London Calling [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED] [SPECIAL EDITION]

The Clash

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 21, 2004)
• Original Release Date: September 21, 2004
• Number of Discs: 3
• Format: Original recording remastered, Special Edition
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0002Y4TZG
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,720 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. London Calling

2. Brand New Cadillac

3. Jimmy Jazz

4. Hateful

5. Rudie Can't Fail

6. Spanish Bombs

See all 19 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Hateful

2. Rudi Can't Fail

3. Paul's Tune

4. I'm Not Down

5. 4 Horsemen

6. Koka Kola

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. London Calling Live Concert Footage

2. I'm Not Down Snippet

3. The Right Profile Snippet

4. Brand New Cadillac Snippet

5. Hateful Snippet

6. LOVERS ROCK Snippet

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For Clash Afficianados only, September 30, 2004

By	G. L Vince "glv725" (Lansdale, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Disc One: The Original LP

Hands down, The Clash's "London Calling" is one of the strongest albums in rock history. Despite being a punk rock group, The Clash explored reggae, ska, jazz, pop with strong melodies with equally as strong lyrics. Throughout the album's 19 tracks, it is never boring and is essential in anyone's record collection.

Disc Two: The Vanilla Tapes

The demos from the "London Calling" sessions are very interesting but it is by no means something one just sits back and listens to. The sound quality is poor, and the songs are not quite in the form that they would take on later. The most intresting is the cover of Bob Dylan's "The Man in Me". It would have been interesting to hear a better cut of that song. Interesting listening for fans but newcomers might not welcome it as much.

DVD: The Last Testament

There is some cool videos on the DVD of "Train in Vain", "London Calling" and "Clampdown" but the documentary itself really kind of drags. Listening to the album take form on disc 2 is interesting but nothing is really learned in the documentary. Plays a lot like a "Behind the Music" episode but not nearly as in depth. Pretty much just an added bonus.

FINAL REVIEW:

As I mentioned, "London Calling" is a must have. A Five Star classic that ranks among the greatest albums of all time. Not having this is like not having "Sgt. Pepper" or "Kind of Blue". The album in its new extended package is excessive and for die hard fans. The demos are interesting but nothing to listen to repeatedly and the DVD is a throw away. Not a waste of money but if you own the original remastered CD, that should suffice.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The album that changed everything, October 7, 2004

By	R. Collins "music junkie" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When my neighbor came back from a London Christmas vacation in December of '79, I eagerly anticipated a box full of the latest punk rawk from the scene. I was presented with just London Calling. "The rest is dead bones rattling in a coffin. THIS album is the one that will never be forgotten."

My neighbor was right.

The rerelease is worthy of investment, not just for the interesting DVD that comes along with it (Westway to the World is the essential movie on the Clash), nor for the marginally interesting "vanilla tapes" cd (very low-fi rehearsals for many of the songs that would become LC). The rerelease of London Calling is worthy of the investment because of the remastering. The full range of instruments used comes out of the background and take their proper place in the mix.

If you were into punk back in the day, you'll remember what this album meant to us. If you haven't listened to it in a while, get this and be amazed at what we missed on vinyl back then. If you've never heard the Clash, this is THE place to start. Not a bad song on the bugger.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sing Michael, sing!, September 28, 2004

By	milo66 (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

You'd have to have a hard heart to deny Joe's ex and Mick and Paul one last payday. I remember buying this record in September of 1980; two records for a list price of $7.98, a year later they'd release Sandinista (three LPs!) and list it at $9.98. This at the same time that Columbia was asking $11.98 for Bruce Springsteen's two-LP The River and $14.98 for The Wall. Joe always had a keen sense of the thin wallets in the pockets of his fan base.

I remember bringing this record back to my dorm (fall of my freshman year) and dropping the needle on Side 1. It didn't matter who you played it for -- skinny-tie new wavers, heavy metal freaks (this was the year of AC/DC), Jefferson Starship fans, CSN fans -- no one could deny the genius of it. I wore out all four sides in this order -- Side 1, Side 3 (Elevator! Goin up!), Side 4, Side 2. These days you can have all 4 sides (no flipping, no wear!) for $10.98. It's still the best bargain in rock history.

Or you can have this thing for $26.98 (hey! down to $24.98!). There's nothing essential on the Vanilla Tapes, though I'm still glad to own it. The DVD, like all such "making-of" endeavors, is best avoided. The full-size fold-out lyric sheet is welcome. Whoever decided to illustrate the broadside interior and several pages of the booklet with generic 50s "sock-hop" clip-art should meet the same fate as the Card Cheat. But all in all, it's a generous tribute to a band that was once "the only band that matters."