Is London Calling Double Album?

By Anna Duncan

London Calling – The Classic Double Album by The Clash

The Clash, one of the most influential punk rock bands of all time, released their classic album London Calling in 1979. The album is not only viewed as a masterpiece of punk music but also as an album that helped to redefine the genre and influence many other artists that followed. But is London Calling really a double album?

Many fans and critics often refer to London Calling as a double album due to its length and the amount of material it contains. The album features 19 tracks, which is quite rare for an album of that time period, and it has a runtime of over 65 minutes. However, technically speaking, it’s not really a double album.

A double album is typically defined as an LP (long-playing) record that uses two vinyl discs or CDs to accommodate its length. In contrast, London Calling was released as a single LP with all the tracks fitting onto one vinyl disc. It’s worth noting that the original vinyl release was still labeled as a single LP even though it contained more songs than most other albums.

So why do people often refer to it as a double album? One reason could be because of how much content is packed into this single LP.

The Clash experimented with different genres such as ska, reggae, rockabilly, and even funk on this record. They also tackled various political and social issues in their lyrics which made the album feel like it had more substance than your typical punk record.

Another possible reason why people consider London Calling to be a double album is because of its ambitious tracklist structure. The band divided the tracks into four distinct sides on the vinyl release – “The Clash,” “Give ‘Em Enough Rope,” “The Cost of Living,” and “The Vanilla Tapes.” Each side had its own unique sound and vibe which gave the impression of listening to multiple albums in one sitting.

In conclusion, while London Calling is not technically a double album, it is still one of the most iconic and influential records of all time. Its length, ambitious tracklist structure, and diverse range of genres and themes make it a true masterpiece. Whether you consider it a single or double album, there’s no denying the impact that London Calling has had on music history.