I think these 'double/triple album as single LPs'-list miss the point. I think the great double albums like 'Electric Ladyland', 'The Beatles' or The Allman Brothers 'Live at Fillmore East' do something that is not possible on single albums. Like having songs stretching across an entire LP side or having ambient/dub/etc transitions. One can argue that another great double album 'Exile On Main Street' is more like a longer collection of songs that could also be on one LP. But I do think 'Exile' - as opposed to say 'Sticky Fingers' is not so much about incredible individual songs but more a book with chapters.
I am of the opinion that 'Londog Calling' is somewhat overrated. It's not a bad album by any means and it has some of the Clash's greatest tracks like the title tune, 'Guns of Brixton' or 'Train In Vain'. But I don't think it really holds up for 4 albums sides and it's one of the rare occasions (speaking of the usual critic's faves) , where I personally would have prefered a single album. I used to think the same about 'Physical Graffiti' but started to like it more and more as a whole lately.
I think 'Sandinista' is a fantastic achievment. It is a true declaration of what 'rock and roll' originally was - a declaration of freedom, independence, irreverence, controversy. 'Punk' tried to resparkle that flame after rock got corporate and boring. And THIS album delivers on that promise as it is unruly, chaotic, exciting. There are some fantastic 'singles' here but there is also a lot of dub which I think it's excellently done. There are silly bits, musical fuck-yous. It works because it never stops, it's a musical circus.
Lastly - and I never ever heard this mentioned - the SOUND quality, the production of 'Sandinista' is great. So this is a band that supposedely couldn't really play. Well, the got one of the best drummers, a fantastically innovative, song-serving lead guitarist and the voices and songwriting was honest, brash, heartfelt and touching.
Andi, can I just say, thank you for the excellent comment. I love it when I get this much insight into a reader's taste and thought process. Nothing to disagree with from my POV, though I definitely am more of a fan of LC. Perhaps not overrated in my books, but it has maybe one or two more passages that drag compared to this record. Cheers!
Funny that you mentioned "The River" in conjunction with "Sandinista." When we covered "The River" on Newbury St., I argued that it was a great single album trapped in a double LP. I then went through the exercise of editing it down to what I thought were the ten best songs:
• Hungry Heart
• Out In The Street
• The River
• Point Blank
• Stolen Car
• Drive All Night
• Wreck On The Highway
• Two Hearts
• Independence Day
• Cadillac Ranch
A reader challenged me to do the same thing to "Sandinista," which was also a lot of fun. I allowed myself twelve songs since it's a triple album. By the way, it's my understanding that the Clash put out a triple album because they had three records left on that terrible record deal you mentioned and they thought this would satisfy it. Much to their dismay, it did not. Here's "Sandinista Lite" for you:
Thanks for this CJ! It's easy to nitpick what's not there, but I can't wholeheartedly disagree with any of your choices. Tough calls all around. Cheers!
Long overdue great callback to arms in the meantime we wait... read Isabel Allende's "The Long Petal of the Sea" from Franco to Pinochet to 1990, you'll dig its relevance. Bonds was my most missed concert regret. I lived walking distance. Should have scalped a cheap ticket, common in those days. But they're tenacity led to my first East Village gig as a replacement drummer at A7 on Reggae Night Monday's made possible by The Clash forcing punk to repent its leanings and embrace the DIY multiethnic spirit that you thoughtfully describe. Where are the Victor Jara's of today? Everybody's talking at me... but.
I think these 'double/triple album as single LPs'-list miss the point. I think the great double albums like 'Electric Ladyland', 'The Beatles' or The Allman Brothers 'Live at Fillmore East' do something that is not possible on single albums. Like having songs stretching across an entire LP side or having ambient/dub/etc transitions. One can argue that another great double album 'Exile On Main Street' is more like a longer collection of songs that could also be on one LP. But I do think 'Exile' - as opposed to say 'Sticky Fingers' is not so much about incredible individual songs but more a book with chapters.
I am of the opinion that 'Londog Calling' is somewhat overrated. It's not a bad album by any means and it has some of the Clash's greatest tracks like the title tune, 'Guns of Brixton' or 'Train In Vain'. But I don't think it really holds up for 4 albums sides and it's one of the rare occasions (speaking of the usual critic's faves) , where I personally would have prefered a single album. I used to think the same about 'Physical Graffiti' but started to like it more and more as a whole lately.
I think 'Sandinista' is a fantastic achievment. It is a true declaration of what 'rock and roll' originally was - a declaration of freedom, independence, irreverence, controversy. 'Punk' tried to resparkle that flame after rock got corporate and boring. And THIS album delivers on that promise as it is unruly, chaotic, exciting. There are some fantastic 'singles' here but there is also a lot of dub which I think it's excellently done. There are silly bits, musical fuck-yous. It works because it never stops, it's a musical circus.
Lastly - and I never ever heard this mentioned - the SOUND quality, the production of 'Sandinista' is great. So this is a band that supposedely couldn't really play. Well, the got one of the best drummers, a fantastically innovative, song-serving lead guitarist and the voices and songwriting was honest, brash, heartfelt and touching.
Andi, can I just say, thank you for the excellent comment. I love it when I get this much insight into a reader's taste and thought process. Nothing to disagree with from my POV, though I definitely am more of a fan of LC. Perhaps not overrated in my books, but it has maybe one or two more passages that drag compared to this record. Cheers!
This quote from the essay totally nails it I think > 'It’s punk rock as pirate radio theatre'
Just picked this up on vinyl for $10 a few weeks ago.
Nice!!
Great album. Lots of filler stuff but good for them. Wonderful band. Got to see them three times
Wow! Where did you see them?
Funny that you mentioned "The River" in conjunction with "Sandinista." When we covered "The River" on Newbury St., I argued that it was a great single album trapped in a double LP. I then went through the exercise of editing it down to what I thought were the ten best songs:
• Hungry Heart
• Out In The Street
• The River
• Point Blank
• Stolen Car
• Drive All Night
• Wreck On The Highway
• Two Hearts
• Independence Day
• Cadillac Ranch
A reader challenged me to do the same thing to "Sandinista," which was also a lot of fun. I allowed myself twelve songs since it's a triple album. By the way, it's my understanding that the Clash put out a triple album because they had three records left on that terrible record deal you mentioned and they thought this would satisfy it. Much to their dismay, it did not. Here's "Sandinista Lite" for you:
• One More Time
• Somebody Got Murdered
• The Magnificent Seven
• Corner Soul
• Up In Heaven
• The Sound Of Sinners
• Police On My Back
• Something About England
• The Crooked Beat
• Midnight Log
• Kingston Advice
• The Call Up
Thanks for this CJ! It's easy to nitpick what's not there, but I can't wholeheartedly disagree with any of your choices. Tough calls all around. Cheers!
Long overdue great callback to arms in the meantime we wait... read Isabel Allende's "The Long Petal of the Sea" from Franco to Pinochet to 1990, you'll dig its relevance. Bonds was my most missed concert regret. I lived walking distance. Should have scalped a cheap ticket, common in those days. But they're tenacity led to my first East Village gig as a replacement drummer at A7 on Reggae Night Monday's made possible by The Clash forcing punk to repent its leanings and embrace the DIY multiethnic spirit that you thoughtfully describe. Where are the Victor Jara's of today? Everybody's talking at me... but.
" [...] forcing punk to repent its leanings and embrace the DIY multiethnic spirit" -- yes indeed. Thanks Steve!
Charlie don’t surf and we think he should…. Was at two of those Bond International Casino shows
OMG amazing! Thanks for sharing.