The Clash “London Calling” released 40 years ago today, December 14th, 1979 (in the UK; it was released in January 1980 in the US). One of the most important and enduring albums ever – not just in the punk genre – it went to #9 in the UK and to #27 in the US and is including on about a zillion best-of album lists. Our version is a promotional-only CBS release that includes a glossy band photo, a 5-page band history with discography and a copy of The Armagideon Times – a glossy ‘zine with lyrics from London Calling, more promo photos, cartoon-like drawings and another brief Clash history.

I love this album so so much – my top tracks are the anthemic title track “London Calling,” the reggae-inspired “Rudie Can’t Fail,” the pounding punk “Clampdown,” the Paul Simonon-sung “The Guns of Brixton” and “Death or Glory.” The only song I don’t care for on this epic 2-LP masterpiece is “Lost in the Supermarket,” which I find insipidly poppy and so irritating that I always skip over it.