London Calling Songs Ranked
London Calling is the third studio album by English rock band the Clash. It was originally released as a double album in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1979 by CBS Records, and in the United States in January 1980 by Epic Records. The album was a top ten chart success in the UK, and its lead single “London Calling” was a top 20 single. The album has sold over five million copies worldwide and was certified platinum in the United States for sales of one million. It was also met with widespread critical acclaim and has retrospectively been named one of the greatest albums of all time, including a ranking of number eight on Rolling Stone‘s list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003 and 2012. Here are all of the London Calling songs ranked.
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15. Revolution Rock
“Has a brassy, reggae, easy listening. Deep bass guitar sound. Organ pops up later. Bit of a jam/boogie. Interesting drumming and tone.”
14. Jimmy Jazz
“It starts with whistling. A laid back song, with sort of retarded vocals. Acoustic and electric guitar. Saxophone. Has some gruesome lyrics. A little folk rock in style.”
13. Brand New Cadillac
“Brand new cadillac has a bassy notes. Sort of B52s meets New York Dolls meets The Cramps…basically rock’n’roll music with Cramps.”
12. Hateful
“It’s lyrics reflect the frustration of a drug addict: “Everything I want he gives, but not for free/It’s hateful”.
In other verses the lyrical self also makes it clear that he lost several of his friends, his ability to drive and his memory, when he refers to “hateful”, it’s because he wants to show how much he can’t stand this life anymore, but he must keep going to the man (drug dealer) who gives him everything he wants (drugs), because he gives him everything “good”.
11. I’m Not Down
“The Clash has always been a punk band different from the others, for its optimistic speech. In I’m Not Down, Joe talks about self-improvement and the struggle for “that kind of day when you think none of your sadness will go away”, making it clear that you shouldn’t give up on your dreams, and keep moving forward.”
See more: The Clash Albums Ranked Worst to Best
10. The Card Cheat
“The Card Cheat sounds more like im pop, the cute lyrics are about a lone player who finally ends his luck. Another song that tells the story of a protagonist who has several problems but ends up well, the same thing happens in “The Right Profile and Jimmy Jazz”, a brilliant idea of the band.”
9. Death or Glory
“In “Death or Glory”, Joe is making fun of the punk scene, talking about how every rebellious young rocker eventually grows up, matures and “ends up making
payments on a couch or a girl”. You risk becoming “just another story”, and three years after the initial explosion of punk in the UK in 1977, that’s the fate The Clash was trying to avoid
8. Lover’s Rock
“The title refers to a style of smoove reggae for babies popular in the UK, and the lyrics offer seemingly ironic instructions on how to “treat your girlfriend” as if you were taking care of a baby. Hence the title “Rock with love”.
7. Rudie Can’t Fail
“Rudie Can’t Fail is almost a reggae-like ska, about going your own way without caring what they think of you, and living like a cool Kingston kid from the ska era in the 60s.”
6. Clampdown
“Released as a single in Australia. His lyrics talk about those who have abandoned youth idealism and urge young people to fight the status quo. When Joe says “crackdown”, he is referring to government and police crackdowns on strikers, agitators benefiting seekers, football hooligans, punks and other perceived threats to the UK’s social, economic and moral well-being.”
See more: The Clash Songs Ranked
5. Lost in the Supermarket
“The lyrics of Lost in the Supermarket talk about the emptiness of consumer culture (I’m all lost in the supermarket/I can’t shop happy anymore/I came here for the special offer) and loneliness of a teenager (I’m all tuned in, I watch all the shows/I save tea-pack coupons/I have my giant hit disco album/I empty a bottle, feel a little free/The kids in the hallways and the pipes in the walls /Make me noises for company).”
4. Spanish Bombs
“Being my second favorite on the album, this song basically talks about the Spanish civil war that lasted until 1939: Spanish songs in Andalusia / Filming locations in the ’39s – Andalusia was one of the poorest and most rural provinces in Spain. The Civil War lasted until 1939.”
3. Train in Vain
“Train in Vain is about the passionate lyrics Jones wrote the night before a session. It’s like a love song for the Punk generation.”
2. The Guns of Brixton
“The Guns of Brixton was the first Clash song to be composed and sung by Paul Simonon. By this time, Simonon had learned to play guitar and began to contribute more to the composition. And it’s surprising how Simonon evolves a lot over time, in Sandinista/Combat Rock he has a great prominence.”
1. London Calling
“The album starts with London Calling which is simply an amazing track that’s captivating from the first second of its title track. The album is a step away from early punk rock sound and it’s incredibly creative and versatile, with influences of ska, new wave, punk and other genres, and it works on every single track.”