The Clash

London Calling album cover

When London Calling was released Margaret Thatcher was spending her first winter in Downing Street, the Russians were about to invade Afghanistan and Pink Floyd were number one with Another Brick in the Wall.

In the 25 years since its release London Calling has assumed a near legendary status as one of the defining albums of the past few decades. Its album cover featuring bassist Paul Simonon smashing his guitar on stage at the New York Palladium is one of the most famous covers in music. But as well as being a legendary album London Calling is also one associated with one of the great unsolved mysteries of rock music.

Since the early eighties rumours have abounded of secret tapes of recording sessions that the Clash did before the London Calling sessions. These sessions were said to have yielded other songs, not featured on the final album that could shed valuable insight into the album. The fact that the sessions took place was not in doubt; the final whereabouts of the tapes however was a complete mystery.

Mick Jones stumbled on the tapes

Until earlier this year Mick Jones stumbled on the tapes whilst moving house. Some of the Vanilla tapes - so called because they were recorded at the Vanilla studios in Pimlico - are to be released later this month and on Newsnight we had the world exclusive play of some of the unreleased tracks.

We also spoke to Mick Jones and Paul Simonon from the Clash about living with the legacy of the band and how it felt to hear these long lost songs. What is perhaps most interesting to hear, aside from the unreleased tracks, is the alternate version of London Calling. Less angry and more soulful than the studio version it is the sound of a band trying new sounds and styles out in the studio.

As well as Mick and Paul we also heard from Pat Gilbert whose book on the Clash is out next month and Don Letts the filmmaker who directed both the London Calling video as well as the acclaimed Westway of the World.

Newsnight's report on the Vanilla tapes was broadcast on 2 September 2004 on BBC Two.