20 pulverizing punk essentials from the 1970s

“Fairytale in the Supermarket” by the Raincoats (1979)

Slits’ drummer Palmolive left the band she co-founded and joined up with Ana da Sliva and Gina Birch in time to put out the Raincoats' self-titled debut in ’79. “Fairytale” was not on the original album but was released as a single the same year. Palmolive’s drums drive the song at a relentless pace and Vicky Aspinal’s screeching violin adds another dimension in the same way John Cale gave the Velvet Underground their unique sound a decade earlier. Their first album included a deadpan cover of the Kinks’ “Lola,” but on their original songs, they revealed more personal wit and electric energy.

“Playground Twist” by Siouxsie and the Banshees (1979)

Of all the punk and post-punk bands to sprout from London in the late ‘70s, the one founded by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and bass player Steve Severin had the most curiosity and the most stamina. “Playground Twist,” from their second album, Join Hands, swirls in a hurricane of noise. Bells ring out at various points. A sax wails for a little while. Siouxsie’s delivery borders on melodramatic but it suits the intensity of the music.

Sioux and Severin, with various guitars and drums (the Slits’ Budgie would soon join up on drums), experimented with a wide range of styles over the years. At their best, and they were often at their best, the music demanded attention whether it was hardcore punk, experimental folk, or anything in between. And though he wasn't quite a member yet, guitarist John McGeoch would leave Magazine and join Siouxsie a year later.

“I Found That Essence Rare” by Gang of Four (1979)

You can tell this is post-punk based on the name alone, can’t you? No original punk would use that construction. Gang of Four shared the angst and wiry energy of their contemporaries in the London scene in the late ‘70s, but their songs tended to be more thoughtful and more tightly constructed.

Their debut album Entertainment! had a wider range of musical styles as well. There are hints of reggae in “I Found That Essence Rare” without sacrificing the jagged rhythm of punk. Their brand of post-punk would be highly influential on the great American band Minutemen a few years later.