Revolution Rock

"Revolution Rock"
Song by The Clash
from the album London Calling
Released14 December 1979 (1979-12-14)
RecordedJune–July 1979
GenreReggae[1]
Length5:37
LabelCBS
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Guy Stevens
London Calling track listing
19 tracks
Side one
  1. "London Calling"
  2. "Brand New Cadillac"
  3. "Jimmy Jazz"
  4. "Hateful"
  5. "Rudie Can't Fail"
Side two
  1. "Spanish Bombs"
  2. "The Right Profile"
  3. "Lost in the Supermarket"
  4. "Clampdown"
  5. "The Guns of Brixton"
Side three
  1. "Wrong 'Em Boyo"
  2. "Death or Glory"
  3. "Koka Kola"
  4. "The Card Cheat"
Side four
  1. "Lover's Rock"
  2. "Four Horseman"
  3. "I'm Not Down"
  4. "Revolution Rock"
  5. "Train in Vain"

"Revolution Rock" is a song written and originally recorded by Danny Ray and covered by punk rock artists, the Clash, featuring on their 1979 album London Calling. Ray's version of the song was released as a single to modest success. According to Clash bassist, Paul Simonon, "Danny Ray put out his version of "Revolution Rock" just before we were recording London Calling."[2] Ray incorporated aspects of the Rocksteady R&B singer Jackie Edwards's song "Get Up" on the track, so Edwards is listed as the co-writer. In the Clash's version Joe Strummer changed several of the lyrics, including a reference to Mack the Knife and the trend of smashing up seats at punk shows ("Everybody smash up your seats, and rock to this brand new beat").[3][unreliable source]

The song is an ode to self-motivation. It was originally going to close London Calling, but "Train in Vain" was added at the last minute.[2] There was another reggae song of the same title released in 1973 by roots reggae mic chanter and toaster, Big Youth and ska singer, Prince Buster. According to Ray, "The lyrics come from going to the clubs and seeing what was going on, you know?"[4]

The song features a staccato horn refrain and "sinuous" guitar stylings. According to Sean Egan, "Strummer uses his voice almost as an instrument in the way he cleverly manufactures the illusion of call and response with already recorded instruments."[5] An instrumental version of the song was featured on the Rude Boy film. "Revolution Rock" was a staple in live shows from the end of 1979 to 1981.[3] According to Billboard, "With the help of sidemen the Irish Horns, the Clash get downright giddy."[6]

  1. ^ Segretto, Mike (2022). "1979". 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Minute - A Critical Trip Through the Rock LP Era, 1955–1999. Backbeat. pp. 362–364. ISBN 9781493064601.
  2. ^ a b Salewicz 2008, p. 251
  3. ^ a b "Revolution Rock by the Clash". Songfacts. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  4. ^ Gray 2010, p. 310
  5. ^ Egan 2014, p. 132
  6. ^ Partridge, Kenneth (December 13, 2014). "The Clash's 'London Calling' at 35: Classic Track-by-Track Album Review". Billboard. Retrieved June 24, 2018.