I've been meaning to get this album forever and I guess I never realized there are two versions.

the one thats actually London Calling

Well, the UK version is the original version so it's worth hearing for that reason alone. The bulk of the album is the same for either version with the US version removing 4 songs and replacing them with five songs (including White Man in Hammersmith Palais, Complete Control and I Fought the Law). In my opinion, it's hard to argue that the five additional songs on the U.S. version aren't superior to the four songs they omitted from the original UK version. In fact, I'd say that White Man in Hammersmith Palais is not only the best song the Clash ever recorded but it's the best punk song period. If you're asking which album is better it's the US one. If you're asking which one is the important one historically, it's the UK one. I voted U.S. because it's better which to me is the criteria which is most important. Both would be an acceptable answer also though. And Patrick's answer is just wrong. London Calling pales compared to either.

US

I prefer the US version, but not sure if it is because I grew up on that one of if it really is better. This album actually kinda pisses me off as it really should be released in a complete version with all the songs from both albums. I've actually got it saved that way myself with the complete US version, then the songs from the UK version that aren't included tacked on as bonus tracks. It would probably make sense to use the UK version with US songs as bonus tracks for a re-issue, but I just wanted the US songs in the order I was used to hearing them. And as far as Clash reissues go, they need to restore Black Market Clash to the original version as well. That EP was great as is and is far superior in original form to Super Black Market Clash. I will never understand how you re-issue something as a "Super" version and remove songs from the original. A couple weird choices when they re-did the Clash catalog.

I like the debut as well as London Calling, but I wouldn't say London Calling pales at all in the comparison. They are just very different.

It depends on my mood, frankly. Many times I prefer the UK version because of the raw feel and punk snottiness we never really saw again from The Clash on their studio albums. However, if I had to say which one is "better" musically, I'd go with the US version.

As far as a physical copy, I only have the UK version, and it's great.

Of course I have the US version digitally, too, and I've probably sequenced the added songs from the US version at the end of the UK version (as nobody suggested) at least once or twice when listening to it.

As billy g said, though, the tracks added for the US version are better than the tracks it leaves off of the UK version so technically it is "better". But I like the rawer aesthetic of the original UK version, and being a fan of that much more so than the later, more polished London Calling sound, I tend to prefer it to the US version.

So I voted UK version. But you should get all of the songs from both, one way or another.

I voted you need both. I usually prefer the UK version because it's more "punk" but I agree with those that say the songs added to the US version are great.

The UK version is one of the greatest LPs of all time.

The US version is a compilation album.

fixed.