Best punk single

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Mojo magazine has a list of the top 100 punk singles, and rather predictably God save the Queen by the Sex Pistols is at number one.
Great record but as any fule kno (I'm)Stranded by The Saints should be top dog.

― Billy Dods, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh no, not Punk again.

― DavidM, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Plastic Bertrand. Ca Plan Pour Moi or whatever it was called. Seriously. Loads of spastic energy, shouty singable, in French therefore seemed utterly foreign and unusual. As busy and buzzy as Nag Nag Nag. And it got in the charts: I was far too young and too provincial to have any knowledge of Spiral Scratch or Desperate Bicycles, so punk for me was a chart phenomenon. So much stuff from that period sounds so dated. All that dour gobbiness. All that wilful post-punk alienation. Even the Pistols sound as melodramatic as a Donald Wolfit soliloquay. So, Platic Bertrand it is for me.

― T Traherne, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'd put "Soda Pressing" by the Boys somewhere in the top ten. Can't really hear the vocals, but does it matter? Also something by the Screamers. "Lexicon Devil" by the Germs, sure. "New Rose" by the Damned, what else...?

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh yeah, duh, "In a Rut" by the Ruts. "You gotta get OUT OF IT OUT OF IT OUT OF IT!"

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The Screamers never released any singles. "Ca Plane Por Moi" is an excellent choice.

― Kris, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Agitated", Electric Eels

Oh, I couldn't let a thread go by without mentioning "Forming" yet again

― dave q, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Panik"-Metal Urbain. Or any early Weirdos singles ("We've Got the Neutron Bomb", "Solitary Confinement", "Life of Crime").

― Arthur, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh, I know they never released anything, thus part of their charm. But I like to imagine if they did, see. ;-)

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Quick Joey Small" - Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus

"I'm Down" - The Beatles

"Mutiny in Heaven" - The Birthday Party

"Bad Man" - The Oblivians

― fritz, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Predictably, I defer to Wire. Not so predictably, I choose "Dot Dash"

― Brian MacDonald, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Damn right: "(I'm) Stranded" by the Saints

RUNNERS-UP: "Pretty Vacant" by the Pistols, "Neat Neat Neat" by the Damned, "Borstal Breakout" by Sham 69, "Cretin Hop" by The Ramones

― alex in nyc, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Bollocks to you all. "New Rose", end of story.

― Simon, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

BTW

Why have I never liked "Stranded"? I recognize it's a good song, but I never got any kick out of it. I'd love to love it as much as you fellas do, but... Never did it for me.

― Simon, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"God Save the Queen?" I should think not.

"Anarchy in the UK" all the way.

― sundar subramanian, Friday, 21 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Without a doubt Vice Squad's "Latex Love" -- although probably THE ancestor of most spastic riotgirl-isms we'd like to forget, it was also an S/M blitz of the first tier, without the done-to-death nihilism of its contemporaries.

― Thomas Fischer, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Do The Standing Still by The Table - probably more on the 'new-wave' side of things but imminently danceable.

― philT, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Nag Nag Nag by Cabaret Voltaire.

If the screamers can be on this list, so can CV.

I would also say that Final Solution by Pere Ubu would be seriously up there if it were three minutes shorter.

― Michael Taylor, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

X ray Spex Germ Free adolsence

― anthony, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Justa Nother Teenage Rebel" by the Outcasts, this week anyway. I'll stake my existence that someone in that band (who I know nothing about) had a perm.

― scott, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

GAngof Four -Damaged Goods

― gabe, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

'Holidays in the Sun'

― stevo, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Ambition" - Subway Sect or "Spiral Scratch" - Buzzcocks or "Where Were You?" - Mekons

― Dr. C, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

'Why have I never liked "Stranded"? I recognize it's a good song, but I never got any kick out of it. I'd love to love it as much as you fellas do, but... Never did it for me.'

I don't think they really 'got' punk. They were sort of like the Vibrators or the Stranglers, pub-rock survivors who made the sound a bit more edgy, except being Australian they lacked even the small amount of media nous their more jaded/snotty English counterparts had, and that made all the difference in that scene. If they'd come out a few years earlier or later than they did they'd be undeniably classic, but...

― dave q, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

... Therefore I cant see how it can be the best punk single, Dave.

― Simon, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think the Stranglers comparison is a pretty good one, however The Stranglers must have saw what way the wind was blowing and changed tack accordingly. As did a few others (hello J Strummer).

The Saints must have created their sound in relative isolation though they too must have been aware of Noo Yawk 75 etc. Whether or not they were punk or not I don't think matters,. They looked the part i.e a thuggish gang, and one that probably didn't particularly like each other, and the sound and theme of the song fits right in with what was starting to develop elsewhere. To paraphrase Cheech and Chong, 'Looks like punk, sounds like punk, feels like punk...it must be punk.'

― Billy Dods, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"When the kids are united" Sham 69. Coz apart from the Ramones and the Sex Pistols they are the only punk band I know anything by.

― jel, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The Electric Eels, "Cyclotron."

Dishonest Ohio folk pretend they're moronic and homosexual (even if some of 'em actually are) while posing for magazine spreads amongst the debris of mid-seventies American consumer culture. KelvinatorKelvinatorKelvinatorKelvinator

― Michael Daddino, Saturday, 22 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

jess' top ten punk singles/songs...no particular order, though, really:

pere ubu - "30 seconds over tokyo"

electric eels - "cyclotron" b/w "agitated"

wire - "i am the fly"

buzzcocks - "what do i get?"

the slits - "shoplifting"

the fall - "totally wired"

swell maps - "let's build a car"

bad brains - "pay to cum"

flipper - "sex bomb"

the birthday party - "the friend catcher"

― jess, Sunday, 23 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"straight outta compton."

― fred solinger, Sunday, 23 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm tempted to second "Do the Standing Still," flippant as it was. (Second in the flippant category is surely "I'm in Love with Margaret Thatcher" by the Not Sensibles.)

― Nitsuh, Sunday, 23 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Fred makes a very good point.

I'm quite happy with "God Save The Queen", actually.

― Tom, Sunday, 23 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I wouldn't like to haphazardly ram in any old shit, but I will put my weight of agreement behind Pere Ubu and the Cabs.

And I would also very much like to know if there are any mp3s of those 'flippant' choices hanging around anywhere. I must have them...

― emil.y, Sunday, 23 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Better point than Fred's: "One More Time"

― mark s, Sunday, 23 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I don't see how Im Stranded can be the best punk single since it isn't the best punk single by The Saints ("This Perfect Day" is).

This Perfect Day is an astonishingly, erm, *perfect* song. Absolutely flab free, not a milli second wasted.

― Alexander Blair, Sunday, 23 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"Teenage Kicks"?

― Sean, Monday, 24 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

"The Punk" by Cherry Vanilla. "Hello he says like a beefy hunk/Well I'm a little angry and a little drunk/I wanna rock 'n' roll/ I wanna be a punk!"

― Arthur, Monday, 24 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

as a sort of 'modern' punk single I also like Supernova's "Calling Hong Kong".

― jel, Monday, 24 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Arthur, how dare you mention Cherry Vanilla, are you insane? You probably have the Dana Gillespie album, too.

― Sean, Monday, 24 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i'm gonna say "nervous breakdown" by black flag should be up there...

― g, Monday, 24 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yeah, call me Celestia, Sean. Of course I've got the Dana Gillespie record. And the Ava Cherry record, too. What of it? Actually, my real choice is "Anarchy in the U.K.", yawn.

― Arthur, Monday, 24 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Ok, I've got the Dana Gillespie album too.

― Sean, Monday, 24 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You're all wrong... It's "Sonic Reducer" by the Dead Boys, natch.

― Andy, Monday, 24 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i wasn't being flip or contrary when i mentioned "straight out of compton." i'd been listening to it at the exact moment that i saw this thread and thought, "i can't think of a single punk single that's as splenetic or that's filled with more aimless rage." the group is filled with drug dealers and criminals (more or less); their album cover features five african-american men pointing a gun, ostensibly, at you, the viewer, who is presumably laying on the ground, returning to consciousness after having caught a bad one. and this is what you wake up. they wrote a song called "fuck that police" and garnered threatening letters from the f.b.i. and what's more, the public loved it.

"fuck tha police" may be the better punk single -- but it doesn't have the opening line, "you are now about to witness the strenf of street knowledge" (which, in my book, outclasses even the mighty fine, "is she really going out with him?") and it's not the wide- ranging statement of purpose (or lack of purpose) that "compton" is. which is a long way of saying that it's their "God save the queen" (attack on authority figurehead) to "anarchy in the u.k.'s" "compton."

and while i'm at it: were n.w.a. the sex pistols to public enemy's clash?

― fred solinger, Monday, 24 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

calculated shittiness v. "quality" consciousness? eh... did somebody say peaches?

i say "rock show" ("a big gigantic cock show") is best at punXor

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 24 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

(I'm) Stranded is totally great, but This Perfect Day is even better

― Jerry, Sunday, 30 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

If "Shot By Both Sides" counts, I'd go for it.

― Robin Carmody, Sunday, 30 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I would have to say that New Rose by the Damned is definitely up there, also Jealous again by Black Flag, Blew My Cool by the Oblivians, Manimal by the Germs, Submission by the Sex Pistols if you have to go there, not to forget Red Tape by the Circle Jerks, and really pushing the 'punk' genre back to the 60's is definitely one of the best songs ever written ...Don't tread on me by Kit and the Outlaws. there are so many though. all of the ones I've seen above are heavy contenders especially the early Fall mention...oh, hell, and Shit Fool by the Dicks. -H

― Smarmy Yank, Monday, 1 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

And Cabaret Voltaire and pere ubu are good in thier own right, but nowhere near Punk. Ouch.

― smarmy, Monday, 1 October 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

nine months pass...

"Six Pack", Black Flag. "Survive", the Bags. "Black Cross", 45 Grave. Any will do!

― Matt Riedl (veal), Saturday, 13 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Twisted Sister, "We're Not Gonna Take It". (har har)

― Nate Patrin, Saturday, 13 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

One Chord Wonders, by the Adverts.

― Justyn Dillingham, Saturday, 13 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

seven months pass...

White Riot/1977 - Clash

― John Bullabaugh (John Bullabaugh), Saturday, 8 March 2003 17:16 (twenty-two years ago)

"Clash City Rockers" Clash (it was a single, right?)

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 8 March 2003 17:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I like all of the above, and wish I had "Pay to Cum" (though I guess I could have MP3'd it). Anyway, I'll be playing some of my favorite punk songs at 3 p.m. Central Standard Time (Minneapolis/Chicago time) today at:

http://radiok.cce.umn.edu/radiok/live.ram

Tentative set list:

Husker Du, Eight Miles High
The Buzzcocks, Ever Fallen In Love?
Naked Raygun, Potential Rapist
Black Flag, Wound Up
Bikini Kill, Feels Blind
The Sex Pistols, God Save the Queen
Mission of Burma, Academy Fight Song
Suicide Commandos, Complicated Fun
Minor Threat, Out of Step (With the World)
Black Flag, White Minority
Minutemen, Definitions
The Dicks, Dicks Hate the Police
The Couch Potatoes (a.k.a. Couch Flambeau), Mobile Home
Descendents, Suburban Home
Dead Kennedys, Life Sentence
The Crucifucks, Hickley Had a Vision
Big Boys, Heartbeat
Fugazi, Epic Problem
Appliances-SFB, Bob Hope
Public Image Ltd., Memories
Heavens to Betsy, Me & Her
The Clash, Janie Jones
Minutemen, The Glory of Man
Flipper, Ever
Wire, Fragile
Beat Happening, Foggy Eyes
X, White Girl
Die Kreuzen, All White
Dead Kennedys, Halloween
Meat Puppets, Maiden's Milk
MDC, Chicken Squawk
The Replacements, Unsatisfied
Dead Boys, Sonic Reducer (original mix)
Per Ubu, Heart of Darkness
Sonic Youth, Beauty Lies in the Eye
Minutemen, History Lesson - Part II
The Butthole Surfers, The Shah Sleeps In Lee Harvey's Grave
The Ramones, Blitzkrieg Bop

― Pete Scholtes, Saturday, 8 March 2003 18:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Buzzcocks - Orgasm Addict
Dickies - Fan Mail
Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop
Wire - Dot Dash

― zilverberg.tk (zilverberg.tk), Saturday, 8 March 2003 22:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Can I nominate Halo of Flies' "Headburn" and the Fun Things' "Lipstick" here?

Actually the prize goes to the Frantix' "My Dad's A Fuckin' Alcoholic."

― Douglas (Douglas), Sunday, 9 March 2003 01:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Negativland - "U2"

― Evan (Evan), Sunday, 9 March 2003 02:00 (twenty-two years ago)

"No Pity" -- 999

or "Gavin Scott Can Do No Wrong" by the Kiss Offs but nobody outside TX has prolly heard it

― Aaron A., Sunday, 9 March 2003 02:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Can I nominate Halo of Flies' "Headburn"[...]

can i tell you i love you?

― your null fame (yournullfame), Sunday, 9 March 2003 07:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Urinals Ack Ack Ack
New Rose
anything by Confuse
anything by Nurses
Heavens to Betsy 'These Monsters Are Real'
Cough / Cool

― roger adultery (roger adultery), Sunday, 9 March 2003 07:29 (twenty-two years ago)

The Tits - Daddy is my pusher maybe (they´re from Holland!)
Metal urbain - Paris Maquis
Honey Bane - Girl on the run
any of the Dead Kenndys 7"s
Buzzcocks - Spiral scratch & orgasm addict
Die electric eels - Cyclotron (for I´m so agitated)

and that´s not mentioning postpunk (which is far more interesting...

― Jens (brighter), Sunday, 9 March 2003 08:08 (twenty-two years ago)

it's just got to be agitated/cyclotron. that's all.

― your null fame (yournullfame), Sunday, 9 March 2003 09:05 (twenty-two years ago)

dizzee rascal 'i luv u'

― schnell schnell, Sunday, 9 March 2003 12:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Husker Du - celebrated summer
Buzzcocks - raison d'etre
Misfits - hybreed moment

― rex jr., Sunday, 9 March 2003 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

nine months pass...

"wasted" by black flag. explosive. funny. short. I sing this song no matter what I'm fucked up on. I need this song when I need to let go and be my style.

― Rob the bob, Friday, 26 December 2003 14:59 (twenty-two years ago)

new rose, the damned.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Friday, 26 December 2003 16:24 (twenty-two years ago)

The Plugz, "Revolution/Mindless Contentment."

― Phil Freeman (Phil Freeman), Friday, 26 December 2003 18:21 (twenty-two years ago)

In My Eyes - Minor Threat
Bullet - The Misfits
Pay to Cum - Bad Brains

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Friday, 26 December 2003 20:02 (twenty-two years ago)

We're Desperate - X

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Friday, 26 December 2003 20:05 (twenty-two years ago)

In a Free Land - Husker Du

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Friday, 26 December 2003 20:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Plastic Bertrand. Ca Plan Pour Moi > You have GOT to be joking! It's a fun song but it's just silly.

― nathalie (nathalie), Saturday, 27 December 2003 19:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Punks Not Dead - The Exploited

― fuckface, Saturday, 27 December 2003 20:16 (twenty-two years ago)

WHIIIIITE RIOT!! I WANNA RIOT!!!!!!!!!! WHIIIIIIITE RIOT!!!! A RIOT OF MY OWN!!!!!!!!!!

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Saturday, 27 December 2003 20:23 (twenty-two years ago)

four weeks pass...

fopp glasgow are selling a 10-cd box set of punk fr £15, should i buy this?

― cozen (Cozen), Saturday, 24 January 2004 14:07 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

husker du 'eight miles high'

― Ian Johnson (orion), Thursday, 25 March 2004 21:47 (twenty-one years ago)

alphabetically:

1. Mission of Burma - "Academy Fight Song"
2. The Sex Pistols - "Anarchy in the UK"
3. The Fall - "Bingo Master's Break Out"/"Psycho Mafia"/"Repetition"
4. The Ramones - "Blitzkrieg Bop"
5. Dead Kennedys - "California Uber Alles"
6. The Clash - "Clash City Rockers"
7. The Misfits - "Cough/Cool"/"She"
8. Gang of Four - "Damaged Goods"/"Love Like Anthrax"/"Armalite Rifle"
9. The Buzzcocks - "Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)"/"Just Lust"
10. The Buzzcocks - "Everybody's Happy Nowadays"/"Why Can't I Touch It?"
11. The Police - "Fallout"
12. The Stranglers - "Get a Grip on Yourself"
13. The Sex Pistols - "God Save the Queen"
14. The Buzzcocks - "Harmony in My Head"/"Something's Gone Wrong Again"
15. Dead Kenndys - "Holiday in Cambodia"
16. The Buzzcocks - "I Don't Mind"/"Autonomy"
17. The Saints - "(I'm) Stranded"
18. The Replacements - "I'm in Trouble"/"If Only You Were Lonely"
19. Sham 69 - "If the Kids Are United"
20. The Jam - "In the City"
21. The Buzzcocks - "Love You More"/"Noise Annoys"
22. Wire - "Mannequin"/"Feeling Called Love"/"12XU"
23. The Mekons - "Never Been in a Riot"
24. The Damned - "New Rose"
25. X-Ray Specs - "Oh Bondage! Up Yours!"
26. The Buzzcocks - "Orgasm Addict"/"Whatever Happened To?"
27. The Buzzcocks - "Promises"/"Lipstick"
28. The Modern Lovers - "Roadrunner" (the album version is much better)
29. The Ramones - "Sheena is a Punk Rocker"
30. Magazine - "Shot By Both Sides"
31. The Buzzcocks - Spiral Scratch EP
32. The Undertones - "Teenage Kicks"
33. The Buzzcocks - "What Do I Get?"/"Oh Shit"

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Friday, 26 March 2004 02:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Plastic Ono Band, "Don't Worry Kyoko"

Or, for a more orthodox choice: The Saints, "(I'm) Stranded"

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Friday, 26 March 2004 06:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Still Buzzcocks - Spiral Scratch

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Friday, 26 March 2004 08:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Richard Hell - Blank Generation.

― jesus nathalie (nathalie), Friday, 26 March 2004 08:23 (twenty-one years ago)

New Rose, obviously
Spiral Scratch a worthy second

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Friday, 26 March 2004 08:57 (twenty-one years ago)

No Stiff Little fingers

― joe blow, Friday, 26 March 2004 09:32 (twenty-one years ago)

no Australian 45s in that list = it is worthless.

some answers:

Fun Things - when the birdmen fly
Psycho Surgeons - wild weekend / horizontal action
Razar - task force (undercover cops)
Numbers - govt. boy
Victims - TV Addict / i'm flipped out over you

― the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 26 March 2004 09:36 (twenty-one years ago)

"i'm stranded" wouldn't be the saints song i'd choose.. "know your product" is the better song, although it doesn't have quite the historic value

― the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 26 March 2004 09:38 (twenty-one years ago)

The Eastern Dark! Johnny & Dee Dee!

― NickB (NickB), Friday, 26 March 2004 09:40 (twenty-one years ago)

ahh of course! soz

― the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 26 March 2004 09:41 (twenty-one years ago)

soooo pissed off i sold that 7"

― the surface noise (electricsound), Friday, 26 March 2004 09:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh the 10 CD punk set in Fopp Glasgow.

Is that the 'mostly oi' plus other remnants? If you want a good punk collection, no. If you want lots of preipheral stuff, yes.

― mark grout (mark grout), Friday, 26 March 2004 09:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Hilton Bomber with the Thought criminals is grat also.
And the slugfuckers stuff but thats more postpunk.

Third on the Eastern Dark single.

― Jens (brighter), Friday, 26 March 2004 11:18 (twenty-one years ago)

"Fun" - The Thought Criminals.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Friday, 26 March 2004 11:27 (twenty-one years ago)

"You" by Eater.

― Baravelli. (Jake Proudlock), Friday, 26 March 2004 18:19 (twenty-one years ago)

four months pass...

Only one person's mentioned the real winner, The Undertones - "Teenage Kicks".

And no one's mentioned The Rezillos, who definitely need to be on the list somewhere, maybe for "Good Sculptures" or "Can't Stand My Baby". Practically the entire Buzzcocks singles discography as recorded on "Singles Going Steady" ("Ever Fallen in Love?", "What Do I Get?", "I Don't Mind", "Harmony in My Head", etc.), plus the Spiral Scratch EP.

"(I'm) Stranded", "New Rose", "Neat Neat Neat", "This Perfect Day", and (alas) "God Save the Queen" also belong there. So too a whole slew of Jam singles, including "In the City", "Strange Town", "Eton Rifles" (for the B-side, "See-Saw") and "Going Underground". Naturally "Blitzkrieg Bop", "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker", etc. "Clash City Rockers", "Complete Control", "Tommy Gun", & even "London Calling".

I'd also be inclined to put Blondie's "X Offender", The Dead Boys' "Sonic Reducer" (perhaps the consumate punk single, if not quite the best), Black Flag's Nervous Breakdown EP, Generation X's "Ready Steady Go", The Stranglers' "Grip", Jilted John's "Jilted John", The Yachts' "Yachting Type", Stiff Little Fingers' "Gotta Gettaway", The Starjets' "War Stories" & "Schooldays", The Outcasts' "Justa Nother Teenage Rebel", Protex' "Don't Ring Me Up", Rudi's "Big Time", The Moondogs' "She's 19", Gang Of Four's "At Home He's a Tourist", The Members' "Sound of the Suburbs", The Chords' "Maybe Tomorrow", The Adverts' "One Chord Wonders" & "Gary Gilmore's Eyes", The Lurkers' "Shadow" & "Ain't Got a Clue", some of The Undertones' other masterpieces ("Here Comes the Summer", "Jimmy Jimmy" b/w "Mars Bars", "Get Over You", "You've Got My Number"). In a more power pop vein, there's The Records' "Starry Eyes", The Real Kids' "All Kindsa Girls", The Only Ones' "Another Girl, Another Planet", and The Nerves' self-titled EP.

Christ, that's a lot of records, isn't it?

― Jay Banerjee, Saturday, 31 July 2004 18:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Man, did punk rock just take a complete fucking shit sometime during the 1980s or what? Almost all of these songs are from the 70s!!

― Mr. Snrub, Sunday, 1 August 2004 10:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Yellowcard's "Ocean Ave." is my best single of 2004

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Sunday, 1 August 2004 13:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Man, did punk rock just take a complete fucking shit sometime during the 1980s or what? Almost all of these songs are from the 70s!!

Punk dies in 1979. QED.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Monday, 2 August 2004 08:08 (twenty-one years ago)

X - We're Desperate

― matulageci (matulageci), Monday, 2 August 2004 09:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Wire, Sham 69, The Fall, Worst, Manicured Noise, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Subway Sect, Prefects, Slits-they are strong bands, especially in their attitudes. The Pistols/Clash are the dinosaurs they're reacting against

Paul Morley, NME, Dec 3rd, 1977

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Monday, 2 August 2004 14:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Virginia Plain - Roxy Music

― Bidfurd, Monday, 2 August 2004 15:23 (twenty-one years ago)

and while i'm at it: were n.w.a. the sex pistols to public enemy's clash?

This is the stupidest goddamn thing I've ever read.

― TOMBOT, Monday, 2 August 2004 19:47 (twenty-one years ago)

It's New Rose, you poxy fules.

― Bimble (bimble), Monday, 2 August 2004 21:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Almost all of these songs are from the 70s!!
Not on my list above, which is overwhelmingly '80s... That show was so fun.

― Pete Scholtes, Tuesday, 3 August 2004 00:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Ravel, Bolero.

― joseph cotten (joseph cotten), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 03:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Last Years Youth by Menace, not sure if it was a single but in my opinion one of the best

― Brandon Biondo (twinkiebots), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 05:56 (twenty-one years ago)

It was their 5th single, released posthumously in '79 after (original) vocalist Morgan Webster left and the rest of the band attempted to reinvent themselves as The Aces.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 08:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm still standin' behind "(I'm) Stranded" by the Saints, but I do so love "Borstal Breakout" by Sham 69.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 3 August 2004 14:46 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

definitely 'mods,skins,punx' by professionals

― eehwi jviebi, Sunday, 31 October 2004 11:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Not released as a single, but Wire's 'Raft Ants' off the recent 'Read & Burn 02' release.

& some Slugfuckers.

― Sasha (sgh), Monday, 1 November 2004 02:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I Don't Mind - the Buzzcocks

― everything, Monday, 1 November 2004 17:02 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe Action, Time, Vision by ATV?

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 00:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Or even Germ Free Adolescence by X-Ray Spex?

Or Stranded by The Saints?

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 00:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Ned got it right with Germs "Lexicon Devil." No contest.

― Ian John50n (orion), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 00:49 (twenty-one years ago)

The Victims, "Television Addict" / "I'm Flipped Out Over You"

― The Midnight ROFFLEr (haitch), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 04:57 (twenty-one years ago)

"(I'm) Stranded" by the Saints shits all over the Germs.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 15:21 (twenty-one years ago)

The two-sider that punked my world: "New Religion"/"Blood on the Wall" by Some Chicken. I'm serious as a heart attack.

― briania (briania), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 15:23 (twenty-one years ago)

That Some Chicken single is fucking great, you are correct. And I managed to find it in Oxfam for 20p which makes it even better!

― Colonel Poo (Colonel Poo), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 17:07 (twenty-one years ago)

I think Raw Records went under and all their stuff could be had cheap. The Soft Boys single was probably the collectible one of the lot. I bought 'em all for peanuts in Iowa, USA.

― briania (briania), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 17:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I think Raw Records stuff is fairly pricey in the UK nowadays, I only have the Some Chicken one and one of the rockabilly ones which isn't very good, Danny Wild & the Wild Cats I think. I have the Raw Records Singles CD though which covers most of the good stuff I think.

That was a pretty good Oxfam find though, got that, The Saints - 1,2,3,4 EP, Pork Dukes - Bend & Flush 7", Rezillos - Top of the Pops 7" and a couple of Twilight Zoners 7"s (more DIY-ish than punk) for about £1.50 total.

― Colonel Poo (Colonel Poo), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

hahaha -- Pork Dukes!!

― briania (briania), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 17:34 (twenty-one years ago)

It's a tie!
"New Rose"
Zero Boys, "Mom's Wallet"
Minutemen, "If Reagan Played Disco"

Thanks for voting, drive safe, good night!

― the apex of nadirs (Rock Hardy), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 19:35 (twenty-one years ago)

so would it be possible to make a good punk playlist only with songs from the 90's to now ? tricky one...

― AleXTC (AleXTC), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 19:48 (twenty-one years ago)

ummmmmmm
Reality Asylum - Crass

best single ever.

― is a scientist, Tuesday, 2 November 2004 19:52 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

Best three ever:

1. Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers - "Born To Lose" (Most of the punk bands worshipped Johnny and this is quite possibly his best song.)

2. Stiff Little Fingers - "Suspect Device" (First ever single to get in UK Top 20 with an independant label - and that's whats punks about right, no big record company making the tune pitch perfect.)

3. Sex Pistols - "Anarchy In The UK" (What started the revolution.)

― J.McCauley, Wednesday, 29 December 2004 16:48 (twenty-one years ago)

3. Sex Pistols - "Anarchy In The UK" (What started the revolution.)

Er....no.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 17:04 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.gerry.it/images/ramones/johnny.jpg

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Wednesday, 29 December 2004 17:06 (twenty-one years ago)

By revolution I mean making punk mainstream

― J.McCauley, Thursday, 30 December 2004 17:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Also...I'm shocked that no-one else has Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers in any of their lists...

It should also be remembered that Johnny helped create punk in the New York Dolls...

― J.McCauley, Thursday, 30 December 2004 17:31 (twenty-one years ago)

one year passes...

'Sex Cells' by The Table - bouncy, full of energy, great guitars, mad bass, weird structure!

― Emma D. Corcoran, Monday, 20 February 2006 16:12 (nineteen years ago)

Do the Standing Still was better, prob.

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 February 2006 16:17 (nineteen years ago)

Damaged goods E.P. by Gang of 4. esp Armelite rifle.
You Bastard - ATV.
Dead Cities - Exploited.
12XU - Wire. (if it was ever a single...which it probably wasn't)

And for sheer joy/comedy value:

Anti-nowhere league - So What!

― Ant, Monday, 20 February 2006 17:17 (nineteen years ago)

It may not be the best, but the most underrated punk single is "Your Generation" by Generation X.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 20 February 2006 17:18 (nineteen years ago)

xpost it was 2nd track on the b-side of "Mannequin"

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 20 February 2006 17:31 (nineteen years ago)

i'm obsessed with a secret desire for sex with school girls...

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Monday, 20 February 2006 17:57 (nineteen years ago)

I've yet to hear any punk song that I consider to be better than the Dil's "Class War".

― joygoat (joygoat), Monday, 20 February 2006 20:38 (nineteen years ago)

"(I'm) Stranded" by the Saints is, was and ever shall be the best punk single of all time.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 20 February 2006 22:00 (nineteen years ago)

bummer bitch.

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Monday, 20 February 2006 22:01 (nineteen years ago)

YSI for the Saints - "(I'm) Stranded" please?

― Harpal (harpal), Monday, 20 February 2006 22:29 (nineteen years ago)

certainly not the ashlee simpson song I had to listen to yesterday ;)

tossup: "New Rose" or "Pay to Cum"

― m coleman (lovebug starski), Monday, 20 February 2006 22:37 (nineteen years ago)

"New Rose"

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 20 February 2006 22:39 (nineteen years ago)

i second reality asylum by crass.

― frenchbloke (frenchbloke), Monday, 20 February 2006 22:40 (nineteen years ago)

I'm going to be really contrarian and say....

Spiral Scratch.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Monday, 20 February 2006 22:58 (nineteen years ago)

bon jovi " living on a prayer ".

― retrogurl, Tuesday, 21 February 2006 01:35 (nineteen years ago)

scientists "frantic romantic"

― WROFLMOTHER (haitch), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 01:45 (nineteen years ago)

I'll second "Solitary Confinement", at least today.

― sleeve (sleeve), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 03:07 (nineteen years ago)

ahh this thread makes me wanna hear task force

― electric sound of jim (and why not) (electricsound), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 03:18 (nineteen years ago)

oh and if anyone is feeling spendy

― electric sound of jim (and why not) (electricsound), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 03:19 (nineteen years ago)

!? GOOD LORD.

― WROFLMOTHER (haitch), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 03:21 (nineteen years ago)

Frantic Romantic is a real good call. Funny though, I prefer the 'new version' Salmon cut in the 90's over the '79.

― The Velvet Overlord (The Velvet Overlord), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 08:12 (nineteen years ago)

dude ... is this the "which parent do you love more" thread or what? ... what kinda question is this?

and my biased, ridiculous answer is: Wire - "Ex-Lion Tamer"

― Cameron Octigan (Cameron Octigan), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 08:18 (nineteen years ago)

perhaps Gary Gilmore's Eyes

― zeus (zeus), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 08:36 (nineteen years ago)

and my biased, ridiculous answer is: Wire - "Ex-Lion Tamer"

Ridiculous because it wasn't ever a single?

― Rotatey Diskers With Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 10:54 (nineteen years ago)

Again, it was a b-side, this time to "I am the Fly"

― mark grout (mark grout), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 11:08 (nineteen years ago)

b-sides don't count as singles when they're six month old album tracks stuck on the back of a single by record compnaies

― Rotatey Diskers With Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 11:10 (nineteen years ago)

but they count when the single fucking blows, and the bside fucking rules. also ... "ex-lion tamer" came out on a previous album. so, it was just SO good that the record company couldn't let "i am the fly" come out on it's own b/c xlion tamer is ridiculously rad.

since when was ILM so serious?!

thanks for being snobs.

― Cameron Octigan (Cameron Octigan), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 11:12 (nineteen years ago)

since when was ILM so serious?!

When people show up who think "I Am the Fly" blows

― Rotatey Diskers With Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 11:18 (nineteen years ago)

I prefer the 'new version' Salmon cut in the 90's over the '79.

actually that surrealists version is pretty good!

― WROFLMOTHER (haitch), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 11:55 (nineteen years ago)

was there punk between sex pistols and nirvana ? no ?

― retrogurl, Tuesday, 21 February 2006 12:20 (nineteen years ago)

sk8er boi

― Jimmy Mod: The Prettiest Flower In The Pond (The Famous Jimmy Mod), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 13:02 (nineteen years ago)

First off - fuck this "punk died in 1979" bullshit. Even Don Letts doesn't believe that nonsense.

Now then:
Antiseen - Fuck all y'all
Poison Idea - feel the darkness / alan's on fire
black flag: nervous breakdown
Buzzcocks: all of them - singles goin steady doesn't have a bum track on it.
Jesus Lizard - wheelchair epidemic / Mudhoney Hates the Polics - great dicks covers, that improve on the originals.
New Bomb Turks - Job
Dead Kennedys - Nazi Punks fuck off - not their best song, but the packaging puts it on the list

and lots and lots more.

― Uncle Tom (Uncle Tom), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 15:16 (nineteen years ago)

First off - fuck this "punk died in 1979" bullshit

Yes, exactly, it was dead by the end of 1977

― Rotatey Diskers With Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 15:20 (nineteen years ago)

You Oughta Know

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 15:37 (nineteen years ago)

Right, and rock and roll died in 1958 after Elvis got his haircut.

Wanker.

― Uncle Tom (Uncle Tom), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 15:50 (nineteen years ago)

Yeah Don Letts says punk dissapeared in 82 and came back with Nirvana, followed by Green Day and Blink 182! Seriously, I saw that movie (it's been discussed here), and it's amazing how he decides to completely ignore everything that happened in the 80s.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 16:07 (nineteen years ago)

Right, and rock and roll died in 1958 after Elvis got his haircut.

Well, at least you got that right

― Rotatey Diskers With Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 16:12 (nineteen years ago)

If Don Letts is the "punk: attitude" guy, you're misrepresenting the argument. He doesn't say it disappeared, he says it receded, maybe he says it "went underground," don't remember if he used that metaphor. He embodies mid- to late-80s punk in Agnostic Front--it's a pretty negative portrayal, they seem like knuckleheads and H. Rollins characterizes them as such, at a time when (according to Rollins) everything was getting much more interesting musically.

― eek, Tuesday, 21 February 2006 20:27 (nineteen years ago)

well, I was annoyed because he really did jump ahead in time, except for having Agnostic Front talking, and I also think he misrepresented Thurston Moore. There's some moment where Thurston says something like "and people say punk disappeared in 82" or whatever and it really seems as Thurston's about to say "BUT..." having heard him talk about 80s punk in it's many forms and how vibrant and exciting it was, then Letts cuts away and starts talking about Nirvana.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 20:35 (nineteen years ago)

TVP's - Where's Bill Grundy Now?

― r3000, Tuesday, 21 February 2006 20:37 (nineteen years ago)

Four and a half years, 165 replies, and still no-one has put forward The Knack's "My Sharona". I'm not saying it is necessarily the best but it must surely make any top 10.

― Nick H (Nick H), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 21:28 (nineteen years ago)

that is actually INCORRECT, sir.

― Special Agent Gene Krupa (orion), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 21:29 (nineteen years ago)

who is that punk band, in the original punk rock movie that letts did, that they show in the studio trying to do a reggae tune? god, i used to laugh myself silly when that part came up. i loved that movie when i was a teen. i found a 99 cent copy at the supermarket or something.

― scott seward (scott seward), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 21:37 (nineteen years ago)

Many of the old Crass Records singles and EPs can be countd amongst the best punk singles, namely Crass' own "Big A, Little A", Dirt's "Hiroshima", and Flux of Pink Indians' "Tube Disasters".

― naus (Robert T), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 21:54 (nineteen years ago)

DILS OTM

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 22:26 (nineteen years ago)

"He doesn't say it disappeared, he says it receded, maybe he says it "went underground," don't remember if he used that metaphor."

As far as I can remember he doesn't actually say that (the UK scene pretty much died and) the action moved from the UK (back) to the US from about '79/'80 onwards - but the inference is pretty clear.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 22:34 (nineteen years ago)

Dils OTM, but lemme put in my vote for "You're Not Blank" instead.

― wangdangsweetpentangle (teenagequiet), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 22:45 (nineteen years ago)

Or "Mr. Big!"

― Tim Ellison (Tim Ellison), Tuesday, 21 February 2006 22:53 (nineteen years ago)

Siouxsie & The Banshees - "Love In A Void" or "Mirage"

― LeRooLeRoo (Seb), Wednesday, 22 February 2006 00:08 (nineteen years ago)

The Letts movie and that recent Mojo issue on U.S. punk are at least improvements over books like Punk: The Definitive Record of a Revolution (what a title), which appears to deviate from the punk-died-in-'79-then-Nirvana-happened narrative only to say that punk influenced rap.

― Pete Scholtes (Pete Scholtes), Wednesday, 22 February 2006 04:41 (nineteen years ago)

I remember that. That'll be Alternative TV, with one Julian Holland (in NHS specs) on piano.

― mark grout (mark grout), Wednesday, 22 February 2006 09:19 (nineteen years ago)

I hope no-one minds if I make a couple of punk YSI requests here...I think my requests kind of get lost in the regular YSI threads. I'm looking for:
U.X.A. - You Saw Me
The Accelerators - Sorority Girl

I'm recreating the semi-legendary "Lose Your Friends" and "Lose Your Job" cassette comps from the mid 80s and those are the only 2 tracks left to find.

I've narrowed my vote down to "New Rose."

― pixel farmer (Rock Hardy), Wednesday, 22 February 2006 13:24 (nineteen years ago)

it seems to me that a lot of 76-era punks tend to be more openly affectionate toward their grandchildren than their kids, like lots of men-folk of a certain age.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Wednesday, 22 February 2006 13:53 (nineteen years ago)

Maybe that's because we thought our alleged kids (Oi! and Hardcore) looked more like our skinhead neighbour and our headbanger milkman than they did like us?

Also we're not expected to take responsibility for our grandchildren in the same way, are we?

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Wednesday, 22 February 2006 14:18 (nineteen years ago)

five years pass...

This thread + Spotify = a serious addiction.

I wound up creating a chronological list of 300 punk songs, 1973-present, arguable and beautiful: What is punk? A Chronology in 300 Songs: 1973-2011

I'd love more suggestions, especially on '85 to the present. There was a lot since then that's considered punk that I don't like, or don't consider punk, and a lot that I like that's not really punk, and an awful lot of underground stuff that I've forgotten. That's why I titled with a question. The list is chronological by year, and chronological within the year when possible, then sequenced for flow. I'm still learning to Spotify too, so if it doesn't work, let me know. I think I made it interactive, so feel free to add songs. Make it 500? I copied my original list elsewhere.

I'll have to save these other threads for a lazy Saturday:

Best punk single
What are the definitive proto-punk, punk, post punk and hardcore songs?
recommend me some punk songs
101 Punk Rock Love Songs
top 100 most punk songs in the blues idiom
Best of "Disco-Punk"?

― Pete Scholtes, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 15:01 (fourteen years ago)

Whoops, not "Best punk single" obviously. And looking back, it's also obvious I ignored the traditional meaning of "single."

― Pete Scholtes, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 15:13 (fourteen years ago)

Wow, really nice playlist. Here's some post-85 radness that's looks to be on US spotify

The Ex - Gonna Rob the Spermbank
New Bomb Turks - Born Toulouse-Latrec
The Dwarves - Drug Store
A-Frames - Experiment
Epoxies - Wind Me Up
Pissed Jeans - Boring Girls
Jay Reatard - My Shadow
Disfear - Get It Off
Marked Men - Blew My Head

― bendy, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 16:45 (fourteen years ago)

Thank you! I'll keep adding. My only limit is to include just one song per album as a representative of the release, unless another was also released as a single. But from now on it'll be one big tent, all additions welcome. (I'll keep my own list separately. I already left out some obvious ones, and would add those to this shared list too.)

― Pete Scholtes, Tuesday, 30 August 2011 19:01 (fourteen years ago)

I copied my original list elsewhere.

Where? I don't have Spotify, Pete (and don't plan on getting it), but if you can provide a link to the list, I'm sure I can make some suggestions.

― clemenza, Wednesday, 31 August 2011 14:00 (fourteen years ago)

On Spotify: I just meant I'd take new songs even if I didn't like 'em--which hasn't actually been a problem.

― Pete Scholtes, Thursday, 1 September 2011 01:40 (fourteen years ago)

three years pass...

Saw the current version of the Weirdos open for the current version of the Adolescents last night. The Weirdos sounded great on "We've Got the Neutron Bomb" and "Solitary Confinement." Adolescents on "Amoeba" and "Kids of the Black Hole"

― curmudgeon, Monday, 29 June 2015 14:37 (ten years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.