The Best Punk & New Wave Albums of the 1970s
Our pick of the essential punk & new wave records released in the 1970s, ranked.
-
1London CallingThe Clash
London Calling
A sprawling double album that blew punk wide open, folding in reggae, ska, rockabilly and soul without losing its urgency. Politically charged and endlessly tuneful, it is regularly named among the greatest rock records ever. The ideal entry point to the band.
-
2RamonesRamones
Ramones
Fourteen songs, under half an hour, year zero for punk: buzzsaw guitars, bubblegum hooks and no solos. Simple, joyful and revolutionary. The blueprint everyone copied.
-
3Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex PistolsSex Pistols
Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols
The only studio album from the band that detonated UK punk, snarling and tighter than its reputation suggests. Its cultural shockwave dwarfs its 38 minutes. A historical necessity.
-
4Unknown PleasuresJoy Division
Unknown Pleasures
Stark, cavernous post-punk shaped by Martin Hannett's spacious production and Ian Curtis's haunted baritone. It still sounds isolated and modern decades on. A foundational record for goth, post-punk and everything that followed.
-
5Marquee MoonTelevision
Marquee Moon
Twin-guitar interplay and lean songwriting that pushed punk toward art-rock, peaking in the ten-minute title track. Precise and thrilling. A foundational record.
-
6HorsesPatti Smith
Horses
A visionary fusion of poetry and punk, raw and incantatory from the opening line. Fearless and influential. One of the great debut albums.
-
7Parallel LinesBlondie
Parallel Lines
New-wave pop perfection, balancing punk attitude with disco and pure hooks on 'Heart of Glass' and 'One Way or Another'. Tight and irresistible. A definitive late-70s record.
-
8The ClashThe Clash
The Clash
A furious, tuneful debut of UK punk with reggae undertones and political fire. Raw and vital. A genre cornerstone.
-
9My Aim Is TrueElvis Costello
My Aim Is True
A sharp, tuneful debut of new-wave songcraft and barbed wit, home to 'Alison'. Clever and immediate. A great first record.
-
10This Year's ModelElvis Costello
This Year's Model
A taut, angry peak with the Attractions, all nervy energy and hooks. Sharp and propulsive. Often called his best.
-
11Pink FlagWire
Pink Flag
A brilliant, minimalist punk debut of short, jagged art-songs. Sharp and influential. Far ahead of its time.
-
12Entertainment!Gang of Four
Entertainment!
A jagged, danceable post-punk landmark of funk bass and Marxist critique. Angular and influential. A genre cornerstone.
-
13Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!Devo
Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!
A jerky, satirical new-wave debut of de-evolution theory and herky-007 rhythms. Quirky and influential. A cult landmark.
-
14Fun HouseThe Stooges
Fun House
A raw, saxophone-scorched proto-punk landmark of pure energy. Wild and primal. Hugely influential.
-
15Raw PowerThe Stooges
Raw Power
A snarling, Bowie-mixed proto-punk classic, home to 'Search and Destroy'. Loud and dangerous. A punk blueprint.
-
16Talking Heads: 77Talking Heads
Talking Heads: 77
A nervy, arty debut of angular new wave and 'Psycho Killer'. Quirky and tuneful. A great beginning.
-
17Fear of MusicTalking Heads
Fear of Music
A darker, Eno-produced step toward the rhythmic experiments to come. Tense and inventive. A pivotal record.
-
18All Mod ConsThe Jam
All Mod Cons
The album where the Jam matured into sharp social commentary and mod-pop craft. Tuneful and sharp. Their breakthrough.
-
19Another Music in a Different KitchenBuzzcocks
Another Music in a Different Kitchen
A buzzing punk-pop debut of speed and melody. Tuneful and beloved. A genre cornerstone.
-
20Damned Damned DamnedThe Damned
Damned Damned Damned
The first UK punk album, fast, raw and fun. Vital and historic. A genre landmark.
-
21Germfree AdolescentsX-Ray Spex
Germfree Adolescents
A vibrant punk landmark of saxophone and Poly Styrene's roar. Sharp and influential. A cult classic.
-
22In the CityThe Jam
In the City
A sharp, punky mod debut of youthful energy. Vital and beloved. A strong start.
-
23Setting SonsThe Jam
Setting Sons
A semi-conceptual peak of sharp English songcraft. Tuneful and acclaimed. A high point.
-
24Real LifeMagazine
Real Life
A cerebral, keyboard-driven post-punk debut. Sharp and influential. A cult landmark.
-
25Metal BoxPublic Image Ltd
Metal Box
Lydon's post-Pistols plunge into dub-heavy, dread-soaked experiment. Challenging and influential. A post-punk landmark.
-
26Chairs MissingWire
Chairs Missing
A more textured, art-rock follow-up to Pink Flag. Inventive and acclaimed. A post-punk cornerstone.
-
27More Songs About Buildings and FoodTalking Heads
More Songs About Buildings and Food
An Eno-produced step toward funk and groove. Tuneful and inventive. A pivotal record.
-
28Eat to the BeatBlondie
Eat to the Beat
A varied, tuneful new-wave peak of pop ambition. Bright and beloved. A strong follow-up to Parallel Lines.
-
29AdventureTelevision
Adventure
A melodic, cleaner follow-up to Marquee Moon. Tuneful and acclaimed. A high point.
-
30The B-52'sThe B-52's
The B-52's
A kitschy, exuberant new-wave debut of surf guitar and party energy, home to 'Rock Lobster'. Fun and distinctive. A cult classic.
-
31Armed ForcesElvis Costello
Armed Forces
A sharp, pop-savvy peak of barbed political new wave. Tuneful and acclaimed. One of his best.
-
32Drums and WiresXTC
Drums and Wires
A sharp, angular new-wave peak, home to 'Making Plans for Nigel'. Inventive and tuneful. A breakthrough.
-
33Rocket to RussiaRamones
Rocket to Russia
A peak of bubblegum-punk hooks and speed. Fun and beloved. One of their best.
-
34Road to RuinRamones
Road to Ruin
A slightly polished peak, home to 'I Wanna Be Sedated'. Fun and beloved. A high point.
-
35Rattus NorvegicusThe Stranglers
Rattus Norvegicus
A punchy debut blending punk attitude with keyboard-driven menace. Tuneful and dark. A new-wave staple.
-
36EasterPatti Smith
Easter
A bolder, rockier follow-up to Horses, home to 'Because the Night'. Powerful and acclaimed. A commercial peak.
-
37BlondieBlondie
Blondie
A scrappy, tuneful new-wave debut. Fun and beloved. A strong start.
-
38SuicideSuicide
Suicide
A confrontational, minimalist electronic-punk debut of pulsing menace. Stark and influential. Far ahead of its time.
-
39The Modern DancePere Ubu
The Modern Dance
An avant-garde post-punk debut of industrial unease. Bold and influential. A cult landmark.
-
40The SpecialsThe Specials
The Specials
A vital 2-tone debut blending ska, punk and sharp social commentary. Danceable and urgent. A UK landmark.
-
41One Step Beyond...Madness
One Step Beyond...
A joyous, ska-pop debut of 'nutty boy' energy and English humour. Fun and tuneful. A 2-tone classic.
-
42CutThe Slits
Cut
A playful, dub-inflected post-punk landmark of female energy and invention. Loose and influential. A singular debut.
-
43Machine Gun EtiquetteThe Damned
Machine Gun Etiquette
A fast, fun punk peak, home to 'Smash It Up'. Energetic and beloved. A high point.
-
44154Wire
154
A textured, art-rock peak of post-punk invention. Bold and acclaimed. A high point.
-
45New Boots and Panties!!Ian Dury and the Blockheads
New Boots and Panties!!
A witty, funky pub-rock-into-new-wave debut. Sharp and beloved. A British classic.
-
46New York DollsNew York Dolls
New York Dolls
A trashy, glam-punk debut that bridged the Stones and punk. Raw and influential. A proto-punk landmark.
-
47The ScreamSiouxsie and the Banshees
The Scream
A stark, influential post-punk debut that shaped goth. Sharp and acclaimed. A cornerstone.
-
48The Pleasure PrincipleGary Numan
The Pleasure Principle
A cold, pioneering synth-rock landmark, home to 'Cars'. Influential and stark. A genre cornerstone.