19 Songs From 1979: Train in Vain (Stand By Me) (#6)

Tweet

This morning I had an electrician come by to give the house a check-up. I had the house rewired when I first moved in, and that was nearly 30 years ago. I'm thinking about getting a portable A/C unit for the semi-finished attic (longer to explain than it's worth), and everything is good. Let's celebrate with another one of those asterisk 1979 songs! #6: Train in Vain (Stand By Me) - The Clash The classic London Calling was released in early 1980 in the U.S., but it was already getting airplay on the cool radio stations when that happened (thanks to the late 1979 release in the UK). This song, a last-minute addition (not even on the track listing on the LP), was the first "hit" in America for The Only Band That Matters (a moniker their publicist stuck on them....not that The Clash didn't live up to it or anything.....). The title "Train in Vain" is never said in the song, but they didn't want any confusion with the classic "Stand By Me" song by Ben E. King. Classic Clash from a classic album. Train in Vain (Stand By Me) Written by Mick Jones and Joe Strummer Recorded by The Clash From London Calling, 1979 I need new clothes: