The Clash: London Calling. 25th anniversary edition (Colombia. Two CDs)

PROCLAIMED Album of the Decade by the writers of Rolling Stone magazine, when first released, London Calling sees the Clash experimenting with a myriad of musical styles. There's 4/4 rock, the glorious Clampdown (now played by the Strokes in their live sets), rockabilly (Brand New Cadillac), a reggae treatment of Dylan's The Man In Me and a totally unexpected grapple with country on Lonesome Me. For the Card Cheat, the band pay homage to Phil Spector's Wall Of Sound by simply recording every instrument twice and Train In Vain heads in Motown's direction. On the original album the track wasn't even listed and was simply part of the run out groove. It later provided the Clash with a major American hit. Elsewhere, bassist Paul Simonon - the coolest-looking man in rock since early Presley - got his first songwriter's credit for The Guns of Brixton. Its main riff later provided the basis for Nineties chart topper Dub Be Good To Me by Norman Cook's Dub International. But towering above all is the title track where the late Joe Strummer contemplates floods and famine, nuclear fallout and the 'new Ice Age.' It certainly doesn't sound 25 years old. Mention must be made of the late Guy Stevens. Island Records' first house producer had become notorious for his alcohol and drug binges and had not worked since 1971. He believed in 'direct psychic injection'. That meant fist fights with the roadie and engin-eer, smashing furniture and blowing up a mixing desk. He also filled a piano with beer - because he thought it would sound better.

Ian Dooley

Published: ??/??/2004