#13 London Calling by the Clash

The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

2025 Album Rank

13

2011 Album Rank

16

Total Points

2310

Year Released

1980

Genre

Punk

Billboard 200 Chart Peak

27

Weeks at #1

N/A

RIAA Sales Certification

1,000,000 (Platinum)

Buy Album

Apple Music Amazon

London Calling Album Details

Released in the UK on December 14, 1979, and in the US in January 1980, London Calling marked a dramatic expansion of The Clash's punk origins. The double LP absorbed reggae, ska, rockabilly, soul, pop, and straight-up rock and roll, while maintaining the band's revolutionary urgency. Produced by Guy Stevens, the album was an ambitious reinvention that channeled the disillusionment and chaos of Britain in the late 1970s, all while establishing The Clash as one of the most visionary bands of their time.

With its apocalyptic title track, the ska bounce of Rudie Can't Fail, the pop charm of Train in Vain, and the political commentary embedded in tracks like Spanish Bombs and The Guns of Brixton, the album was both sprawling and cohesive. Joe Strummer and Mick Jones's creative partnership hit its peak, with Paul Simonon and Topper Headon contributing powerfully to the rhythm and mood. London Calling defied genre, expectation, and industry conventions, securing its place as one of the most critically revered albums in rock history.

Interesting Facts About London Calling

• The iconic cover photo, showing Paul Simonon smashing his bass, was taken by Pennie Smith during a show in New York. It mirrors the layout of Elvis Presley's 1956 self titled debut album Elvis Presley as a form of homage and rebellion.
• Train in Vain, their first top 40 U.S. hit, was added to the album at the last minute and didn't appear on the tracklist of initial pressings. It was intended as a giveaway flexi disc for the NME.
• The album's sessions were chaotic, with producer Guy Stevens reportedly throwing chairs and ladders around the studio to inspire the band.
• Though widely considered a punk band, The Clash embraced non-Western and immigrant influences throughout the album, especially reggae and ska, which reflected their multicultural London environment.
• Paul Simonon wrote and sang lead on The Guns of Brixton, making it the first Clash song with someone other than Strummer or Jones on lead vocals.
• The lyric "phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust" from the title track was a direct shot at nostalgic trends that the band felt were hollow and outdated.
• Much of the album was recorded in Wessex Studios, which the band chose because the Sex Pistols had recorded there. The building was formerly a church and reportedly haunted.
• In a sign of the band's commitment to affordability, the double album was sold at the price of a single LP. Columbia Records agreed only after a fierce argument with the band and manager Bernie Rhodes.
• The track Clampdown was inspired by the rise of right-wing nationalism and the betrayal of working-class values by people who "start wearing blue and brown and working for the clampdown."
• Despite its wide-ranging style, the album was remarkably cohesive. Many of the tracks were recorded live in the studio, preserving the energy and immediacy of the performances.
• The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007 for its cultural and historical significance.

London Calling Tracklist

1. London Calling
2. Brand New Cadillac
3. Jimmy Jazz
4. Hateful
5. Rudie Can't Fail
6. Spanish Bombs
7. The Right Profile
8. Lost in the Supermarket
9. Clampdown
10. The Guns of Brixton
11. Wrong 'Em Boyo
12. Death or Glory
13. Koka Kola
14. The Card Cheat
15. Lover's Rock
16. Four Horsemen
17. I'm Not Down
18. Revolution Rock
19. Train in Vain - Reached #23 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart

• Next Album: #12. Exile on Main St. by The Rolling Stones
• Previous Album: #14. Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen