London Calling by The Clash--A punk rock album?

Question

Talking about the music only (not the lyrics), is London Calling truly a punk album? I guess you can hear some punk rock in it, but most of the songs are influenced by several other genres. For example, the title track is pretty reggae influenced. I don't know what to call the album, but it doesn't sound as punk as albums such as Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols, Ramones, or even The Clash. Does anyone else share a similar opinion or am I just being dumb?

It's a great album (in fact, one of my favorites), but I'm just asking.

..:: Liz ::..: Of couse punk rock had a good deal of influences, but that's not what I was getting at. I was talking about The Clash taking in more influences. Stuff that punk rock didn't have. They turned London Calling into something that, in my opinion at least, didn't sound as punk rock as their previous albums.

Rick Taylor: What about hardcore punk? Do you not consider that punk rock?

Cat Stevens: But what is classic rock? Isn't it merely a time frame of music from the 60's to the 80's? Wouldn't it basically include practically every rock band in that time period? Is classic rock an actual genre?

I'm sorry to hear you don't like the title track. It's one of my favorites as well, but I guess we all have different opinions.

Answer 1

I always think about it this way, it is a punk album, even if the songs aren't predominantly punk rock. Notice I said punk album, not punk rock album. The Clash were still definitely a punk band at the time, and the songs were still basically a stripped down rock style (excluding the reggae/dub songs), so what's the difference if it doesn't fit some mold of how punk is supposed to sound, the point was that punk had no real definition anyways. Plus, I'd say "London Calling" "Clampdown" "Koka Kola" and "Death Or Glory" all have the sound, and that "Brand New Cadilac" and "Spanish Bombs" are close enough.

You've just reminded me how much I love this album, thanks! As a side note, "Spanish Bombs" "Hateful" and "London Calling" have always been favorites.

Answer 2

Here's 10 pretty good ones...always subject to change. The Ramones - The Ramones The Clash - The Clash The Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks Wire - Pink Flag Black Flag - Damaged Bad Brains - Bad Brains The Saints - I'm Stranded X - Los Angeles Husker Du - New Day Rising Bad Religion - Suffer I'm not into revisionist history, so I'm intentionally not including the Velvet Underground, The New York Dolls, The Stooges, or any other proto-punk bands.

Answer 3

While London Calling is considered a punk album. It isn't has hard core punk as Never Mind The Bollocks..., Ramones or early Clash. By that time the Clash were starting to draw from different influences such as raggae. And of course were more accessible musically. Listen to Train In Vain which isn't even listed on the original album, that certainly is not punk. In my opinion you're 100% correct and certainly not dumb.

Answer 4

I have London Calling sitting in front of me. (not kidding) They sure were punk at the time. They never did fit the mold; they were much too accomplished as musicians!! But they lived the life of punk, and their shows....couldn't get tickets to the show, and it was later mentioned in the liner notes of Story of the Clash but I didn't have $300 to pay a scalper in those days. I'll never know why they didn't add more nights. They had the raw energy that could only be described as Punk Rock.

Answer 5

As I said before, I ain't much for punk rock. However, for The Clash I'll make an exception. I love London Calling.
My view is this. The Clash have way way more talent than your average punk rocker, ergo, their albums sound much better.

Answer 6

I think you have a point if you concentrate solely on the music, but i also believe you must view the band "in the round" and see what ethos they were promoting, what they were saying and how they behaved.
In my opinion the Sex pistols were the Spice Girls of the 1970's, very much manufactured unlike many of their peers, yet as you say they had a good punk vibe that worked very well.
Obviously as you mention the Clash had a wide pool of musical influences that they called upon, which helped create a hybrid style that works very well even today....so yes you are right!

Answer 7

Yes it was I reckon..they had a handle on things by then..but it was their last 'punk rock' album..consider "Sandinista!".. the next after "London Calling"..recorded in the States..the same set of influences but broadened by geography..beat-boxes etc..but Don Letts had already put the reggae vibe into them from the beginning..as well as Paul Simenon living in Brixton..a Jamaican community..in fact,weed doesn't make you want to thrash about as the 'accepted' drug of choice then..Am...sulphate. Make of it as you will.

Answer 8

tru, london calling is one of the best albums ever, and the clash is one of the best bands.
im suprised u dont consider the title tract as punk, because i do.

the main thing is, to luk at the music as ROCK first. i mean, what is punk if u think about it? its a genre of rock, so obviously they called in from alot of influences of rock. bands are put into genres according to what they themselves portray themselves as. the clash promoted punk ethics, so they are considered punk.

alot of genres influence a band's music. if u luk at punk as a sub-genre of just rock, then u can tell properly.

Answer 9

I agree, i think it's more of Classic Rock than Punk. By the way, i love the whole album except the title song, i just can't stand it.

*Edit: "Classic Rock" doesn't only specify the time, it also specifies the style of rock music which was popular at that time, examples include The Beatles and The Who.

Answer 10

Punk is doing whatever the hell you want. So if that means having a track that is reggae influenced, then so be it. Its still punk rock in my book.