It has been a wee while since I have featured The Clash. It has been a long, long while since I featured Sandinista!
Their fourth album released in December 1980 it was that rare thing a triple album with 36 tracks over the 6 sides (or 2 CDs with 18 tracks apiece).144 minutes and 9 seconds.
I will confess that it is one that I rarely play in its entirity but am happy to dip in and out.
Given that it was the follow up to London Calling I think that it is fair to say that it was released to mixed reviews.
It is a bit of a mish mash of genres featuring funk,reggae,jazz,gospel,rockabilly,folk,dub,rhythm and blues, calypso, disco and rap. Something for everyone then and also something for everyone to disike.I could do without Mickey Gallagher's kids singing Career Opportunities
The last time I featured this album back in June 2018 I gave you Washington Bullets and Hitsville U.K. The Magnificent Seven has also featured here before.
Worry not there are still plenty of great songs to pick from The Only Band That Matters
It's a magnificent achievement- not necessarily their best (although it isn't far off) but def their most interesting album.
ReplyDeleteCertainly thier most eclectic.
DeleteSold at the price of a double album to not rip-off their fans.
ReplyDeleteThe band made a loss on every copy sold - they had to get Bernie Rhodes back to sort it out (and a 17 night residency at Bonds in New York must've helped balance the books a bit).
At one point, Combat Rock was in danger of being a quadruple album
I will second the use of Magnificent to describe Sandinista! Not every track may be every fan's cup of tea, but there is no denying this was a band album, one that saw the contribution and chops of every member of The Clash.
ReplyDeleteNot sure it needed Mickey Gallagher's kids on a couple of tracks though
DeleteIt's a flawed masterpiece.
ReplyDelete