Another great selection that takes me back to those wild gigs at the Cambridge Corn Exchange and elsewhere, where I saw many of the bands you featured.
Great video! Interesting and not too long. I would always have Shot By Both Sides at number one - a powerful, no let up classic - but love your choices. I'll check out a few you reminded me of and a couple I've not heard. Thank you !
Another Girl Another Planet has always been in my top 5 since the day I first heard it. In my innocence and as a sci fi fan I thought it was a sci fi song, along the lines of John Cooper Clarke’s I married a monster from outer space. Then one day I grew up and the true meaning hit me. Awesome song.
Small Wonder released some overlooked classics in 1978. Aside from the obvious Killing An Arab by the Cure there was Small Wonder by the Carpettes, Little Miss Perfect by Demon Preacher (Fronted by Nick Wade) and Punishment of Luxury's Puppet Life
Hi Chris , I really enjoy your top 20 lists from 1977 and 1978 and I found a couple of new punk gems thanks to you. One of the bands I am missing in your top 20 though were 999 - They put out a couple of great 7-inches in 1977 and 1978 in my opinion. But there were so many brilliant punk bands back then, it is hard to narrow it down to 20 per year. Looking forward to your next video !
Know Your Product is stunning, it is my favourite Saints song. It was a forerunner to my favourite album of theirs Prehistoric Sounds. Such a great band. Awesome singles that you showed.
Ain't Got A Clue by The Lurkers absolute classic. Love the riff in that! 'Ca Plane Pour Moi' is a must in any New Wave/Punk list. I was never into PIL. I thought I knew most of the New Wave bands from that time, but you've clearly proved me wrong, Chris 🙂
Just discovered this channel. I live in NZ and only found out about the exploding music scene there through news clips of the Sex Pistols. Intrigued I began hunting out Vinyl but in those days only select few albums could be found. What I did discover was that a bookstore did sell the latest NME and Melody Maker magazines so they were much cheaper than bloody expensive Vinyl (I was a student after all) so I could read about these singles instead. And I did- I knew all sorts of things about so many of these songs except what they sounded like. I got the Mekons on a Fast Product, a compellation that label which contained fantastic singles /EPs by Gang of 4, Human league and The Scars any of which would make my list. As for the Saints - well being our neighbors from across the ditch meant nothing, you could not get their singles or LPs here either. Finally got to hear them when CDs came out with bonus tracks.
Great to connect with folk on the other side of the world. Would love to visit your beautiful country one day but it’s a fair old way from here! Thanks for watching and commenting my friend. Cheers, Chris
I started art college in Croydon in 77 and twice a week would cross the road to the greyhound to see a band, The Jam, The Stranglers, Penetration, Souxie, The Damned either on stage or off. But there was one band that used to fill in every time someone cancelled we used to call them “not the bloody Lurkers again” and I’ll never forgive them for replacing the Pistols that night.
That makes me extremely jealous, I started at Croydon Tech in 1981, and by then the Greyhound was merely the nearest place to get a few pints in before double physics.
The Lurkers were my favourite band at the time, I still remender their live shows with much affection and even followed them on the road occasionally, sadly or perhaps fortunately never as far as Croydon ...
I had most of those, god I remember waiting for a single to come out and going to the record shop on Saturday, first band I saw was magazine they had a support band playing called simple minds.
Just found your channel Chris, and subbed for 3 reasons. 1) we're the same age, 2) we share a musical taste and 3) one day, you might, and I stress might, just mention Girls at our Best. Their album Pleasure is in the loft (I'm not a collector, just have a couple of boxes up there) and I think it's rare. Not valuable, but rare. Never see/hear anyone mention them, but some super songwriting in a unique and pretty skilled format. Try 'em.
Great video Chris, but I would sub Plastic Bertrand for Jilted John, produced by Martin "Zero" Hannett no less, just to underline the punk cred! 😂 Jilted John's 1978 LP True Love Stories is a firm favourite of mine too!
Another interesting video Chris. I was never into the whole Punk scene here in Cardiff but your recollections of this and the previous video has brought back some happy memories. If you think about it whatever your preferred flavour of music was, the late 70s and early 80s was a great time to be growing up in. And Punk was a huge deal for a short while. To these 50 something ears they stand the test of time and still sound great and very relevant in this mixed up world.
@@thevinylorchard5929 Rock was and still is a massive part of my life. A friend of mine was heavily into The Jam and when they split he seemed to give up on music. Pink Floyd are my Deep Purple, but rock in all styles are in my collection which just keeps on growing. I think the last sound I ever hear will be a guitar riff.
@@thevinylorchard5929 Floyd are mine... from the moment I discovered them over 40 years ago there music still effects me in a good way. That's what I have always loved about Rock music it just stays with you. Fashions change and age creeps up on you but I still get a buzz from a good Rock tune. I think Floyd and Purple will always be with us. "Long Live Rock & Roll"
IMO the second 2 Saints albums are the best (Eternally Yours/ Prehistoric Sounds) although very different from one another.@@thevinylorchard5929 The EP Paralytic Tonight is great . Fantastic band
Another great vid. Saw most of these bands back then. But I didn't know the story behind 'Identity' the X Ray Spex record. I'm still developing. haha I'll just put a few singles that resonated with me in '78. Feeling alright with the Crew-999 Good live band. Good memories of seeing them in 78. Also like 'Me and my desire' was very memorable. I remember 'Emergency' being a bit overhyped, though. 5 Minutes-Another Stranglers single. Good tune. Penetration Stone Heroes I really like their first album, though crazy idea to put two covers back to back to end the record, Anyway, back on topic, when I saw them the lead guitarist was hidden at the back because of his long haired appearance, but he was a good player, testified on this track. Love you More- Buzzcocks. So many great Buzzcocks songs in 78, but this reminds me of the Summer of '78. Action Time and Vision by ATV. Really good single. Reminds me of John Peel back in that year.
Great shout with the mekons n g o 4.. Identity is a killer.the line when you look in the mirror do you smash it quick do you take the glass and slash your wrists. Is one of the best lines ever. Got it tattooed on my arm.❤
Omg Chris I played the Saints album Eternally yours earlier today! Synchronicity or what! As usual with us old John Peel listeners we tended to get the same singles! I have virtually all the singles you have! Great err 1979? 😆
Probably not the first to query this but John McGeoch on 'Hong Kong Garden?' As you point out earlier he was playing with Devoto in Magazine and the Banshees still had John Mckay in them. Enjoyed the selection and very pleased you plumped for 'Ca plein pour moi' to show a record doesn't have to be hip to be great. Have you played the B Side? 'Pogo Pogo?' It's fabulous. I would have swapped a few of the ones you picked and to show I can be unhip too, I absolutely love the Ronnie Biggs Pistols single, 'No one is innocent', that would definitely be in there.
The Saints were a crackin’ band. Don't think they did a bad single. I love your ‘Punk by Year’, Top 20 countdowns. Always, a great varied selection. .. and there is usually a chuckle to be had when reading the comments and some gloit writes ‘you obviously don't know anything about Punk music’ , just because your list has The Jam, Elvis Costello and especially the likes of Plastic Bertrand on it and doesn't include any of The Exploited, GBH or Discharge noise pollution type stuff. For me, I personally wouldn't even include those bands under the large umbrella of Punk, though obviously ,the genre is subjective. But I always thought that those hardcore bands had a closer affinity to Thrash Metal scene and it's ilk. Keep the good work up. Would love to see you and hear you play the 45s whilst doing the countdown. For era-related authenticity, If you had a little Dansette or similar record player at the side of you, with a small verbal intro before each 45, you'd have a crackin’ little show. .. How about it 🤷🏼♂️🤔👍🏼👏👏✊
Know Your Product, much overlooked classic! 1978 was THE best year for music with some real rarities you should check out like The Tights, The Freeze, The Surprises, The Wall, Carpettes, Reducers amongst lots of other bands all producing some brilliant singles and EPs. The Tights’ Howard Hughes / China’s Eternal is a nailed on classic.
The Saints, 999, The Vibrators, XTC, The Clash, Magazine, The Members, UK Subs, Buzzcocks, Doll By Doll, The Jam, The Stranglers, how spoilt we were. Great selection. You may be interested in my book FROM GLAM TO THE JAM which is a unique look at the period 1970-1983!!!
I used to live near Borstal and played cricket against the wardens! After the match which was inside the grounds I was singing Borstal Breakout as I left.
Being a skint school kid paid off for once in 78, had to wait till Xmas to get my copy of The Undertones LP, by then they'd stuck Teenage Kicks & Get Over You on it 👍 I pick What do I get too, though it's close. Only Ones will always be in my too 10, like Eddie & The Hot Rods in your last vid. X-ray Spex one album but what an album, right up there.
A great list again. Of course there are several UK classics (not just excellent singles) that you admit you do not own physical copies of - or do not rank as highly e.g. Clash - White Man at Hammersmith Palais and Tommy Gun, Elton Motello Jet Boy Jet Girl, 999 Homicide (they had 5 singles released that year - as did the Buzzcocks) and Sex Pistols - My Way (which is the B-side of No One is Innocent. Many of the year's classics were non-UK from bands like D.O.A. Subhumans (Canada), Radio Birdland, X (USA) and Teenage Head. My fave that would have made the list (leaving out P. Bertrand) is anotherone on that unusual-for-punk label Harvest; The Banned - Him or Me. P.S. You can photocopy in color many missing sleeves - at least the front- from the excellent Punk 45 book
If I were doing this (and to keep it in the spirit of your selections, they have to be singles I own) I'd have to have either Dot Dash or I Am The Fly (Wire) - probably the latter - in there along with No Time to Be 21 (Adverts), Action Time Vision (ATV), What Do I Get (Buzzcocks), White Man in Hammersmith Palais (Clash), Feeding of the Five Thousand (Crass), Pump It Up (Elvis Costello), Bingo Masters Breakout (Fall), Shot By Both Sides (Magazine), Where Were You (Mekons), Homicide (999), Public Image (PiL), Destination Venus (Rezillos), Hong Kong Garden (Siouxsie and the Banshees), (Alternative Ulster (SLF), Part Time Punks (Television Personalities), Teenage Kicks (Undertones), CID (UK Subs), Reconnez Cherie (Wreckless Eric), The Day The World Turned Dayglo (X-Ray Spex), I would have also picked something by the Damned but looking their discography they (oddly) didn't release a single in 78! Don't ask me to put them in order!!!
Got to mention “Creature of Doom” by the only ones, especially the version on the ‘Hope & Anchor, front row festival’ compilation. It is imho better than another girl/planet.
I don’t think John McGeoch played in the Banshees in 78, but as you said yourself, he did in Magazine. Anyone can make a mistake 😉 Besides that, great list, keep them coming!
Magazine would be No.1 and I'd have had 5 Mins by The Stranglers, Homocide by 999, Nobody's Scared by Subway Sect and Liddle by the Angelic Upstarts in there to the detriment of Costello, The Mekons, The Jam and Gang of Four. Know Your Product is still my favourite Saints song ditto Saints Are Coming by The Skids. Either way, a great top 20!
Good top 20.However “fact check” McKay and Morris on Banshees Hong Kong Garden.John McGeoch in Magazine in 1978.1st played on Kaleidoscope Album/Happy House
@thevinylorchard5929 Some brilliant stuff there, I also started buying in 1976, tastes more pop than punk then, although did pick up some good punk stuff at the time and at fairs later on, but very envious of some of your collection. Was only ever a singles buyer, sticking with vinyl to the last and by chance have a lot of the Britpop stuff such as Oasis and Blur limited edition 7" once CD's became more popular and seem to be worth a bit. My lot runs to around 5,000 7" and 1,500 CD singles which I bought regularly until physical singles more or less ceased to be.
I only have The Jam single which happens to be my most recent The Jam purchase. At first it looked like there's nothing i've heard, but from the upper ten i have heard most of them. Mostly this list makes me realise i've read more about the British punk than heard the singles. Shame Pasi
Had gone off stranglers by 78. For me they never matched their debut. Don’t dictate is it for me by penetration. The damned didnt have a single in 78 I don’t think. Don’t own the others. Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@thevinylorchard5929 Aye, the first few copies of Love Song were 78. I still have one up the loft (collecting dust and value😁), they were self issued as the band was between labels.
Any one who was a teenager back then had the absolute best of it. Year on year of great bands always developing new sounds. No year ended like it began, Unlike today, decades of meaningless mediocrity filled with instantly forgettable crud.
Art school by them is punky but for me the edges are blurred between all these genres. In the end they are just faves from an era Few bands are genuinely punk I think. But hey
The Jam were mod, Costello shit, Skids was released in 79. Plastic Bertrand, Swell Maps, Mekons were still punk in 78. Magazine and Gang of 4, PiL excellent but already post punk.
Jam were punky to start with. Art school is classic. I liked early Costello. That skids song was released in October 1978 actually. The edges are always blurred between musical genres.
