London Calling

theprizelamb

I’ve always considered myself as a bit of a fan of The Clash, and have always regarded London Calling a classic. However, I’ve come to the opinion that some of the songs on the record are actually quite weak, and that there inclusion makes the album overly long without need. Specifically, I feel that Jimmy Jazz, The Right Profile, Lost in the Supermarket, Kola Kola, and Revolution Rock could of done with being cut, and I constantly find myself skipping pass these.

I know these songs are not just empty fillers – that they are about have meaning and deal with certain issues, but from a pure aural perspective they don’t match up to the remaining songs.

Interested in what ye might think?

JLemmon

I always felt it was quite long too at times, yeah some songs do nothing for me, right profile and supermarket i like. I tend to skip london calling not because it's weak or anything just because it's abit over played at the moment on tv and radio.
But thank god we have London Calling and we don't ahve to put up with clash tribute bands line Hard Fi.

iamhunted

ive always thought jimmy jazz to be a bit of a classic

MikeHoncho

My favourite album of all time. Probably the only album where I wouldnt skip at least one song on a listen through. So basically I dont agree with you. But your entitled to your opinion.

Tommy the Cat

When I first heard it I was probably of the same opinion, but that changed with a few more listening.

biZrb

I would have to disagree also. Lost in the Supermarket is a great song, one of my all time favourite songs. Jimmy Jazz and Revolution Rock are good songs too.

I don't know why you would cosider the album a classic when you don't really like 5 out of the 17 tracks on it. Thats almost a third. For me a classic album is one where nearly all of the tracks on it are brilliant. If theres an album with two or three killer songs, im not going to class the album as a classic. But thats just me.

theprizelamb

biZrb wrote: »

I would have to disagree also. Lost in the Supermarket is a great song, one of my all time favourite songs. Jimmy Jazz and Revolution Rock are good songs too.

I don't know why you would cosider the album a classic when you don't really like 5 out of the 17 tracks on it. Thats almost a third. For me a classic album is one where nearly all of the tracks on it are brilliant. If theres an album with two or three killer songs, im not going to class the album as a classic. But thats just me.

The point I was trying to make is that I suppose I started listening to London Calling knowing that it was regarded as a classic and I suppose I always held it in that esteem – especially because the rest of the album is unbelievably good. From my point of view- if you cut out the songs I mentioned above, you have an album of 14 classics, and have a leaner more concise piece of work.

Burp Bleugh

I completely with the lads who say it's a classic, there's not one track on the entire album I'll skip past and for a 19 song album that's quite a rare thing, in fact if I hear one of the songs out and about, I then have an instant need to listen to the whole album.......... which I'm about to put on now!

I also wouldn't advise listening to Sandinista, it's a three disc opus that is great in parts but eh "not so great" in others, had that been edited down then you could have a contender for the greatest album of all time

catch--22

It's long because it was originally supposed to be released as a single album. But the band asked the record company (Epic) to include an extra record on the release with some free bonus tracks. The label agreed and the band went on to fill the entire second record with tracks to make the whole thing a double release and Epic could still only charge the fans for a single album! Nice move tbh!

My own opinion would be that there is very little filler. There are a couple of tracks on it I wouldn't be all that fond of, but I can appreciate their inclusion. Have to say though that Lost In The Supermarket is one of my favs.

Scubadevils

Great album, and Jimmy Jazz is one of my favourites. This was one of my first ever CD's when I got it back around '92 or so. Still play the same CD to this day I'd stick it on now except it's 1.55am and it would wake me.

Jonny Arson

theprizelamb wrote: »

I’ve always considered myself as a bit of a fan of The Clash, and have always regarded London Calling a classic. However, I’ve come to the opinion that some of the songs on the record are actually quite weak, and that there inclusion makes the album overly long without need. Specifically, I feel that Jimmy Jazz, The Right Profile, Lost in the Supermarket, Kola Kola, and Revolution Rock could of done with being cut, and I constantly find myself skipping pass these.

I know these songs are not just empty fillers – that they are about have meaning and deal with certain issues, but from a pure aural perspective they don’t match up to the remaining songs.

Interested in what ye might think?

Lost in the Supermarket should be cut? I'm sure i'm not the only one who would rank that up as The Clash's greatest song.

not one bad song on London Calling imo, infact i'd give every song a minimum of 8/10

The Walsho

Classic album, and some of those songs you mentioned are my favourites. To each his own though I guess.

NotMe

I think there's a lot of variation on London Calling. Personally I like Jimmy Jazz and The Right Profile and Koka Kola is one of my favourites. Songs I'd be more likely to skip are Lost in the Supermarket, The Card Cheat, Lover's Rock, Revolution Rock and Train in Vain.

theprizelamb

It’s great to read other peoples views on the album – without doubt there is a lot of diverse musical genres on it which might explain why people have different favourites.

Though I can’t believe that you’d consider skipping past Train in Vain or The Card Cheat. I think The Card Cheat is one of the most under-rated songs in The Clash have in their cannon, and thinks it’s actually one of the strongest songs.

I’m also struck by how popular Lost in the Supermarket is. I mean there are many songs on the record which I didn’t initially like (Hateful, Lover Rock, Wrong Em’ Boyo) – but Lost in the Supermarket has never grown on me.