London Calling

MASTERPIECE!!

First heard this in my car in high school, it must have been junior or senior year. I had heard that this was a punk rock masterpiece, but this did not sound like punk rock at all. This is reggae, this is soul, this is (Jimmy) jazz, this is revolution rock.

Other than "the song" didn't know any others but a great album. Low 5.

Classic rock, hints of folk/pop that I can see. Solid strong sound

AND ON THE SEVENTH DAY, JOE STRUMMER CREATED…PUNK.

The Clash are another one of the bands that are so culturally ubiquitous that I've never given them a serious listen. Turns out there's a great reason they're so culturally ubiquitous. First of all, Joe Strummer is a vocals blessing from the lord. His squawking is unique, perfectly suited to their music, and feels like it's pouring out of him spontaneously. One of the biggest reasons why The Clash's music feels like it's live from the floor emotion that taps straight into the lives of the average citizen and unites us all. I also have the hots for bands who can't pick one "genre". I use the term loosely because in my opinion good music isn't so easily classified. The switch between punk, ska, big band, and rockabilly keep the album so interesting you don't notice you've been listening for over an hour. Each track is also uniquely filled with energy. I especially love the transition between Spanish Bombs and The Right Profile, which are two high energy juicy songs in two completely different ways. there's a lot about The Clash that suggests they don't take themselves too seriously. A lot of lyrics poke fun at themselves, the bourgeoisie, and the layman. I love when Strummer breaks down into sputtering nonsense in The Right Profile. The lyrics and subject of Lost in the Supermarket are simultaneously relatable comedy while also earnestly describing the unique soullessness of suburban living. Even when the band is seemingly being minimalist in their sound, the arrangements have so many unique motifs that the flow of listening is uninterrupted. The Guns of Brixton is ostensibly simple on the surface but the dynamics are layered and nuanced. The dissonance in the chords immediately after the chorus lends anxiety and unpredictability to an otherwise simple song (though I could do without the "boi-oing" sounds). Towards the end, I did start to find the album too long.

Embarrassed to say I've never listened to this one before, because I don't actually care for the title song. But this album is worth all the hype. My favorite tracks were Rudie Can't Fail, Spanish Bombs, and Train in Vain.

I love this album goddamn. Fav = Spanish Bombs

Aaahhh, ma foi envers le générateur commence à remonter. Si tout les albums de punk était de cette qualité, je serais définitivement un Punk Head pur et dur. Ce que les Clash ont réalisé ici est assez exceptionnel: un album double sans longueur apparente qui renouvelle à chaque track l'étendu de leur talent musical en infusant moult genres musicaux dans un noyau punk rock de qualité. Aucun temps mort, aucun filler, juste de la qualité en barre galvanisé

Incredible album top to bottom (save a few songs towards the end). The songs are so diverse that it doesn’t feel like punk at all. It’s a very hyped album and IMO it lives up to that hype on every listen. It’s a 5 for me. Favorites: The Guns of Brixton, Spanish Bombs, and The Card Cheat.

An hour of non-stop fun, varied, catchy, energetic, well-crafted, deep, personality-laden, witty, unique, karaoke-suitable songs. What more could you ask for from an album?

Absolute behemoth of perfection.

Skämmigt att inte ha lyssnat mer på The Clash för den här skivan var enastående. Otrolig musikalisk variation och inte en dålig låt. Detta måste vara historiens högsta lägstanivå på ett dubbelalbum och det blir aldrig i närheten av långtråkigt. Favoriter: Lost in the supermarket, Train in vain, The card cheat, London calling, The guns of Brixton, Spanish bombs, Hateful m.fl.

I was surprised by how accessible this album is. The songs are catchy and kept me engaged through its slightly longer runtime.

Großartig

I drew this album on a Friday and listened to it three times through Sunday. What an absolute joy. I can’t believe I’d never listened to this all the way through. The songs are all short, fresh and fun. Hints of ska with punk rock. Favorite tracks included: Death or Glory, Stand by me, Rudie can’t fail, and Spanish Bombs (really enjoyed Joe Strummer’s bad Spanish accent).

Top 100 and essential

perfect!!!!!!! had a hard day at work and put this on and smiled for 1 hr and 5 minutes

Fullkomin plata. 100 tónlistarstefnur. Svo þétt. All Time great

Einfaldlega besta plata í heimi. Samt tvöföld plata á verði einfaldrar. 19 lög í öllum regnbogans litum og öll frábær. Góðir textar, réttsýn hugsun. Ekki einn veikur hlekkur. 100 stjörnur.

A perfect album - I picked it up as a cassette when I was 10, and I can still listen to it again and again- 6 out of 5!

Very good

One of my favourite albums of all time, hands down. Make no mistake, this is a punk album, through in through. But it does away with punk's rejection of so much of the past, embracing all kinds of different styles, from classic rock and roll to reggae... is that harmonica? Point is, it did to punk what punk did to everything else. And that's as punk as you can get! This album is very much a snapshot of its time and place. I'm hearing music from another time. But it reverberates into the present. Nuclear war, drugs, crime, urban decay, fascism, racism, social isolation, alienation, rampant consumerism. This is one of the few albums I know that really talks about the things that matter, and it hits me in a way that few others do. Fav tracks: London Calling, Hateful, Rudie Can't Fail, Spanish Bombs, Lost in the Supermarket, Clampdown, The Guns of Brixton, Death or Glory, The Card Cheat, I'm Not Down

10/10

300/1001 Uno de los discos de mi vida! 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

great example of punk rock and brilliant writing

The Clash were never really just a punk band. Aside from the opening track which anticipates the nuclear paranoia of the 80s with a howl of despair, the music here is diverse and literate, covering jazz, ska, dub, Americana (with a nod to Staggers Lee) and good old rock ‘n’ roll. Even that iconic cover pays homage to Elvis Presley’s debut album, and rightly so. This is a band paying their dues and saying things that need to be said, as well as having a lot of fun with bouncy songs about the drudgery of shopping alongside political bangers about fighting fascism. As relevant now as ever.

This album is more punk in the spirit that in the sound. It's not full of quick and angry songs eructed in fast-forward. It has a lot of energy, influences, things to say, directions to explore; it's everywhere in the same time but also right here, right now. It's chaotic in its own way, and that's the spirit.

London Calling is one of my favorite albums of all time. 10 albums to have on a deserted island? This definitely makes the cut for me. Love this album front to back, there’s no sense in listing my favorite tracks because it would be more than have of the track listing.

Epic Album, I Was never a clash fan, but I'm on a constant upward trend toward being a superfan!

Iconic

One of the best albums ever. All time. No doubter a 5 star

Started doing this to find new favourites. Knew some would be completely new discoveries and others would be ones I was v aware of and knew (and liked) the famous songs but for whatever reason never actually gave a proper listen. This is the latter. Wow. Exactly what I am doing this.

Classic Inmit

It kind of doesnt matter whats on this album because the title track alone makes it deserve this rating

I feel like anything I could say about this album would have been written 10,000 times before. It’s a masterpiece, a solid album from start to finish and an experience the first time or the hundredth.

I don't know, I think this lil ditty is a classic.

Classic album by a great band that is outgrowing its punk roots and experimenting quite a bit. Most of it works. I miss the stripped-down garage style sound they started with, but this still maintains that same energy, just focuses it on expanding their horizons. In fact, even more so on this album than previous, the band seems to be writing songs that (intentional or not) are anthems. Very powerful stuff here.

Amazing album. I would probably agree with those who would say this is the best album to come out of the punk scene. Their adventurousness is pretty impressive, and the conviction with which they play is palpable. Must Listen #77

Great

I grew listening to this album and it’s an easy 5 stars. Not every song is a gem but more hits than misses and Spainish Bombs and Lost in the Supermarket alone deserve the top score! A great mix of musical styles and lyrics, an absolute winner all day long!!

This is such a great album -- the Clash is so much deeper and so much more rooted in music history than we ever imagined.

I already loved this before the challenge. So Of course, 5 stars from me.

Gema

Sweet

I bought this on CD from the Virgin Superstore in Union Square in the winter of 2000. It blew my mind and was the perfect antidote to the shitty pop-punk that was saturating the airwaves at the time. Fast forward 25 years and it still sounds as fresh as it did in 2000 - hell probably as fresh as it did in 1979. This is a timeless masterpiece.

4.5 - Man this was a huge surprise. I thought it was gonna be a bit meh after the well known stuff, but it had so much musical depth. Some great song writing, the only thing I would say it I wanted a bit more aggression sometimes

This is pretty good but not as good as I remember I feel. Train in Vain maybe one my fav songs so that helps a lot. Id say this album solid 4.5 but Train in Vain and a couple others take it to a 5.

Desert Island disc for me. Wall to wall classics and one of the strongest track lists ever assembled, especially for one of this length.

10/10. The greatest album. Tune after tune. What a gang, what a band. Not just one of the best London album ever, it is one of the best albums of all time.

Great album - a classic.

The opening title track is a classic, and if the whole album followed suit I wouldn't have minded, but it's a melting pot of punk, reggae, ska and pop. It's constantly changing on a track by track basis, but there's hardly a weak song on here. I really enjoy Joe Strummer's vocals They're not perfect all the time but it fits the music very well. Great guitar work throughout. Catchy little riffs and vocal lines. The tracks don't follow a traditional song structure as you would expect sometimes. 'Lover's Rock' for example just goes into this cool little instrumental, repetitive singalong bit. I did really enjoy this a lot, the quality shone through despite the variety of genres on show. I wasn't bored at any point and would enjoy giving it a spin any time, but I wouldn't say it absolutely blew me away considering how highly regarded it is. It's over an hour long and only had time for one listen so I imagine if I listened more and was more familiar with it, I would like it even more. Very easy five.

Bangers all round and such a great variety in styles. Does not feel long at all. Favourite tracks: London Calling, Spanish Bombs, The Guns of Brixton, The Card Cheat, Train in Vain

Perfection!

Classic!

Is this the White Album of punk rock? Insanely creative, plays around with so many different genres and styles and it all works. It flows perfectly and never gets old even with the long runtime. Every song hits hard, and sounds amazing. Loved it.

First time listening to this album and I’m pleas talk surprised with how many genres of music are melded together— punk, rockabilly, reggae, ska, psychedelic rock. Punk usually isn’t my jam but really enjoyed this album and have some new songs to add, particularly “Spanish Bombs” (love the guitar riff), The Guns of Brixton (killer opening bass line) and Wrong ‘Em Boyo.

I was holding off on a 5 star for a few specific albums but man this blew me away. What an album, love it. 5/5.

UGH YES WHY HAVE I NEVER LISTENED TO THIS WHOLE ALBUM

Álbum mítico y esencial de la música. Solo por London Calling, Brand New Cadillac, Train in vain y Spanish Bombs ya merece la pena. El disco tiene mucha historia, el homenaje a Elvis, el ser doble a precio sencillo, etc etc. Tras un brillante debut, y un segundo álbum que les colocó como líderes de una generación, publicaron este disco con el punto justo de diversidad y temazos. Si quieres un disco más corto y normal, Combat Rock. Si quieres mayor diversidad, Sandinista. Si quieres el mejor álbum: London Calling. Otros dobles históricos de ese mismo año: Tusk de Fleetwood Mac (al álbum del millón dólares) y The Wall de Pink Floyd.

Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 🤍💚🩷 Production (Remastered): 🎧😘🤌 Music: 💯🤗🎶 Rating: 🤍💚🩷🤍💚/5

5/5 I was prepared to enjoy this album. I was not prepared to call it a 10/10. London Calling begins with the iconic title track, a hard hitting rocker which bangs. Then Brand New Cadillac is a new take on a classic rock and roll song, which just sounds so good. Jimmy Jazz is such a surreal change-up, but a great track nonetheless. Three very different exceptionally good songs let us know that this album is not going to be one dimensional. Hateful is amazing, then another massive left turn pays off on the reggae-infused Rudie Can't Fail. Spanish Bombs is such an enjoyable listen, and the organ work supports the guitar beautifully. Then The Right Profile is a banger, and it becomes clear that track after track is just brilliant. Lost in the Supermarket is a masterpiece. Lyrically great, sonically timeless and just structured and wrapped perfectly. Suprise, suprise, Clampdown is class as well. The instrumentation is so perfectly chosen, from the muddy opening, to the organ infused second verse. The catchy hook is endlessly appealing. Concluding the incomparable first half (until you hear the second), The Guns of Brixton is as hard-hitting as it is theatrical. I love the bass work. Wrong 'Em Boyo is a ska-like, light-hearted banger, with heavy saxophone playing. Why? I don't know, but I love it. Death or Glory is a classic rock track, but great guitar work and change-ups stop it being boring or repetitive. Koka Kola is a simple, beautiful song about cocaine, before The Card Cheat is just another level, sounding magnificent, with some of the best lyrics on the album. Lover's Rock is a simple, beautiful song about sex, still introducing new, great sounds at this point in the experience, with the layered vocals. Four Horsemen is harder, with a great vocal performance from Joe Strummer on top of exceptional instrumentation. A real statement from the band. So is I'm Not Down, when Mick Jones has his own amazing performance, and the sense of optimism conveyed is quite beautiful really. At this point, it's been nearly an hour, and still not a song that is not exceptional in its own right. Revolution Rock refuses to be that track, with a simple reggae backing all that's needed for Strummer to produce something amazing as he so often does. A laid-back, passionate song. Then we reach the last stop with Train in Vain. A catchy, poppy track which flows brilliantly. In conclusion, this album is just so, so, so amazing. One of the greatest ever. London Calling 5/5 Brand New Cadillac 5/5 Jimmy Jazz 5/5 Hateful 5/5 Rudie Can't Fail 5/5 (LEAST FAV) Spanish Bombs 5/5 The Right Profile 5/5 Lost in the Supermarket 5/5 (FAV) Clampdown 5/5 The Guns of Brixton 5/5 Wrong 'Em Boyo 5/5 Death or Glory 5/5 Koka Kola 5/5 The Card Cheat 5/5 Lover's Rock 5/5 Four Horsemen 5/5 I'm Not Down 5/5 Revolution Rock 5/5 Train in Vain (Stand by Me) 5/5

I kinda can't believe this is what punk was. Not that this isn't punk, but it like is so bizarre. Longer songs, not heavy or grimy by any means. Awesome tho.

Already a favorite; this album rules; favorites: train in vain, lost in the supermarket, guns of Brixton, clampdown.

What else can I say that hasn't been said by a million others? This album is a goddamn masterpiece and I'm jealous of anyone who gets to hear it for the first time.

A landmark in punk rock and one of the statement pieces of 70s rock as a whole. The Clash's fusion of numerous genres creates an almost maximalist soundscape without feeling overbearing as well as getting their messages across which still ring true today such as how rampant consumerism is used as a mode of controlling the general population devoid of their own thoughts and personality in 'Lost in the Supermarket' which is a highlight in this album filling to the brim with highlights. Most definitely an album that should be on your must listen list.

A fantastic recording of a great band at their peak. Several of these songs are all time greats.

i adore this album… i cannot understate this…. SO GOOD

Big love Revolution rock Kenne ich schon sehr gut

This is #day155 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... this has to be one of the most diverse punk records in music history. Released in 1979 as a double album, it’s one of the most compelling records of a plethora of genres—new wave, pop, reggae, dub, lounge jazz, rockabilly, ska, hard rock, and more. What could be more punk than going further than just punk? Nineteen tracks fly by before you know it, documenting the spirit of the time. The sound is tight, with the rhythm section of drums, bass, and guitar still feeling as fresh and exciting as it did in the late '70s—absolutely pleasurable to listen to. It’s a 5 out of 5—a must-listen, and indispensable album of the turn of the decade. The title track alone is an anthem for years to come. Looking forward to #day156.

DEATH OR GLORY

Contender

FUCK YES!!!!!!!

I bought this album on a school field trip at a record store in Victoria, BC probably around 1981 or so, without knowing anything about the Clash, but that album cover sure had me curious. Start to finish, this has to be the best "double" album I've ever heard (at the time) with every track solid and good, rare for an album with so many tracks. Special mention of side one which in my opinion one of my favourite side one's of all-time. The Clash are considered punk, but the band explores all kind of music styles and genres with great success and it never tires or drags throughout. You can drop the needle on any song and still feel confident it won't disappoint. Rolling Stone called it the best album of the 80's (it was actually released in December 1979 in the UK and January 1980 in the US) and it's hard to disagree and though there might have been "better" records, London Calling was one of the most important punk or any album for that matter, of the decade. Essential!

Har den!

Iconic double album of infectious British punk flirting with rockabilly, dub reggae, ska and New Wave, London Calling has been justifiably considered essential and topped critics' lists since 1979 (1980 for the United States). Every single song feels vital and timeless!

10/10 An album with only legendary and strong songs on it. The Clash is more than just a punk band, you can hear influences from different styles on the album such as ska, raggae and rockabilly. Favourite tracks: Clampdown Death or Glory Hateful London Calling Least favourite tracks: Jimmy Jazz

Great album! Sounds as good today as it did when it was released 45+ years ago!

Yes.

What a classic

++*: Jimmy Jazz, The Right Profile ++: London Calling, Brand New Cadillac, Hateful, Rudie Can't Fail, Spanish Bombs, Lost in the Supermarket, Clampdown, The Guns of Brixton, Wrong 'Em Boyo, Death or Glory, Koka Kola, The Card Cheat, Lover's Rock, Four Horsemen, I'm Not Down, Revolution Rock, Train in Vain 10/10

I mean, it's London Calling. I already loved The Clash's self-titled debut album and gave it a high 4. I went into this album fully expecting to love it, and I was right to do so. This album is excellent. Everything about it just works. The vocals are engaging in a way that isn't annoying. The instrumental sound is strong. There's still a clear punk core, but the clear influences from genres like reggae, new wave, and even jazz at times makes the album an enjoyable listen that never bores you, which is kind of important for any album that lasts over an hour. The variety in each song is awesome. Comparing the opening title track to the closer "Train in Vain (Stand by Me)" really shows the varied talent of the Clash. The themes pertaining to things like society, drugs, and conflict provoke thought, which is kind of what punk is meant to do. London Calling is one of those albums that absolutely deserves the praise it gets. It's captivating, entertaining, and full of things to appreciate. I love it. 5/5.

great opener, then full of excellent tracks

yeah this is really good

Didn’t expect this one to be so jazzy and ska-heavy! I’ve listened to the title track a million times, but I didn’t realize that The Clash were so much more than that. It’s weird calling The Clash a “find”, but this album really is that for me!

Classic good ol Brit rock

Great catchy energetic punk songs. Great fusion of genres like ska reggae and punk. Thought it would get repetitive with how long it was but I wasn't let down at all! Favourites- spanish bombs, lost in the supermarket

Awesome album. One of my favourite of all time and have loved for years. So many great tunes - do not think there is a weak one amongst them. If had to choose would go Hateful, Rudie Can't Fail, Guns of Brixton and Train in Vain as favourites...

Definitely really liked this! Should listen to it again when I’m not five papers deep.

Well lfg The last Clash was right when I started this list in early 2021, meaning there’s been almost a thousand albums since. I was patient for a while, but like a few classic albums, I just had to see what the hype was about Anyway, I’m hopping on the Clash bandwagon, this is pretty great. Aside from the first and last song, I love the straightforward rock of “Clampdown” and “Hateful”, the reggae tunes “Guns of Brixton” and “Revolution Rock” and the polished gems “The Card Cheat”, “Spanish Bombs” & “Lost in the Supermarket”. December 6, 2024

Usually a 2 record set of any variety is just too much. This is an album that just keeps delivering track after track throughout. A classic from the moment the needle hits the vinyl. All killer, no filler.

Could use a little more black Cadillac and a little less lost in the supermarket but tough to critique this album much.

4.8 The only band that matters. I guess the only knock on this is that maybe the production is a bit polished compared to some of the live releases.

As one part of iconic punk duo Houmous & Chutney I know a thing or two about taking musical genres and making them appeal to the masses. Got to admire it when other people attempt it. 4.5

Un álbum muy divertido de escuchar, súper pegadizo, una producción muy coherente, a pesar de salirse a veces del punk rock explorando otros géneros, lo hacen muy notoriamente, pero matienen siempre la cohesión, nada se siente fuera de lugar. Siento que no estoy siendo muy objetivo, pero no me importa jaja

Sing a long shit

Stan : That's what they called themselves. Like, "The Clash". The only band that mattered. They called themselves that for a reason. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

I have heard the full album a few times, but I'm mostly only familiar with the title track and Train in Vain. This album is really good. It's so diverse in sound and genre. It's catchy in all the right ways. It is definitely worth repeated listens.

Het beste rock-album ooit geproduceerd? Lijkt me niet eens een overstatement. Hij zit zeker bij een select gezelschap. Het is de uitzonderlijke mastery of de instrumenten, de coole - maar niet over de top rebelse - attitude van Joe en Paul aan de microfoon, de moeiteloze switches van genre naar genre, de catchiness van de songs zonder dat het verhaal of de boodschap verloren gaat, dat deze plaat naar binnen laat glijden - ondanks zijn behoorlijke afspeeltijd. Die lange afspeeltijd komt ook voor een deel op het conto van een aantal heuse fillers ('The Right Profile', 'Kola Kola', 'Four Horsemen'), maar zelfs die zwakke broeders hebben iets aandoenlijks. Toch denk ik dat íéts meer consistentie op een overwegend briljant album de perfecte score waard was, waardoor ik net blijf hangen op die 9,5. Maar desalniettemin moet dit voor eeuwig onthouden worden als een ragfijn, genre-fluïde album dat zichzelf tijdens je luisterbeurt constant opnieuw uitvindt en daardoor elke keer weer een energie-boost krijgt en geeft. 9,5/10 Highlights: London Calling Spanish Bombs (het contrast tussen de vrolijke muziek en de ernst van het thema is simpelweg geniaal) The Guns of Brixton Wrong 'Em Boyo (Beste cover op het album) Train in Vain (Stand By Me)

Iconisch meesterwerkje. Van albumhoes tot het tijdperk waarin het is gemaakt. De blend van genres en het heerlijke Britse gebrul. London Calling van the Clash is in de jaren 20 van deze eeuw de Punk-era ontgroeid. Het was natuurlijk al het album wat een nieuwe tijd inluidde en de punk-muziek behapbaar en muzikaal maakte, hedendaags is het nog meer een iconisch beeld/moment uit een ver vervlogen tijd. Ik vond het dan ook moeilijk om London Calling helemaal op haar eigen merites te beoordelen. Zeker openingstrack London Calling is zo ingeburgerd en hoor je tegenwoordig overal en nergens, dat staat niet meer voor punk en is vrij mainstream. Maar sowieso vind ik deze plaat groter/meer dan een punkplaat. Er zijn super veel genres geblend in de nummers, de tracks zijn allen uniek en zijn gelaagder en muzikaler dan de og-punk van de 3 jaar voor London Calling. Vandaag kon ik extra genieten van de reggae en ska nummers op het album. Zeker ook de covers zoals Revolution Rock, wat heerlijk en uniek gebracht. Punk-spanning en Reggae-ontspanning gecombineerd. Na meer dan een uur brits gebrul op soepele ska beats ben ik er wel uit. Deze plaat is en blijft uniek en een meesterwerk, ook los van de iconische status die het heeft vergaard. Joe Strummer is echt in topvorm en ik kan echt genieten van de de man op de cover, Paul Simonon. Volgens mij is hij verantwoordelijk voor veel creatieve inbreng, niet zijn muzikaal (hij kan niet eens bassen voordat hij bij the Clash kwam). Niet gek dat hij en Damon Albarn later dikke maten werden. Het blijft moeilijk om zo'n album een goede review te geven alsof je deze voor het eerst hoort. Status en vooroordelen zullen daarom altijd meespelen. Desalniettemin maakt London Calling gewoon weer indruk, en dus 5 ballen. 9/10 Highlights Rudie Can't Fail Spanish Bombs The Guns of Brixton Wrong 'Em Boyo Revolution Rock Train in Vain

Cracking. London Calling, Guns of Brixton, Brand New Cadillac are the standouts - this stands the test of time as not only one of the finest albums of the punk era, but of the 1970s, and - to be honest - of any period and genre since.

Absolute love of my youth. Only problem with this album is Train in Vain can’t be listened to eternally.

4,5 sterren maar ik ben gul

Easy 5 from me. It doesn’t fit with my usual tastes and I can’t really articulate why I love it. Maybe nostalgia? I’ve been listening to this since college.

Soft 5. I'm on the fence. I enjoyed a number of tracks. The Clash has some great instrumentals, but the vocals were really hit and miss for me. The energy is hard to deny though! 'Train in Vain' was an easy fave for me.

Well it's an absolute belter. I love this album. So many fantastic tracks, Jimmy Jazz, Rudie Can't Fail, Lost in the Supermarket, Death or Glory. I listened to this so much as a kid. I remember my electronics teacher saying the Clash were one hit wonders with Rock the Casbah. Such an idiot.

4.5 stars. Not just punk rock, so many genres (reggae, new wave, ska, even some jazz) work together to make a great sound that is more mainstream than typical punk. Catchy bookends ("London Calling" and "Train in Vain (Stand by Me)") are the highlights. A few too many total tracks but overall the whole listen is so good.

Another that I've listened to relatively recently and that I heard growing up from my parents. Pretty great album really. Nice mix of kinda messy punk rock, reggae, ska. Right up my street really. A couple of tracks reminded me a bit of the Libertines, particularly Jimmy Jazz, which I'd never noticed before..... But I guess there's countless bands that the clash influenced. Highlights: London calling Rudie can't fail Lost in the supermarket The guns of Brixton Wrong em boyo Death or glory I'm not down Revolution rock Train in vain The only reason I can think to not give this a 5 is that there is a fair bit of filler..... But 5 it is

Really great.

This was my most anticipated album on 1001 and it exceeded my expectations

Oh so THAT'S why people love this album. I only knew the title track and Train in Vain (Stand By Me), and maybe one or two others sounded vaguely familiar. I like all the Clash songs I know, but I'd never listened to this classic. I really enjoyed it, and it was a strong listen all the way through, with some of the back half songs being the best. Lost in the Supermarket is my pick for my playlist.

I thought this was going to be a solid 5 stars, then realised it was a double album. I loved it, but it was a bit long and, inevitably perhaps, included a few tracks not quite up to the standard of the others. Ah heck, I'm giving it 5 anyway, because it's basically the perfect blend of many of my favourite things: tunes, energy, fun (but not too much), swag.

YES!

Yaaaaaaas!

One of the most influential albums of all time. I will never tire of listening to it. RIP Joe.

It's a classic for a reason

one of the best ever <3 i have so much love for this album.

Iconical. Even my son has instantly recognized London Calling.

Fav songs: London Calling, Jimmy Jazz, Revolution Rock

My generation’s white album (if I was born 25 to 30 years earlier).

The Clash are undeniably an incredible band that created many an important single, potentially the most essential in the new wave movement, but I never considered them primarily a punk band. Their real strength, surprisingly, is their versatility. They could hit you with tracks inspired by hardcore punk, reggae, rockabilly and funk all on the same disc side. Of course, my favorite aspect of them is their knack for crafting these sugary, melodic, funky, (almost!) soulful pop tunes that stay stuck in your head for years. Rock the Casbah isn't on this record but it's a perfect example of what I mean! *On* this record there's a few songs I can point to: the very last track sums up why I love the Clash. "Train in Vain" is easily the best song Paul Weller never wrote; a short blue-eyed soul ditty about betrayal and heartbreak I've been in love with ever since I first heard it. The bouncy rhythm and driving harmonica riff keeps you hooked and coming back for more. "Spanish Bombs" is a delightfully jangly, ahead of its time piece of pop that wouldn't feel out of place performed by the Smiths or the Pixies. Overall, this album is just as good as I remember it being all those years ago. I think I've even underrated it a bit. It's not my favorite new wave album, but it represents a lot of what I love about music in the 70s and 80s. Carefree, eclectic, optimistic, pessimistic, real, it's all here. Me like. 9/10

Another album I was excited to see on my list!

not my type of punk typically but the stylistic blend is so far ahead of it's time

That's a Killer of a record ❤️❤️

On paper they should be terrible. Private school lads cosplaying as working class punks. Hypocrites and money hungry. On record though - the only band that matters. A fantastic truly great album. Dammit.

Always remember to laugh. I enjoy this album more with each listen. But it is too important to take seriously. Not just because it's British and good fun. I like imagining a Monty Mython-esque singer “thinging” Guns of Brixton & London Calling with comedic thick lisp. This Punk is already funky, catchy and so bloody fun. So on top of the nostalgia, why not a bit of pith-taking? Because this is sheriosh stuff. And it is. So much so , here is a <true> funny story to go with it. April 2006, on a Durham FLIGHT about to take off for LONDON, a 24 year old man <who deserves to be left alone so I wont name him here>, happily singing along to "London Calling"' ... was taken off his Heathrow-bound flight + detained by police for 3 hrs under the Terrorism Act. It turns out the lyrics - when mouthed by a man in a turban - freaked out a local - brits were very twitchy about bombs on planes back then). While funny now, I did re-read the first 6 or 7 lines of “London Calling”... I now smirk, but am careful what I mumble along to shops in airports and on planes. The more gleefully you sing that, or “Guns of Brixton” songs, the more likely you will seem nutty and troublesome. So... But I can't help smirk every time. I also blame listening to Nouvelle Vague cover versions too many times. Speaking of which... Their version of Guns of Brixton makes it sound far more sinister, and yet sexy than you'd every imagine. Now that’s on an essential sultry album. And good fun. I’d add them to any 1001 list. This one is far too serious. I'd igve this one a "fiver".

Apex album from the only band that ever mattered. People might have some things to say about Sandinista or Combat Rock, but saying this isn’t the most important album from The Clash is like saying you don’t like The Beatles.

Easiest five stars, and as soon as I saw I got this I knew it would be a five star record. Brilliant in every way

If only for two iconic tracks, opener "London Calling" and "Guns Of Brixton" (sung by bass player Paul Simonon), this album should be in the list. The first is a marvel, whether because of its evocative and cinematic songwriting, its sheer melodicism, or its timeless production values (Guy Stevens was a genius on par with the one of the band for this one). And the second is a killer composition that transcends its dub template into something both ominous and riotous, in all the senses of those two words Those impressive trees shouldn't hide the terrific forest behind, though. Minus one secondary cut, the string of songs that goes from "Hateful" and "Rudy Can't Fail" at the end of side one, to "Clampdown" and "Guns Of Brixton" at the end of the second is just pitch-perfect ("Spanish Bombs" and "Lost In The Supermarket" are perfect Clash songs in their own right, as much as the ones I've just quotes here, maybe even more). Besides, the third and fourth sides harbour three particularly memorable classic Clash gems as well: "Death Or Glory", and the Mick Jones-sung "I'm Not Down" and "Train In Vain". Going through different punk-adjacent genres (pure punk, reggae, ska, soul, classic rock'n'roll...) the tracklist of this double album is therefore sprawling, and yet feels very cohesive overall (this won't be exactly the case for triple-album *Sandinista*, very infamously, even if you have other very important songs in it). Joe Strummer gives terrific vocal performances throughout. The man is still sorely missed today: not many artists, whether punk or not, have had a knack for describing societal concerns in such a thrilling or poetic way. Admittedly, a patch of songs on the second vinyl is down a notch compared to the rest, but remember that The Clash managed to sell this double-album for the price of one at the time. So it's just nice gravy on an already very tasty cake. Oh, and that iconic artwork. Most people don't even realize today that its font actually references Elvis Presley's debut. When that sort of thing happens, you can bet your Doc Martens that pop culture was hit by a sheer phenomenon here, one that it will still need to be reckoned with for decades and decades to come... Number of albums left to review: 34 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 418 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 243 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 309

Discazo

Bloody love this. Very enjoyable and totally listenable post punk genre exploration.

It's really good Will I listen to again: 99%

masterpiece. one banger after another

Lots of good enegery and interesting songs. This was better than expected and I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.

one of the best albums of all time

Holy shit I'd forgotten how much fun this album is. I mean, I KNEW it was good, but damn, it's just non-stop.

I have to admit I wasn't ready for the ska sax, but it was very welcome. This is just an amazing album. Punk, but less angry, and played by people who can truly play their instruments.

I’ve been on a journey with this album. At first, I knew I’d heard covers of “Train in Vain” as a kid. But more significantly than that, I really discovered this album in college. I loved the first two sides to death. The only “weaker” tracks (read as: the ones I skipped to get to my favorites) were “Spanish Bombs” and “The Guns of Brixton.” I feel like both of those speak to the particular era this album was recorded in, one in which I wasn’t alive (and wouldn’t be for 13 more years). So they’re harder to connect to, and honestly “Guns of Brixton” is just kind of a downer, especially for a side closer. The second two sides of this album were always a mixed bag for me. “Wrong ‘Em Boyo” is an undeniable banger if you ask me, but the rest? I always felt I could do without most of them, and you could’ve made this a single album. And that was my opinion of this album for over ten years, a period in which I rarely if ever gave the full thing a listen. But that’s changed. Now I actually quite like both halves. The first still reigns supreme if you ask me. But side two has some amazing gems. Songs like “Koka Kola,” “The Card Cheat” and “Revolution Rock” all grew on me during this listen. I think I also have a greater appreciation for the themes here. Disillusionment with society and capitalism/consumerism, sex, life in 70’s London, self reflection, and more. Not all of these went over my head in college, but some definitely did. Now I see them, and appreciate them. They demonstrate the range, writing skill, and intellect of those writing them. On the whole, I really don’t know what else to say. It’s a brilliant album that brings together a host of influences and ideas and weaves them almost seamlessly in a package that has aged very well and whose themes still find relevance in today’s modern world. Five stars. Standout Tracks: London Call, Brand New Cadillac, Jimmy Jazz, Hateful, Rudie Can’t Fail, The Right Profile, Lost in the Supermarket, Wrong ‘Em Boyo, Koka Kola, The Card Cheat, Revolution Rock, Train in Vain (Stand by Me)

An album I could put on any time, really. Energetic and passionate, a good variety of styles, doesn't get boring. Bookended with two great tracks. Has to be 5/5.

This is much more musical than most punk albums. Awesome album!

Iconic.

Timeless classic

An easy top 20 album of all time...

A while ago, someone made the comment on Facebook "punk bands do not make double albums." I countered with The Damned's Black Album (a punk/goth classic imo). But everyone else countered with "London Calling," which I should have thought of first. What an amazing album. A punk band that shows range all over: reggae, jazz, swing. To some it may seem a little all over the place, but punk IS all over the place. It's such a fun album, and really is a classic. Top tracks: (I could say all of them, but my favorites are): "The Right Profile," "London Calling," "Clampdown," "Spanish Bombs," "Lost In The Supermarket," "Train In Vain," "The Guns Of Brixton," "Rudie Can't Fail"

This is one of those albums that's always in the list of top albums of all time and I admit I never listened to it before. I knew some individual tracks, like London Calling, Spanish Bombs, and Train in Vain. I didn't even realize the last one was by the Clash, let alone on this album. My first reaction to seeing that this was a double album was - ooh, a double album from a punk band? That's going to be a little much. But, man, did it grow on me. This really is a great album, and is definitely more than simple punk. Definitely deserving of all the accolades. Favorite tracks - Pretty much all of them are great, so I'll just list the ones that really stood out when I listened: London Calling, Brand New Cadillac, Rudie Can't Fail, Spanish Bombs, Lost in the Supermarket, The Guns of Brixton, Wrong 'Em Boyo, Revolution Rock, Train in Vain. Yeah, that's pretty much a full album worth of songs. I've been listening to this album over and over for days, and don't want to move on yet. Sounds like a 5 to me.

Incredible album, Kevin wouldn’t recognize good song writing if it slapped him in the face

The clash are so fucking cool.

I cannot explain why, but I really enjoyed it. I am going to listen to more of their music.

One of my favourite albums of all time. No skips, flawless. Such a blend of genres and styles, sounds just as great as the first time I heard it 20 years ago.

Large, great, amazing... what an album. this is cohesion people. Stone cold classic.

One of the quickest 5's I can give, a blend of styles brought together effortlessly, back to back tunes.

Excellent

First time listening to the whole album.

That was another album that I loved I'm starting to think that my preffered genre is alternative rock. Best music of the album IMO: "Death or Glory"

could i write poetry to this? y

A quite nearly perfect album. Four and one-half stars. Loses a half-star because the music isn't really "Punk", as people called it. It is Punk in that it was intended to offend the sensibilities of conservative Reagan-Thatcherites, but I don't think it did.

Docked a point for being a double album. *edited to return the star. Perfect album and my automatic double album star docking has not aged well.

It's a little hard to be objective on an album that I owned on CD in high school and listened to regularly on the bus. Then again, I find myself dancing around the house and singing almost all of the words despite having not listened to it in a few years. The fact that this is still getting me excited after 20 years of listening to it probably says something when there are plenty of albums from my high school years that would make me cringe.

Look, I like punk. But not all punk. This typically means I stick to the bands/albums I know and rarely seek anything new (to me). So while The Clash is one of the well-known punk bands, I actually have never listened to this album*. After listening, this is what I want punk to be - a slurry of genres that packs a punch and makes a sociopolitical statement. Needless to say, this is great album. Favorite song: Hateful Least favorite: Train in Vain (Stand by Me) Knew before? No *except London Calling, Lost in the Supermarket, and Train in Vain.

Such a slick and cleanly produced record. Every song feels distinct and the whole record is enjoyable to listen to.

One of the definitive albums stating that punk can sound like more than punk, and that the songs can have more dynamic structures and instrumental interplay. One of the greatest albums of all time.

I know it well.

Punk-rock-ska. Espectacular. Vinilo.

A perfect album. So much variety. So catchy. Still punk and still joe strummer's charismatic lead vocals but with hints/tastes of proto jangle, reggae, jazz, surf rock/rockabilly and other pretentious genre terms. What sells it though is truly the pop sensibility and songwriting on it. "London Calling", "Hateful", "Spanish Bombs", "Rudie Can't Fail", "Train in Vain (Stand By Me)", "Lost in the Supermarket" are my immediate favorites.

Listened to this album many many times. It is close to a perfect record.

Definitely an important work. What is evident is that this is more than a punk genre album. The exploration and incorporation of other genres demonstrates a band that is creative, open and competent.

Yeah

What else needs to be said. This is definitely up there for favorite album cover. Off the top of my head, I think it is my favorite double LP ever. Still have 1 or 2 I skip over but unreal Rating: 4.9

I mean, c'mon, classic

I'm left wondering if the sound of this album is a product of its time or it helped define it. Probably both but whatever the case, does it really matter? What I do know is this one is a very fun and exciting listen throughout. I've been really struck by the tightness of the rhythm section and the inventive guitar work. The whole package is wrapped up nicely by Joe Strummer's unique vocal styling and poignant lyrics.

It's almost perfect that this album could be the finest record of both 1979 AND 1980. Traversing eras as much as it traverses genres, subgenres, styles, moods, songwriters, vocalists, continents, and basically everything else. I've never considered this album to be one about motion and movement, but you do end up going to many places in 65 minutes, don't you? They say that travel is the only thing you spend money on that makes you richer, well, so does this album. It's all in the title: you're called to join at the global and historical nexus that is London, England, but from there, you're off. Anyway. This is as close to perfect as an album could get and such a massive step-up from the band's previous work, I almost wonder how shocking it must have been to receive 'London Calling' in its time. Think about it: the Clash was destined to be another faceless punk band, churning out the same three-chord song structures until something or someone literally stopped them. Instead, we are offered a musical family tree that demonstrates powerful songwriting chops in 19 songs that are all classics in their own right. I'll glance at the tracklist and think, "oh I don't immediately recall the melody for "The Right Profile" or "The Card Cheat." Maybe those are bum tracks after all." How sorely mistaken I am. "The Right Profile" has soaring horns and vocals that are imbued with so much delight at the subject matter, even if it does touch on the magnetic yet complicated Hollywood actor Montgomery Clift ("it's Montgomery Clift, honey!") It's almost as if Joe Strummer is laughing as he is singing. "The Card Cheat" may be the finest Bruce Springsteen song not written by Bruce Springsteen, with its deliberate pacing and triumphant, cresting-the-hill big-band chorus. And remember: these are the songs I THOUGHT were POSSIBLE skips. The remaining 17 songs are undoubtedly memorable and basically unimpeachable. The title track sounds exactly like a plane landing on the runway: a little wobbly and uneasy, but brimming with anticipation for whatever's next, mostly because it means the present moment has passed already. It introduces the album's theme of nuclear destruction ("the ice age is comin'/the sun is zoomin' in") and overall thesis statement. Creation is only made possible by destruction, but at what cost? What will be lost in the pursuit of innovation? This is why the 50s punkabilly cover of "Brand New Cadillac" is especially powerful as the second track and sleazy lounge jazz number "Jimmy Jazz" as the third track. "Jimmy Jazz" really sounds like a cigarette drooping down from a swollen mouth. Not to suggest that the album is sequenced to reference any sort of linear chronology. By track eight, we are already immersed in the liquid, crystalline guitars of 80's new wave (and late 70s disco unctuousness) with "Lost in the Supermarket" and 70s ska and regge with both "Wrong 'Em Boyo" and "Revolution Rock." Which brings us to the final track. Has an album ever ended on such a high as 'London Calling' has? Maybe a little album called 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' with "A Day in the Life," but I know which track I've technically listened to more. "Train in Vain" may be a song that's 100 out of 100. A flawless pop song that describes heartbreak and the constant emotional yo-yo between sorrow and anger: "all the times that we were close/I'll remember these things the most/I see all my dreams come tumblin' down/I can't be happy without you around." The way that Mick Jones sings, "did you li-i-i-i-i-i-e when you spoke to me?" is the closest thing to a male sobbing on song as we'll ever get. There's nothing wrong with this song. Made all the more special if you listen to the original pressing of the record when it comes in as a secret and a surprise. I love this record. I've loved it for so long. The most iconic album art of them all. A+

One of my favorites. I know every track. Great memories and still a great album.

The Clash: knackig, rotzig, rebellisch, toller Sound, treffende Worte, gerade aus und auf vollen Kurs. Absolut gelungen.

A seminal album, when punk expanded to incorporate reggae. Excellent tracks and pacing for a double album

London Calling, Guns of Brixton, and Train in Vain are three of my favorite songs. I loved hearing this entire record, I didn't realize that so many of my favorite The Clash songs were on the same record.

5 stars

In my top 5 albums for sure. There's a bit of everything for everyone in there. One of the few albums I don't get tired of listening on repeat.

einfach nur super

I don't think that my review of this album will be fair, as I'm a huge fan of The Clash. I never really jumped on the Sex Pistols popularity, but Strummer and the rest of the band grew with me over time. I think I started listening to them before I hit 10 years of age, and that spread into adulthood. Joe Strummer is easily one of my favorite musicians. This album features some fantastic tracks, London Calling, Hateful, Rudie Can't Fail (easily one of my top songs of all time), Spanish Bombs, Lost in the Supermarket, Koka Kola, Death or Glory, Train in Vain, etc.. I would also recommend Sandanista, the B side dubs on Super Black Market Clash, and Combat Rock amongst others.

Absolutely incredible. One of the best punk albums period.

Greatest punk rock album of all time??

oh fuck yes

Oh the Clash!! Yay! Love this shit! This was born the same year I was! I've definitely heard the first track on this many times. We'll see how many more I recognize.

I always liked The Clash, but didn't listen to them enough. I'm happy to help make up for that today. I don't always get excited when it's a double album, but I enjoyed this all through. I would love to play this a few more times at the expense of catching up with my reviews.

I enjoyed listening to The Clash today. I think the cool kids listened to this one back in the day.

Hm. I expected to recognize more of this than I did. It's pretty great.

Very happy to enjoy The Clash’s London Calling. Heard bits of things off this before, but it was definitely worth a proper listen. Terrific!

I was familiar with their mainstream hits that got airplay, but had never actually listed to this whole album in its entirety. What a mistake that was, but what a surprise bonus today! This is a bangin record. I favored 7 tracks on the first pass, but will most likely plug in for the full ride on future revisits. The riff on “Hateful” is infectious. The drums are great throughout, but particularly killer beats on “The guns of brixton” and “Koka Kola”. Love the lyrics on “Lost in the Supermarket “. I could go on, but the end of this story is a full 5 banger from me.

When I first heard this record in the 80s I really only knew the band’s pure punk styles as heard in “White Riot” and “Police and Thieves” from earlier records. So I didn’t know what to except given the power of the opening title track alone. It would quickly become one of my top fave albums and has remained as such. Too many songs and styles to dissect here, but the legacy, influence and audacity of this record can never be touched.

My only gripe is this album is too long. Could easy cut 15 mins and be fine. That said, too much here to deny a 5*.

Kunnioitettavinta tässä on se, miten näennäiset genrepalaset kuten The Right Profile ja The Card Cheat nousevat teoksiksi, jotka kasvavat joka kuuntelulla. Onkohan levyllä yhtään biisiä, jolla ei ole paikkaansa? Four Horsemen, ehkä - eikä Lost in the Supermarket tule uppoamaan minuun - mutta tupla-LP:n kontekstissa tällä ei ole mitään väliä. Nietzscheä vapaasti lainatakseni: kaivo, johon ämpäri ei voi laskeutua ilman, että se nostaisi mukanaan kultaa ja hyvyyttä.

Extraordinario, de principio a fin.

Very good Music

There's only a handful of double albums out there that are "all killer, no filler" and in my humble opinion, this is easily in that group! However, in classic punk fashion, you still get all 19 songs in an almost fleeting 65 minutes. Notable tracks: ALL OF THEM, DAMNIT! But seriously, "London Calling", "Spanish Bombs", "Lost in the Supermarket", "Clampdown", "Train in Vain"

The album that opened my eyes to what else punk rock could be beyond fast and loud. So much to live on this album from elements of reggae, jazz, blues, rockabilly and early rock 'n roll that have nothing back in terms of ferocity from their earlier albums. They would never hit this mix as flawlessly again.

Ok, maybe it's a bit too long and too many songs, but it's so much fun and the classics are bangers. Such an iconic album.

For some reason I remembered not liking this album as much as other Clash records. But on this listen I found immense joy in the melodicism even of songs with which I was already very familiar. Lovely stuff.

Ok I had this as a kid.

Obviously

Ritorno inatteso solo per fare ciò che è più giusto.

Awesome album! Added a couple songs to my lists. Liked the variety of sounds and styles

Well this is an easy 5 stars. I can’t add much about this that’s already been written, it’s a universally acclaimed by critics and fans for a reason. It’s one of the rare long, double albums that works not just in spite of its length, but is better for it. What’s especially rare about London Calling compared to other incredible double/long albums is that it’s not a concept album at all requiring many songs to tell a story, but a collection of excellent songs that are varied but still function as a collective unit. You can listen to any one song on here and enjoy it, but it also works flawlessly as a front to back listening experience. This is peak Clash for me. Others may like their “punkier” projects, but this is a direction they should have kept going in in my opinion. Joe Strummer was absolutely the man. Every song is at worst really good, and some tracks like the title track, Lost in the Super Market, and Train in Vain are absolute stunning classics. There are only a handful of albums in the discussion of best opening/closing track combos along with this one. Perfection

A great homage to the rock, soul and reggae that came before that still moves rock forward.

Probably the only double album i've ever heard that I wish was longer. Just outrageously good.

An old favorite since the 70s

Only knew some of the songs - had no idea how varied and fun this whole album would be. The hits are hitting, but the other songs are hitting just as much.

Loved it at 16 in the early naughts, love it now - timeless clashic.

Excellent. No notes.

One of the most legendary album covers. Probably also the greatest punk album, imo. I like the distinct voice of Joe Strummer. Additionally, the mix of different genres like reggae and funk is definitely make the album more versatile and more interesting

Bought this one back in high school.

Desert Island album

My goodness what a fantastic album. You can still hear its influence on music today. There isn’t one bad song on here. “London Calling,” “Train In Vain,” “I’m Not Down,” “Spanish Bombs,” and “Lost in the Supermarket” are my favorite songs off of it, but I mean it when I say there are no weak songs. Lyrically and musically this is The Clash at their best. This is an album that everyone should have to listen to at least once.

There are albums that should come with an automatic rating. This is one of them.

The advent of all things punk, the best to ever do it. Everyone else has already said everything else, I’d just like to point out two songs I particularly like on this record. 1. The Card Cheat - it’s practically a Bruce Springsteen song 2. Revolution Rock - is this early ska?

Here's a suggestion for the app developers. Give each person 10 All Time Best votes to use, alongside the normal 1-5 stars. Some albums just deserve more than 5 stars, and for me this is one of them. 6 Stars from me!

Fuck yeah. I don’t think I’d heard “Jimmy Jazz” before and I like it. I also like “Hateful.” I’m sure I’ll say this often but this is a very classic rock album.. it’s reliable and you know what you’re getting and what you’re getting is good.

A classic! Fantastic progression from the previous album by them

5 stars. One of the all time great albums.

London Calling Brand New Cadillac Rudie Can't Fail Spanish Bombs Lost in the Supermarket Clampdown The Guns of Brixton Death or Glory Train in Vain (Stand by Me)

It doesn't get better than Spanish Bombs

19 songs and not a bad one on the album.

About once a week I think about how fucked up it is that Joe Strummer died at 50 when we really could have used him during the absolute trashfire we've all endured over the last 20 years or so. Fortunately, we have a pretty tremendous body of timeless, increasingly evergreen music, and London Calling is the very best of it. Not that it's all Strummer's doing, of course. Mick Jones cowrote 15 songs with Strummer, and sang lead on half of them. Simonon and Headon are one of the four of five best rhythm sections of all time, and Simonon's "Guns of Brixton" - his lone solo writing credit in The Clash Discography - is a contender for the best song on the album. London Calling is all four operating not only at the height of their powers, but on the same wavelength, and it's arguably the only time those two things fully aligned. You can hear that cosmic alignment if you listen to London Calling back to back with any other Clash album; it's a giant among men.

Overwrought, overlong, and overstuffed. And yet!

Let's give it up to St. Joe Strummer.

Superb

The Clash may be the most successful punk band ever, and London Calling may be their best recorded work. This double album shows surprising range, with songs that sound of reggae, ska, rockabilly, and hard rock, all done with the band's essential punk sensibilities. London Calling opened the doors to many of the genres that are in the post punk range. This is one of the greatest punk, and post punk albums of all time, and the influence that this band and this album had is so very broad that it is difficult to express.

Lost in the Supermarket Throwback Rock

As fun as ever. I know, it is supposed to be politically enraging, angry, and controversial... but 🤷‍♀️ it makes me laugh and chair dance. God Save the Queen!

The audio equivalent of being caught in machine-gun fire, which has happened to me many times. Just when you think you're done it hits you again with "Death or Glory" or "Revolution Rock."

Absolutely amazing punk record that's the peak of the genre and deserves to be recognized as such. Like, there's not a miss on this record.

The Clash redefined a lot during the 1970s and 1980s. They blended so many styles together it’s hard to call them punk or reggae or rock. In truth, they did for the London Alt scene what Oingo Boingo was doing in the LA Alt scene. The hard hitting London Calling was a sonic explosion but I have to say that favorite track is Brand New Cadillac. This album is a classic!

As I'm listening to this album I thought "Wow, this is a great album, why don't I listen to this more often!" This one is a classic for the standouts of "London Calling", "Train in Vian", "Rudie Can't Fail" etc. But why don't I go to this one more often. Is it too political and not party enough? Is it not rock enough? Is it because The Clash is like their own thing? I feel like this might be a criminally underrated album and I might be contributing to it. Great album, should be listened to more often.

One of the great double albums. The Clash stretch their wings and do punk, ska, and classic rock all while taking on a varity of topics such as nuclear war, Hollywood Dead Celebrities, the Spanish Civil War and gambling to name a few. There's not an ounce of fat on this album - this is a group at the top of theirs, and everyone else's game. Best Tracks: London Calling; Death and Glory; Train In Vain (Stand By Me)

The clash is so awesome. At some point I should really decide what my fav album is. This one his good, lots of ska vibes.

legendarisch... meer woorden hoeven er niet aan vuil gemaakt worden.

Thoughts before listening: One of the greatest albums of all time. Growing up listening to punk and constantly hearing about the Clash, I was surprised by how much this really isn't all that punk. I always liked their first album better than this one. Then as I got older and my tastes changed I began to realize just how special of an album this is. Glad to have a reason to listen. Review: I might put every song on the playlist. They're all so unique and distinctive. The band is playing with so many different styles on this album, but it all sounds like the Clash. Punk, reggae/ska, jazz, rock n roll with guitar solos, etc it's all on here. This is definitely a 5-star album.

Punk grows a heart

Amazing. Seems to have gotten better with time.

Loved it. Classic

This album has been with me my entire life. It’s intimately familiar and comfortable. I’m Not Down is in my top ten songs of all time. This album is in my top 5 on the 1001 list. Nothing new to add here. Perfection.

Best punk.

I had this when I was at school and sickened myself on it by playing it too much. Happy to say I'm over that now and it was like catching up with an old friend

A lot of energy, a Lotta sound. Some of it jives, some of it goofy, some of it…just sound. The title track is a keeper.

The Clash kick balls and slap titties with the best of them. This is an iconic album that definitely deserves inclusion on this list.

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Not as a perfect as an album as is typically made out, one or two duds I reckon. But still, some absolute classics there as well, quality. 4.5*

This is awesome. So many great ideas executed so well. This sounds closer to classic rock (+ ska) than punk in a modern sense, but there is an edge to this project that points to the way punk evolved post-London Calling. Instrumentally rich and THE BASS. I love a bass that is high in the mix does more than repeat 3 notes for 4 minutes. Certainly one I will return to often.

This dropped onto me after The Clash’s first album the day before. As great as that was, London Calling is even better. Different styles of music melded with the punk ethos of the Clash to create music that transcends any of them. One of the greatest albums ever? I just might be.

LEGENDARY punk classic right here. A fusion of styles that boils together into absolute iconic perfection.

yer kidding, right? .... the only band that mattered. - a perfect record - not one weak song - - the standard -

An objectively great album. Proof that punk rock can clean up nicely and still pack a punch.

After a miserable day listening to Iron Maiden this was a much needed palette cleanser. At no point did I know where this album was headed, several songs sound like they were plucked out of a completely different project. Weird, unexpected, nearing 50 years old, and still sounds fresh.

Still the best album ever!

It's London Calling.

This rocks. Title track is fantastic and the first half as a whole has no misses. I always wondered what a five star punk album would sound like and this is it. My uncle has a poster of this on his wall in his basement. I was hoping to get around to listening to most of the albums he has on his wall. The first one I listened to was Bad Brains and I wasn't a fan.

I had a girlfriend a thousand years ago that took me on “the clash tour” in London where she lived. It was mostly shitholes where people claimed Joe Strummer had done something wacky or where the idea for a song came from. I’m sure 99% of it was made up but I have a lot of fond memories of this album because of that. It’s clouding my judgement of the clash as a whole because I still remember the shitty British day we spent splitting a single set of earbuds listening to this and Combat Rock over and over. It’s been a while since I listened to the whole thing though. Classics like “London calling”, “death or glory”, “the guns of brixton”, I remembered fondly and they still hold up. I rediscovered “Spanish Bombs” and “Train in Vain”. Even some of the more silly sounding things like “lost in the supermarket” and “wrong em Boyo” are good if you drop the veneer of being hardcore for a few minutes. I love this album; one of the few double albums I can go through without skips. Timeless.

Posers were people who looked like punks but they did it for fashion. And they were fools, they'd say "anarchy in the UK." What the fuck's that? Anarchy in the UK. What good is that to those of us in Utah, America? It was a Sex Pistols thing. They were British, they were allowed to go on about Anarchy in the UK. You don't live your life by lyrics

I've heard a good amount of these tracks individually and was unaware of some of the smaller tracks on this album. Really great listen, awesome range of genres for a punk band. Will listen to again.

I love this album. An essential album in my collection.

another album that's a classic for a reason. the clash here take their punk sound and elevate it to new heights, something that is more progressive than their contemporaries, yet also a little more poppy. the attitude is still here and the musicianship exhibited here is pretty dang good. nitpicking a little bit, but not all of the songs here are amazing songs (i'm looking at you, 'jimmy jazz') but the vast majority of this album slaps hard.

Ta maluco, um dos melhores de todos os tempos. Tudo legal, instrumentação, letras, voz, melodia.

Excellent album. Coming back in with the new edit mode to upgrade this to 5*

Modern punk is very hit or miss with me, but man apparently I love the roots.

If someone wanted to hear a classic punk album would you show them this? I think calling it punk sells it very short. To me punk is three chord rock played by angry boomers who spit at each other. I don’t think any song on this can be defined as typically punk, there’s elements of ska, rockabilly and rock/pop, with almost a new genre in each track. I was confused by this album when I first heard it, but I’ve grown to love it, it feels like the lads put everything into it and it doesn’t drag can’t point despite being over an hour long.

London Calling Haven’t listened to this for a while, so it’s nice to revisit it and re-confirm how great it is. Kind of picks up the template of the White Album in its eclecticism and exploration of musical styles. There’s nothing on here that really harks back to their previous more obviously punk records, apart from perhaps Clampdown and Death or Glory, but even those depart move into slightly different territories, eg the middle eight in Clampdown. My highlights are Rudie Can’t Fail, Spanish Bombs, Lost in the Supermarket, Clampdown, Guns of Brixton, Lover’s Rock, I’m Not Down and Train in Vain, but I genuinely like every song, there’s none I would think about skipping. Each song could stand on its own, but they work even better together as a collection. Despite the variety of styles there’s a consistent energy that runs throughout, again similar to the White Album. The eclecticism and willingness to try and do what they want rather than what is expected of them ties it all together. Mick Jones guitar playing is excellent throughout. He was always interested in more than just 3 chord punk thrashing and his runs and textures on this are excellent, Lover’s Rock is a great example of this, a bit rock, a bit disco, a bit funk and a bit jazz. Topper Headon is great as always and I love Paul Simonon’s bass tone. Listening has reminded me of why I like the Clash so much. Their first album is great, but they took a turn out of punk from London Calling onwards, into doing whatever they wanted, being open to what was going on around them with reggae, disco and hip hop, and looking back to the influences on the 60s bands they loved to create a kind of mishmash of all sorts. The albums after LC wouldn’t be as coherent but they still made some incredible music on Sandinista and Combat Rock (even Cut the Crap has one truly excellent song in This is England). But this is the best they did and is rightfully up there with the best albums of all time ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ And as Paul is obsessed with length and requested I address it in my review, I shall: It isn’t too long.

Riktigt bra. Jag har lyssnat på denna tidigare så den har fått en del extra chanser. Då har jag inte tyckt att det var nå märkvärdigt, bara två bra låtar kanske och resten helt ok. Men nu när jag gav det en sista chans så insåg jag att det var nästan bara bra låtar. Inte för mycket punk utan väldigt mycket annat också. Definitivt ett unikt band som vågade töja gränser. Måste nästan ge den en 5a pga att jag gillade så många låtar och säkert kommer lyssna i framtiden igen.

goddamn, what an album! It's rare that a double album really manages to capture my attention for its entirety, but this album effortlessly grasps it and leads it through an eclectic tour of what punk means. I'm not a huge fan of the title track, but otherwise, so many songs on here soar above the post-punk I've listened to, especially "Lost in the supermarket", "Jimmy Jazz", and "Death or Glory".

Can’t believe it took me a few years to discover this one back in the day. Great!

Not my first time listening to this. Definitely a great album loved it!

Classic album. The perfect combination of rebellion and fun. A good variety of styles from punk to ska to blues. Highlights: London Calling — expresses the bleakness of life in England in the late 70s (read "Goth" by Lol Tolhurst for more on how depressing it was and how it inspired so many post-punk bands) Spanish Bombs — a deceptively cheery tune about the Spanish civil war and losing your country to fascism Lost in the Supermarket — a great lament about the suburbs sucking the life out of you Guns of Brixton — great song about the cycle of violence created by systemic oppression, street life, and police brutality Death or Glory — a great (cynical) tune about how we all become what we hate I'm Not Down — a great anti-depression song about not letting life get to you and realizing how lucky you are compared to many others Train in Vain (cover) — one of my favorite Clash tunes even if it's not originally theirs 5/5

excelent!

An album of which I know all the words. It's a near perfect early London punk sound that surfs the hard edge and polished enough for anyone. Especially now that our hard rock levels have all been blown out to 11. From this era, I still prefer the less acclaimed, but amazing UK Subs, so I want to get a plug in for that band as well!

I've never listened to this whole album and I'm impressed. 5.

This is one of my all time absolute favorite albums and was one of my introductions to what punk music could be. The bass lines are incredible. There isn't really one bad song on this album. Relevance to this list: 5/5 Personal enjoyment: 5/5

When I listen to 70s punk, this is the album I compare everything too - the definitive punk album. Nearly perfect in every way, relisten about once a year.

After being one of the leading bands in the UK punk explosion, and after two great punk albums, this double album marked a significant change for The Clash as they moved beyond the confines of the punk format, yielding an excellent set of songs strongly influenced by other musical styles and by observation of disparate ethnic/social groups in London. The album is chock full of great tracks from the title track that opens the album onwards, through Guns of Brixton, and I don't think there's a dud track. This album was in my view the peak achievement of the band, the follow-up, Sandinista was just a bit too bloated as a triple album. The album's cover is excellent, with the perfectly framed shot of Paul Simonon smashing his bass guitar - the fuzziness adds to the energy, and the typographical homage to the first Presley LP.

Just perfect from start to end. It’s an album I’m very familiar with. But each time I think there might be a lull it’s just another great song. One of the best! 5/5

One of the best double albums of all time. Banger after banger

Revolutionary!! 5

This album entered my life as a teenager, through the Rock Band franchise. Though only familiar with the title track, "Lost in the Supermarket" and "Train in Vain", I decided to buy the full album, and through playing it over and over again, I have grown to love every song on the track list. From punk to ska to pop, the variety on display here is fantastic. And the songwriting is heads and tails above what some of their punk contemporaries were putting out; every song here is fueled by an easily hummable melody. This is a legendary album for a reason, and anyone who argued that it doesn't belong on this list is objectively wrong.

A band at the height of their powers. So many genres covered and they excel in all of them.

greast

FUCK YES!!!!!!!

"London Calling" by The Clash is a seminal album that transcends the boundaries of punk rock, infusing it with elements of reggae, ska, rockabilly, and more. Released in 1979, it remains a timeless masterpiece that captures the essence of its era while speaking to issues that remain relevant today. From the iconic title track with its urgent call to action to the rebellious anthem "Clampdown" and the poignant "Train in Vain," each song on the album showcases The Clash's versatility and songwriting prowess. The lyrics are incisive and socially conscious, addressing topics such as political disillusionment, social unrest, and personal struggles. Musically, "London Calling" is eclectic and dynamic, featuring infectious melodies, raw energy, and innovative production techniques. Joe Strummer's distinctive vocals, Mick Jones's guitar work, and the tight rhythm section of Paul Simonon and Topper Headon create a sound that is both raw and polished, chaotic and cohesive. Beyond its musical brilliance, "London Calling" is a cultural touchstone that continues to inspire generations of musicians and fans. Its influence can be heard in countless bands across genres, and its rebellious spirit remains as potent as ever.

An excellent Punk album, and definitely a good fusion of Punk and emerging New Wave. Lots of musical styles in play here, from Punk, Hard Rock, Rockabilly, Reggae, and Blues. But it all fits together in a cohesive package. The musicianship is top notch, and the vocals are crisp and bright. This is my deepest dive I do a Clash album (so far), and it’s worth a listen.

Honestly maybe the only true 5 star album on this whole list. Lovers rock, death or glory, guns of brixton. Such a perfect album

Fucken’ yeah!

punk is punking 9/10

El mejor album de punk de la historia

jaa één van mijn favoriete albums geweldig ik kan nog niet raten maar sws 5 r sterren, This is a public service announcement

So much fun. Love this album. Love the ska influenced punk. The sense of play. You can't help but tap your feet and smile with each track.

Fantastic album front to back.

Punk sa stilom👍

Love this album. It shows just how talented and musically varied the Clash were

This album is super famous, and for good reason. Just a great album the whole way through, and I love the cover. Super fitting 9/10

So awesome. This is one of my favorite albums of all time. I saw the clash in '83, '85 and '89.i have remained a fan as well as a fan of Joe Strummer and good part work before his passing. This album was made in '79 I believe. If you listen carefully every genre of the 80's was represented or debut in the album. It is one of my top 5 of all time.

This is a very weird collaboration of songs, yet it works out so well. I went in expecting a major punk album but I got that mixed in with jazz and reggae. And it all totals up into one of my favorite albums. 9.9/10, best song is rather guns of Brixton or Spanish bombs

Joe Strummer in these clash days was like some primordial ooze of creativity. Unrefined and unadulterated. He had more style, more character, more personality in the fingernail trimmings he put in the bin every few weeks than most people develop over the course of a lifetime. The amount of shit going on in Wrong ‘Em Boyo belies any notion of this band as just slapdash idiots plugged in to loud amplifier. The ethos of the early punk wave in Britain was so antiestablishment that they even wanted to undermine the idea of musicality, but Joe just couldn’t help himself. He couldn’t contain the bone-deep love he had for every musical note that he had absorbed over his two and a half decades to that point. The scope of his vision, the depth of his empathy—the lightness, the unseriousness with which he carried it all. And this is the beauty of music, that the stuff he created based on that earlier stuff was in the stuff Jack White put into his veins, both of which I’ve put into my veins, and I’m doing my damnedest to put into my children’s. Joe Strummer was just this beautiful, half-wrecked angel walking the world with the rest of us for a few decades. A prophet, meant to remind us of the beauty of song, and that the true Word, however ragged or undistinguished its wrappings may first appear, is unmistakable and universal and, yay, a blessing among the trivialities of this transient world.

The title track is as effective as ever, but the rest is new to me. Brand New Cadillac has some real bite and an old school sounding rock'n'roll riff. Most of the first half of this double album is good. More melodic than I expected but with a hard edge. Pretty at times (ex: Lost in the Supermarket). Other highlights: Hateful, The Guns of Brixton. On to the second half, Death or Glory and The Card Cheat are standouts. I'm Not Down and Train in Vain, too. I wish this was a touch more focused, but it's probably still a five star album. So many great basslines and riffs.

Fantastic, lot of nostalgic hits in here. Would listen to this any day