Retro Raunch Revisit

Having overcome writer's block and fired management, LC was a very popular double album that pushed the punk band's music further-than-ever into newer terrain (and radio friendly) expansiveness by co-opting easy jazz, lounge/harmonica/piano, reggae & ska, pop/r&b/soul, rockabilly and hard rock. From this spectrum, the lyrics took on their as-always heavy political themes of drugs, racial strife, unemployment, class struggle, anti-heroes and grim future -- all in the real backdrop of what was then a denounced socio-economic British wasteland of growing despair, severe disillusionment and hostility towards the government (and not just The Clash's own). Full of renewed fighting spirit, the scrappy overall tone of dual vocals ranges from naive romanticism to longed-for revolution; a culture clash of brainy belief meeting mental battlefield. LC's logotype was the same font used on Elvis Presley records, and the highly memorable beloved cover photo was originally thought by photographer Pennie Smith to have been a bad & disappointing picture for being grainy/out of focus. Instead, it properly captures an ultimate punk rock essence of energy, attitude & rebellion. Grand & epic with several hits, the band did have to fend off many in the UK who accused them of selling out but LC was a huge critical achievement that is routinely on lists of the greatest rock albums of all time. Happy 45th Anniversary.