65: The Clash’s London Calling (1979)

There’s not many portraits of rock’n'roll more iconic than Simonon smashing his Fender P-bass to bits. And though the Clash started dabbling with a myriad of influences on this record, it’s more punk rock than anything else, mostly thanks to Guy Stevens’ bizarre (and drug-induced) production techniques. One or two takes at most, a double LP recorded in a couple of weeks … hit the deck indeed. The songs are angry, resilient, focused and joyous all at once, and there’s hardly a better portrait of the changes coming towards rock music in the 80s than this collection.

The Clash: “Koka Kola” (mp3)