THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

294-Clash-The Call Up.

1980-Number 40 single.

Best Bit-At 0.16. The song opens and closes with a U.S. Marines traditional call and response marching, or running song, which was provided by Band Sgt. Dave Yates, who was drafted in for his appearance.

The Clash (see also best songs 638) were formed in 1976, in London, England, before coming together the bands future members had been active in the London music scene. The classic line up of the Clash, three of whom played on this track, were Joe Strummer, (1952-2002) (lead vocal, and rhythm guitar) Mick Jones, (lead guitar) (see also best songs 867) and Nicky ‘Topper’ Headon, (drums) Paul Simonon (bass guitar) wasn’t available at the time, and the bass guitar on the track was played by Norman Watt-Roy (see also best songs 150.) Headon left the band in 1982, and Mick Jones left in 1983, the group remained active until 1986, with six other members coming and going in that 10 year period.

The discography of the Clash includes six studio Albums released between 1977-1985, and 31 singles released between 1977-1991, there are also two extended plays, (EP’s) four box sets, nine official compilation Albums, and two live Albums available. In the UK, all of their studio Albums have reached the top 20, with ‘Give ‘Em Enough Rope,’ (1978) and ‘Combat Rock,’ (1982) both peaking the highest at Number 2, while 16 of their singles have made the top 40, with the 1991 re-release of their 1982 Number 17 hit ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’ reaching the Number 1 position. In America on the Billboard Hot 100, three of their studio Albums have reached the top 40, with ‘Combat Rock’ peaking the highest at Number 7, while two of their singles have made the Billboard Hot 100 top 40, ‘Train in Vain,’ (1979-Number 23) and ‘Rock the Casbah’ (1982-Number 8.)

‘The Call Up’ was the first of three singles released from ‘Sandinista!’ the fourth studio Album by the Clash, from December 1980. ‘The Call Up’ like all the other original tracks on ‘Sandinista!’ has the songwriting credited to all four members of the Clash at that time, their three previous Albums had just credited only Joe Strummer and Mick Jones. ‘Sandinista!’ was a triple Album containing 36 tracks, with six on each side. In order for the record label to agree to such a large release, the Clash had to compromise by forgoing any royalties on the first 200,000 copies sold in the UK, and a 50% cut in royalties elsewhere. Joe Strummer had been unhappy that ‘CBS’ records had rejected their previous Album ‘London Calling’ (1979) being released as a double Album, and said, ‘It was doubly outrageous, actually it was triply outrageous.’ Mick Jones said, ‘I always saw it as a record for people who were, like, on oil rigs, or Arctic stations, people that weren’t able to get to the record shops regularly.’ The Albums title ‘Sandinista!’ refers to the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, who are a socialist political party. Its members are called Sandinistas. The party is named after Augusto César Sandino, (1895-1934) who led the Nicaraguan resistance against the United States occupation of Nicaragua in the 1930’s. On ‘Sandinista!’ The Clash continued to expand their exploration of musical genres including ‘Funk,’ ‘Reggae,’ ‘Jazz,’ ‘Gospel’ ‘Rockabilly ‘Folk,’ ‘Dub,’ ‘Rhythm and Blues,’ ‘Calypso,’ ‘Disco,’ and ‘Rap.’ In 2020 it was ranked Number 323 on the American monthly music magazine ‘Rolling Stone’ list of ‘The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.’

Joe Strummer was born John Graham Mellor, in Ankara, Turkey, on August 21st, 1952, he died of a heart attack due to an undiagnosed congenital defect, on December 22nd, 2002, at the age of 50. In January 2003 he was posthumously inducted into the ‘Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’ along with four other members of the Clash. In his remembrance, his friends and family established the ‘Joe Strummer Foundation’ a non-profit organisation that gives opportunities to musicians, and supports projects around the world that create empowerment through music. It was in 1975 that he adopted the stage name ‘Joe Strummer,’ subsequently insisting that his friends call him by that name. The surname ‘Strummer’ apparently referred to his role as a rhythm guitarist in a self-deprecating way. Joe Strummer has said that he developed a love of ‘Rock’ music by listening to records by Little Richard, (1932-2020) (see also best songs 521) the Beach Boys, (see also best songs 930-811-180 and 74) and Woody Guthrie (1912-1967.)

On April 3rd, 1976, the then-unknown Sex Pistols (see also best songs 576-92 and 27) opened for the ‘101ers,’ who Joe Strummer was a member of, at a venue called the ‘Nashville Room’ in London. Strummer recalled, ‘I knew something was up, so I went out in the crowd which was fairly sparse. And I saw the future, with a snotty handkerchief, right in front of me. It was immediately clear. Pub rock was, ‘Hello, you bunch of drunks, I’m gonna play these boogies and I hope you like them.’ The Pistols came out that Tuesday evening and their attitude was, ‘Here’s our tunes, and we couldn’t give a flying fu#k whether you like them or not. In fact, we’re gonna play them even if you fu#king hate them.’ Within three months the Clash had been formed, and made their debut performance on July 4th, 1976, supporting the Sex Pistols at the ‘Black Swan’ nightclub in Sheffield, England.

‘The Call Up’ is a song about ‘The Draft,’ and war in general. It also tells of things that a soldier may miss out on, ‘There is a rose that I want to live for.’

‘All the young people down the ages, they gladly marched off to die. Proud city fathers used to watch them, tears in their eyes.’