Scattata da Pennie Smith, la foto usata per la copertina del disco London Calling (The Clash) è una delle più famose della storia del rock. Ecco come nacque

The Clash - photograph by the brilliant Pennie Smith Taken at the New York Palladium, september 21st, 1979. "I remember thinking something was wrong, realising Paul was going to crack - and waited. The shot is out of focus because I ducked - he was closer than it looks" Pennie Smith.

Forty years after its release in 1979, the seminal album by The Clash is being celebrated with a free exhibition at the Museum of London - featuring numerous artifacts connected to the album and the subsequent tour.

Here's what went into some of the most recognizable album covers in music history.

Wall poster featuring the groundbreak album from the Clash.

Promo ad for Blondie’s ‘Plastic Letters,’ 1978. This might even be an in-store stand-up, hard to tell If you are of a certain age, you will remember what it was like to get pretty much all your rock and roll knowledge from magazines. If you wanted to become a part of the The Cramps Fan Club (and who didn’t), you filled out a request from a magazine or perhaps signed up for the band’s “mailing list” at a live show. If there was a new record on the way, you probably saw it on the pages of CREEM (my all-time favorite), Trouser Press or Billboard. If you were aspiring young punk in the UK, you likely learned about the latest record from The Jam by reading mags like Zig Zag, Sounds, and Smash Hits. New York Dolls ad for their 1974 album, ‘Too Much Too Soon’ An ad for Mick Ronson’s first solo record, ‘Slaughter on 10th Avenue,’ 1974 Japanese ad for T.Rex records, 1974 Buy these records from Iggy and the Stooges… or else! I’m still a very big fan of printed media and read music magazines—especially vintage ones—on a...

The full drum sheet music for "London Calling" by The Clash from the album London Calling (1979).

The exhibit marking the anniversary of the band's landmark third album will open in November and feature Paul Simonon's smashed Fender bass and Joe Strummer's lyric notebook.

London Calling b/w Armagideon Time The Clash, Epic Records/Japan (1979)