Classic & Current Contemporary Non-Schlock-Rock Metropolitan Music

London Calling (Dec. 1979) - The Clash

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This is an all-time top 10 record. I had been a hardcord Clash fan since Give 'Em Enough Rope and there had been a lot of anticipation about this one. The first track I heard off London Calling was "Wrong 'em Boyo" WNEW on New Year's Day 1980 in New York City. It took a little while for the album to find its way to North Carolina. It arrived at WFDD around a week or two into January.

Although I was hosting Deaconlight at WFDD, I was also working for WZKL, a commercial radio station in Winston-Salem, NC. The playlist in 1979 was a mix of Top 40 and album tracks. I freaked out when the station added "Train in Vain" to regular rotation. This was a very big deal and actually gave me hope for commercial radio back then. About a year later, the station was sold and the format became "North Carolina's Best Rock." Although the Top 40 was gone, there were virtually no new bands being played. I don't think The Clash made it back to KZL's playlist until Combat Rock came out.

The 30th anniversary of London Calling was released in 2009. I think it has more than twice as much music as the original. Also included are videos about the making of the London Calling and grainy footage of some of the recording sessions.

-- Originally posted 2005

-- Updated 12/17/2010 (DD)

London Calling Tracks

London Calling - Record 1

1. London Calling
2. Brand New Cadillac
3. Jimmy Jazz
4. Hateful
5. Rudie Can't Fail
6. Spanish Bombs
7. The Right Profile
8. Lost In The Supermarket
9. Clampdown
10. The Guns Of Brixton

London Calling - Record 2

1. Wrong 'Em Boyo
2. Death Or Glory
3. Koka Kola
4. The Card Cheat
5. Lover's Rock
6. Four Horsemen
7. I'm Not Down
8. Revolution Rock
9. Train In Vain

My copy also included a 45 with "Groovy Times" on one side and "Gates of the West" on the other.

Video from the 30th Anniversary Edition of London Calling

• The Last Testament - The Making of London Calling, Pt 1
  (16:42)
• The Last Testament - The Making of London Calling, Pt 2
  (15:42)
• Home Video Footage of the Clash Recording London Calling In Wessex Studios
  (13:53)

More Clash at Deaconlight.com

• The Clash - The Clash (1977)
  Album Notes
• The Clash - Give 'Em Enough Rope (1978)
  Album Notes
• The Clash - Black Market Clash (1980)
  Album Commentary
• The Clash - Sandinista! (1980)
  Album Notes