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London Calling
Studio album by The Clash
Released	14 December 1979
Recorded	Wessex Studios, London, August–September 1979, November 1979
Genre	Punk rock, rock, reggae, ska
Length	65:03
Label	Epic EK 63885 (reissue) E3K 92923 (Legacy)
Producer	Guy Stevens
Professional reviews
All Music Guide (Album pick)link All Music Guide 2004 Robert Christgau (A+) link Pitchfork Media (10.0/10) 2004 Mark Prindle (10/10) link Rolling Stone 1997
The Clash chronology
The Cost of Living (EP) (1979) London Calling (1979) Sandinista! (1980)

London Calling is a double album released by The Clash in December 1979 in the UK, and the first week of January 1980 in the U.S. The album marked the band's critical and commercial breakthrough. Besides straightforward punk rock, it featured a much wider array of styles than the Clash's earlier albums, with sophisticated pop songwriting that incorporates elements of rockabilly, 1960s-style pop music, lounge music, R&B, ska, rocksteady, hard rock, and reggae in tracks such as "Train in Vain", "Clampdown", "Spanish Bombs", "Jimmy Jazz", and the title track "London Calling." Image File history File links Emblem-important. ... London Calling is the hit song off the album of the same name (London Calling, 1979) by the U.K. punk/rock band The Clash; it is also the albums first track. ... Cover of The Clash album London Calling. ... A studio album is a collection of studio-recorded tracks by a recording artist. ... This article is about the English rock band. ... is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Wessex Sound Studios was a recording studio located in Highbury New Park, London, England. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... Reggae is a music genre developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. ... For other uses, see SKA (disambiguation). ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Epic Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Sony BMG. // Epic was launched originally as a jazz and classical music label in 1953 by CBS. Its bright-yellow, black and blue logo became a familiar trademark for many jazz and classical releases. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Guy Stevens was born in East Dulwich, London, on April 13, 1943. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music, owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 5_stars. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music, owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 5_stars. ... Robert Christgau (born April 18, 1942), is an American essayist, music journalist, and the self-declared Dean of American Rock Critics.[1] In print, his name is sometimes abbreviated as Xgau. ... Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork, is a United States-based daily Internet publication devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. ... Mark Prindle (b. ... This article is about the magazine. ... Image File history File links 5_stars. ... This article is about the English rock band. ... This article is about the 1979 album. ... Sandinista! is the fourth album by the punk rock band The Clash. ... A double album is an audio album of sufficient length that two units of the medium in which it is sold (especially records and compact discs) are necessary to contain the entirety of it. ... This article is about the English rock band. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Punk rock is an anti-establishment music movement beginning around 1976 (although precursors can be found several years earlier), exemplified and popularised by The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, and emerged in the early-1950s. ... For other uses, see Pop music (disambiguation). ... Lounge music refers to music played in the lounges and bars of hotels and casinos, or at standalone piano bars. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... For other uses, see SKA (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Hard Rock redirects here. ... Reggae is a music genre developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. ... Train in Vain (Stand by Me) is a song off the album London Calling, (1979) by the U.K. punk/rock band The Clash. ... Clampdown is a song by The Clash, on the album London Calling. ... Spanish Bombs is a song by The Clash, featured on their 1979 album London Calling. ... Jimmy Jazz may refer to: Jimmy Jazz, a song by The Clash from their 1980 album London Calling Jimmy Jazz, a record label featuring bands such as The Analogs, WC, and Karcer [1] Jimmy Jazz, a 1982 movie starring Fabrice Luchini _END_ Category: ... London Calling is the hit song off the album of the same name (London Calling, 1979) by the U.K. punk/rock band The Clash; it is also the albums first track. ...

History

Themes

Continuing Clash practice, the record is politically motivated. Lyrical themes include: the end of the world ("London Calling"), drug addiction ("Hateful"), American folk legend Stagger Lee ("Wrong 'Em Boyo"), young rebels growing up and getting old ("Death or Glory"), the rise of far-right politics ("Clampdown"), the Spanish Civil War ("Spanish Bombs"), troubled American method actor Montgomery Clift ("The Right Profile"), the growing power of media advertising and corporations ("Koka Kola"), and even the Pill ("Lover's Rock"). Stagger Lee (also known as Stagolee, Stackerlee, Stack OLee, Stack-a-Lee and by several other spelling variants) was an African American murderer whose crime was immortalized in a blues folk song, which has been recorded in hundreds of different versions. ... Not to be confused with the Spanish Civil War of 1820-1823. ... Method acting is an acting technique in which actors try to replicate real life emotional conditions under which the character operates, in an effort to create a life-like, realistic performance. ... Edward Montgomery Clift (October 17, 1920 - July 23, 1966) was an American Academy Award-nominated actor known by the stage name of Montgomery Clift. ... The Pill redirects here. ...

Two for the price of one

The album was a double LP but sold for the price of a single one, which was the product of some record company duping by the band; they asked the record company if they could include a free 12" single with the album, and upon agreement from record executives, took it upon themselves to make the second disc a full length. This was one of the first showings of the band's anti-establishment/pro-listener position, as their mission was not to make money or please executives, but to get as much music out to Clash fans as possible.

Addition of "Train in Vain"

"Train in Vain" was a last minute addition to the album, after the deal for The Clash to write a song for an NME flexi disc fell through, and as Mick Jones commented "This is a bit too good to give away on the NME". The result of its late addition was that it was the only song without lyrics printed on the insert, and was not listed as a track on the sleeve, although the text "Track 5 is Train In Vain" was scratched into the run-out groove area on the B-side of the second disc. Nevertheless, there was some confusion over the track's name, and it is often referred to as "Stand by Me" because of the song's refrain. However on every reissue since the original it has been listed as "Train in Vain". For other uses, see NME (disambiguation). ... Flexi disc in a magazine The flexi disc is a phonograph record made of a thin vinyl sheet with a molded-in spiral stylus groove, and is designed to be playable on a normal phonograph turntable. ... A refrain (from the Old French refraindre to repeat, likely from Vulgar Latin refringere) is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the chorus of a song. ...

Cover

The cover features a photograph by Pennie Smith of Paul Simonon smashing his bass guitar against the stage, at The Palladium in New York City - which was at the time the Mecca of punk and new wave music - on 21 September 1979 during the "Clash Take the Fifth" U.S. tour. The picture is surrounded by typography similar to Elvis Presley's debut album. The picture was later voted the best rock and roll photograph of all time by Q, although at the time Smith did not want the picture used. She did not feel it was a technically good shot because the photograph is slightly out of focus (as she was backing away from Simonon to avoid getting hit). However, Joe Strummer convinced her to use the shot. The broken remains of Simonon's bass are in the permanent collection of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. Pennie Smith is a renowned rock photographer born in London in 19??. Smith attended Twickenham Art school in the late 1960s, studying graphics and fine art. ... Paul Simonon (born December 15, 1955 in Brixton, London, England) is best known as the bass guitarist and vocalist for punk rock band The Clash. ... A sunburst-colored Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... This article is about the New York City Palladium concert hall and night club. ... is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... A specimen of roman typefaces by William Caslon Typography is the art and techniques of type design, modifying type glyphs, and arranging type. ... Elvis redirects here. ... Elvis Presley is the self-titled debut album from Elvis Presley. ... Q is a music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom, with a circulation of 140,282 and a readership of 731,000. ... The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at sunset. ... Cleveland redirects here. ...

Critics' praise

It was voted the best album of the year in The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop critics poll. In 1998 Q magazine readers voted London Calling the 32nd greatest album of all time, while in 2000 the same magazine placed it at number 4 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever. In 2001, the TV network VH1 placed it at number 25 on its survey of the 100 greatest albums. In 1989, it was ranked #1 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest albums of the 1980s (although it was released in 1979 in the UK, its U.S. release was in 1980).^[1] In 2003, the album was ranked number 8 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.^[2] Pitchfork Media ranked it number two on their Top 100 Albums of the 1970s. In 2004, Entertainment Weekly named it the greatest rock album of all time. It is also the only album on Metacritic to get an average of 100 from various reviewing medias. In 2006, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation conducted a poll to determine its viewers' favourite album. "London Calling" was 26th on the list. This article is about a New York newspaper. ... The Pazz & Jop critics poll is a highly influential poll of music critics run by The Village Voice newspaper. ... Q is a music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom, with a circulation of 140,282 and a readership of 731,000. ... A television network is a distribution network for television content whereby a central operation provides programming for many television stations. ... VH1 (VH-1: Video Hits One until 1994) is an American cable television channel that was created in January 1985 by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Communications and owners of MTV. VH1 and sister channel MTV are currently part of the MTV Networks division... This article is about the magazine. ... This article is about the magazine. ... The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time is the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone magazine published in November 2003. ... Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork, is a United States-based daily Internet publication devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. ... Entertainment Weekly (sometimes abbreviated EW) is a magazine published by Time Inc. ... Metacritic is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows, DVDs and books. ... The Australian Broadcasting Corporation or ABC is Australias national non-profit public broadcaster. ...

In 2006, the album was chosen by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 best albums of all time. [1] Look up time in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Effect on music and musical genres

Upon its release in 1979 (1980 in the U.S.), London Calling had an immediate effect on popular music and culture. It was the first album of its kind, as it fused together three uncommon music genres: ska, reggae, and punk music. After the initial punk rock explosion in Britain, there was a mad rush for record companies to sign punk bands, seeing it as a newly formed “cash-cow.” When asked if he was even aware of the phenomenon caused by the release of the album, bassist Paul Simonon responded “...Well, it (punk music) hadn’t really started. The Pistols were doing their occasional shows, but punk was something that really came about after the Grundy thing. Then it was called punk ya know.”

London Calling on the big and small screens

A number of songs from London Calling have been sold to various corporations for various commercial purposes. Examples include the use of the album's title track in the James Bond film Die Another Day, in Bravo Two Zero, in the season finale of the fourth season of the hit TV show Friends, in the movie What a Girl Wants, in the motion picture Billy Elliot, in a Jaguar car commercial, and Australian shoe company, Globe Shoes, released a limited edition shoe with lyrics from the song printed on the side. Similarly, Rudy Giuliani used "Rudie Can't Fail" as his entrance music when he presented a statue at the 2002 MTV Music Video Awards. The use of these songs have annoyed many fans who consider the band's public persona to be representative of a left-wing, anti-establishment, and, by extension, anti-corporate worldview. The Tony hawk's American Wasteland soundtrack cover is a copy off of the London Calling album except the guy on the cover is smashing his skateboard. 007 redirects here. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... For the theme song of the same movie, performed by Madonna, see Die Another Day (song). ... Bravo Two Zero is a 1999 film based on the British SAS patrol of the same name charged with finding Iraqi Scud missile launchers during the Gulf War. ... For friendship, see friendship. ... What a Girl Wants is a 2003 film starring Amanda Bynes, Colin Firth, Kelly Preston and Oliver James. ... For other uses, see Billy Elliot (disambiguation). ... Jaguar Cars Limited is a luxury car manufacturer, originally with headquarters in Browns Lane, Coventry, England but now at Whitley, Coventry. ... Globe Shoes are a manufacturer of surf and skateboard footware formed in Australia in 1994 by former Australian professional skateboarders Matt, Steven, and Peter Hill. ... Rudolph William Louis Giuliani III, (born May 28, 1944) is an American lawyer, prosecutor, businessman, and Republican politician from the state of New York. ... The MTV Video Music Awards were established in 1984 by MTV to celebrate the top music videos of the year. ...

Reissues

In January 2000, London Calling, along with the rest of the Clash's catalog was remastered and re-released. This article is about the English rock band. ...

On 21 September 2004, Epic Records and Legacy Recordings released a Legacy Edition of the album which included not only the original remastered album (first released in 2000) but also The Vanilla Tapes, long rumoured lost, which contained rough rehearsal sessions for the album named after the studio in London where the recordings took place and a DVD containing a documentary and promos about the making of the album. is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Epic Records is an American record label, owned and operated by Sony BMG. // Epic was launched originally as a jazz and classical music label in 1953 by CBS. Its bright-yellow, black and blue logo became a familiar trademark for many jazz and classical releases. ... Legacy Recordings is Sony BMG Music Entertainments catalog division. ... A gramophone record, (also phonograph record - often simply record) is an analog sound recording medium: a flat disc rotating at a constant angular velocity, with inscribed spiral grooves in which a stylus or needle rides. ... A gramophone record, (also phonograph record - often simply record) is an analog sound recording medium: a flat disc rotating at a constant angular velocity, with inscribed spiral grooves in which a stylus or needle rides. ... The Vanilla Tapes were demo tracks recorded by the English punk band The Clash- in essence, an early version of their albumLondon Calling. ... A gramophone record, (also phonograph record - often simply record) is an analog sound recording medium: a flat disc rotating at a constant angular velocity, with inscribed spiral grooves in which a stylus or needle rides. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... DVD (also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is a popular optical disc storage media format. ... A gramophone record, (also phonograph record - often simply record) is an analog sound recording medium: a flat disc rotating at a constant angular velocity, with inscribed spiral grooves in which a stylus or needle rides. ...

Track listing

All songs written by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted. For other persons named John Mellor, see John Mellor (disambiguation). ... For the Spooky Tooth and Foreigner guitarist, see Mick Jones (Foreigner). ...

Side one

1. "London Calling" – 3:19
2. "Brand New Cadillac " (Vince Taylor) – 2:09
3. "Jimmy Jazz" – 3:51
4. "Hateful" – 2:47
5. "Rudie Can't Fail" – 3:26

Tracks 1–4 are sung by Joe Strummer. Track 5 is sung by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones. London Calling is the hit song off the album of the same name (London Calling, 1979) by the U.K. punk/rock band The Clash; it is also the albums first track. ... Brand New Cadillac may refer to: Brand New Cadillac, a song by The Clash from their 1980 album London Calling Brand New Cadillac, a 1958 song by Vince Taylor Category: ... Vince Taylor (Real name Brian Maurice Holden) (July 14, 1939 London, England, – August 28, 1991) was a rock musician. ...

Side two

1. "Spanish Bombs" – 3:18
2. "The Right Profile" – 4:00
3. "Lost in the Supermarket" – 3:47
4. "Clampdown" – 3:50
5. "The Guns of Brixton" (Paul Simonon) – 3:07

Tracks 2 and 4 are sung by Joe Strummer. Track 3 is sung by Mick Jones. Track 5 is sung by Paul Simonon. Track 1 is sung by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones. Clampdown is a song by The Clash, on the album London Calling. ... The Guns of Brixton is a song by The Clash on their third album, London Calling, released in 1979. ... Paul Simonon (born December 15, 1955 in Brixton, London, England) is best known as the bass guitarist and vocalist for punk rock band The Clash. ...

Side three

1. "Wrong 'Em Boyo" (Clive Alphonso) – 3:10
2. "Death or Glory" – 3:55
3. "Koka Kola" – 1:45
4. "The Card Cheat" (Jones, Strummer, Simonon, Topper Headon) – 3:51

Tracks 1–3 are sung by Joe Strummer. Track 4 is sung by Mick Jones. Topper Headon Nicholas Bowen Headon (born May 30, 1955, in Bromley, Kent, England), better known as Topper Headon (because of his resemblance to the cartoon monkey), was the drummer for the English punk rock band The Clash. ...

Side four

1. "Lover's Rock" – 4:01
2. "Four Horsemen" – 3:00
3. "I'm Not Down" – 3:00
4. "Revolution Rock" (Jackie Edwards, Danny Ray) – 5:37
5. "Train in Vain" – 3:11

Tracks 2 and 4 are sung by Joe Strummer. Tracks 3 and 5 are sung by Mick Jones. Track 1 is sung by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones. Danny Ray, (born, Dan Feinstein, February 1, 1951, New York, NY). ... Train in Vain (Stand by Me) is a song off the album London Calling, (1979) by the U.K. punk/rock band The Clash. ...

25th anniversary edition bonus disc

The 25th anniversary edition of the album contains The Vanilla Tapes as a bonus disc. The Vanilla Tapes were demo tracks recorded by the English punk band The Clash- in essence, an early version of their albumLondon Calling. ...

1. "Hateful" – 3:23
2. "Rudie Can't Fail" – 3:08
3. "Paul's Tune" (Simonon) – 2:32
4. "I'm Not Down" – 3:34
5. "4 Horsemen" – 2:45
6. "Koka Kola, Advertising & Cocaine" – 1:57
7. "Death or Glory" – 3:47
8. "Lover's Rock" – 3:45
9. "Lonesome Me" (Jones, Strummer, Simonon, Headon) – 2:09
10. "The Police Walked in 4 Jazz" – 2:19
11. "Lost in the Supermarket" – 3:52
12. "Up-Toon (Inst.)" – 1:57
13. "Walking The Sidewalk" (Jones, Strummer, Simonon, Headon) – 2:34
14. "Where You Gonna Go (Soweto)" (Jones, Strummer, Simonon, Headon) – 4:05
15. "The Man in Me" (Bob Dylan) – 3:57
16. "Remote Control" – 2:39
17. "Working and Waiting" – 4:11
18. "Heart & Mind" (Jones, Strummer, Simonon, Headon) – 4:27
19. "Brand New Cadillac" (Taylor) – 2:08
20. "London Calling" – 4:26
21. "Revolution Rock" (Edwards, Ray) – 3:51

This article is about the recording artist. ...

Samples

Image File history File links London_Calling. ...

Personnel

• Joe Strummer – vocals, rhythm guitar, piano
• Mick Jones – guitar, vocals, piano
• Paul Simonon – bass, vocals
• Topper Headon – drums, percussion

For other persons named John Mellor, see John Mellor (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Singer (disambiguation). ... Rhythm guitar is a guitar that is primarily used to provide rhythmic and harmonic accompaniment for a singer or for other instruments in an ensemble. ... A short grand piano, with the lid up. ... For the Spooky Tooth and Foreigner guitarist, see Mick Jones (Foreigner). ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... Paul Simonon (born December 15, 1955 in Brixton, London, England) is best known as the bass guitarist and vocalist for punk rock band The Clash. ... A sunburst-colored Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... Topper Headon Nicholas Bowen Headon (born May 30, 1955, in Bromley, Kent, England), better known as Topper Headon (because of his resemblance to the cartoon monkey), was the drummer for the English punk rock band The Clash. ... A drum kit (or drum set or trap set) is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as a cowbell, wood block, chimes or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer. ... Percussion redirects here. ...

Additional personnel

• Mickey Gallagher – organ
• The Irish Horns – brass

Gallagher (right) with Eric Burdon. ... Organ in Katharinenkirche, Frankfurt am Main, Germany The organ is a keyboard instrument played using one or more manuals and a pedalboard. ... Image of a trumpet, foreground, a piccolo trumpet behind, and a flugelhorn in background. ...

Chart information

• In the United Kingdom the album charted at #9 and stayed on the British charts for 20 weeks.
• In the United States the album peaked at #27 spending 33 weeks on the chart and reaching Platinum status.

Charts

Album

It has been suggested that Billboard be merged into this article or section. ...

Singles

Certifications

is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... is the 338th day of the year (339th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

References

Also see: 2002 (number). ... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (362nd in leap years). ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 324th day of the year (325th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• "It's just the beat of time, the beat that must go on" essay on London Calling at Complicated Fun
• Paul Simonon on London Calling's cover art. From the Super Seventies RockSite.