History Music / Sandinista

* SpecialGuest: Mick Gallagher and Norman Watt-Roy from Music/IanDuryAndTheBlockheads played on the album (apparently, they were promised co-writing credit on "The Magnificent Seven" but never actually got it). Reggae singer Mikey Dread did some of the dub versions and toasting on the reggae songs. "Police On My Back" was written by Eddy Grant (later known for "Electric Avenue") and performed by The Equals. Ellen Foley, best known for singing with Music/MeatLoaf on "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" and Mick Jones' partner at the time, also sings along. The Voidoids guitarist Ivan Julian, Eddie and the Hot Rods member Lew Lewis and musical collaborator Tymon Dogg are also present. Gallagher's children, Luke, Ben and Maria also have a guest spot. Actor Creator/TimCurry also chants on "The Sound Of Sinners". Even drummer Topper's dog can be heard during "Somebody Got Murdered".
* StepUpToTheMicrophone: Topper Headon sings lead vocals on "Ivan Meets G.I. Joe". Paul Simonon sings lead vocals on "The Crooked Beat".

Having already engaged in some fierce LoopholeAbuse to get ''Music/LondonCalling'' released as a double album ''and'' at a sharp discount, the band asked their label, [[Creator/ColumbiaRecords CBS Records]], [[DoingItForTheArt to sell their triple LP for the price of only one]]. Once again, the label protested, but ultimately made good on the Clash's wishes. However, they only did so after the band agreed to an equally dramatic reduction in royalties, forfeiting all money made from the first 200,000 copies sold and surrendering 50% of royalties for all later sales of the album. This situation would ultimately motivate the more commercially-inclined direction of the band's next album, ''Combat Rock''.

* GenreRoulette and NeoClassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly:

Having already engaged in some fierce LoopholeAbuse to get ''Music/LondonCalling'' released as a double album ''and'' at a sharp discount, the band asked their CBS record label [[DoingItForTheArt to sell their triple LP for the price of only one]]. Once again, the label protested, but ultimately made good on the Clash's wishes. However, they only did so after the band agreed to an equally dramatic reduction in royalties, forfeiting all money made from the first 200,000 copies sold and surrendering 50% of royalties for all later sales of the album. This situation would ultimately motivate the more commercially-inclined direction of the band's next album, ''Combat Rock''.

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: The band's sound had long evolved beyond its punk roots since ''Music/LondonCalling'', but "Sandinista!" was a departure into full-blown GenreRoulette. ''Combat Rock'' would step back to ''London Calling'' levels. (While Mick Jones's post-split band Big Audio Dynamite would eventually continue down a more ''Sandanista!''-inspired road.) However, even with the GenreRoulette there are some stand-out oddities:
** "Hitsville U.K.", a surprisingly sweet song featuring a xylophone, a Creator/{{Motown}}-inspired bassline, and lead vocals by Mick and his then-girlfriend, American actress Ellen Foley. The song's style is completely different from their other work and is often considered a forerunner to the twee pop genre.
** "Lose This Skin" was written by, sung by, and prominently featured the violin playing of Tymon Dogg, with The Clash acting as his backing band.

''Sandinista!'' was supported by three singles: "The Call Up", "Hitsville U.K.", and "The Magnificent Seven". Another track from the sessions, "Bankrobber", would see release as a non-album single during the promotional cycle for ''Sandanista!''; among the people attending the recording of this song were Ian Brown and Pete Garner, who would go on to become two of the five founding members of Music/TheStoneRoses.

''Sandinista!'' is the fourth studio album by Music/TheClash, released in 1980. It is a [[DistinctDoubleAlbum triple album]] and was a [[NewSoundAlbum huge departure from the group's original sound]] as it showed them trying out different kinds of styles and genres. The band asked their CBS record label [[DoingItForTheArt to sell their triple LP for the price of only a standard LP]]. The label protested, but The Clash did get their wish granted in the end.

Song-wise ''Sandinista!'' is best known for songs like "The Magnificent Seven" and "Hitsville U.K.".

* AmericaTakesOverTheWorld: "Washington Bullets" criticises America's imperialism and involvement in the Cuban Revolution (1959), the UsefulNotes/BayOfPigsInvasion (1961), and the coup of UsefulNotes/AugustoPinochet in Chile (1973). Yet near the end it also criticises Communist China for its treatment of pacifist Buddhist monks in Tibet and the Soviet Union for the 1979 war in Afghanistan. "Charlie Don't Surf" has the same message told from the perspective of a Vietcong soldier.

** "Hitsville U.K." is a love-letter to the then-new independent label music scene, and it name checks a couple of the big players: Rough Trade, Factory, Small Wonder and Fast Product.

** "Hitsville U.K.", a surprisingly sweet song featuring a xylophone, a Motown-inspired bassline, and lead vocals by Mick and his then-girlfriend, American actress Ellen Foley. The song's style is completely different from their other work and is often considered a forerunner to the twee pop genre.

At the time the album received mixed criticism and even Music/KurtCobain blamed it for having him hate punk music for several years, just because this was his first introduction to the genre. However, the album has been VindicatedByHistory and was listed at #407 in Magazine/RollingStone's [[Music/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time]].

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* NotSoDifferent: After spending most of "Washington Bullets" denouncing US intervention in Latin America, the final verse takes swipes at the UsefulNotes/SovietInvasionOfAfghanistan and China's occupation of UsefulNotes/{{Tibet}}, making the point that Communist countries can also be guilty of imperialism. Then it finishes off by noting that the UK also has unclean hands, from importing arms to other countries.

* RapRock: "The Magnificent Seven" was the TropeMaker.

* NotSoDifferent: After spending most of "Washington Bullets" denouncing US intervention in Latin America, the final verse takes swipes at the UsefulNotes/SovietInvasionOfAfghanistan and China's occupation of UsefulNotes/{{Tibet}}, making the point that Communist countries can also be guilty of imperialism. Then it finishes off by noting that UK also has unclean hands, from importing arms to other countries.

** The title "Sandinista" refers to the Sandinistas, the democratic socialist guerrillas who overthrew the authoritarian dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza in UsefulNotes/{{Nicaragua}} in 1979. Their catalogue number 'F S L N 1' refers to the abbreviation of the party's Spanish name: "Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional".

** The title "Sandinista" refers to the Sandinistas, the left-wing/communist guerrillas who overthrew the fascist dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza in UsefulNotes/{{Nicaragua}} in 1979. Their catalogue number 'F S L N 1' refers to the abbreviation of the party's Spanish name: "Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional".

** "The Magnificent Seven" is a rap song, even the first attempt by a rock band to use the sounds.

* MyCountryTisOfTheeThatISting: "Career Opportunities" criticises the political and economic situation in England, especially the lack of unemployment. "Something About England" criticises racism and the English class system that despite two world wars and industrial revolution hasn't changed much for the lower classes.

* HarsherInHindsight: "Something About England" following the 2016 referendum to Leave the European Union.

* DistinctDoubleAlbum: The album was released as a 3-LP and their royalties were cut to keep the price low.

** "Washington Bullets" name-checks [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%ADctor_Jara Victor Jara]].
* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: The band's sound had long evolved beyond its punk roots since ''Album/LondonCalling'', but "Sandinista!" was a departure into full-blown GenreRoulette. ''Combat Rock'' would step back to ''London Calling'' levels. (While Mick Jones's post-split band Big Audio Dynamite would eventually continue down a more ''Sandanista!''-inspired road.) However, even with the GenreRoulette there are some stand-out oddities:

* TitleTrack: "Sandinista!", in "Washington Bullets".

** "The Magnificent Seven" refers to [[Film/TheMagnificentSeven the western of the same name]]. It also places historical figures like Creator/KarlMarx, Friedrich Engels, Martin Luther King, UsefulNotes/MahatmaGandhi, UsefulNotes/RichardNixon and Creator/{{Socrates}} in modern America, before asking in a sarcastic voice "whether Creator/{{Plato}} the Greek or Rin Tin Tin is more famous to the masses?"

* Topper Headon - bass, backing and lead vocals

* Paul Simonon - drums, percussion, backing and lead vocals

At the time the album received mixed criticism and even Music/KurtCobain blamed it for having him hate punk music for several years, just because this was his first introduction to the genre. However, the album has been VindicatedByHistory and was listed at nr. #407 in Magazine/RollingStone's [[Music/RollingStone500GreatestAlbumsOfAllTime Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time]].

** "Hitsville U.K.", a sweet love-letter to the then new independent label music scene which name checks a couple of the big players (Rough Trade, Factory, Small Wonder and Fast Product) and features lead vocals by Mick and his then-girlfriend, American actress Ellen Foley. The song's style is completely different to their other work and is often considered to be a fore-bearer to the twee pop genre.