Clash / Elvis Costello / Who / Paul McCartney
Concerts For The People Of Kampuchea
Rare & Collectible Vinyl Records

1981 2LP Original Housed In A Gatefold Jacket. Other Performers Are Ian Dury & The Blockheads, The Pretenders And The Specials. "Concerts for the People of Kampuchea" is a live album capturing the highlights of a unique four-night benefit series at London’s Hammersmith Odeon in December 1979. Organized by Paul McCartney and Kurt Waldheim (then Secretary-General of the United Nations), the concerts were staged to raise relief funds for Cambodia (then Kampuchea), ravaged by war and famine. The event brought together an extraordinary roster: The Clash delivered an urgent, politically charged performance, while Elvis Costello and the Attractions made a notable appearance as part of the UK’s burgeoning new wave scene. The Who, still featuring Keith Moon’s replacement Kenney Jones, delivered a muscular set reflecting their classic rock pedigree. McCartney closed the event with an ensemble performance under the name Rockestra, featuring an all-star lineup from Wings, Led Zeppelin, Queen, and more.

The album, released as a double LP, immortalizes this rare convergence of musical generations and genres, reflecting the late-1970s British music landscape. It offers a snapshot of a pivotal moment: The Clash channeling punk’s defiance, Costello at the height of his early career with sharp-edged songwriting, The Who demonstrating generational staying power, and McCartney both honoring his Beatles legacy and championing collaboration. While the album itself remains out of print and somewhat overshadowed by the Live Aid phenomenon of the following decade, it remains historically significant as both a humanitarian effort and a testament to the unifying power of music at a time of global crisis.