vain (Stand By Me)3:12Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

See also

• The Clash