It was on this date, 30 years ago, that the Clash’s London Calling was first released in the U.S. Three decades on, it remains an indisputable masterpiece. After all, the British band’s third (and best) album is a time capsule pinpointing the exact moment when punk rock grew up. While other bands like the Sex Pistols captured the f-you rebellion and catharsis of punk, the Clash on London Calling aimed higher. Anything was possible when they stepped inside the studio with producer Guy Stevens. The band fearlessly experimented with ska, reggae, and rockabilly beats. And Strummer’s lyrics took on a new political urgency. London Calling was proof that what some regarded as a gutter genre could be sophisticated and smart. In short, that it could be art. With classic tracks like “Spanish Bombs,” “Lost in the Supermarket,” “Clampdown,” “Train in Vain,” “Guns of Brixton,” and, of course, the call-to-arms title song, London Calling was a vinyl-pressed molotov cocktail.

http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/01/05/the-clashs-london-calling-turns-30-is-it-the-best-album-of-all-time/

Not only is this the best album from the whole punk era, but one of the best albums of all time. This should be in everybody's collection.

Not only is this the best album from the whole punk era, but one of the best albums of all time. This should be in everybody's collection.

I had this on cassette within a year of its release.
One of my favorites of all time and since the day I got it I recommended it.

I can still remember my friend Ed skipping down the hall in high school singing Spanish Bombs.
I was quite proud.

I had that album on vinyl thirty years ago. I'd still like to find that on the double-vinyl record set.

I had that album on vinyl thirty years ago. I'd still like to find that on the double-vinyl record set.



I got this on CD first. I took me some time but I finally got the double LP set.