We've desperately tried to avoid playing Bowie or The Eagles just at the minute. There's just too much of it about but no doubt, we will in the next few weeks (although we've already blogged last year, 'David Live' and 'Hotel California').
Sometimes a record symbolises the unmistakable sound and the mood of a generation.
Nirvanas 'Teen spirit' being one, but none more so, than the opening riff of 'London Calling'.
Founded in 1976 is was a scene that featured The Pistols, Ramones, Stranglers, Buzzcocks and The Banshees. So a whole new wave of music.
The Clash of course were seen (and were) very much a Punk band but that's not to forget the white boy reggae (like the early Police), Ska, Rockabilly and Rock, that you'll find on this record.
This double Album from 1979, was their 3rd Album and reflected real issues like drugs, characters (like 'Jimmy Jazz'), race and unemployment. Mick Jones did the music and Joe Strummer (who died in 2002 and was actually 'John Mellor') did the lyrics. The cover shot is actually Bassist Paul Simonon smashing his Fender on tour in NYC and is iconic.
It's an angry record and not for everyone but always appears in top ranking lists. It's raw.
So there's no track to listen to as such, because it's all so different but check out 'London Calling', 'Jimmy Jazz', 'Guns of Brixton' and for our money, the best track on it is 'Train in Vain'.
But the best Clash song isn't here although it's a great Album.
That would be 'Rock the Casbah'....still, any self respecting music lover has to have 'London Calling' in their playbook. It is the sound of a generation.
One of our Streamabout crew claims to have seen The Clash live at The Top Hat in Dun Laoghaire 1978 so he's one of the 200,000 who were there then...but The Clash's first gig was in 1976 supporting The Sex Pistols.
The Clash were hugely influential and distinct and this is the Album that shows that. It's not everyone's taste, but it gets you in a mood and speaks to you. We defy you to listen to this and not smile, then stand-up from your desk. We did....
Then this...
Previous "listen to's" you'll also find on this blog.......Chis Isaak At The Filmore; Bob Dylan Street Legal,;Bad Company Straight Shooter; Jackson Browne Love is Strange; Lou Reed Transformer; Steely Dan Aja; Stones Black+Blue; Stephen Bishop Careless; Nils Lofgren Night after Night; Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells; Neil Young Harvest; Led Zep 4; David Bowie David Live; Van It's too late to stop now; Wings Band on the run; Rod Stewart Atlantic Crossing; Ryan Adams Heartbreaker; Santana Essential; Bob Dylan Desire; Roxy Music For your pleasure; Bob Marley Legend; Stephen Fretwell Magpie; James Taylor Sweet Baby James; Deep Purple Machine Head; Springsteen Darkness on the edge of town; Leon Bridges Coming Home; Eagles Hotel California; Jungle; Aretha Soul Queen; Neil Young After the Goldrush + Harvest; Zappa Overnite Sensation; Fleetwood Mac Rumours; Keith Jarrett Koln Concert; Doobies Southbound; Stevie Earle I feel alright; Tom Waits Closing Time; Pink Floyd Dark Side; Van Moondance; Eric Church Caught in the Act; Randy Newman Little Criminals; Elton John Madman across the water; Patti Smith Horses; Doobies Captain and Me; Steely Dan Can't Buy a Thrill.
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