The Clash & London Calling

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of The Clash together with their 1979 album 'London Calling' in (just under) thirty minutes.

The Clash achieved critical and commercial success in the UK with the release of their eponymous debut album and second album Give 'Em Enough Rope however, it was their experimental third album London Calling, released in 1979, that earned them popularity in the United States.

Produced by Guy Stevens at Wessex Sound Studios, the album bridged the traditional punk rock sound with a new wave aesthetic. London Calling also reflects the band's growing interest in styles beyond their punk roots, including reggae, rockabilly, ska, New Orleans R&B, pop, lounge jazz, and hard rock.

The album artwork was designed by artist Ray Lowry and was an homage to Elvis Presley's self-titled debut album.The cover features a photograph of Paul Simonon smashing his Fender Precision Bass (now on display at the Museum of London) against the stage at the Palladium in New York City on 20 September 1979. Pennie Smith, who photographed the band for the album, originally did not want the photograph to be used as the image was not in focus.

In 2004, a 25th-anniversary Legacy Edition was released with a bonus CD and DVD in digipack packaging. The bonus CD features The Vanilla Tapes, missing recordings made by the band in mid-1979. The DVD includes The Last Testament – The Making of London Calling, a film by Don Letts, as well as previously unseen video footage and music videos. London Calling was among the ten album covers chosen by the Royal Mail for a set of Classic Album Cover postage stamps issued in 2010.

In this episode I am in discussion with Dr. Andrew Webber.

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Mathew Woodall