45 years ago today London Calling is the third studio album by English punk rock band The Clash, originally released as a double album in UK on this day in 1979 by CBS Records, and in the US on January 1980 by Epic Records #punk #punks #theclash #londoncalling #history #punkrockhistory #otd
I got to see them on their first US tour, February of '79, at the Cleveland Agora - a venue that held about 650 people. After London Calling, I couldn't quite scrape up the price of a ticket. So that was the only time I saw them. But damn, was it good!
I seem to recall that the London Calling album cover was a partially based on Elvis Presley’s “Elvis Presley” album. As in this one:
Very observant!
For me that was peak Clash
PUNK🪨
I thought London Calling was a live album recorded on stage in Atlanta?
Only album that matters
Released in 1979 and was awarded the album of the 80s by Rolling Stone.
Beginning of the decline of the Clash for me. Other than the title track, completely lacking the energy and freshness of the first two albums. Definitely not a punk album.
That's what broke up the band, essentially. Jones wanting to be more pop and Strummer wanting to stay true.
I was 12. London Calling was one of the first new albums I ever bought. That and Metal Box which I had to order & pay a deposit on. Was careful how I spent my pocket money 😉
My favorite album ever. It cost me all of my allowance $$$ to buy it at the time and I still listen to it. It is the only album I have ever bought in its entirety in all of the formats-LP, cassette, digital. Gave the LP version to my daughter when she was in HS, it hangs on her wall now!
45 years today, still a great album
Certainly is, got that T shirt for my 60th birthday present, from one of my closest, now departed, friends.
My shirt for today in celebration of London Calling.. #theclash #londoncalling
Awesome times!!
I saw them perform in Houston 1982. This IS a great album, but I still think their first album with “Janie Jones”, “White Riot”, and “Police & Thieves” really captured the spirit of punk.
Still one of my favorite albums of all time. Every song on it is a classic.
