The Clash - London Calling

[James Guitar]

Hi:
I've seen some references to London Calling on gearslutz over time, but i couldn't really find much info on the mics, board, etc., used to record what i believe is one of the better sounding records of that era. i know it was recorded at wessex but don't know the board, mics, etc. - anyone out there with any knowledge? i've seen some guy stevens stories on here so maybe those people could fill me in?
as well, what sort of role did guy stevens play as producer? seems from what i know that he took two steps back for every step forward with some of his shenanigans. but i could be wrong...
any info would be greatly appreciated.
thanks!
-Jamie

[Jules]

Didnt Blue Oystercult producer Sandy Pearlman do that record?

I worked at Wessex.. cool place.. just closed for good recently I heard..

I live by the RI-VAAAAAAAA

ow ow owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

[max cooper]

I was at an all-night super supermarket last week and I heard "Lost in the Supermarket" while I was shopping. Times change, huh?

[gear is cool]

the dvd that comes with the re-release is priceless...great shots of producer smashing chairs right next to strummer while he's doing takes....london calling is one of the best records ever made

[James Guitar]

Originally Posted by Jules

Didnt Blue Oystercult producer Sandy Pearlman do that record?
I worked at Wessex

Nah, he produced Give 'Em Enough Rope, the band's second record. they hated his style, apparently... too polished and american-rock-radio for their tastes. maybe that's why they went with stevens. more shambolic, which i guess London Calling is (in a well-produced way).
jules, you worked at wessex? coooooooooooooooool. what was the main board there? man, i love the sound of that record.
-J

[James Guitar]

Originally Posted by max cooper

I was at an all-night super supermarket last week and I heard "Lost in the Supermarket" while I was shopping. Times change, huh?

i like the story mick jones tells about how "lost in the supermarket" was written entirely by joe strummer ABOUT mick jones. it was apparently written with jones in mind to sing and it was strummer's vision of what he thought it was like for mick growing up with his grandmother.
-J

[RadioMoo]

Originally Posted by James Guitar

i like the story mick jones tells about how "lost in the supermarket" was written entirely by joe strummer ABOUT mick jones. it was apparently written with jones in mind to sing and it was strummer's vision of what he thought it was like for mick growing up with his grandmother.
-J

Before I hijack the thread too, I'll tell you that Mix featured this in their "Classic Tracks" column not too long ago; check their online archives.

Anyway, I saw The Clash on their "Combat Rock" tour; had a pressbox seat and backstage passes. Got to talk to all of them; they were really nice guys. There seemed to be a tension among them, though, but who would have thought that it would end so quickly after that, and that that damn Joe Strummer would die on us at age 50?

[James Guitar]

Originally Posted by RadioMoo

Before I hijack the thread too, I'll tell you that Mix featured this in their "Classic Tracks" column not too long ago; check their online archives.

thanks for the headsup. i'm actually referring to the whole album London Calling, not specifically the song. there's a whole lot of cool noise all over that record that i'd love to know more about.
-J

[shipshape]

I worked as an assistant engineer on London Calling for a period of time , and on other Clash albums. Bill Price engineered them and they were recorded at Wessex where I worked for 6 years. The record was recorded and mixed on Cadac consoles , which were both in the mix room and tracking room. As for guy Stevens , OMG what a night mare , pretending to hurl a fairchild compressor thru the control room window at Joe Strummer while doing a vocal to get "more vibe" fom him. He also ran into the studio while Joe was singing and proceeded to pour 2 bottles of red wine into the 9'6 Bosendorfer that had become FreddyMercury and many others favorite recording pianos and therebye ruining and warping the sound board of the piano , my biggest recollection of the event was of another assistant racing into the studio , picking up Guy and throwing HIM across the studio to get him away from the piano , It was never the same again , and neither was Guy Stevens, we got a call that he was lying in front of the cab that was supposed to drive him to the studio..and refused to get up..by that time the band had had enough and he was canned.
Peace Shipshape

[Winey]

Originally Posted by shipshape

I worked as an assistant engineer on London Calling for a period of time , and on other Clash albums. Bill Price engineered them and they were recorded at Wessex where I worked for 6 years. The record was recorded and mixed on Cadac consoles , which were both in the mix room and tracking room. As for guy Stevens , OMG what a night mare , pretending to hurl a fairchild compressor thru the control room window at Joe Strummer while doing a vocal to get "more vibe" fom him. He also ran into the studio while Joe was singing and proceeded to pour 2 bottles of red wine into the 9'6 Bosendorfer that had become FreddyMercury and many others favorite recording pianos and therebye ruining and warping the sound board of the piano , my biggest recollection of the event was of another assistant racing into the studio , picking up Guy and throwing HIM across the studio to get him away from the piano , It was never the same again , and neither was Guy Stevens, we got a call that he was lying in front of the cab that was supposed to drive him to the studio..and refused to get up..by that time the band had had enough and he was canned.
Peace Shipshape

Alright, this is pretty cool that you were around to witness the recording of this great record.
Bill Price engineered some wonderful sounding records back then.
Do you have any tracking setup details for us?

[James Guitar]

thanks so much shipshape! i appreciate you and people like yourself contributing your experience and wisdom.
-J

[entropy]

It's hard to add anything of note after Mr Shipley's contribution other to say the London Calling is one of my top albums and to do some work at Wessex was an ambition fulfilled. That place had a great vibe and so many great pieces of work came out of that place it's hard not to be impressed. There was still an old Bosendorfer there, which I was told was very same one as in Ship's account. When I was there it had an old E Series (brain is hazy today... maybe it was a G??) and some phat old outboard including a Fairchild (or possibly 2??).

And maybe Ship can clarify the story I was told of London Calling, where Guy had a length of rope in his bag, he tied it to a chair and proceeded to swing the chair above his head (in the live room) trying to take out various Clash members in an effort to up the ante. Maybe it's just a rehash of the smashing chair tale Ship has already told and over time has mophed into what I heard. I heard it from one of the assistants there so didn't question the truth of it at the time.

As for closing for good Jules. I was under the impression it still remains a studio but one now owned privately and not used for commercial sessions. I was told who but can't recall (someone in the Dance scene) ..... and I it was being refitted to be a couple of mix rooms losing a large chunk of the tracking space.

[The True Buck]

London Calling was the first rock song I listened to IN MY LIFE! At least from what I can remember! In the relaxing room in kindergarten, one of the young maids was into punk and had brought a compilation cassette. It was such a strange sound to me and it stayed with me and I still love it!

Thanks for sharing your stories about the recording!!!

Off-topic maybe, but was there ever a more sad song recorded than Bob Marley's Redemption Song, sung by Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer??? I mean, how many generations of dead rock history is that? I can't listen to it after two beers, then I weep like a child as I reach for the third!

[James Lehmann]

Originally Posted by gear is cool

...london calling is one of the best records ever made

You're not wrong there - it's consistently made every top ten album list I've ever done for 25 years [shows age]!

[Steamy Williams]

http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_londo...ash/index.html

[Cujo]

My # 2 of all time, (Who's Next is #1) it's always near my CD player..out of the case.
I hae read bits from the mix article. Can you tell me about the horn recording, and Micks effects? Also, what was being used at tha time for the doubling stuff, say Mick's B Vox, was that an anlog delay or tracked double?
Anyone notice the few noticable splices in the tune "london Calling"?

Originally Posted by shipshape

I worked as an assistant engineer on London Calling for a period of time , and on other Clash albums. Bill Price engineered them and they were recorded at Wessex where I worked for 6 years. The record was recorded and mixed on Cadac consoles , which were both in the mix room and tracking room. As for guy Stevens , OMG what a night mare , pretending to hurl a fairchild compressor thru the control room window at Joe Strummer while doing a vocal to get "more vibe" fom him. He also ran into the studio while Joe was singing and proceeded to pour 2 bottles of red wine into the 9'6 Bosendorfer that had become FreddyMercury and many others favorite recording pianos and therebye ruining and warping the sound board of the piano , my biggest recollection of the event was of another assistant racing into the studio , picking up Guy and throwing HIM across the studio to get him away from the piano , It was never the same again , and neither was Guy Stevens, we got a call that he was lying in front of the cab that was supposed to drive him to the studio..and refused to get up..by that time the band had had enough and he was canned.
Peace Shipshape

[max cooper]

I grew up listening to London Calling. Listened to it hundreds of times. But I have to say I was initially disappointed by the relative mello-ness of the music, especially since the cover art is so cool.

My fave Clash track then and now is "White Man in Hammersmith Palais".

Oh yeah, and my best friend and I got my sister to drive us to Austin to see the Clash in '79. somewhere I still have the ticket stub.

Having Shipshape posting here is really great!

[Cujo]

Yes Yes, sorry to digress,
But I too saw the "real" Clash once, and the imposters about 5 times, which was still pretty great,
But the 2 Joe Strummer tours that happened a fw years back were killer,He was on a mission, and all 3 of the Mescalaros CD's are pretty dang good too, especially the first one.

[Jules]

Originally Posted by entropy

As for closing for good Jules. I was under the impression it still remains a studio but one now owned privately and not used for commercial sessions. I was told who but can't recall (someone in the Dance scene) ..... and I it was being refitted to be a couple of mix rooms losing a large chunk of the tracking space.

RE Wessex - Right.. ok, yes its present status is somewhat of a grey area for many in the biz, thanks for the update..