"...London Calling by the Clash, which celebrates its 40th birthday in December 2019..." :

Read more at www.stereophile.com/content/clash-still-calling#As5F4gqWMATpZKmo.99

"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]

Great album, great album cover (ripped off Elvis), I got a copy rather late in the late 80s-90s.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Although I was living in London at the time I never got into the punk scene bar a couple of the Pistols singles. I did try really hard with the Clash, owned a few of their albums over the years but in the end either sold them of gave them away. Some bands just click and some don't. Hard to define why at times.
On reflection I was reading all the UK music press at the time at it seemed that some bands and perhaps The Clash a bit more than others were trying just a bit too hard to be "authentic".

I lived/worked in London too, in the late 70s, but I never got into punk.

Back then, in early Thatcher Britain, The Clash appealed I think because of (i) their left-wing & 'rock against racism' politics (ii) their dub/reggae flavour.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

"... living in London at the time ..."

"I lived/worked in London too, in the late 70s, but I never got into punk."

Me too, 80-85
I saw the Clash in the summer of '82 at Brixton. They'd hit an exciting peak: shambolic, edgy, dubby, groovy and energising.  Sandinista is my go to as a reminder.


As near as I can recall, here's what some witty review matey said of the Clash at the time:

"Punk? God save the Queen? ...never mind, here's the REAL bollocks"  

 

"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]

40 years old !

i remember getting the 30th anniversary london calling cd not so long ago.

Same as Owen, London Calling (1979 NZ), Sandinista and Story of The Clash.

Plus picked up over 10 years ago, the 19 x 7 inch vinyl The Singles collection.

Dec 9, 2019 9:57:06 GMT 12 foveaux said:

I saw the Clash in the summer of '82 at Brixton.

That would have been a show.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Dec 9, 2019 20:47:37 GMT 12 Owen Y said:

Dec 9, 2019 9:57:06 GMT 12 foveaux said:

I saw the Clash in the summer of '82 at Brixton.

That would have been a show.

Yep, (with hindsight).  At the time it was 'just' another night out   

We (wife and I, and a close group of friends/music fans) were constantly attending concerts at LHR venues from pubs to stadia. 
I only had a passing interest in the Clash, was more interested in the likes of Peter Gabriel, Echo and the Bunnymen, King Crimson and whomever John Peel was tipping: Joy Division, the Beat, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Gang of Four, (the Fall of course!) etc. 

As you would have experienced, LHR was music mecca. Not just for listening to bands, but also for access to vinyl (remember CDs were only emerging) and audio equip/shows. These were heady, historic times: Brixton/Southall race riots, Thatcher's ascendency, IRA bombings, Falklands war, miner's strike...phew

"I see music as a lifetime affair." [Rory Gallagher]

Heady youthful times indeed.
Putney Bridge, Fulham was our abode. Hammersmith Odeon was the nearest big venue.
I worked at Notting Hill For a while, I vaguely recall an IRA bombing at a bus stop...

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

Dec 9, 2019 8:00:28 GMT 12 Owen Y said:

I lived/worked in London too, in the late 70s, but I never got into punk.

Back then, in early Thatcher Britain, The Clash appealed I think because of (i) their left-wing & 'rock against racism' politics (ii) their dub/reggae flavour.

Exciting times, I wish I was there when punk happened like you guys but sadly way too young. Still I’ve managed through late 80s/early 90s Brit POP scene and thoroughly enjoyed it!