Punk classics

March 1, 2005 8:14 AM

I'm doing a DJ set at a party soon with a number of 40something punk fans there. What shall I play?

I'm going to play a big mixture but I definitely want to play some punk records. I'd like recommendations for a few punk classics, but, more importantly -- *really* good punk records that are perhaps a bit less famous, good enough for everyone to enjoy, but that the serious punk fans in attendence will really appreicate.

posted by nthdegx to Media & Arts (58 answers total)

The Dictators - Go Girl Crazy.
Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Materials.
X-Ray Spex - Germ Free Adolescents.
posted by jonmc at 8:23 AM on March 1, 2005

Anything by the Ramones, of course.
posted by SisterHavana at 8:25 AM on March 1, 2005

White Riot, London Calling - The Clash. God Save The Queen, Anarchy in the UK - the Pistols, New Rose - The Damned,

Lesser known: Suspect Device- Stiff Little Fingers, Germ-Free Adolescence - X-ray Spex, Boredom - Buzzcocks, Gary Gilmore's Eyes -The Adverts, Babylon's Burning - The Ruts, Do They Owe Us a living?- Crass.

Can I come tool?
posted by Pericles at 8:25 AM on March 1, 2005

Can I come *too*, I mean.

Jonmc- snap!
posted by Pericles at 8:26 AM on March 1, 2005

No Trend - Teen Love. Not really punk pe se, but awesome.
posted by josh at 8:27 AM on March 1, 2005

The 12" version, not the re-issued CD version, btw.
posted by josh at 8:27 AM on March 1, 2005

And Atmosphere & Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division for the slow smoochy bits at the end.
posted by Pericles at 8:30 AM on March 1, 2005

Anything by Orange Juice. Teenage Kicks by the Undertones (and lift a glass to the late John Peel). Orgasm Addict by the Buzzcocks.
posted by handee at 8:31 AM on March 1, 2005

"If The Kids Are United" Sham 69
"Trash" New York Dolls
"Johnny Hit & Run Paulene" X
posted by jonmc at 8:33 AM on March 1, 2005

Germs - Lexicon Devil
Iggy Pop - Lust For Life
Iggy And The Stooges - TV Eye
Anti-Nowhere League - For You
The Modern Lovers - Government Center
Television - See No Evil and Marquee Moon (will fricken slaughter!)
The Soft Boys - Rock'n'roll Toilet
Duane Eddy - Rebel Rouser (not a punk song, but most of the dudes probably play guitar so they have to like this one)
Misfits - Where Eagles Dare (will also slaughter)
The Cramps - Garbage Man
Nick Lowe - The Heart of The City
Johnny and Santo - Sleepwalk (see Rebel Rouser)
Buzzcocks - Everybody's Happy Nowadays
The Saints - I'm Stranded
posted by mcsweetie at 8:36 AM on March 1, 2005

"She's so modern"- Boomtown Rats. For laughs: "Ca Plain Pour Moi" by Plastic Bertrand and "Jilted John" by Jilted John. "Konnichawa" / "Punk Animals" by Shonen Knife. "Kill the Poor" and "Holiday in Cambodia" by the Dead Kennedys. "Oi oi oi!"- The Cockney Rejects. "Teenage Warning" - Angelic Upstarts.

I think I'm gonna cry.
posted by Pericles at 8:37 AM on March 1, 2005

I second Pericles. Crass and Stiff Little Fingers, perhaps
"If the kids are united" - Sham69
"Trash" - New York Dolls
posted by horsemuth at 8:45 AM on March 1, 2005

Holy Shit Jonmc!
posted by horsemuth at 8:46 AM on March 1, 2005

A little Devo couldn't hoit. And while we're shuffling through the D's, why not throw on the DICKIES?
posted by scratch at 8:50 AM on March 1, 2005

For more obscure punk stuff, the hyped2death comps are a great resource.

also "Suburban Home" by The Descendents, "Roadrunner," by The Modern Lovers, and "Your Mommy's Dead," by Suicidal tendencies.
posted by jonmc at 8:59 AM on March 1, 2005

"If the kids are united" - Sham69

side note: The Irish metal band Mama's Boys* did a really quite good version of this song, mainly because anthems lend themselves to metal very well, and just about can sing better than Jimmy Pursey.

*Like all NWOBHM outfits, these guys had a gimmick. They were all brothers, and one of them was a former All-Ireland fiddler, so they worked fiddle solos into some of their songs. It worked out better than you'd imagine
posted by jonmc at 9:03 AM on March 1, 2005

The Velvet Underground.
posted by ori at 9:07 AM on March 1, 2005

I was going to say "Your Mommy's Dead."

Circle Jerks - "Making the Bombs", "Killing for Jesus."

I'm only 27, though, so I might not know what real punks like.
posted by steelbuddha at 9:07 AM on March 1, 2005

Dead Kennedys - "California über alles".
"Blitzkrieg Bop" - The Ramones.
Devo -"Mongoloid" and "Satisfaction".
"Lust for Life" - Iggy Pop.
"White Riot" - The Clash.
"Boredom" - Howard Devoto, Buzzcocks.
"Neat, Neat, Neat" - The Damned.
"Oh Bondage Up Yours!" - X-Ray Spex.
"One Chord Wonders" - The Adverts.
"Your Generation" - Generation X.
"X Offender" - Blondie.
.......And all the clash and sex pistols and that jazz mentioned above of course.
posted by dabitch at 9:10 AM on March 1, 2005

Warsaw - Joy Division
Another Girl, Another Planet - The Only Ones
Final Solution - Pere Ubu
The Passenger - Iggy Pop
Where Were You - The Mekons
Radio, Radio - Elvis Costello
Totally Wired - The Fall
posted by dydecker at 9:12 AM on March 1, 2005

The MC5 (esp. Back In The USA and Kick Out The Jams); The Stooges; The Runaways; "Frankie Teardrop" Suicide; "(If You Don't Want To Fuck me) Fuck Off" Jayne County; "Smash It Up," The Damned...
posted by jonmc at 9:12 AM on March 1, 2005

what I meant to say with the Rebel Rouser comment, is that lot of those guys probably also like classic rock'n'roll so it'd be a nice change-up to play something like that. on that note:

Link Wray - Rumble (YES!)
Bill Haley - We're Gonna Rock
The Crickets (Buddy Holly) - That'll Be The Day
Louis Prima - Beep! Beep!
Dick Dale - Misirlou (another slaughter-er!)

you can't like The Cramps and then turn around and not like any of those songs!
posted by mcsweetie at 9:14 AM on March 1, 2005

jonmc - I'll check them out. I'm guessing that we have similar tastes in music.

other suggestions ...
"I am the fly" - Wire
"you hate me and I hate you" - G.G Allin
"oh bondage, up yours" - x-ray spex
"tv party"- black flag

some bouncing around, year-wise, but all good stuff..
posted by horsemuth at 9:20 AM on March 1, 2005

what I meant to say with the Rebel Rouser comment, is that lot of those guys probably also like classic rock'n'roll so it'd be a nice change-up to play something like that.

mcsweetie's right but I'd aim more at the 60's garage era. You can't go wrong with:

The Sonics - "Strychnine," "Psycho," & "Boss Hoss"
The Readymen - "Shortnin' Bread"
The Count Five - "Psychotic Reaction"
The Seeds - "Pushin' Too Hard"
Love - "My Little Red Book"
Chocolate Watchband - "Misty Lane"

actually just about anything from Nuggets of Back From The Grave is good.

Some Motorhead isn't a bad idea either. I never met a punk who didn't like 'em.
posted by jonmc at 9:20 AM on March 1, 2005

Social D.
posted by docpops at 9:32 AM on March 1, 2005

Fuck jonmc - leave some for the rest of us!

Howabout
ATV - "Action Time Visoin"
Gang of Four - "Damaged Goods" or "I Found that Essence Rare"
Vic Goddard - "Ambition"
The Descendents - "Hope" or "Bikeage"
Johnny Thunders - "Chinese Rocks"
The Clash - "1977"
Minutemen - "Big Stick" or "This Ain't no Picnic"
Mission of Burma - "Trem Two"
Sex Pistols - "Submission"
posted by Quartermass at 9:33 AM on March 1, 2005

Social D - Story of My Life, Mommy's Little Monster, etc.
Ian Dury and the Blockheads - Sex and Drugs and Rock n Roll, Rhythm Stick
posted by xena at 9:35 AM on March 1, 2005

More to consider:

1 2 X U - Wire
What do I get - Buzzcocks
Another Girl, Another Planet - The Only Ones
Ready, Steady, Go - Generation X
Love Like Anthrax - Gang of Four
Husker Du - Pink Turns to Blue
posted by trox at 9:41 AM on March 1, 2005

Misson of Burma - That's When I Reach For My Revolver
Fugazi - Waiting Room
posted by damnitkage at 9:46 AM on March 1, 2005

Anything from Stink or Sorry Ma'... by the Replacements

The Dils - Class War (www.bumrocks.com - scroll down)
posted by vronsky at 9:50 AM on March 1, 2005

I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so! Turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so! I got your picture, I got your picture, I'd like a million of you over myself... The Vapors.
posted by dabitch at 10:01 AM on March 1, 2005

Jilted John by Jilted John! An amazing, lesser known punk track that will get people moving. A few might even know it.
posted by fire&wings at 10:02 AM on March 1, 2005

Punk Rock Girl
Take the Skinheads Bowling
Guar

and everything everybody else said. Can I come?
posted by mygothlaundry at 10:19 AM on March 1, 2005

Nearly everything I'd recommend is already mentioned above, but I'd probably throw thesein for kicks.

Husker Du - Ice Cold Ice
Stiff Little Fingers - You Can'T Say Crap On The Radio
Siouxsie & the Banshees - Hong Kong Garden
Buzzcocks - Nostalgia
X - Los Angeles
XTC - Making Plans for Nigel

We are all invited to your party, right?
posted by aine42 at 10:33 AM on March 1, 2005

We all wanna come! You'll ge me there if you play "Åttahundra grader" (800 degrees) by Ebba Grön and that song stating "we must learn to love the bomb" by dom dummaste
posted by dabitch at 10:37 AM on March 1, 2005

(oh, I just spotted that "älska bomben" song is on mp3 here by the way...)
posted by dabitch at 10:54 AM on March 1, 2005

Down in the tube station at midnight, Modern World - The Jam
My generation, Piss factory - Patti Smith
Misery Goat - Pere Ubu
I'm so bored with the USA, White Riot - Clash
The boiler, Special AKA
Anything off the Stiffs Live album
GOF - I love a man in uniform, I found that essence rare
posted by jmignault at 10:54 AM on March 1, 2005

Perhaps some newer punk to switch things up?

My favorite is the band "The Exploding Hearts" who's album Guitar Romantic is amazing. Tragically, three of them died in a car accident in 2003.

Refused - Anything off of "The Shape of Punk to Come"
Almost everything by Propaghandi is amazing.
Anything off of The Hives - Veni Vidi Vicious
posted by Quartermass at 11:09 AM on March 1, 2005

And, for dance/ fun/ crossover value, what about the genius mash-up of the Sex Pistols and Madonna's "Ray of Light", Ray of Gob.?
posted by Pericles at 11:40 AM on March 1, 2005

*jumps in*

Make everyone cry by playing the Minutemen's History Lesson Part II.

Don't forget The Pretenders! And the Slits!

Also: you don't mention where you are from, nthdegx, but if you are planning a party for a bunch of forty-something punks (not the mention the contingent that are going to gate-crash from AskMe, including myself) do some research into your local scene. Chances are there are a number of people coming to your party who would love to hear their friends or acquaintances play again. Last Saturday I attended a 25th anniversary party-- in proper punk fashion, a Food Bank Benefit-- for the first punk compilation released here in Vancouver. DOA played, the Subhumans, even the Dishrags reformed for the occasion, and the place was full of more beaming, dancing, grinning 40 something punks than you could shake a stick at. There were a fair number of ghosts as well, but the general feeling of We're still here, still standing, and we made it, was exhilarating. Not to mention watching 40 year old men stage diving. God, it was fun.

So: find out who released what, wherever you are. Dig out some singles, find some vinyl, and add in the local bands to make your party erupt in happy/sad celebration.
posted by jokeefe at 12:06 PM on March 1, 2005

Some Motorhead isn't a bad idea either. I never met a punk who didn't like 'em.
posted by jonmc at 9:20 AM PST on March 1

Nice to meet you, jonmc. :)

Oh, and has anyone mentioned The Avengers yet? 'The American in Me' would go down nicely, I think. Great singalong chorus, too.
posted by jokeefe at 12:15 PM on March 1, 2005

Lotsa good suggestions here. I'd add, if you can find it, "(Go to a Party) And act like an Asshole" by the Fems. Or, Too drunk to fuck by the D.K.'s Dance-able. and both quite punk.

And, don't forget Ska band like the Specials. Or, for that matter other bands from the era that weren't quite punk, but would fit the crowd, PigBag, The Fabulous Poodles, and don't forget to cap the night off with an ironic rendition of "Stairway to Heaven."
posted by Duck_Lips at 12:17 PM on March 1, 2005

Dead Kennedys - Too Drunk To Fuck, The Man With The Dogs
Sham 69 - Borstal Breakout
Adicts - Chinese Takeaway
Chron Gen - Jet Boy, Jet Girl
Morgans - Atishoo
Not Sensibles - (I'm in Love With) Margaret Thatcher, I Thought You Were Dead, Little Boxes
Billy Bragg - The Boy Done Good
The Business - Disco Girls, Get Out Of My House
X-Ray Spex - Identity, Oh Bondage Up Yours
The Pogues - Waxie's Dargle, If I Should Fall From Grace With God

These and the previous suggestions by The Buzzcocks, X, Stiff Little Fingers all have the added advantage of being totally danceable.
posted by ThePants at 12:21 PM on March 1, 2005

This is a British punker party right? They would only be intimidated by our far superior American product. Better keep it tame for them.

The Boys - First time
999 - Emergency
Slaughter & the Dogs - Where have all the bootboys gone?
Stiff Little Fingers - Johnny Was
The Vibrators - Sweet Sweet Heart
Wire - Three Girl Rumba
The Addicts - viva la revolution; calling, calling
Anti-nowhere league - Streets of London
UK Subs - Stranglehold
posted by Corpus Callosum at 12:36 PM on March 1, 2005

Some Motorhead isn't a bad idea either. I never met a punk who didn't like 'em.
posted by jonmc at 9:20 AM PST on March 1

Nice to meet you, jonmc. :)

*fetches icepick, aims under eye*

It's for your own good, miss. ;)
posted by jonmc at 12:42 PM on March 1, 2005

Oh oh oh-- has anyone mentioned Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll by Ian Drury and the Blockheads yet?
posted by jokeefe at 12:53 PM on March 1, 2005

Maybe I am a decade too late.......

Bad Brains
Fugazi
Minor Threat
posted by szg8 at 2:17 PM on March 1, 2005

Oh, and for a little fun, you could find the Mighty Mighty Bosstones cover of Minor Threat's Think Again.
posted by szg8 at 2:21 PM on March 1, 2005

*fetches icepick, aims under eye*

It's for your own good, miss. ;)

*blows kiss at jonmc*

That's okay. As a Radiohead fan, I've come to accept the sad fact that when it comes to music, we shall never see eye to eye.

*throws large heavy bathroom fixture through barred window, escapes*
posted by jokeefe at 2:40 PM on March 1, 2005

maybe:
"Public Image" or "Banging the Door" - Public Image Limited
"Zoo Music Girl" - The Birthday Party
"Die Die My Darling", "She" or "I Turned into a Martian" - The Misfits
"Wardance" or "The Wait" - Killing Joke
"Monitor" - Siouxsie & The Banshees
"Kings of the Wild Frontier" - Adam & The Ants
"Blank Generation" - Richard Hell & The Voidoids
"Paranoid" - Black Sabbath
"Prowler" - Iron Maiden
"Rocker" - AC/DC
"Don't Stop Believin'" - Journey (just to see what happens)
posted by hellbient at 2:47 PM on March 1, 2005

Romeo Void-- Never Say Never
The Au Pairs -- Come Again

It's a party in England? How about an entire Thatcher and related politics set? Stand Down Margaret, The Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum, Free Nelson Mandela? And the English Beat, of course, Save it for Later. This getting away from punk in form, but not in spirit.

Oh, and the Poison Girls, for something noisy.
posted by jokeefe at 3:06 PM on March 1, 2005

Lots of hearty seconds on many of the above. Some specific tracks I didn't see, though some of the bands were listed mentioned:
Avengers - Teenage Rebel. End of the World.
7 Seconds - Not Just Boys Fun. Crew. Trust. Here's Your Warning.
Black Flag - Rise Above. Six Pack.
Husker Du - New Day Rising.
Misfits - Die Die My Darling. (on preview, hey hellbient, alright!)
Pere Ubu - Real World. The Modern Dance.
Wire - Mr. Suit.
Government Issue - World, You and I.
Gang of Four - I Love a Man in Uniform. At Home He's a Tourist.
Agent Orange: Everything Turns Grey.

And, History Lesson - Part II would make me cry.
posted by safetyfork at 3:08 PM on March 1, 2005

I know Stiff Little Fingers have already been mentioned a bunch of times, but no punk set is complete without Alternative Ulster. *wipes tear*
posted by jokeefe at 4:52 PM on March 1, 2005

All of the above + The Stranglers.
posted by tellurian at 5:59 PM on March 1, 2005

All mentioned upthread, but The Ramones, The Clash, and The Specials.
posted by Alt F4 at 7:10 PM on March 1, 2005

Yes! Pericles is right, you must play Ray of Gob!
posted by dabitch at 11:20 PM on March 1, 2005

Response by poster: Thanks so much, everyone.
posted by nthdegx at 3:32 AM on March 2, 2005

If possible, let us know how it went. What worked, what didn't, etc...
posted by hellbient at 8:14 AM on March 2, 2005