WE DO THE MASHED POTATO AND THE FUNKY CHICKEN

The Clash

London Calling

  • AMG Review of London Calling

    Amg
    Stephen Thomas Erlewine
    All Music Guide

    Give 'Em Enough Rope, for all of its many attributes, was essentially a holding pattern for the Clash, but the double-album London Calling is a remarkable leap forward, incorporating the punk aesthetic into ock & roll mythology and roots music. Before, the Clash had experimented with eggae, but that was no preparation for the dizzying array of styles on London Calling. There's punk and eggae, but there's also ockabilly, ska, New Orleans R&B, pop, lounge jazz, and hard rock; and while the record isn't tied together by a specific theme, its eclecticism and anthemic punk function as a rallying call. While many of the songs -- particularly "London Calling," "Spanish Bombs," and "The Guns of Brixton" -- are explicitly political, by acknowledging no boundaries the music itself is political and revolutionary. But it is also invigorating, rocking harder and with more purpose than most albums, let alone double albums. Over the course of the record, Joe Strummer and Mick Jones (and Paul Simonon, who wrote "The Guns of Brixton") explore their familiar themes of working-class rebellion and antiestablishment rants, but they also tie them in to old ock & roll traditions and myths, whether it's ockabilly greasers or "Stagger Lee," as well as mavericks like doomed actor Montgomery Clift. The result is a stunning statement of purpose and one of the greatest ock & roll albums ever recorded. [In 2000 Columbia/Legacy reissued and remastered London Calling.]

The Clash
over 2 years ago

Alarm noted in my Ian Hunter post that the clip was from the show Fridays. Great show. I remember back being a senior in high school when the Clash were on. One of my firends and I got a whole bunch of people to gether to watch that night. We were probably the only two people in our high school who even knew who the Clash were at that point. It goes without saying that my other friends jus...

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london calling
over 2 years ago
Blog post image preview

london calling is such an incredible album. i bought it when it first came out, and every time i hear it, i'm amazed at their focus and musicality. so inspiring.

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clash fridays
over 2 years ago
Decisions
over 2 years ago

Having recently decided to start a small vinyl hobby, I was faced with a daunting task. What discs would I really want to hear on vinyl? If I was to choose just 10 discs to replace or supplement my music collection, what would they be? Surprisingly, I had the list in about an half hour. If I owned it, it had to be a disc that I commonly pulled up just to listen to it. The album also had t...

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I Can No Longer Resist
over 2 years ago

So, "for those of you following along at home,":http://mog.com/Zeroskilz/blog_post/36404 I have decided to go ahead and keep the record. The all important question of what player to buy has been answered. A guy I work with is giving me his "very nice" player that has been sitting in a closet for several years. So, now the quest has begun. I'm scouring my collection to determine what gaps I ...

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I hate Starbucks, Wal-Mart, Pop Music, and Chinese Food (Thai included)
over 2 years ago

I've been reminded today of one of my pet peeves.Have you ever heard someone say they dislike something because for a completely insane and trivial reason?For instance, a friend of mine refuses to stop at Starbucks because they've some how managed to pass the magical point at which suddenly the coffee turns bad. Clearly, if she said she didn't like Starbucks because 1) the people there, 2) the...

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ITS A STRANGE QUIRK, I KNOW, BUT WHEN SOMEONE TELLS ME THEY DON'T LIKE A SONG I THINK IS GREAT, I GOTTA TRY AN' CONVINCE THEM OTHERWISE
about 1 year ago
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Now, as I understand it, we all pride ourselves on our music collection/selections/confections, whatever. Well, I contend that if you have a collection of Rock Music and it does not contain **London Calling** ,Your collection is sadly incomplete.The Clash took on the world with this album, and pinned it to the mat. The boys display an affinity for, and impressive command of a wide range of pop...

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Uncertain Futures, Unexpected Losses
over 2 years ago

Today, as I write this, it’s the traditional Day of the Dead - Mexico’s annual Dia de Los Muertos - celebrating the loved ones that we’ve lost in the past, recent and distant. For many of us in the MOG community, the holiday has a dark resonance this year, due to the untimely and all-too-premature death of our friend and colleague Chris “Crash” Pryor. On this Day of the Dead, I’m marki

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The Clash's Paul Simonon shows off his artwork
about 1 year ago

David Bowie, Ronnie Wood and Paul Simonon. Would anyone care about their paintings if they weren't famous musicians?

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"Raise a toast to St. Joe Strummer, I think he might’ve been our only decent teacher "
about 1 year ago

Such a great lryic, you can check out that song below...but just listening to it has put me in a Clash sort of mood...Cheers Joe.

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Punk Rock Tuesdays: Death or Glory
over 2 years ago

I have a lot I really wanted to say about this tune, how it's invaded my brain because of the social D cover of it... which you can listen to here...But... I'm in the middle of moving house, 24 hours from now I will be on my way out of MN and back on the road to Ann Arbor (proto punk ground zero).... anyway The Clash, never were my favorite punk band, I've liked a few of their tunes here and th...

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Tom Snyder Interviews The Clash
about 1 year ago
what happens when you wake up and you just dont love it any more?
over 2 years ago

the other day i was at work and someone put on london calling by the clash. all of a sudden my heart dropped and i didnt want to hear it. i used to love this album and many people will call it blasphemy that i cant stand it now. i dont know what happened but somewhere along the line something clicked and now i cant listen to this album ever again. maybe it was all of the arguments that ive had ...

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Gift Ideas for The Clash Fan
over 2 years ago
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Some cool pictures for the Clash fan on your christmas list. http://www.raylowry.com/Limited%20Editions.html

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Decisions
over 2 years ago

Having recently decided to start a small vinyl hobby, I was faced with a daunting task. What discs would I really want to hear on vinyl? If I was to choose just 10 discs to replace or supplement my music collection, what would they be? Surprisingly, I had the list in about an half hour. If I owned it, it had to be a disc that I commonly pulled up just to listen to it. The album also had t...

More >
clash fridays
over 2 years ago
I Can No Longer Resist
over 2 years ago

So, "for those of you following along at home,":http://mog.com/Zeroskilz/blog_post/36404 I have decided to go ahead and keep the record. The all important question of what player to buy has been answered. A guy I work with is giving me his "very nice" player that has been sitting in a closet for several years. So, now the quest has begun. I'm scouring my collection to determine what gaps I ...

More >
Hateful
about 1 year ago

I was fortunate to have been a teenager/college student during the halcyon days of punk rock, and was fortunate to have experienced the electric feeling when bands like the Ramones, the Damned, and 'the only band that matters', the Clash, were in the midst of their finest hour(s). 'London Calling' is still one of my all-time favorite albums, and, in my opinion, no record collection is complete...

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Hey Mickey, London's Calling!
over 3 years ago
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Here is where we celebrate our collective never ending struggle not to grow up. For your consideration I give you the Clash inspired Mickey Mouse from Japan...the question to ask ourselves is will Mickey's next album be "REVOLUTION ROCK (for kids)"Clash Mickey from ROEN

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The Good, the Bad & The Queen
over 3 years ago

for those who were discussing the Clash, Paul Simonon, etc. a couple of weeks ago - here's a link to Simonon and Damon Albarn's (and Fela Kuti's Drummer, Tony Allen) new band, the Good, the Bad and the Queen:http://www.stereogum.com/archives/003641.htmlenjoy!

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The Clash
over 2 years ago

Alarm noted in my Ian Hunter post that the clip was from the show Fridays. Great show. I remember back being a senior in high school when the Clash were on. One of my firends and I got a whole bunch of people to gether to watch that night. We were probably the only two people in our high school who even knew who the Clash were at that point. It goes without saying that my other friends jus...

More >

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