London Calling to the Faraway Towns

Welcome to Episode 14 of Season 2. Legends are the focus. We discuss some lesser known songs by the biggest artists.

We start with Bruce Springsteen’s “Roulette”. Recorded almost immediately after the Three Mile Island disaster in Harrisburg, PA, but not released until 1988 as a B-side to One Step Up, Springsteen’s anger and mistrust of authority are on electrifying form.

We then move on to The Police’s “Walking in Your Footsteps”, a calypso-infused tune all about man’s own ability to destroy the planet where dinosaurs once freely roamed.

We next pay tribute to Calvin Hayes of Johnny Hates Jazz. Calvin passed away in July… The song we discuss is “Don’t Let it End this Way”, and is a cool, sophisticated song, quintessentially 80s – a sad goodbye.

The mood changes as we delve into classic hip hop. “Beat Street Breakdown” by rap pioneers Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel is a full on tirade against the injustices of the world, and nuclear armament features heavily. The version on our playlist is, unfortunately, the shortened one but it still packs a heavy punch.

We end with one of the greatest anti-nuclear songs of all time. “London Calling” by The Clash is one of the most important protest songs of all time and remains a huge anthem both in the capital and beyond. Released in December 1979, it charted in January 1980, so we have no hesitation in including it here. Perhaps overdue, you might think.

Please have a listen to our playlists – we are up to 80 songs! And once this season is done, we have plenty more for you.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4aHCNYfoQ2gtko5z6pwS9O?si=81bce0c59ff2470d

https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/bang-101-more-songs-about-nuclear-war-from-the-1980s/pl.u-vxy6L76uzVzd8Zl

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Opening and closing music: (Waiting for the) Heatwave – Fay Ray, appears courtesy of Fay Ray. Written by John Lovering

Artwork: Rachel Malbon

Assistant Producer: Shivam Pathak

Opening words: Richie Wheeler

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