Search - Clash :: London Calling

I Was There and Somehow I MISSED It

Talking Wall | Queen Creek, AZ | 04/23/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How on earth did I miss this when I was living in England in 1979/80? I was there when The Skids, Buzzcocks, UK Subs, The Damned and... gosh, was it The Sex Pistols or Public Image? I remember my father-in-law being very upset with his 12 year-old son for bringing "Friggin' in the Riggin" into the home. Anyway, I recall people I worked with talking about The Clash like they were real heroes, someone at the factory had a London Calling poster on an office wall. All of this stuff just made my jaw drop. I didn't get it at all. I thought it was pure crap and didn't give it more notice than to shake my head. I was more of a King Crimson, Miles Davis, etc type of listener, all the aforementioned stuff was rubbish. Really focusing on music that wasn't particularly popular and coming from the same place but lots of virtuosity.



Fast forward to 2010, back in the states, and I see London Calling one of the big box stores when I'd nipped in to purchase The Jungle Book for my grand-daughter. It's unbelievable, fantastic. The width and breadth of this release is just stunning and I MUST have more. There is so much I could write and say about this. I once wrote that The Beatles "Revolver" was rock's "Kind of Blue". If that the case then "London Calling" is Ornette Coleman's "Shape of Jazz to Come" and Miles' "Bitches Brew" rolled into one. I could just go on and on and on. Take it from a guy who really thought he knew it ALL. This is truly fantastic and you should buy it right this minute. I've had it for five days and have listened at least twice per day since purchase. I just can't believe the power in/of this music."