Sandinista!

A1***** Very good

I remember it like it was yesterday - passing (or at least I had in mind to pass it by) the vinyl record shop near my high school in Linköping, Sweden. It was the day (or maybe the day after) of the release of the 3-album LP "Sandinista!". I loved the one before, of course, and the price of that 3-LP release was a steal! I had never heard of the existence of such a massive release that was not simultaneously a Best-of box, so how indulgent can these people be, I thought? But a look on the back of the cover convinced me - Junco Partner, Ivan Meets G.I. Joe, Rebel Waltz, Washington Bullets, .... The list went on and on with signs of wonderful songs of ultra-violence, I thought. I was perhaps not as astonished as some - simultaneously listening to the British ska-pop-rock groups coming out at the the end of the 70s - hearing at least as much reggae and rocksteady tracks as songs from the old punk skool. And while perhaps the album altogether is a bit long - six sides of vinyl takes a bit of moving about - the cd version is easier on you and the tracks now flow better, no longer having to flip the discs. And while the number of tracks is a high, there is only very few real fillers. I won't name names, but they do tend to turn more often towards the end. It is VERY enjoyable listen, and it nearby beats its predecessor, if for nothing else for the braveness of the whole enterprise.

I remember asking for this,at 16, for xmas In 1980. No one had heard anything quite like the diversity and experimentation evident on the 6 sides of black vinyl. The clash, from being a thrashing punk band,had unlike any of their contempories, spread their musical wings to incorporate influences such as country,gospel,jazz,dub, amongst others. At the time of release this alienated some narrowminded "punk" fans who preffered 3 chords and a solo. Looking at Sansinista nearly 3 decades later, we can see that it is a collection of music put together by 4 band members who, after the critical success/masterpeice of their last album London Calling, were at their creative peak and felt free enough to try many more musical styles. There are some great songs on this album, some of the clash's finest, along with weaker material that some have suggested could have been ommitted to make it a double, not a triple album. But the fact that the whole album was written and recorded in a matter of a couple of weeks means you get a snapshot of creativity in 36 tracks, from one of the most influential bands ever.

Every track is a winner

I first listened to this when it came out and hated it.I guess I wasn't ready for it way back then but it is now my favourite album of all time.Words cannot express how much I adore this record.You need to really make the effort to listen properly many times to get what it is all about about.There are so many brilliant tracks on it which,once in your head,won't go away.This is the ultimate Desert Island disc.If this was the only album I could ever listen to again I wouldn.t care.The Clash were the only band that mattered and this album and London Calling is why.You get everything plus the kitchen sink on this.Rock,gospel,rockabilly,disco,dub,reggae,calypso,funk and everything else.So far ahead of its time and still sounds fresh today.Throw in social and political commentary together with fabulous,experimental music and you have a masterpiece that every music fan must own.Put aside your prejudices,listen with an open mind and you will be richly rewarded with a life changing experience.I implore you to buy this.Makes everything else out there seem pointless.

Had brilliant days with mates from Bracknell, Brighton Uni, Wolves Poly listening to this. Go Straight to Hell Boys it ain't Coca Cola its Rice. At 14 at school I was deemed to be the Mick Jones look-a-like, which was fair. Great fun with the Bracknell Clash fans beating up the Sex Pistols Wokingham fans home from school in the first class train carriage twice a day from Bracknell to Reading for two years! Simplet, Taggart, Burtwell, Little, et al - happy days at grammar school! Cant beat the Clash. Glory days. JS rip.

I bought this when it was first released and it blew my socks off. Yes, it has quirks and cover many musical dead ends, but, boy is this a tome to be listened to in a car, on headphones or out loud to educate the masses of sheep who support the pap we are fed in the modern world. The clash were something else with Strummer on board. "I'm selling clothes, I'm selling records, to help the young people of today" Bloody marvellous.

Maybe the best Clash album, a wonderful edition. The sound could have been louder. The pressing is not as good as the famous Rhino ones but still comfortable. Anyway, it still is a jewel in a collection... And the price is ok for a triple vinyl (According to The Clash wishes in 1980, they were paid 50c per vinyl sold so that the kids only had to pay for the price of one vinyl... And it still is the case!) Enjoy!