The Clash

Charlie Don't Surf

1980 · CBS FSLN 1 · London, UK: England

Artist
The Clash
Title
Charlie Don't Surf
Release
Sandinista! Disc 2
Year
1980
Label
CBS # FSLN 1
Format
LP · Album
Language
English
Country
London, UK: England
Genre
Rock · Punk Rock
Primary theme
Post-War

Annotation

The Clash, a British Punk Rock band that formed in London in 1976, which featured Joe Strummer (guitar, vocals), Paul Simonon (bass, vocals), Mick Jones (guitar, vocals, 1976-83), and Topper Headon (drums, vocals, 1977-82). In 1981 they released the single "This Is Radio Clash" (CBS # CBS A1797), which referenced the Vietnam War and napalm (a jellied gasoline mixture which the US government extensively used during the war, as previously discussed). The group followed this up in 1982 with the track "Straight to Hell" (CBS # A 2646) which mentioned Vietnam in the second and third verses. In 1981 they released the song "Charlie Don't Surf" on the album Sandinista! (CBS # FSLN 1), a reference to the 1979 Vietnam War film Apocalypse Now directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The song referenced the use of napalm. So as noted above, on this album was the song "Charlie Don't Surf". The reference to surfing, napalm, and a beach party displays the influence of Vietnam War films on American culture. In the film Apocalypse Now (1979), directed by the political liberal and dove Francis Ford Coppola. Captain Kilgore (Robert Duvall) of the Air Cavalry attacks a Vietcong held village while playing…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — Punk Songs

The Clash, a British Punk Rock band that formed in London in 1976, which featured Joe Strummer (guitar, vocals), Paul Simonon (bass, vocals), Mick Jones (guitar, vocals, 1976-83), and Topper Headon (drums, vocals, 1977-82). In 1981 they released the single "This Is Radio Clash" (CBS # CBS A1797), which referenced the Vietnam War and napalm (a jellied gasoline mixture which the US government extensively used during the war, as previously discussed). The group followed this up in 1982 with the track "Straight to Hell" (CBS # A 2646) which mentioned Vietnam in the second and third verses. In 1981 they released the song "Charlie Don't Surf" on the album Sandinista! (CBS # FSLN 1), a reference to the 1979 Vietnam War film Apocalypse Now directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The song referenced the use of napalm. So as noted above, on this album was the song "Charlie Don't Surf". The reference to surfing, napalm, and a beach party displays the influence of Vietnam War films on American culture. In the film Apocalypse Now (1979), directed by the political liberal and dove Francis Ford Coppola. Captain Kilgore (Robert Duvall) of the Air Cavalry attacks a Vietcong held village while playing…

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

English punk rock band formed in London in 1976 (Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon, Topper Headon); disbanded 1986. [Source: Wikipedia]

Themes

Napalm · Apocalypse Now

In collections

European Songs · Punk Songs