by Remember the 1960s? The streets were awash with peace, love, and a tie-dye swirl of something that carried the vague scent of hope. By 1977, even the smouldering embers of that dream had been snuffed out under the polished wingtip of power, and the only abundant asset that money couldn’t buy was poverty.
The hot new product was Sizzlean, a healthy bacon alternative that actually contained 37% fat. England failed to qualify for the second World Cup in a row. And the IRA had detonated seven bombs on Oxford Street in a single hour that thankfully brought about zero casualties and minimal damage, proving that even terrorism was naff. The music, however, was not.
A revolution was afoot on both sides of the pond. A gig poster, proudly pasted to the wall of the CBGB, advertises a forthcoming show where the Ramones are backed by support from Talking Heads, and Blondie’s concert in July trails at the bottom of the pamphlet. Meanwhile, in the UK, Sex Pistols gigs are proving so raucous that they are forced to play under pseudonyms like Special Guests, Acne Rabble, and A Mystery Band of International Repute to avoid the authorities’ heavy-handed attention.
Some might claim that the punk and new wave uprising that finally crested the sacred shores of the mainstream in 1977 was short-lived, but in truth, its glorious, teen-spirit stench can be whiffed in everything that has followed. As Kurt Cobain’s fittingly juvenile definition put it, “Punk is musical freedom. It’s saying, doing and playing what you want. In Webster’s terms, ‘nirvana’ means freedom from pain, suffering and the external world, and that’s pretty close to my definition of punk rock.”
Meanwhile, disco landed like a bludgeon against the bourgeoisie stronghold on the arts as virtuosity made way for good times in an age of bad news. The ‘Son of Sam’ killer was striking fear into New York in the grim summer of ‘77, but in bold defiance, revellers still flocked to Studio 54 to get down to Chic. Likewise, Peter Sutcliffe was at large in Leeds, but that didn’t stop the F Club from opening and fostering feisty future talents like Gang of Four, the Slits, and XTC.
Even Berlin, awash with spies pretending to simply read the same page of the paper for four hours straight, was having a musical moment as David Bowie and Iggy Pop sought sobriety and a new form of artistry in its crumbling brutalism. And over in Greece, where international tensions were heating up after they imprisoned five British plane-spotters, Iannis Xenakis was revolutionarily pairing architecture and music.
As Warmduscher would later tell me drunkenly backstage over a chat about how vital acts like Gil Scott-Heron proved to be, “I think when things are shit you find people making music with nothing else to do. When there is no reason to make music, and everything is shit, that is when you’re going to find the best music. It’s people doing it because they love it and that creates scenes.”
That was certainly Patti Smith’s view. When she sat down to tell William S Burroughs the meaning of punk in 1979, she commented, “I think what it was was a hunger that we didn’t know that a lot of us had. We all felt loneliness as a hunger for something to happen. As we thought we were lonely, a group like Television thinks they’re alone. The boys that later became the Sex Pistols thought they were alone. All of us people that should have been perpetuating, or helping to build on, the sixties, we were dormant. And we thought we were alone”.
What they sought was unity: “Our credo was, ‘Wake up!’” Smith decreed. And it wasn’t just the punks, either. Something adjacent to what would become Hip Hop was also beginning to take shape in a bid to bring a smattering of community to a crime-torn New York. At 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, DJ Kool Herc threw routine parties with his sister Cindy Campbell in the ground-floor recreation room of their flat block, and a cultural movement was seeded from the humble beginnings of two turntables in full flow, a sanguine hum in the atmosphere, and a space awash with breakdancing, graffiti artists, DJs, and part-time MCs.
It was 1977, everything was fucked, and music was flourishing.
What happened in music in 1977?
January, 1977
The Clash kickstart The Roxy
The Clash headline the opening night of London’s first punk rock club, The Roxy. It’s instantly riotous. The movement now has a home. Pete Townshend will later claim its the only thing that ever matched the revolution of The Beatles.
“I look at the 100 nights of The ROXY as the life span of punk.” – Mick Jones
January, 1977
Sex Pistols sacked from EMI
After only releasing one single, EMI staff get very nervous about losing their jobs and threaten to strike, focring label bosses to sack the Sex Pistols from their recently signed contract. They are rebels without a home, but ‘Anarchy in the UK’ is riding high.
“EMI feels it is unable to promote this group’s records internationally in view of the adverse publicity which has been generated over the last two months.” – Official EMI statement
January, 1977
David Bowie gets weird with Low
David Bowie pioneers a strange new blend of new wave, ambient music and Eastern European folk, even inventing his own language in the prorcess. It proves pivotal to the post-punk movemnt to come, and defines his Berlin years.
“I couldn’t have written things like Low and Heroes, those particular albums, if it hadn’t have been for Berlin and the kind of atmosphere I felt there.” – David Bowie
January, 1977
Pink Floyd fight for prog with Animals
Depsire punk apparently trying to put prog to bed, it still proves popular as Pink Floyd peak at second in the UK with Animals and third in the US, despite being a hit-free five song suite concept album about sociopolitical conditions in Britain.
“I love the album; it was exciting and noisy and fun. It really had some great bits and stuff of effects on there but it was not one of our creative high points really.” – David Gilmour
February, 1977
Fleetwood Mac confirm the Rumours
After murmings of plentiful sordid studio shenanigans, Fleetwood Mac finally emerge with the soft rock classic, Rumours. It goes on to be one of the best-selling albums ever.
“Whatever was going in the band, specifically between the two couples, very much informed the material, and I think that was a very great appeal of the album. If you look at the success that the album enjoyed, I think it goes a little bit beyond the music itself.” – Lindsey Buckingham
February, 1977
The B-52s and ‘The Athens Mircale’
The B-52s play their first-ever gig at a secret party in Athens, Georgia. The small town will soon become a hotbed for alternative bands, like REM. The scene thrives on DIY, communal ethos, and distinct sounds.
“Historically we have given much – from James Brown to the B-52’s, Jessye Norman to Childish Gambino, Martin Luther King Jr to Stacey Abrams.” – Michael Stipe
February, 1977
Marquee Moon: The CBGBs best?
Television, the original safety pin sporting post-punks, release Marquee Moon. It is perhaps the greatest album to ever hail from the CBGB movement. And there are many to chose from. Somehow it is post-punk before even punk was truly defined.
“It’s like a mini symphony.” – Richard Lloyd
March, 1977
Iggy Pop survives the end of The Stooges
Iggy Pop emerges with his solo debut following the end of The Stooges and addicition struggles. The Idiot, made alongside David Bowie and Tony Visconti, turns out to be a rare masterpiece, channeling Dostoyevsky and Berlin’s past.
“He’ll never make it to the recording studios in time. Iggy’s doomed.” – David Bowie
March, 1977
The Sex Pistols at the Palace
The Sex Pistols continue to make waves as they sign their A&M contract outside of Buckingham Palace (pictured above), as the police watch on. Their antics are even debated in parliament where John Lydon is threatened with treason.
“Kids want excitement, they want things that are going to transform what is basically a very boring life for them right now, and music, young rock music, is the only thing they have, that they thought that they controlled.” – Malcolm McLaren
April, 1977
Disco arrives at Studio 54
In a parallel story to punk, disco is given a home at Studio 54 in New York City. Bands like Rare Pleasure, Chic and more thrive. Meanwhile, Andy Warhol, Debbie Harry and more party to the new sound. It sadly closed in 1980.
“Studio 54 is a dictatorship at the door, but a democracy on the dance floor.” – Andy Warhol
April, 1977
Record broken by Led Zeppelin
A still-thriving Led Zeppelin set the world record for an indoor show as over 76,000 cram into the Pontiac Silverdome to see them perform. They play a legendary, career-spanning set, opening with ‘The Song Remains the Same’.
“[Vanilla Fudge] played with Hendrix, Cream, The Who, and at times, we blew everybody off the stage. We were a very hard act to follow, we were known for being very aggressive live and different from anyone else. We were wondering who was going to blow us off – it was Led Zeppelin.” – Carmine Appice
April, 1977
Behold, The Clash
The Clash release their self-titled debut in the UK. It rises to 12th in the album chart, proving punk has commercial potential. Songs like ‘White Riot’ become instant classics and reaffirm the politics of the egalitarian movement. It cost just £4,000 to make.
“Yeah, all those things, responsibility, pressure. It’s a bit stressful. I try and come to terms with it by not thinking about it.” – Joe Strummer
May, 1977
The future is here with ‘I Feel Love’
Brian Eno decalres he has heard “the sound of the future” after listening to Donna Summer’s pioneering use of a Moog synthesiser on ‘I Feel Love’. It becomes a chart-topping smash hit in the UK, and sixth in the US.
“She was an incredibly talented singer, who could improvise but was also very disciplined.” – Giorgio Moroder
May, 1977
‘Hotel California’ hits Number One
Weeks after the single was released, ‘Hotel California’, a lament on the lingering lie of the American Dream, steadily rises to number one on the charts. It remains one of the best-selling singles worldwise in classic rock history.
“Perfection is not an accident.” – Glenn Frey
June, 1977
Farewell to The Supremes
Motown legends the Supremes call it a day after their final concert in London. They are remmembered as icons of popular music. Their singles have spent a whopping 306 weeks in the UK charts to date.
“I saw the Supremes when they were still singing in little black skirts and white blouses.” – Aretha Franklin
June, 1977
Exodus: Reggae’s greates record?
Bob Marley causes a reggae uprising with the genre’s most iconic record, Exodus. It has since sold approximately 20million copies worldwide. It features classics like ‘Three Little Birds’ and ‘Jamming’.
“Me just ease up me mind and go in a different bag. What me stand for me always stand for. Jah is my strength.” – Bob Marley
June, 1977
Star Wars Soundtrack
John Williams goes to second in the US album charts with the Star Wars soundtrack. Pop culture has a new galactic commerciality, as the film also soars along with merch, posters, toys and more. The blockbuster is upon us… even in the music charts.
“John Williams’ music is what truly brought the Star Wars universe to life. He gave it its soul.” – George Lucas
June, 1977
The King has left Indianapolis
Elvis Presley performs for the final time. The last song he ever sings on stage is ‘Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain’. Themonring before the show, he was commemorated for recieving two billion record pressings. He dies a few weeks later on August, 16th.
“Elvis is the last thing we’re all going to agree on. After this you are going to have your heroes and I’m going to have mine. You’re gonna like Joni Mitchell, I’m gonna like Iggy Pop. So instead of saying goodbye to Elvis, I’m going to say goodbye to you.” – Bruce Springsteen (paraphrasing Lester Bangs)
July, 1977
Macho Types Wanted for The Village People
Camp sensation The Village People arrive with their debut album after the composer Jacques Morali puts an advert into a music trade magazine, stating: “Macho Types Wanted: Must Dance And Have A Moustache”.
“Young man…” – The Village People
August, 1977
Nasa launch The Golden Record
An unmanned probe is launched into space by Nasa intended to be an artefact that alien life may find. It includes an assortment of music. The first human music that ET’s may hear is by Bach, and then they’ll get a blast of rock ‘n’ roll in the form of ‘Johnny B Goode’.
“Hello from the children of planet Earth.” – The People of Earth
August, 1977
What, exactly, is Pub Rock?
Motörhead arrive with their debut single, and pioneer a new brand of music that becomes known as pub rock, proudly crafted for Friday nigth revelry. This debut release from Chiswick Records remains the home of pub rock’s unsurpassed best.
“Born to lose. Live to win.” – Lemmy
September, 1977
The prolific Stranglers and Iggy Pop
Depsite their tours also gaining widespread press for all sorts of antics, The Stranglers manage to find the time for their second release of the year. No More Heroes is another cracker. Iggy Pop also serves up his second of ’77, the equally cracking Lust for Life.
“Whatever happened to Leon Trotsky? He got an ice pick, that made his ears burn.” – Hugh Cornwell
September, 1977
The arrival of Aja
Steely Dan serve up Aja, an album that has been hailed by fans and plenty of fellow musicians as one of the finest albums, in every aspect, ever since.
“Stunning writing. Stunning production, stunning singing, outstanding playing, but songs. Unbelievable goddamn songs. It’s too good. They’re all fantastic.” – David Crosby
September, 1977
Stellar songwriting
It’s not all punk as more traditional songwriters sweep through September with classics like:
– Litttle Criminals – Randy Newman
– Foreign Affairs – Tom Waits
– The Stranger – Billy Joel
– New Boots and Panties – Ian Dury
‘77 – Talking Heads
– Blank Generation – Richard Hell (OK, that’s also punk, I suppose).
But could this be the best month in music, ever?
“It doesn’t get any better than that. It’s like a classically heroic anthem theme. He did it. There’s quite a few people who did it. Not that many people in Randy’s class.” – Bob Dylan
October, 1977
Never Mind the Madness
The month is dominated by one release: Never Mind the Bollocks. There is more to say about the Sex Pistols’ one and only album than this little box will allow, literally.
“The most influential record of all time is Never Mind The Bollocks. People who are still working now in the music business did their shit because of that record.” – Noel Gallagher
October, 1977
We could be ‘Heroes’
David Bowie releases ‘Heroes’.
The song goes on to be pivotal not just withing culture, but within society at large as it contibutes to the toppling of the Berlin Wall in time.
“Good-bye, David Bowie. You are now among Heroes. Thank you for helping bring down the wall.” – The German Goverment
October, 1977
Hot competition from Pop Rock
Punk and Bowie receive stiff commerical competition as the following are also released:
– Bat Out of Hell – Meat Loaf
– News of the World – Queen
– Out of the Blue – ELO
– Show Some Emotion – Joan Armatrading
– Street Survivors – Lynyrd Skynyrd
And so many others you wonder, was this the biggst month in music, ever?
“I saw [Bat Out of Hell] as a spoof of Bruce Springsteen. Because the songs were sort of very basic changes, the themes were all… [Laughs}… by the time it was the ’70s, the themes were kind of nostalgic.” – Todd Rundgren
November, 1977
Disco goes All ‘n All
Disco is really announced on the mainstream as Chic relese their self-titled debut only a day after Earth, Wind and Fire dropped All ‘n All. Both become classics and bleed into the new wave and funk movements.
“Disco music in the ’70s was just a call to go wild and party and dance with no thought or conscience or regard for tomorrow.” – Martha Reeves
December, 1977
Elvis Costello gets banned from SNL
SNL panic and pull the plug on the Sex Pistols’ planned appearance, but they forget Elvis Costello is also a punk and his live, unscheduled change to his set sees him banned.
“I just wanted them to remember us. I didn’t really have anything against the show. I was more pissed off at being told what to play by the record company than I was NBC.” – Elvis Cotelllo
December, 1977
Paul McCartney has the final say
The former Beatle tops off the year with a slice of cheese. ‘Mull of Kintyre’ oddly becomes the biggest hit of the era in a last ditch bid from the old school.
“The people who hated it were pissed off with me. And even some of the people who bought it were pissed off with me because they’d bought it. Of course, it didn’t help that it came out at the height of punk rock.” – Paul McCartney
The best albums from 1977:
- Aja – Steely Dan
- Animals – Pink Floyd
- Bat Out of Hell – Meat Loaf
- Before and After Science – Brian Eno
- Blank Generation – Richard Hell & the Voidoids
- Car – Peter Gabriel
- Clear Spot – The Congos
- Cheap Trick in Color – Cheap Trick
- Eternally Yours – The Saints
- Heavy Weather – Weather Report
- Here, My Dear – Marvin Gaye
- Heroes – David Bowie
- I Remember Yesterday – Donna Summer
- In Color – Cheap Trick
- In the City – The Jam
- I Tcho Tchass – Francis Bebey
- Jesus of Cool – Nick Lowe
- Low – David Bowie
- Marquee Moon – Television
- Matching Mole – Robert Wyatt
- My Aim Is True – Elvis Costello
- Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols – Sex Pistols
- No More Heroes – The Stranglers
- Opposite People – Fela Kuti & Africa ’70
- Pink Flag – Wire
- Pure Pop for Now People – Nick Lowe
- Rocket to Russia – Ramones
- Rumours – Fleetwood Mac
- Saturday Night Fever – Various Artists
- Saw Delight – Can
- Sorrow, Tears & Blood – Fela Kuti & Africa ’70
- Street Survivors – Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Talking Heads: 77 – Talking Heads
- The Clash – The Clash
- The Stranger – Billy Joel
- Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
- Transcendence – Alice Coltrane
- Viva! Roxy Music – Roxy Music
