'London Calling' Turns 30

This month marks the 30th anniversary of the release of The Clash's 'London Calling'. Whether this double album is the product of the '70s or '80s has been a debate for years since it was released in the UK in December 1979 and in America in January 1980. The argument received a bit of closure when Rolling Stone ranked it the No. 1 album of the '80s. In 2003, the magazine ranked 'London Calling' the eight best album of all time. That's high praise, indeed.

To mark the occasion, a 30th anniversary edition of 'London Calling' became available this week as a double disc with some fine extras. The first disc is the original 19-song juggernaut. The second disc contains the acclaimed Don Letts-produced Clash documentary 'The Last Testament', as well as tons of home-video footage from the studio during the making of the record. The disc concludes with videos for "Clampdown", "Train In Vain" and "London Calling". If you are a long-time fan, holding this in your hands will surely bring back memories. The discs come in vinyl replica packaging, complete with liner bags/inner sleeves and a 20-page book. If you don't already have an original pressing on vinyl, this is the version to get.

The Clash - London Calling (mp3)