As mentioned in the review of The Clash's first album, the release of London Calling was when I first started to like The Clash, showing there was a lot more to them than angry punk anthems, featuring as it did elements of jazz, rockabilly, various Caribbean influences, R&B and a more mainsteam rock, but retaining the socially aware lyrics and energy of their earlier work. I think it was also the first double album by a UK Punk/New Wave band.
The LP received much critical acclaim at the time and the title track became their highest placed single in the UK to-date and brought The Clash to a much wider audience. "Train In Vain", the final song on the album but unlisted on both the disc, the lyrics sheets and the album sleeve, was released in the US and become their first top 30 hit over there.
I played this album a lot, in particular all of Side 3, but I also liked "Train In Vain", "Spanish Bombs", "Jimmy Jazz", "Rudie Can't Fail" and "Revolution Rock". For a double album there were not too many weak tracks, although Side 2 usually got turned over after the first song had finished.
The title track "London Calling" remains a classic. Opening with a Rolling Stones style riff and a lyrical bass line, the song quickly builds a picture of a dystopian future involving an impending nuclear reactor meltdown, oil and wheat shortages, and the ensuing crisis in society, communicated via long wave radio broadcasts in the style from a past era. The chorus ends with the memorable "London is drowning and I live by the river !". Watching a recent Premiership football match from Fulham on the TV, I noticed the song was being played during the half-time interval !
"Brand New Cadillac" follows and is the first of the three songs on the album not written by the band. Its an old rockabilly song given an R&B make-over and The Clash reveal their inner Chuck Berry. It's rather light-weight but hard not to tap your toes to it !
"Jimmy Jazz" changes the tone, starting with gentle guitar chords and whistling before a slow jazz bass line. The song changes gear with the introduction of horns and saxophone to mutate to a joyful fusion of Ska and Jazz. All this in a song about the Police looking for a brutal murderer !
"Hateful" is a routine rock song but it was a lot better than I remembered. The sneering backing vocals made be think of The Boomtown Rats.
Side 1 finishes with the catchy reggae influenced "Rudie Can't Fall" which has an up-tempo dance beat and a sing-along chorus.
Side 2 opens with "Spanish Bombs", one of the finest songs on the LP with a driving bass line, a poppy tune and the chorus sung in bad Spanish. Joe Strummer and Mick Jones sing it almost as a duet, as it conjures up images of ETA bombings and the increase in tourism following the death of General Franco, with references back to the Spanish Civil War and trenches full of poets.
Next-up is "The Right Profile", a song about the troubled life of actor "Montgomery Cliff", and is another track which sounds better now that I remembered, in particular with its jaunty horns and saxophone. "Lost In The Supermarket" now sounds quite mature with understated guitar, funky bass and musings on rising commercialisation. At the time of its release the song received a lot of favourable press, which mostly passed me by, but fourty years later I now appreciate the track.
"Working For The Clampdown" sounds like a reject from the first album, and in my opinion is the worst song on the album. However, this is closely challenged by "The Guns of Brixton", which was another track that received a lot of plaudits upon its release. Whilst the bass line is quite interesting the vocal by Paul Simenon is simply dreadful and almost unlistenable ! So, whilst side 2 now sounds better to me than it did 40 odd years ago, it still has the two lowest points of the double album.
Side 3 though is consistently good, starting with another cover version. The joyous rock-steady beat, swirling organ and saxophone of "Wrong 'Em Boyo" makes it easy to overlook the fact it is a song about violent death ! For me it is one of the high points of the album.
"Death or Glory" is a mid-tempo rock number with one of the best tunes on London Calling and some great lyrics. There is a nice change of pace, slowly building to the finale.
"Koka Kola" is a fun track, with The Clash again focusing their ire on increased consumerism, cyncial marketing and the dreadful fashion and drug life-styles of those involved.
"The Card Cheat" has a piano intro that wouldn't be out of place on a Bruce Stringsteen album, and the song attempts an epic feel akin to some of the work of New Jersey's finest. The reedy vocal from Mick Jones actually seems appropriate here.
Side 4 opens with a gorgeous guitar hook at the beginning of "Lover's Rock" before leading into another mid-tempo song, although the outro goes on too long. "Four Horsemen" is fairly non-descript and musically belongs on "Give 'Em Enough Rope". It is probably the third worst song on the LP.
"I'm Not Down" has a cheery chorus but the vocal from Mick Jones sounds strained in parts.
"Revolution Rock" is the third and final cover on London Calling and it is another ska/reggae number driven along by horns, organ and a great Joe Strummer vocal. "Get that cheesegrater going !" Playing Requests on the Bandstand, El Clash Combo !"
Just when you think the album has finished "Train In Vain" starts, and you wonder why such an outstanding song isn't mentioned anywhere. Great drumming, jerky guitar, harmonica and a love song from The Clash ! It also has Mick Jones' best vocal on the album. Simply terrrific and not surprising it was released and a hit in the US, but puzzling as to why it wasn't released as a single in the UK.
In conclusion, London Calling remains an outstanding album, and worthy of its place in all those 100 Greatest Albums of All Time lists !
Track Listing :
Side 1
1. London Calling
2. Brand New Cadillac
3. Jimmy Jazz
4. Hateful
5. Rudie Can't Fail
Side 2
1 Spanish Bombs
2. The Right Profile
3. Lost In The Supermarket
4. Clampdown
5. The Guns of Brixton
Side 3
1. Wrong 'Em Boyo
2. Death or Glory
3. Koka Kola
4. The Card Cheat
Side 4
1. Lover's Rock
2. Four Horseman
3. I'm Not Down
4. Revolution Rock
5. Train In Vain
Released 1979
UK Chart Position : 2
Singles :
London Calling ( No 11 1979 )
