recognition goes. Some critics argue that the triple album, a 36 song collection of punk anthems that is 1980's Sandinista is way too long and drawn out. Other's compare this daring work as to what the White Album did for mainstream audiences and changed music, Sandinista did it for The Clashes audience. Called the "Album of the Year," in 1980 by the Village Voice and Rolling Stone calling it one of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time," Sandinista has something to offer everyone, yet is still one of the least recognizable Clash albums to date. Unlike the punk anthologies that were The Clashes first self titled album, London Calling and Combat Rock, this record of epic proportions was recorded and mixed in three different countries and incorporating a variety of different types of music. Recorded in London, Jamaica and New York City it struck a chord with many listeners through its plethora of sounds and styles. Like London Calling it combined dub, punk, reggae, ska, rockabilly and even hip hop fused with political angst. It certainly was the band's most ambitious album ever, yet in many ways tends to get overlooked due to its lack of singles here in the U.S.The single "The Magnificent Seven" could even possibly the first-ever British hip hop single and as one of the first rap singles by a white band. In retrospect what Sandinista did was influence ears and audiences world wide. Without Sandinista there would be no MIA, without Sandinista there would be no Sublime and without Sandinista there defiantly would have not been 311.
