The Clash London Calling at 46, 14th December 1979. An ultimate London record?
Its 46 years this week since the Clash released their double vinyl record London Calling (£5).
In May 1979 Thatcher had been elected for the first time (majority 40) and the year ended with what was the Clash’s riposte. Anti-racist, anti-authoritarian, pro-rebel. The music and the words went together as did the cover art for the LP.
An assessment by Mark Perryman is here:
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/cause-london-drowning
London Calling is one of the ultimate London records. Of course the Clash, Westway to the World, were West Londoners. London Calling though was recorded at studios in Pimlico (off the Vauxhall Bridge Rd) and Highbury New Park in Islington.
The culture of those areas then as now was anti-Tory anti-racist and up for a fightback. The Clash got all that in a record and listening to songs like London Calling or Clampdown again now the relevance sings out. London 1979 but perhaps even more London 2025.
A pity Joe Strummer is no longer around to write a response to 2025 UK & US politics but we do have London Calling.
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