What was the consensus surrounding Sandanista after its release in 81' amongst the Clash fanbase?

[Toppers Boppers]

It still confounds me now, and I bought it on release day back in Dec 1980. It's a magnificent thing, changed my musical outlook in some ways but it took a few plays. 1980 was weird year for Clash fans in the UK, very on/off with gigs and releases then boom, a triple. I'd like to think there was a glimmer of one upmanship with Costello and Springsteen's 1980 double albums?

[ClashCityHammer.]

If memory serves it was widely regarded as particularly difficult to spell.

[Marky Dread]

If memory serves it was widely regarded as particularly difficult to spell.

[Toppers Boppers]

I'm curious about this. Was there a huge backlash? Seems like most people embraced it. Those who were more close minded probably got off board with them after LC anyhow. Still I could see S! being hugely jarring just the same. I know for me personally it took years of fandom and maturity for me to finally warm up to it.

Yes, there was a serious backlash in UK upon release, from memory it only got a couple of good press reviews and the rest panned it. It must have stung. Not even the change in pace and sound of UK hit single Bankrobber could prepare most fans for 2 hours of S! When they eventually played some of the S! songs on home turf in Oct 1981 I think some of the audience had caught up and got back into the Clash.

[JohnS]

If memory serves it was widely regarded as particularly difficult to spell.

One of the record dealers advertising in the NME classified ads listed it as 'Sand & Easter' !

[Marky Dread]

If memory serves it was widely regarded as particularly difficult to spell.

One of the record dealers advertising in the NME classified ads listed it as 'Sand & Easter' !

Just like this thread title.

[coffeepotman]

I bought it the day it was released. Some tracks took longer to get into. But it's one of my most played records ever. I love every groove of that album. I could go back to it and hear something new. Never boring!

Fuck all the silly little punk rockers that only wanted 1-2-3-4.

Truer words have never been said! Agree 100%. The only Clash record I still listen to on a regular basis and I still get something new from it every listen

[DrStrangepork]

Wasn't quite around yet when this came out, but this was the first Clash album I ever listened to. I'd only heard some of the singles/popular songs before then, and decided to dive into Clash fandom upon seeing Sandinista! on a new release display when the '99 remaster came out. It's still, to this day, my favorite record from the Clash. 36 songs and I can only count one that I don't like. I own one of the 1980 UK pressings, and my digital version of the album has a slightly altered tracklist for sides 5 & 6.

[Heston]

If memory serves it was widely regarded as particularly difficult to spell.

One of the record dealers advertising in the NME classified ads listed it as 'Sand & Easter' !

I remember that! But I'm pretty sure it was "Sand In Easter."

[Kory]

It was still maligned heavily as late as '96. There's an issue of Guitar World that somebody posted in here a couple months ago that did a very short review of each album, S! getting 2/5 for its amount of filler and lightweight songs, and citing Kurt Cobain calling it the death of punk or something (as if his opinion meant dick).

[matedog]

It was still maligned heavily as late as '96. There's an issue of Guitar World that somebody posted in here a couple months ago that did a very short review of each album, S! getting 2/5 for its amount of filler and lightweight songs, and citing Kurt Cobain calling it the death of punk or something (as if his opinion meant dick).

He has Combat Rock on his fav albums list? Got some Swans for Doc too.

[Dr. Medulla]

It was still maligned heavily as late as '96. There's an issue of Guitar World that somebody posted in here a couple months ago that did a very short review of each album, S! getting 2/5 for its amount of filler and lightweight songs, and citing Kurt Cobain calling it the death of punk or something (as if his opinion meant dick).

He has Combat Rock on his fav albums list? Got some Swans for Doc too.

"Raping a Slave" is the most Swans song title, too.

[Flex]

great list of records, tho

[matedog]

great list of records, tho

Yeah, he's not too cool for Aerosmith too.

[Marky Dread]

It was still maligned heavily as late as '96. There's an issue of Guitar World that somebody posted in here a couple months ago that did a very short review of each album, S! getting 2/5 for its amount of filler and lightweight songs, and citing Kurt Cobain calling it the death of punk or something (as if his opinion meant dick).

Yeah I guess it depends on what he thought was "punk".