Punk rock burst onto the scene in the UK as a reaction to the overproduced and technical complexity of the music scene in the mid 1970s, especially Prog. What they were harking back to was the fast and immediate recordings of the 1950s and early 1960s. Short songs, recorded quickly. This was also see the rise of an independent scene which looked to bypass the giant record labels that had an almost complete monopoly on the production and distribution of music. The peak years of punk rock were between 1977 and 1978 but it quickly burnt itself out. It did splinter off into other areas such as Oi!, post-punk, art punk and new wave.
It could be argued that the Punk and New Waves music scene was the last one to really embrace the single as a medium on its own instead of being a device to sell LPs. In a follow up to last months Garden of Earthly Delights box set, I have looked to do something similar in the style with this latter movement. I have once again taken inspiration from similar sets released by Cherry Red Records by making this a 3CD set.
So to be a considered for inclusion on this compilation, the song had to be either a unique version released on the single format and was different from the album version. Some acts only released singles so in that case, I have looked to include their debut. Others songs are singles that did not initially get released on an album.
Many of these acts made an impression under their original name, but others would go on to be famous with a different moniker. For example, Johnny & The Self Abusers would become Simple Minds, and Shane McGowan would form The Pogues after The Nipple Erectors split.
Disc 1
- Writing On The Wall – Eddie & The Hot Rods
- White Riot (Single Version) – The Clash
- Television Screen (Single Version) – The Radiators From Space
- Saints & Sinners – Johnny & the Self Abusers
- I Don’t Wanna – Sham 69
- Your Generation – Generation X
- Roadrunner (Twice) (1976 Beserkley Single Version) – The Modern Lovers
- Rock Lobster (Single Version) – The B-52’s
- Jilted John (Single Version) – Jilted John
- King Of The Bop – The Nipple Erectors
- Gary Gilmore’s Eyes (Original Anchor Record 7” Single Version) – The Adverts
- Lovers Of Today – The Only Ones
- Keep It Out Of Sight – Nick Lowe
- Marquee Moon (Single Edit) – Television
- Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll – Ian Dury & The Blockheads
- Science Friction – XTC
- Screwed Up – The Menace
- Dancing The Night Away (Single Version) – The Motors
- Damaged Goods – Gang Of Four
- Don’t Ring Me Up (Original Good Vibrations Single Version) – Protea
- Outdoor Miner (Single Version) – Wire
- This Perfect Day (Single Version) – The Saints
- Mary Of The 4th Form (Single Version) – The Boomtown Rats
- White Punks On Dope (Promo Single Version) – The Tubes
- Silly Things (Steve Jones Vocal Single Version) – Sex Pistols
Disc 2
- Young Parisians – Adam & The Ants
- Hong Kong Garden – Siouxsie & The Banshee
- Top Of The Pops (Single Version) – The Rezillos
- Sounds Of The Suburbs (Single Version) – The Members
- Dance Stance (Single Version ) – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
- Special Brew (Single Version) – Bad Manners
- Babylon’s Burning (Single Version) – The Ruts
- That’s Too Bad – Tubeway Army
- Straw Dogs – Stiff Little Fingers
- Money (That’s What I Want) (Single Version) – The Flying Lizards
- Transmission – Joy Division
- Pop Muzik (Single Version) – M
- Being Boiled (Original Mix) – The Human League
- Homicide (Single Version) – 999
- Now It’s Gone (Single Version) – The Chords
- The Number One Song In Heaven (Single Version) – Sparks
- Video Killed The Radio Star (Single Version) – The Buggles
- Driver’s Seat (Single Version) – Sniff ’N’ The Tears
- Goodbye Girl (Single Version) – Squeeze
- Tears Of A Clown – The Beat
- They Don’t Know – Kirsty MacColl
- This Pictures On My Wall (Zoo Single Version) – Echo & The Bunnymen
- The Worker (Single Remix) – Fischer-Z
- Here Comes Summer (Single Version) – The Undertones
Disc 3
- Planet Earth (Single Version) – Duran Duran
- Private Life (Single Version) – Grace Jones
- C30 C60 C90 Go – Bow Wow Wow
- Tell That Girl To Shut Up (Single Version)- Holly & The Italians
- The Harder The Come – Joe Jackson
- The Freeze – Spandau Ballet
- The Dreams Of Children (US Single Version) – The Jam
- Nobody’s Fool (Single Version) – Haircut One Hundred
- I’m Your Money (Single Version) – Heaven 17
- (It’s Not Me) Talking – A Flock Of Seagulls
- Do Nothing (Remix Single Version) – The Specials feat. Rico with The Ice Rink String Sounds
- A Forest (Single Version) – The Cure
- A Man Could Get Lost – Soft Cell
- I Could Be Happy (Single Version) – Altered Images
- Talk Of The Town (Single Version) – The Pretenders
- Just Like Gold – Aztec Camera
- From Head To Toe (Single Version) – Elvis Costello & the Attractions
- White Rabbit – The Damned
- The Return Of The Los Palmas 7 (Single Version) – Madness
- Teen Lin (Fliptop Records Single Version) – The Shivvers
- Summertime – Fun Boy Three
- If It’s Alright With You Baby (Single Version) – The Korgis