@@sethrogaine Five of the six sides match the quality of London Calling. I’ll give you that the sixth one is weak, but if it was a double album it’d go toe to toe with LC
If you’re gonna do Quadrophenia during double album December then you have to dress up as Steph from the movie as you are the double of Leslie Ash who played her. Also the fact that you hate Thatcher makes me love you even more! 🥰
Punk was a Godsend to an angry teenager with a surplus of energy in the corporate soft-rock late 70’s/early 80’s. Loud/fast rules,but yeah,this album showed us that MANY musical forms could exist under the umbrella of “Punk”. Thank you for this Abby,once again you’ve NAILED it. Gotta LOTTA Clash trax that I dig,but @ the moment my faves are prob. Clampdown & title track. Much love & Best of the Holiday Season from our family to yours
thank you, happy holidays to you too! i love how varied punk has been over nearly 55 years of it being around. starts as psych and blues from hell, takes a detour to ska, branches off into new wave at some point, and goes everywhere in between. it's even gone pop a few times! it's the adventure of a lifetime
Wow, Abigail, thank you for making me part of your very first double album December Friday. I was not sure after which song the guitar smash up took place, but White riot, because of its speed and angst seemed like the logical choice, and you confirmed it by checking the setlist, so thank you. That's what I love about your show, the attention to detail, and all in all you did this classic justice. Keep kicking out the jams girl!!
hey everybody thank doc for telling his story! thank you SO much for your perspective - i tried to send a follow-up email saying as much but it wouldn’t go through!
@@abigaildevoe it was my honor & a gas gas gas to offer my perspective. Don't worry about the email not going through. It could've been a glitch on my phone. Sometimes when I go above a certain amount of allotted gigabytes, I might not receive a text or email or even go offline for a couple of minutes. Anytime you need something extra to make the video better, I'm glad to help. Break almost over. Gotta get back to work...
This is one of those exceptionally rare multi-disc albums that has all great songs with no filler. Usually the artist will record as they always do for a single-disc album, but instead of sorting and chucking out the worst of the lot they simply mingle the garbage with the stronger songs. But this one is all fantastic songs.
$10.99 was practically, if not actually, list price in 1980. London Calling was typically selling for $7.99 at the time of its release, maybe less, at least at decent record stores that discounted new LPs. As for myself, I passed on buying this when it came out, instead taping it off an FM broadcast, back in the days when radio stations would play an entire album around the time of its release. However, the station totally omitted Death or Glory, as it contained the F word. But I did buy Sandanista when it came out, for $9.99. Or was it $7.99?
I taped a lot of albums at midnight, when the radio station played them. I remember putting the tape in before bed, setting an alarm for 11:55 PM, waking up, hitting the record button, going back to sleep, then waking in the morning to see what I had.
Spanish bombs is my favorite. "Sandindista" is really one of of the first Worldmusic albums by a white band. For example, Reggae on London Calling sounds like the Police play Reggae, not really, but its not that pure and real as it becomes on Sandindista with Mikey Dread Its really a great adventure through all kind of Music sorts you can imagine. Side 6 is too much, its maybe a bit inconsistent, but you can still take it to every place in the World, and people wil understand. Thankx for great episode!
Hi Abi, knowing you were a post punk girl did you come across Magazines classic first album Real Life. At the time of its release (78) the US was still musically in a desp coma but l notice its starting to get the recognition it deserves.
I totally get the perception that Sandinista! is a hot mess, but I love it! It's audacious and rambling, which I appreciate, but on those three disks are at least two albums of songs nearly as good as those on London Calling.
It isn't even really a punk album. They encompassed all sortsof musical genres on this. Reggae, ske, rockabilly, soul and even did a Phil Spector type of song with the Card Cheat!
Love this album. The Clash could only do what they did with a great drummer and Topper Headon certainly is. The unsung hero who's holding it all down. Disagree about Train in Vain. This is a wide ranging eclectic album and having this almost disco beat song at the end fits as a brilliant unexpected coda to the record. I love Mick's vulnerable vocals and woudn't want London Calling without it at the end.
Learning to play guitar as a 16 year old this album was such a big deal, a very very big deal. It got me thinking in different ways from my coveted Stones collection 62 thru 78. Mick Jones is the true artist and Joe's lyrics and front man Forte is perfect, great bass player Paul and Topper is a top 3 drummer for me. Saw them at the San Francisco Civic Center opening acts English Beat
Oh, Abby! Sandinista is not a hot mess!!! It’s a wonderful album (emphasis on the “wonder” part. ) Seriously. I advise any listener to take the dog(s) for a long walk and listen to it all the way through without stopping. They’ll be rewarded if they just surrender and let the tracks wash over them. It’s a delightful place to simply get lost for a while.
For whatever it's worth, not all rock was soft in '77. In that year, Alice Cooper released Lace and Whiskey, Black Sabbath was on tour supporting Technical Ecstasy, Judas Priest was either out promoting Sad Wings of Destiny or recording Sin After Sin, Thin Lizzy released Bad Reputation after releasing and promoting two other albums in '76, AC/DC released Dirty Deeds in '76 and Let There Be Rock in '77, Queen were still regarded as a hard rock band and released new albums in both '76 and '77 and Neil Young released American Stars and Bars - which featured "Like A Hurricane" which was capable of being a pretty rocky song. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that there was definitely lots of shlock available in 1976 and 1977 (and I include Fleetwood Mac in that lot because I've never liked them), but it wasn't all light and wasn't all shlock before punk wiped the slate clean. Trying to contend that would be startlingly revisionist history. Favorite Clash song? "London Calling." I guess.
I was at that show standing next to joey Ramone the whole NY crowd was there. I was at their first show there too when they had the flags of all nation as their back drop. Went over to Max's after the show. Those were the days. RIP Shane MacGowen
'This album includes lyric content which may be offensive to some members of the public'...yep 'phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust' is very offensive!
I believe the reason Paul Simonon trashed his bass was just in a fit of rage from seeing someone in the audience being harassed by a bouncer, don't remember where I heard that, but I heard it at some point.
Pure punk albums are normally a dud with me (Mainly because they sound too "busy" on most occasions), but when they're mixed in with other elements, that's when they really spring to life, case in point, this album. To me they feel like punk's equivalent to Bowie to an extent. They both frequently shifted around the rock spectrum, but always somehow stayed true to the roots of what they were aiming for. Marquee Moon will forever be my favourite punk album (Even though it's more artsy than normal punk), but this album is excellent in its own way.
Your love of this album closely matches mine. This is the album that got me out of my 70's hard rock bubble and opened my eyes (or ears?) to other flavors of rock music which I continued to explore in subsequent years and decades. Its consistently in my top 20 albums of all time. Where I do differ from Ms. Devoe is I've always loved side 4 including Train In Vain even if it doesn't quite fit. For me, a great song is a great song. Doesn't matter where or how it fits.
Sandinista is a mess but it’s a glorious mess! Best not listened to in one sitting. My favorite album from my favorite band. I will concede that London Calling is technically the superior album. Great video!
As someone who, until recently, skipped straight from the Stooges to the Cure and never really got into Punk itself until like a month ago (this album being the main inputus), this video could not have come at a better time.
Great idea for December! This is possibly my favorite video of yours so far . I love how you mentioned London Calling and Unknown Pleasures both from 1979 and how great the bass guitar stands out . I actually have both album cover posters hanging right above my bass guitar and amp. Also wanted to share that I'm a huge fan of the good songs on Sandinista! Had it been a single album ..... well thats what we all say right ? Thank you for your uploads and keep up the great work !
What a great surprise review! Played this album so much that I burnt myself out on it for a while because it's so good but thankfully it's back in my regular rotation after letting that cool off a bit. Guns of Brixton is the peak of many great highlights. Excellent Double Album December!
imagine being paul simonon: the first song you ever write is one of the best, if not THE best, on its album. AND you're the star of the cover - the most iconic photo in rock-and-roll history!
I love love love the London Calling album. It's hard to pick my favorite album by the Clash. But here's my Top 5: "Straight To Hell" "Spanish Bombs" "Train In Vain" "Lost In The Supermarket" "Police On My Back" I will say that thank goodness it's not Cut The Crap...ugh that album is bad. No relation to Mick Jones' other band but like The Room/Neil Breen bad
I sense a review of Aja coming in the future. Maybe next year we can get Dan December!!! Or Steely September. LOL!!! "Abby, when all my dime dancing is through, I run to you for record reviews".
I have it. Exchanged it with a girl for my Paul MacCartney's "Band On The Run" that she wanted, in the distant 2000's. Never regreted the business!!!!!!!!!!!!
'London Calling' is a great album for sure. But there was so much great new music/albums that came out in 1979/1980 that we almost had to schedule specific listen sessions to fit them all in.
Wonderful work! I got the 12" single London calling/Armagideon time when it came out. Both totally brilliant and worth longer versions. PS Topper Headon was (and luckily still is) a genius. He could play anything - the polar opposite of what punk drummers were supposed to be.
nice to see an album that allows this woman to exploit her capabilities more fully . In a perfect world " Fathers and Sons" a classic double blues album with one platter recorded live at the super cosmic joy scout jamboree , would be featured on double album December.
I love the album and I love the video! Thank you for taking the time to do this. I am enjoying your shows. A thought on the song London Calling. When they talk about "phony Beatlemania", I don't think that they are referring to the Beatles. In the late 70s, there was a Broadway show called Beatlemania. Here is a link about that: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatlemania_(musical). I think that their comment on phony Beatlemania was that at that time there was no new Beatles project just this odd, unsanctioned replica of Beatlemania and it was a sign of the times. Also, in 1979 Paul McCartney put together a relief concert for the people of Kampuchea (formerly Cambodia) and asked The Clash to participate. They did. It was a hell of a show and the live album is worth a listen. More notes on that here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concerts_for_the_People_of_Kampuchea_(album) . I think if they wanted to dis The Beatles they would not have participated in Paul's show - and it was very much Paul's show. Tell me what you think.
Oh it's plenty invigorating I dont know crap about those fellas. With guy Mott The Hoople Guy, Guy? Nice. Of course has nothing to do with me wanting to go Guy? Guy; Guy? Guy. Guy
I'd look at "Train in Vain" again. It may not sound like London Calling-era Clash, but as a piece of pop songwriting, just an earnest, "I would die if you left me" love song, it's borderline genius. As a player, the melody, chords and groove are next-level inspired. There.
Take it from me, the Punk Professor. If you want to hear this double album in all its glory you must get an original first pressing on CBS label. That's the British pressing (can be found on Discogs) The US pressing on Epic does not sound nearly as good. The CBS pressing has a HUGE sound that sounds tremendous on a good playback system. It will stun you! Kids, if you've only heard the Epic pressing or the album on a CD, do Willie a favor and seek out the first CBS pressing. You will thank me.
You had a great week by me. This is my #11 album of all time. My fave songs are Brand New Cadillac and Death or Glory. Bootsy Collins disagrees with you about Train In Vain. So do I. You do realize that the graphics were lifted from Elvis first album, Right? I'm sure someone has mentioned it by now. See your video on The Wall for more on my feelings about this album.
Sandinista is a fantastic album. They could have trimmed 4 tracks off it but, wow, you're a great reviewer - listen to Sandinista carefully. Start with the Leader then Up in Heaven (think of Glenfell Towers) then Charlie Dont Surf....it doesnt let up. You praised London Calling for drawing on every stylistic influence on rock music. Sandinista does the same thing.
I like to think of The Clash as neither a punk rock band nor a rock band, but as an alternative R&B band. Alternative because it doesn't follow conventionality of contemporary rock (at least during the 70s and 80s) and R&B because the drum rhythms and themes are dance-worthy and dare-I-say soulful as opposed to the mono-feeling, head-banging adreneline rush that Punk derives its emotional outburst from. There's still that frustration and anxiety that's present in vocals and that sharp guitar riff that makes it punk-ish, but not entirely.
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is my favorite album. London Calling is in my opinion the best album of all time. My favorite songs in London Calling are all of them just like in Layla and Other Assorted love songs. Cheers! 🍻
I seen my first punk rockers when driving thru rapid city south dakota....first time I seen people with hair all colors...big long line of people went all the way down the block.....must have been some punk band in concert.
I can't think of a better album to slam the door shut on 70's rock. Such a massive album that shot first and answered questions for what was to come...at least in terms of plugging in and rocking out. There are others that did it, but London Calling set up 80's rock in full representation for those of us who know.
Is it "just me", I think EVERY Ramones and Springsteen song sounds monotonously the same? I think Bruce is awesome sauce personally, but, I am not into his music.
"Train in Vain" one of the weakest tracks? Couldn't disagree more, it's one of my favorite songs on the album. Well, I suppose it's a universal experience to listen to an album and then later on read (or watch, in this case) a review of it where a track you love and consider a highlight gets put down.
You had me double checking the day of the week! Sorry for the stream of consciousness. This album came out just as British Ska/2-Tone hit huge with the Specials, Madness etc. So yes, it was something happening at the time. Don Letts (film maker, D.J. and future collaborator with Mick Jones) introduced a lot of punks to Reggae/Ska as he was the fill in DJ at several early punk gigs in London, there were almost no punk records out at the time so he played what he had. Also Rock Against Racism had kicked off about that time in reaction to an on stage drunken drug fuelled racist rant by your favourite problem boy Eric Clapton! Yes, A Clapton Link! Feels like you can't escape him here. Punk and Reggae/Ska artists were on the same bill of just about every fund raiser and awareness gig they had. The scenes were pretty much intertwined. Brixton is a hop, skip and a jump by public transport from me, until about 10-15 years ago it was a huge musical mecca with several bands based in the area and several iconic and cult venues. Mostly British black and/or alternative (Like Carter USM or Alabama 3). The Eddy Grant hit Electric Avenue is about the riots there in 81 where the locals kicked back. That Guns of Brixton baseline is sooo good that it made no#1 without the rest of the song (an early Fat Boy Slim project). London Calling the song, a big project just finishing at the time was the Thames Barrier to prevent high tide flooding of areas of London, London flooding was a genuine threat until that got finished. 3 Mile Island disaster was in the news, the song vocalised a lot of our fears at the time. Train in Vain, OK, you mean does not quite fit on the album theme wise? I mean, it is one of the greatest early Rolling stones songs they never made (come on, close your eyes, you could imagine a just starting Stones playing it). It regularly turns up in top 10 lists from musicians.
Now I wanna hear Mick Jagger and the Stones covering that song lol... I just heard it in my head and it would be awesome... put in some "whoo hoos" in the back..
@@t.c.bramblett617 yeah, I mean the instrumentation is classic early 60's British white boy blues, the harmonica riff seals it, just needs a young Mick on vocals, oh hang on... Which Mick? She's right, there is a LOT of Micks in out music scenes!
Shouldn’t be a Rolling Stone best of 80s because it was released in 1980. The 80s didn’t begin until 1981. Doesn’t stop it being one of the greatest all time albums though.
If you like guns of Brixton you should check out the song Dub be good to me by Beats International which was another great song made by Norman Cook AKA Fat boy slim
you got my-Layla equivalent album that for a ten year old was an etched lifeline expected to follow for the generation such as you start wearing blue and brown -the color of the late70sto mid80smcdonalds uniform and you tript until you’re brutalized make your first kill now we were babies force fed the band kiss by t v and even by in school room magazine scholastic dynamite monthly school magazine usually had kiss cover or article I think this was intended to make us and get put away ,the cultured media such asbarbrawalters and Walter Cronkite have labeled it a”lost generation but still alive a few can see I been beat up but I show up and I’m not down etc…….
Although I already dropped a reply comment to you, a double album this perfect & f***ing amazing deserves another post. You are the 🐐for adding London Calling to your collection of irresistible, intelligent & incredibly charming & stylish lp reviews. You have my heart & my attention, know that all the work you put into writing, filming & editing these priceless videos is not in vain & this is not just another story. 🖤🍻💗🔥🖤🍻💗🔥🖤🍻💗🔥🖤🍻💗🔥🙏😊
Why you gotta hate on Wikipedia like that. It is one of the greatest accomplishments of the internet era. I wouldn't use it for serious research but its a great jumping off place for getting an overview of a subject before diving deeper.
Yes, Scorsese's love of the Clash is why we got their cameo in The King of Comedy. Actually, I haven't seen it in decades. Was it the whole band or just like Joe and Paul? The 70s Gangs of New York is more fascinating to me than most "great unmade movies" because technically, it was made. I assume De Niro would have played Bill the Butcher. But I wonder who would have filled out the other roles? Daniel Day Lewis would have been great in DiCaprio's role. Though I don't remember if he was doing films that far back.
@@konowd No way! Malcolm McDowall would have been so good! I just assumed De Niro because he was in every New York based film Scorsese did in the 70s. If not Bill the Butcher, I'm sure he would have been in there somewhere. Maybe the Liam Neeson role? Fun fact about De Niro. He's actually more Irish than Italian.
Thanks for the cool, fun video! And don't sleep on "Give 'Em Enough Rope", it's great and way underrated in my opinion. ( "Safe European Home" is one of the all time great opening tracks, if you ask me ). Also, my understanding is that Mick Jones was a HUGE Mott the Hoople fan, and that he especially wanted to work with Guy Stephens on "London Calling". Keep up the good work!
Geddy Lee, Jaco, and Steve Harris were just a few bassists feeding into the excellent bass of the late 70's. Simon Gallup claims Steve Harris as a primary influence.
When Scorsese was making Raging Bull he got mad that a setup was taking too long, so he went to his trailer and blasted The Clash. When he came out, things still weren’t ready and he yelled, “It’s more than one side of The Clash! What’s taking so long?!”
He was probably blasting London Calling, Bull was shot in 79. Scorsese checked out a bunch of punk bands when it started gaining momentum. He’d put the needle on an album, listen for a few minutes, then move on to the next band. The Clash was the band he didn’t lift the needle and kept listening.
@@stereo999 yep, I’ve got a copy of the Sandinista Now radio promo disc and basically pulls all the tracks that were potentially suitable for radio from the rest of the unlistenable experimental fluff that plagues most of the Sandinista triple set. The promo proves theirs a solid single record buried in all that mess.
I was in the UK at the time of release and bought this at Fox's records in Nottingham with the Fox hype sticker on the front 3.99 pounds!!.... (UK first edition) I saw them in Melbourne and they played for over 3 hours. Great band, great times.
Selfish claims, my London Calling I got for $.99 at a thrift in 2001. VG+ but WOO your cover is in fantastic shape! I also have 1/2 the bootleg of the Palladium show, which was an FM broadcast too. I bought that record for $6 because it said, "Disco Mix 80's" (White label) but the music was...The Clash at the Palladium! Sides 2+3. This show is rough, but you can find it on UA-cam with film footage!
A fantastic album! :) The Clash insisted that the double album be priced as a single album much to the chagrin of their label. There is a great *single* album in the triple LP, Sandanista!
happy double album december!! what’s your favorite clash song? comment below!
"Up In Heaven (Not Only Here)"
Stay Free
Janie Jones and Train In Vain :)
I'm Not Down
Guns of Brixton
Sandinista is a fantastic album and I will die on that hill
Great pitchforks lol
as a single album yes
@@sethrogaine Five of the six sides match the quality of London Calling. I’ll give you that the sixth one is weak, but if it was a double album it’d go toe to toe with LC
If a band can get 2 1/2 sides out of a triple, or 1 1/2 sides out of a double, it's a win.
RIP, mate.
If you’re gonna do Quadrophenia during double album December then you have to dress up as Steph from the movie as you are the double of Leslie Ash who played her.
Also the fact that you hate Thatcher makes me love you even more! 🥰
Broke the ❤️ of Jimmy in Quadrophenia !
🌹
We Are The Mods, We Are The Mods, We Are, We Are, We Are The Mods!!! 🙌🏽🎉🎉
As a retired Mod I had to visit the alley in Brighton and also the hotel where Sting worked in the film.
Punk was a Godsend to an angry teenager with a surplus of energy in the corporate soft-rock late 70’s/early 80’s. Loud/fast rules,but yeah,this album showed us that MANY musical forms could exist under the umbrella of “Punk”. Thank you for this Abby,once again you’ve NAILED it. Gotta LOTTA Clash trax that I dig,but @ the moment my faves are prob. Clampdown & title track. Much love & Best of the Holiday Season from our family to yours
thank you, happy holidays to you too! i love how varied punk has been over nearly 55 years of it being around. starts as psych and blues from hell, takes a detour to ska, branches off into new wave at some point, and goes everywhere in between. it's even gone pop a few times! it's the adventure of a lifetime
Wow, Abigail, thank you for making me part of your very first double album December Friday. I was not sure after which song the guitar smash up took place, but White riot, because of its speed and angst seemed like the logical choice, and you confirmed it by checking the setlist, so thank you. That's what I love about your show, the attention to detail, and all in all you did this classic justice. Keep kicking out the jams girl!!
hey everybody thank doc for telling his story!
thank you SO much for your perspective - i tried to send a follow-up email saying as much but it wouldn’t go through!
@@abigaildevoe it was my honor & a gas gas gas to offer my perspective. Don't worry about the email not going through. It could've been a glitch on my phone. Sometimes when I go above a certain amount of allotted gigabytes, I might not receive a text or email or even go offline for a couple of minutes. Anytime you need something extra to make the video better, I'm glad to help. Break almost over. Gotta get back to work...
@@DoctorInsomnia-qw7us A cool i was there moment!! Thanks for sharing it doc🎅♐️
Thanks @DoctorInsomnia-qw7us!
@@DoctorInsomnia-qw7usThank you, Doc.
This is one of those exceptionally rare multi-disc albums that has all great songs with no filler. Usually the artist will record as they always do for a single-disc album, but instead of sorting and chucking out the worst of the lot they simply mingle the garbage with the stronger songs. But this one is all fantastic songs.
Love the review but have to disagree on Train in Vain. One of their best. The sequencing is a little tacked on but that's not the sonds fault!
Abby covering The Clash and it's not even Monday? Merry December to me!
$10.99 was practically, if not actually, list price in 1980. London Calling was typically selling for $7.99 at the time of its release, maybe less, at least at decent record stores that discounted new LPs. As for myself, I passed on buying this when it came out, instead taping it off an FM broadcast, back in the days when radio stations would play an entire album around the time of its release. However, the station totally omitted Death or Glory, as it contained the F word. But I did buy Sandanista when it came out, for $9.99. Or was it $7.99?
IIRC I bought Sandinista! for ten bucks.
I remember that!. I bought it for $7.99. What a deal!
14:45
I taped a lot of albums at midnight, when the radio station played them. I remember putting the tape in before bed, setting an alarm for 11:55 PM, waking up, hitting the record button, going back to sleep, then waking in the morning to see what I had.
Spanish bombs is my favorite.
"Sandindista" is really one of of the first Worldmusic albums by a white band.
For example, Reggae on London Calling sounds like the Police play Reggae, not really, but its not that pure and real as it becomes on Sandindista with Mikey Dread
Its really a great adventure through all kind of Music sorts you can imagine.
Side 6 is too much, its maybe a bit inconsistent, but you can still take it to every place in the World, and people wil understand.
Thankx for great episode!
Hi Abi, knowing you were a post punk girl did you come across Magazines classic first album Real Life. At the time of its release (78) the US was still musically in a desp coma but l notice its starting to get the recognition it deserves.
I totally get the perception that Sandinista! is a hot mess, but I love it! It's audacious and rambling, which I appreciate, but on those three disks are at least two albums of songs nearly as good as those on London Calling.
"London Calling" by The Clash is a very important album of the punk era and consider one of the greatest albums of all time.
It isn't even really a punk album. They encompassed all sortsof musical genres on this. Reggae, ske, rockabilly, soul and even did a Phil Spector type of song with the Card Cheat!
@@karlschneider9479 👍
Brought this album in my lunch hour at school in '79.. at the age of eleven!.. still got it, still play it..fantastic 🇬🇧😎
wow! you were a way cooler 11 year old than me. the first album i ever bought was dookie by green day, also at 11. dad was thrilled! mom? not so much!
If you ever review books, I'd love to hear you talk about Viv Albertine's Clothes Clothes Clothes, Music Music Music, Boys Boys Boys.
Or a review of The Slits "Cut" album! I love that record!
My fav track off "London Calling" has gotta be 'The Card Cheat'.
Love this album. The Clash could only do what they did with a great drummer and Topper Headon certainly is. The unsung hero who's holding it all down.
Disagree about Train in Vain. This is a wide ranging eclectic album and having this almost disco beat song at the end fits as a brilliant unexpected coda to the record. I love Mick's vulnerable vocals and woudn't want London Calling without it at the end.
Learning to play guitar as a 16 year old this album was such a big deal, a very very big deal. It got me thinking in different ways from my coveted Stones collection 62 thru 78. Mick Jones is the true artist and Joe's lyrics and front man Forte is perfect, great bass player Paul and Topper is a top 3 drummer for me. Saw them at the San Francisco Civic Center opening acts English Beat
Oh, Abby! Sandinista is not a hot mess!!! It’s a wonderful album (emphasis on the “wonder” part. ) Seriously. I advise any listener to take the dog(s) for a long walk and listen to it all the way through without stopping. They’ll be rewarded if they just surrender and let the tracks wash over them. It’s a delightful place to simply get lost for a while.
It is both a wonderful album and a hot mess.
Take sides 1-4 and add “Charlie Don’t Surf” next to “Washington Bullets” and you have another masterpiece
@@DetroitRockCitizen Exactly. It somehow hangs together in spite of itself.
For whatever it's worth, not all rock was soft in '77. In that year, Alice Cooper released Lace and Whiskey, Black Sabbath was on tour supporting Technical Ecstasy, Judas Priest was either out promoting Sad Wings of Destiny or recording Sin After Sin, Thin Lizzy released Bad Reputation after releasing and promoting two other albums in '76, AC/DC released Dirty Deeds in '76 and Let There Be Rock in '77, Queen were still regarded as a hard rock band and released new albums in both '76 and '77 and Neil Young released American Stars and Bars - which featured "Like A Hurricane" which was capable of being a pretty rocky song. I guess the point I'm trying to make is that there was definitely lots of shlock available in 1976 and 1977 (and I include Fleetwood Mac in that lot because I've never liked them), but it wasn't all light and wasn't all shlock before punk wiped the slate clean. Trying to contend that would be startlingly revisionist history.
Favorite Clash song? "London Calling." I guess.
It was only the mainstream / radio rock that was pretty shit, the underground, especially in the States was putting out so many great records.
@@xdef1neIronically, the Clash was part of that mainstream radio rock though.
I was at that show standing next to joey Ramone the whole NY crowd was there. I was at their first show there too when they had the flags of all nation as their back drop. Went over to Max's after the show. Those were the days. RIP Shane MacGowen
'This album includes lyric content which may be offensive to some members of the public'...yep 'phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust' is very offensive!
I believe the reason Paul Simonon trashed his bass was just in a fit of rage from seeing someone in the audience being harassed by a bouncer, don't remember where I heard that, but I heard it at some point.
Pure punk albums are normally a dud with me (Mainly because they sound too "busy" on most occasions), but when they're mixed in with other elements, that's when they really spring to life, case in point, this album. To me they feel like punk's equivalent to Bowie to an extent. They both frequently shifted around the rock spectrum, but always somehow stayed true to the roots of what they were aiming for. Marquee Moon will forever be my favourite punk album (Even though it's more artsy than normal punk), but this album is excellent in its own way.
Your love of this album closely matches mine. This is the album that got me out of my 70's hard rock bubble and opened my eyes (or ears?) to other flavors of rock music which I continued to explore in subsequent years and decades. Its consistently in my top 20 albums of all time. Where I do differ from Ms. Devoe is I've always loved side 4 including Train In Vain even if it doesn't quite fit. For me, a great song is a great song. Doesn't matter where or how it fits.
Sandinista is a mess but it’s a glorious mess! Best not listened to in one sitting. My favorite album from my favorite band. I will concede that London Calling is technically the superior album. Great video!
As someone who, until recently, skipped straight from the Stooges to the Cure and never really got into Punk itself until like a month ago (this album being the main inputus), this video could not have come at a better time.
Great idea for December!
This is possibly my favorite video of yours so far . I love how you mentioned London Calling and Unknown Pleasures both from 1979 and how great the bass guitar stands out . I actually have both album cover posters hanging right above my bass guitar and amp.
Also wanted to share that I'm a huge fan of the good songs on Sandinista! Had it been a single album ..... well thats what we all say right ?
Thank you for your uploads and keep up the great work !
I hope in the future you do one or more of Chicago’s 4 double albums from their first 5 years ❤
YES LONDON CALLING!!!!!
One of my all time favorite albums. Still have the original copy I bought as soon as it was released in the US.
A few days ago, believe or not, I picked this album up for free at my local refuse centre and it is in near perfect condition. Great album!!
What a great surprise review! Played this album so much that I burnt myself out on it for a while because it's so good but thankfully it's back in my regular rotation after letting that cool off a bit. Guns of Brixton is the peak of many great highlights. Excellent Double Album December!
imagine being paul simonon: the first song you ever write is one of the best, if not THE best, on its album. AND you're the star of the cover - the most iconic photo in rock-and-roll history!
Like The Clash, watch the movie Rude Boy. The boys on tour of the UK at the time of recording Give Them Enough Rope 🎸🇬🇧🔥😍🎶
Get to see Stay Free being recorded !
A desert island lp - Flying out on a dc10 tonight
"Train In Vain" may not "fit" but it's one of the greatest songs of the '80s. That intro is simply divine.
The band Garbage used the intro as a loop for “Stupid Girl”
gross, abigal said that?
Train in vain is the only clash song i don't like.
it came out in 1979
Train in vain is over hated
I love love love the London Calling album. It's hard to pick my favorite album by the Clash. But here's my Top 5:
"Straight To Hell"
"Spanish Bombs"
"Train In Vain"
"Lost In The Supermarket"
"Police On My Back"
I will say that thank goodness it's not Cut The Crap...ugh that album is bad. No relation to Mick Jones' other band but like The Room/Neil Breen bad
What day is today ?
Not that it much matters with a bohemian...
.
I sense a review of Aja coming in the future. Maybe next year we can get Dan December!!! Or Steely September. LOL!!! "Abby, when all my dime dancing is through, I run to you for record reviews".
I have it. Exchanged it with a girl for my Paul MacCartney's "Band On The Run" that she wanted, in the distant 2000's. Never regreted the business!!!!!!!!!!!!
missed em there but caught opening night at Bond's--atomic show--Entwhistle off to our right too!
📻
It's a welcome surprise to see you on a Friday. "London Calling" is a masterpiece. Now, sing Michael sing - on the route of the nineteen bus!!
'London Calling' is a great album for sure. But there was so much great new music/albums that came out in 1979/1980 that we almost had to schedule specific listen sessions to fit them all in.
yes 1979 was a HUGE year
OK, Dear Abby. I tried my best to let you annoy me....I'm giving that another chance.....don't seem to be happening. Keep trying, I'll subscribe.
You've gonna do Damaged by Black Flag, It's not a double album... kinda... But it is taking anniversary December 15th, You're gon' do a punk history?
Wonderful work! I got the 12" single London calling/Armagideon time when it came out. Both totally brilliant and worth longer versions. PS Topper Headon was (and luckily still is) a genius. He could play anything - the polar opposite of what punk drummers were supposed to be.
nice to see an album that allows this woman to exploit her capabilities more fully .
In a perfect world " Fathers and Sons" a classic double blues album with one platter recorded live at the super cosmic joy scout jamboree , would be featured on double album December.
I love the album and I love the video! Thank you for taking the time to do this. I am enjoying your shows.
A thought on the song London Calling. When they talk about "phony Beatlemania", I don't think that they are referring to the Beatles. In the late 70s, there was a Broadway show called Beatlemania. Here is a link about that: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatlemania_(musical). I think that their comment on phony Beatlemania was that at that time there was no new Beatles project just this odd, unsanctioned replica of Beatlemania and it was a sign of the times.
Also, in 1979 Paul McCartney put together a relief concert for the people of Kampuchea (formerly Cambodia) and asked The Clash to participate. They did. It was a hell of a show and the live album is worth a listen. More notes on that here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concerts_for_the_People_of_Kampuchea_(album) . I think if they wanted to dis The Beatles they would not have participated in Paul's show - and it was very much Paul's show.
Tell me what you think.
Oh it's plenty invigorating I dont know crap about those fellas. With guy Mott The Hoople Guy, Guy? Nice. Of course has nothing to do with me wanting to go Guy? Guy; Guy? Guy. Guy
It's like Exile.....there are no gaps.....Never Mind the Bollocks also has no gaps
My fave Clash album is Give 'Em Enough Rope. A fave album cover is Elvis Presley's debut album on RCA.
I'd look at "Train in Vain" again. It may not sound like London Calling-era Clash, but as a piece of pop songwriting, just an earnest, "I would die if you left me" love song, it's borderline genius. As a player, the melody, chords and groove are next-level inspired. There.
Take it from me, the Punk Professor. If you want to hear this double album in all its glory you must get an original first pressing on CBS label. That's the British pressing (can be found on Discogs) The US pressing on Epic does not sound nearly as good. The CBS pressing has a HUGE sound that sounds tremendous on a good playback system. It will stun you! Kids, if you've only heard the Epic pressing or the album on a CD, do Willie a favor and seek out the first CBS pressing. You will thank me.
You had a great week by me. This is my #11 album of all time. My fave songs are Brand New Cadillac and Death or Glory. Bootsy Collins disagrees with you about Train In Vain. So do I. You do realize that the graphics were lifted from Elvis first album, Right? I'm sure someone has mentioned it by now. See your video on The Wall for more on my feelings about this album.
$10.99 sounds about right, my London Calling, which I bought in April of 1980 cost $10.98
Seen them warm up for the Who when this album came .
At Shea Stadium 🏟 !
Sandinista is a fantastic album. They could have trimmed 4 tracks off it but, wow, you're a great reviewer - listen to Sandinista carefully. Start with the Leader then Up in Heaven (think of Glenfell Towers) then Charlie Dont Surf....it doesnt let up. You praised London Calling for drawing on every stylistic influence on rock music. Sandinista does the same thing.
Surely Jeff Wayne's masterpiece War of the Worlds has to feature Abi?
I like to think of The Clash as neither a punk rock band nor a rock band, but as an alternative R&B band. Alternative because it doesn't follow conventionality of contemporary rock (at least during the 70s and 80s) and R&B because the drum rhythms and themes are dance-worthy and dare-I-say soulful as opposed to the mono-feeling, head-banging adreneline rush that Punk derives its emotional outburst from. There's still that frustration and anxiety that's present in vocals and that sharp guitar riff that makes it punk-ish, but not entirely.
Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs is my favorite album. London Calling is in my opinion the best album of all time. My favorite songs in London Calling are all of them just like in Layla and Other Assorted love songs. Cheers! 🍻
I seen my first punk rockers when driving thru rapid city south dakota....first time I seen people with hair all colors...big long line of people went all the way down the block.....must have been some punk band in concert.
I can't think of a better album to slam the door shut on 70's rock. Such a massive album that shot first and answered questions for what was to come...at least in terms of plugging in and rocking out. There are others that did it, but London Calling set up 80's rock in full representation for those of us who know.
And Fridays was an interesting show, they tried to have more cutting edge musical guests than
SNL. Belushi got the punk band Fear on SNL in 1981
Is it "just me", I think EVERY Ramones and Springsteen song sounds monotonously the same? I think Bruce is awesome sauce personally, but, I am not into his music.
"I want my disco black and gay" I Fing love you!
just had to clarify what it means when *I* say "disco sucks!"
"Train in Vain" one of the weakest tracks? Couldn't disagree more, it's one of my favorite songs on the album. Well, I suppose it's a universal experience to listen to an album and then later on read (or watch, in this case) a review of it where a track you love and consider a highlight gets put down.
Just learned that Should I Stay or Should I Go is supposedly about Ellen Foley (Meatloaf), apparently she had a fling with Mick Jones
pricewise-i sort of remember "the lamb lies down on broadway" (1974) being between 5 and 6 dollars. fun, huh?
You had me double checking the day of the week!
Sorry for the stream of consciousness.
This album came out just as British Ska/2-Tone hit huge with the Specials, Madness etc. So yes, it was something happening at the time. Don Letts (film maker, D.J. and future collaborator with Mick Jones) introduced a lot of punks to Reggae/Ska as he was the fill in DJ at several early punk gigs in London, there were almost no punk records out at the time so he played what he had.
Also Rock Against Racism had kicked off about that time in reaction to an on stage drunken drug fuelled racist rant by your favourite problem boy Eric Clapton! Yes, A Clapton Link! Feels like you can't escape him here. Punk and Reggae/Ska artists were on the same bill of just about every fund raiser and awareness gig they had. The scenes were pretty much intertwined.
Brixton is a hop, skip and a jump by public transport from me, until about 10-15 years ago it was a huge musical mecca with several bands based in the area and several iconic and cult venues. Mostly British black and/or alternative (Like Carter USM or Alabama 3). The Eddy Grant hit Electric Avenue is about the riots there in 81 where the locals kicked back. That Guns of Brixton baseline is sooo good that it made no#1 without the rest of the song (an early Fat Boy Slim project).
London Calling the song, a big project just finishing at the time was the Thames Barrier to prevent high tide flooding of areas of London, London flooding was a genuine threat until that got finished. 3 Mile Island disaster was in the news, the song vocalised a lot of our fears at the time.
Train in Vain, OK, you mean does not quite fit on the album theme wise? I mean, it is one of the greatest early Rolling stones songs they never made (come on, close your eyes, you could imagine a just starting Stones playing it). It regularly turns up in top 10 lists from musicians.
Now I wanna hear Mick Jagger and the Stones covering that song lol... I just heard it in my head and it would be awesome... put in some "whoo hoos" in the back..
@@t.c.bramblett617 yeah, I mean the instrumentation is classic early 60's British white boy blues, the harmonica riff seals it, just needs a young Mick on vocals, oh hang on... Which Mick? She's right, there is a LOT of Micks in out music scenes!
Shouldn’t be a Rolling Stone best of 80s because it was released in 1980. The 80s didn’t begin until 1981. Doesn’t stop it being one of the greatest all time albums though.
If you like guns of Brixton you should check out the song Dub be good to me by Beats International which was another great song made by Norman Cook AKA Fat boy slim
Clash favourite track Complete Control! The song slagging off CBS! Great Video! Love London calling it is a classic album!
you got my-Layla equivalent album that for a ten year old was an etched lifeline expected to follow for the generation such as you start wearing blue and brown -the color of the late70sto mid80smcdonalds uniform and you tript until you’re brutalized make your first kill now we were babies force fed the band kiss by t v and even by in school room magazine scholastic dynamite monthly school magazine usually had kiss cover or article I think this was intended to make us and get put away ,the cultured media such asbarbrawalters and Walter Cronkite have labeled it a”lost generation but still alive a few can see I been beat up but I show up and I’m not down etc…….
The Clash are actually in Scorsese’s King of Comedy, you can see them walking around New York in one scene
Although I already dropped a reply comment to you, a double album this perfect & f***ing amazing deserves another post. You are the 🐐for adding London Calling to your collection of irresistible, intelligent & incredibly charming & stylish lp reviews. You have my heart & my attention, know that all the work you put into writing, filming & editing these priceless videos is not in vain & this is not just another story. 🖤🍻💗🔥🖤🍻💗🔥🖤🍻💗🔥🖤🍻💗🔥🙏😊
Someone should make a Clash video with scenes from Gangs. Scorsese also has songs from The Clash in Bringing Out the Dead
Straight to hell is my fave clash song but Card Cheat is my fave from London Calling.
Steely Dan isn't stiff and technical, it's slick and sexy and sort of sinister and technical. Hard to dance to, though.
Why you gotta hate on Wikipedia like that. It is one of the greatest accomplishments of the internet era. I wouldn't use it for serious research but its a great jumping off place for getting an overview of a subject before diving deeper.
I bought London Calling the second week it was out ... for $6.99!
Great video. I'd like to think The Sonics greatly inspired and kindled the punk music scene. I wish they get their dues.
Cant stress how good your content is although Sandinista truthers shall be vindicated
I luv sandinista.!! The Clash gone prog..........Great!!!
"I'm not supposed to be here today", but you're always more than welcome, as you rock(and yes, pun intended). LOL
That was me got that album in discomat N.Y. 1981 ...Please enjoy I might have some more albums for if you got the room for them.
Martin Scorsese is a big fan of The Clash. He was going to make Gangs of New York in the seventies and he wanted The Clash to do the soundtrack
i didn't know scorcese was a fan! but now that i think of it, makes total sense
Yes, Scorsese's love of the Clash is why we got their cameo in The King of Comedy. Actually, I haven't seen it in decades. Was it the whole band or just like Joe and Paul?
The 70s Gangs of New York is more fascinating to me than most "great unmade movies" because technically, it was made. I assume De Niro would have played Bill the Butcher. But I wonder who would have filled out the other roles? Daniel Day Lewis would have been great in DiCaprio's role. Though I don't remember if he was doing films that far back.
I heard early on Scorsese wanted Malcolm McDowell as Bill the Butcher, he was going for a Clockwork Orange vibe
@@konowd No way! Malcolm McDowall would have been so good! I just assumed De Niro because he was in every New York based film Scorsese did in the 70s. If not Bill the Butcher, I'm sure he would have been in there somewhere. Maybe the Liam Neeson role? Fun fact about De Niro. He's actually more Irish than Italian.
Not sure if it was offered to DeNiro, but wouldn’t surprise me if it was.
Thank You Pennie Smith for the cover photo 📷 !
she took so many amazing photos of the clash!
I was at their 83 US Festival show. That might have been the biggest mosh pit of all time.
i believe it!
You hate Robert Christgau, just wait til you read an Albert Goldman book, tee hee hee
Thanks for the cool, fun video! And don't sleep on "Give 'Em Enough Rope", it's great and way underrated in my opinion. ( "Safe European Home" is one of the all time great opening tracks, if you ask me ).
Also, my understanding is that Mick Jones was a HUGE Mott the Hoople fan, and that he especially wanted to work with Guy Stephens on "London Calling".
Keep up the good work!
24 Track !! European Home !
i dig give em enough rope, that's why i'm so mad at myself for not buying it when i saw it!
Sounds to me like The Clash be what we commonly call 'Prog'. That would clear up why they ignore the genre boxes, the essence of Prog to my senses.
Geddy Lee, Jaco, and Steve Harris were just a few bassists feeding into the excellent bass of the late 70's. Simon Gallup claims Steve Harris as a primary influence.
When Scorsese was making Raging Bull he got mad that a setup was taking too long, so he went to his trailer and blasted The Clash. When he came out, things still weren’t ready and he yelled, “It’s more than one side of The Clash! What’s taking so long?!”
haha that’s perfect
He was probably blasting London Calling, Bull was shot in 79. Scorsese checked out a bunch of punk bands when it started gaining momentum. He’d put the needle on an album, listen for a few minutes, then move on to the next band. The Clash was the band he didn’t lift the needle and kept listening.
My favorite band. I will die on the hill that if you took the 12 best tracks off Sandinista it'd be their best record by a long shot.
i don't disagree! sandinista had the potential to be a REALLY good single album
There was a promo record sent to radio stations called "Sandinista Now!" which was a condensed one-disc version
@@stereo999 yep, I’ve got a copy of the Sandinista Now radio promo disc and basically pulls all the tracks that were potentially suitable for radio from the rest of the unlistenable experimental fluff that plagues most of the Sandinista triple set. The promo proves theirs a solid single record buried in all that mess.
So, like Anakin Skywalker, you don't like Sandinista?
I'm Not Down/Revolution Rock is the great response to the nuclear problems on all of the previous songs. A glimpse of positive at the end of the album
I was in the UK at the time of release and bought this at Fox's records in Nottingham with the Fox hype sticker on the front 3.99 pounds!!.... (UK first edition) I saw them in Melbourne and they played for over 3 hours. Great band, great times.
When London Calling came out end of 79 it was priced as cheap as a single album. It was something like £2.99 in the UK
Can't resist "Gin used to be 12 and 6 a bottle" from Mr. Grainger
It was something the band insisted on, keeping music affordable for the fans
Can we have a friendly debate about Sandanista? I actually dig a good 75-80% of it lol.
sandinista could’ve been a really really great single album!
instead we got a triple
I liked about 50% of it
Yes. the good stuff on Sandinista is as good as it gets, but then there is the demo-quality filler to slog through.@@abigaildevoe
Selfish claims, my London Calling I got for $.99 at a thrift in 2001. VG+ but WOO your cover is in fantastic shape! I also have 1/2 the bootleg of the Palladium show, which was an FM broadcast too. I bought that record for $6 because it said, "Disco Mix 80's" (White label) but the music was...The Clash at the Palladium! Sides 2+3. This show is rough, but you can find it on UA-cam with film footage!
99 CENTS?? that's AMAZING. and half the palladium boot too, wow!
A fantastic album! :)
The Clash insisted that the double album be priced as a single album much to the chagrin of their label.
There is a great *single* album in the triple LP, Sandanista!
yes, sandinista would've been a great single album!