# Need some help with 80s punk and new wave **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 14, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465 "2004-09-14T20:52:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/1 "2004-09-14T20:52:10Z")
My [radio show](http://www.the80scheesefactory.com) has undergone a format change. Instead of doing two hours of 80s music, we’re now doing three. I thought it would be a good thing if we devoted the last hour to punk and new wave, since I don’t really play that. The reason I don’t play it is because it wasn’t really my thing back in the day. Consequently, I know absolutely squat about it. Post suggestions for Must-Have albums (remember, they _must_ be radio clean, which means no cussing) here, and why you like them. Robin ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/2 "2004-09-14T20:59:46Z")
82 was a great year for music. Three albums from that year appear on many critics’ “best of the nineties” lists: Kate Bush:\* The Dreaming\* Peter Gabriel:\* Security\* XTC:\* English Settlement\* ---
**Author:** ![Ronnie\_James\_Dio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@Ronnie\_James\_Dio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronnie_James_Dio)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/3 "2004-09-14T21:06:47Z")
Good places to start - Talking Heads, Siouxie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, the Stranglers, Morissey/Smiths, the Cure, Wire, Husker Du, Buzzcocks, Dickies. I don’t know how “punk” your show is willing to go, but if you wanna dip into the meaty side of 80s punk rock, go after Minor Threat, Misfits, Dead Kennedys, Cockney Rejects, Blitz, the Business, Abrasive Wheels, the Clash. The real heart of 80s punk is American Hardcore, but I doubt that’ll fit into your show. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/4 "2004-09-14T21:13:26Z")
> [@Ronnie James Dio](#): > > Good places to start - Talking Heads, Siouxie and the Banshees, Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, the Stranglers, Morissey/Smiths, the Cure, Wire, Husker Du, Buzzcocks, Dickies. > > I don’t know how “punk” your show is willing to go, but if you wanna dip into the meaty side of 80s punk rock, go after Minor Threat, Misfits, Dead Kennedys, Cockney Rejects, Blitz, the Business, Abrasive Wheels, the Clash. > > The real heart of 80s punk is American Hardcore, but I doubt that’ll fit into your show. Other DJs play Minor Threat, the Misfits and I’ve heard some Dead Kennedys. As for the groups in the first paragraph, do you have any suggestions about albums? Robin ---
**Author:** ![bannerrefugee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c68b51/32.png) [@bannerrefugee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bannerrefugee)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/5 "2004-09-14T21:18:10Z")
Some more names: Black Flag, Suicidial Tendencies, The Butthole Surfers, DOA, The Dickies, The Dead Milkmen, I could go on. Does anyone know of anhy good books on 80’s Punk? ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/6 "2004-09-14T21:57:10Z")
The Descendents were one of my favorite '80s punk bands. The album “Milo Goes To College” has a lot of the good stuff on it. As for the Clash and the Ramones, you really can’t go wrong with anything by them. Any greatest hits compilations would serve you well, but “London Calling” by the Clash should be owned and heard by everyone. (It may have come out in the late '70s, though.) With the Cure, “Disintegration” is one of the greatest albums EVER, PERIOD. And it’s especially good for making out to. Depeche Mode’s “Violator” fits into that category as well. Any of the Smiths’ albums are good: “The Smiths,” “Louder Than Bombs,” “Meat Is Murder,” “The Queen Is Dead,” and “Strangeways, Here We Come.” For Siouxsie and the Banshees, all I have is a compilation, “Twice Upon a Time: The Singles,” but it covers most of their better-known material and is quite good. Another ‘80s favorite of mine: the Pogues’ album “Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash”–the finest moment of this band that combined Irish folk music with the energy and attitude of punk rock. It was produced by Elvis Costello, who is no slouch when it comes to fine '80s-era music either. Please check those out, and just promise me you’ll play the B-52s’ “Rock Lobster” in your set somewhere! ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/7 "2004-09-14T21:59:07Z")
Back in the day in Minneapolis there used to be a frickin’ wonderful music shop downtown called “Northern Lights”. It contained every import a boy dreamed about. That’s where I learn all about John Peel sessions. Here’s a snippet of songs from the [1980-1989 Peelenium.](http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/alt/johnpeel/peelenium_1980.shtml) > [@](#): > > 1980 > > Track 1 > Twenty Four Hours > Artist: Joy Division > Composer: Joy Division > > Track 2 > Totally Wired > Artist; The Fall > Composer: Riley/Scanlan/Hanley/Smith > > Track 3 > 9 To 5 > Artist: Sheena Easton > Composer: F Palmer > > Track 4 > Bloody > Artist: Golinski Brothers > Composer: Gibbs/Golinski/Harries > > (Snip) > 1984 > > Track 1 > Reel around The Fountain > Artist: Smiths > Composer: Morrissey/Marr > > Track 2 > Lay Of The Land > Artist: The The The Fall > Composer: M E Smith/B Smith > > Track 3 > Between The Wars > Artist: Billy Bragg > Composer: Bragg > > Track 4 > Come Back > Artist: Mighty Wah! > Composer: Wylie On a different note, for more music, I looked to MTV’s “Post Modern MTV” and [“120 Minutes”.](http://www.altmusictv.com/120/archive.html) It’s where I first heard of bands like “Trisomie 21”, “Cocteau Twins” and “That Petrol Emotion”. Here’s the archive from Sept 1986: > [@](#): > > TSOL - Colors > Walk the West – Lonely Boy > Descendents – Kids on Coffee > The Cure – Boys Don’t Cry > James – So Many Ways > The Housemartins – Happy Hour > Gene Loves Jezebel – Heartache > The Bolshoi - A Way > Bang – Summertime > Cactus World News – The Bridge > The Go-Betweens – Head Full of Steam > The Bodeans – She’s a Runaway > REM – Fall On Me > The Wind – Good News, Bad News > UB40 – Our Own Song > Cryin’ Out Loud – Live It Up > Level 42 – Leaving Me Now > Bronski Beat – C’mon! C’mon! > Timbuk 3 – The Future’s So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades > Christmas – Big Plans > The Rainmakers – Let My People Go I also remember spending a lot of time looking for unheard of bands on Rough Trade and Sire labels. (I was, and am, a dork.) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/8 "2004-09-14T22:00:50Z")
With respect to punk and New Wave, the '80’s really began in 1977, with the releases of, to name a few: The Clash: The Clash The Dead Boys: Young, Loud & Snotty The Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks Kraftwerk: Trans-Europe Express [N.B.: their **Autobahn** came out in '74.] XTC: White Music Richard Hell & the Voidoids: Blank Generation Talking Heads: Talking Heads '77 Elvis Costello: My Aim is True Television: Marquee Moon The Damned: Damned Damned Damned Iggy Pop: The Idiot; Lust for Life The Vibrators: Pure Mania Suicide: Suicide The Jam: In the City; This Is the Modern World David Bowie: Low; Heroes Wire: Pink Flag 1978 was no slouch, either: The Clash: Give 'em Enough Rope The Ramones: The Ramones Leave Home; Rocket to Russia [**Ramones** came out in '76.] Devo: Are We Not Men? We Are Devo! Blondie: Parallel Lines [**Blondie** came out in '76.] XTC: Go 2 Pere Ubu: The Modern Dance The Dead Boys: We Have Come for Your Children The Police: Outlandos d’Amour The Jam: All Mod Cons Elvis Costello: Armed Forces Patti Smith: Easter Siouxsie & the Banshees: The Scream Talking Heads: More Songs About Buildings and Food David Bowie: Lodger Wire: Chairs Missing 1979: The Clash: London Calling The Ramones: Road to Ruin XTC: Drums and Wires The Buzzcocks: Singles Going Steady The B-52’s: The B-52’s Madness: One Step Beyond Blondie: Eat to the Beat The Specials: The Specials The Police: Regatta de Blanc Gang of Four: Entertainment! The Jam: Setting Sons The Fall: Live at the Witch Trials; Dragnet Iggy Pop: New Values Adam Ant: Dirk Wears White Sox Talking Heads: Fear of Music Pere Ubu: Dub Housing; New Picnic Time Devo: Duty Now for the Future Joe Jackson: Look Sharp! The Mekons: The Quality of Mercy is Not Strained The Merton Parkas: Face In the Crowd Wire: 154 I trust this’ll get you started… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/9 "2004-09-14T22:08:23Z")
I forgot the extremely crude-sounding Britpunk band, Sham 69: \*\*Tell Us the Truth \*\* and \*\*That’s Life \*\* both came out in '78, and \*\*Hersham Boys \*\* in '79. For completists only, though; these guys managed to make The Sex Pistols sound almost smooth by comparison. ---
**Author:** ![vl\_mungo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@vl\_mungo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vl_mungo)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/10 "2004-09-14T22:48:47Z")
For some good 80’s punk, you should give a good listen to these albums… **New Day Rising** - Husker Du **Double Nickels On The Dime** - The Minutemen **Damaged** - Black Flag **Living In Darkness** - Agent Orange **The Adolescents** - The Adolescents **Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash** - The Replacements **This Ain’t Hollywood** - Forgotten Rebels …to start out with. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/11 "2004-09-14T23:16:28Z")
My favorite punk/new wave albums, 1980-1981: Siouxsie and the Banshees: \*Kaleidoscope \* (1980) and _Juju_ (1981) Dead Kennedys: _Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables_ (1980) Circle Jerks: _Group Sex_ (1980) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/12 "2004-09-14T23:23:21Z")
I find it astounding that the only mention of Joy Division was in one of **stpauler** ’s quotes. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/13 "2004-09-14T23:23:57Z")
How about X? Los Angles is be a good tune, but it does contain the word shit. If that won’t fly try The Unheard Music- great song. ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/14 "2004-09-14T23:29:53Z")
In addition to the three Talking Heads albums that **The Scrivener** mentioned, you could do worse than to pick up their next three, _Remain In Light_, _Speaking In Tongues_, and _Little Creatures_. ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/15 "2004-09-14T23:43:47Z")
I don’t really do albums, but I have shedloads of individual songs I could suggest. I’m not sure of the years of all of them, and the best year for new wave IMO was 1979–hopefully songs from that year will get by: 1978 **Blondie** - _Denis_, _Picture This_, _Sunday Girl_, _One Way Or Another_ **Devo** - _Mongoloid_, _Whip It_, _Jocko Homo_ \*\*Elvis Costello & The Attractions - _(I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea_, _Oliver’s Army_, _Accidents Will Happen_ **The Jam** - _Down In A Tube Station At Midnight_, _In The City_ **Magazine** - _Shot By Both Sides_ **The Motors** - _Airport_ **Nick Lowe** - _So It Goes_, _Cruel To Be Kind_ **Squeeze** - _Take Me I’m Yours_ **Wire** - _I Am The Fly_ 1979 \*\*Adam & The Ants - _Deutscher Girls_ **Boomtown Rats** - _I Don’t Like Mondays_, _Rat Trap_ **The Cars** - _Just What I Needed_, _My Best Friend’s Girl_ (NOT ‘Drive’!) **Dave Edmunds** - _Girls Talk_ **Gang Of Four** - _At Home He’s A Tourist_ **Gary Numan** - _Are ‘Friends’ Electric_ **Lene Lovich** - _Lucky Number_ **The Nips** - _Gabrielle_ **The Pretenders** - _Stop Your Sobbing_ **Squeeze** - _Up The Junction_ **XTC** - _Making Plans For Nigel_ 1980 **Hazel O’Connor** - _Eighth Day_ **Martha & The Muffins** - _Echo Beach_ **Siouxsie & The Banshees** - _Christine_ **Split Enz** - _I Got You_ 1981 **Altered Images** - _Happy Birthday_ **Bow Wow Wow** - _C30, C60, C90 Go_, _Go Wild In The Country_ **Godley & Creme** - _Under Your Thumb_ **Psychedelic Furs** - _Pretty In Pink_ 1982 **XTC** - _Senses Working Overtime_ I’m a bit :dubious: about classing Joy Division or The Smiths as Punk and/or New Wave! ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/16 "2004-09-15T01:34:42Z")
For radio-friendly New Wave and Punk, try the soundtracks to early John Hughes movies like **The Breakfast Club** or **Pretty in Pink**. Here are a couple others to check out: **Urrgh: A Music War** (These are all live performaces by New Wave crossover acts) 1. Driven to Tears - The Police 2. Back in Flesh - Wall of Voodoo 3. Enola Gay - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark 4. Ain’t This the Life - Oingo Boingo 5. Respectable Street - XTC 6. We Got the Beat - The Go-Go’s 7. Total Eclipse - Klaus Nomi 8. Foolish I Know - Jools Holland 9. Ku Klux Klan - Steel Pulse 10. Uncontrollable Urge - Devo 11. Puppet - Echo & the Bunnymen 12. Tear It Up - The Cramps 13. Bad Reputation - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts 14. Birdies - Pere Ubu 15. Down in the Park - Gary Numan 16. Shadow Line - The Fleshtones 17. He’d Send in the Army - Gang of Four 18. Homicide - 999 19. Beyond and Back - X 20. Model Worker - Magazine 21. Sign of the Cross - Skafish **Valley Girl** soundtrack: 1. Million Miles Away - Pilmsouls 2. Johnny, Are You Queer? - Josie Cotton 3. Eyes of a Stranger - Payola 4. Angst in My Pants - Sparks 5. Who Can It Be Now? - Men at Work 6. Everywhere at Once - The Plimsouls 7. I la la la Love You - Pat Travers 8. He Could Be the One - Josie Cotton 9. Love My Way - The Psychedelic Furs 10. Jukebox (Don’t Put Another Dime) - The Flirts 11. Fanatic - Felony 12. She Talks in Stereo - Figures 13. Oldest Story in the World - The Plimsouls 14. School Is In - Josie Cotton 15. I Melt With You - Modern English ---
**Author:** ![Roland\_Orzabal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@Roland\_Orzabal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roland_Orzabal)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/17 "2004-09-15T04:06:23Z")
Tears For Fears: Songs From the Big Chair Tears For Fears: The Seeds of Love Peter Gabriel: So ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/18 "2004-09-15T04:46:10Z")
I had a punk show for 4 years in university during the early 80’s trying to remember some of the classic american hardcore compilations: Decline and Fall of Western Civilization - this is THE classic If punk is dead, what the hell is this? (maximum rock n roll) There were a lot of good compilations like for the DC bands, Boston Bands, Phoenix bands, etc. Bands at random that i remember and liked (I met most of 'em as well) Dicks, DOA, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, minutemen, husker du, meat puppets, Dead Kennedys, Fear, Really Red, Seven Seconds, Subhumans (English and Canadian), Poisen Girls, Crucifucks, Tesco Vee, butthole surfers, TSOL, Naked Raygun ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/19 "2004-09-15T06:08:08Z")
No one’s mentioned New Order??? **Substance** is the one you want. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2004, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465/20 "2004-09-15T13:01:47Z")
All good recommendations. **MsRobyn** , I strongly recommend you check out the book [Our Band Could Be Your Life](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316787531/qid=1095253212/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-1999075-3774216?v=glance&s=books) (link supplied is to Amazon). It is NOT a list of songs - heck, you are getting those here, right? 🙂 Plus I think some Googling based on this thread - say, to find a playlist from 120 minutes or something - would help, too. This book is great because it profiles about 13 bands that were key to the indie movement before Nirvana broke and it gets you into the vibe of what things were like then. So you have a sense of what that world was like from there perspective. I found I listen to music differently after reading it - in a very good way. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-some-help-with-80s-punk-and-new-wave/264465.md?page=2)