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Sandinista!

by The Clash

Released: December 12, 1980

Post-punk, experimental, dub, world, reggae punk

musicOnOff editorial

Why This Album Matters

This album matters because its strongest editorial story is: Experimental Album.

The Album

"Sandinista!" is the fourth studio album by British punk rock band The Clash. It was released on 12 December 1980 as a triple album containing 36 tracks, with 6 songs on each side. The album was named after the Sandinistas, a socialist political group in Nicaragua, reflecting the band's growing interest in world political issues and experimentation with different musical styles.

Inside the Recording

Produced by the band along with Mikey Dread, it incorporates a wide array of musical styles including punk, reggae, dub, funk, rhythm and blues, calypso, and jazz.

Watch and listen

Explore the Album

The Clash - Sandinista!

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Then

Reception

Notable songs from the album include "The Magnificent Seven," "Hitsville U.K.," "The Call Up," and "Police on My Back." Despite its length and diverse experimentation, "Sandinista!" received widespread critical acclaim at the time of its release. The album's bold experimentation and political lyricism have continued to draw praise, and it is often cited as one of the band's most interesting works, even if it wasn't as commercially successful as their previous album "London Calling".

Now

Legacy

Over the years, "Sandinista!" legacy has grown and is now widely recognized as a highly ambitious, sprawling masterpiece that captures The Clash at their most creatively adventurous.

Full background

The Complete Album Story

"Sandinista!" is the fourth studio album by British punk rock band The Clash. It was released on 12 December 1980 as a triple album containing 36 tracks, with 6 songs on each side. Produced by the band along with Mikey Dread, it incorporates a wide array of musical styles including punk, reggae, dub, funk, rhythm and blues, calypso, and jazz.

The album was named after the Sandinistas, a socialist political group in Nicaragua, reflecting the band's growing interest in world political issues and experimentation with different musical styles. Notable songs from the album include "The Magnificent Seven," "Hitsville U.K.," "The Call Up," and "Police on My Back."

Despite its length and diverse experimentation, "Sandinista!" received widespread critical acclaim at the time of its release. The album's bold experimentation and political lyricism have continued to draw praise, and it is often cited as one of the band's most interesting works, even if it wasn't as commercially successful as their previous album "London Calling".

Over the years, "Sandinista!" legacy has grown and is now widely recognized as a highly ambitious, sprawling masterpiece that captures The Clash at their most creatively adventurous.