A London Calling postscript. On 7th December 1979 The Clash released London Calling as a single. I wrote about the song in the first of my posts about the album here so don't intend to add much to that. Except this, the video, filmed by Don Letts on a wet night on the Thames on a barge at Cadogan pier. Letts didn't know the Thames was tidal and that the pier, barge and boat he was filming from would rise and fall- and then it started to rain heavily. Despite all this The Clash, all in black with brothel creepers and quiffs, filmed against the black of the night, give it all.
The B-side to London Calling is Armagideon Time, a cover of a Willie Williams song from 1977. This is politicised righteous Clash rock reggae, the world where a lot of people are going hungry and aren't getting any justice, where they are gong to have to stand up and kick it over. Joe had been talking before the recording about the ideal length of time a song should last- two minutes and twenty eight seconds according to Strummer- and at that point in the recording of Armagideon Time Clash fixer/road manager Kosmo Vinyl can be heard on the studio mic telling the group their time was up.
Strummer responds instantly 'OK, OK, don't push us when we're hot!' all of which adds to the take. Mick later added some electric sitar and there are the noises of fireworks and bombs going off. Armagideon Time is yet another Clash B-side that stands alongside their A- sides in terms of quality and passion. For the 12" they pushed it even further with a nine minute dub excursion.
Justice Tonight/ Kick It Over
London Calling was the first Clash album I really liked - mostly because of "Clampdown" and "Armagideon Time" B-side to the single.
ReplyDeleteYes a superb 12''. A real entry point for me into reggae, along with 'Bank Robber' and the Slits 'Man Next Door'. I read somewhere that Lee Perry said Joe had a great vocal delivery for reggae rhythms. Likewise ACR introduced me to funk. Back in the day music was a real journey of discovery, not just a spotify playlist.
ReplyDelete- SRC
That was something I was thinking of writing about SRC, the Clash as a gateway into reggae.
ReplyDeleteBlack Market Clash was a great Clash reggae album too - when 10-inch EP's were all the rage.
ReplyDeleteWhen you waxed so lyrically on the beauty and importance of London Calling, the first thing I thought of was Armagideon Time.
ReplyDeleteI remember being struck by the arrangement and performance the first time I heard it and that uniqueness still stands 40 years later. The guitars and bass sound like they are playing in a room made out of chocolate - that's how dense the sound is. The Hari Krishna finger bells reminded me of not only what they actually were, but also Christmas chimes.
I'm not going to say much more, because I had planned to feature Armagdieon Time on a particular daty this month...