So why is Buzzcocks’ Singles Going Steady on this best 1,000 albums ever thing?
In my late teens or early twenties, I did a deep dive on punk rock music, but somehow overlooked the Buzzcocks at the time. I had kind of heard of them but never really gave them a shot until I was well into my thirties, I want to say.
And perhaps it was for the best, because when I did discover the band for myself, I was completely blown away. When I stated “for the best,” perhaps I was at a slightly older and wiser age to appreciate the spectacular way the Buzzcocks mesh strong songwriting into aggressive yet melodic punk rock. Another compelling part of their sound is that unlike the London-based Sex Pistols and The Clash, the Buzzcocks hail from the Manchester area (Bolton, specifically) in northern England.
These days, I can easily say that the Buzzcocks have produced two of my absolute favorite punk rock songs of all time in “Ever Fallen in Love” and “What Do I Get?” And overall, Singles Going Steady is among the very best collections of music produced during punk rock’s initial and explosive wave in the 1970s.
This is a case where I am in full agreement with All Music’s take:
If Never Mind the Bollocks and London Calling are held up as punk masterpieces, then there’s no question that Singles Going Steady belongs with them. In fact, the slew of astonishing 7″s collected on Steady and their influence on future musicians — punk or otherwise — sometimes even betters more famous efforts.
“Ever Fallen in Love” is an absolutely sublime track that’s really as much as punk rock as it is new wave and pop/rock. And the chorus is endlessly catchy and singalong-able and delightful.
It’s a perfect song, is what I’m trying to say.
And meanwhile “What Do I Get?” ranks as one of the great old school punk songs of all time, with strikingly simple yet powerful lyrics that any lonely teenage kid will instantly relate to.
I just want a lover like any other
What do I get
I only want a friend who will stay to the end
What do I get
And the chorus is just tremendous, with exquisitely laid down vocals by Pete Shelley and crew.
The Buzzcocks are not shy about getting into some edgier material, such as with the slightly crass (but man is it a strong punk rock tune) “Orgasm Addict.”
But overall, the Buzzcocks are most in their wheelhouse with sunshiny and melodic punk rock that’s catchy for days, such as with “Love You More,” “Everybody’s Happy Nowadays,” and “Harmony in My Head.”
Some stats & info about Buzzcocks – Singles Going Steady
- What kind of musical stylings does this album represent? Punk Rock, British Music, Old School Punk, New Wave
- Rolling Stone’s greatest 500 albums ranking – #250
- All Music’s rating – 5 out of 5 stars
- When was Singles Going Steady released? 1979
- My ranking, the one you’re reading right now – #237 out of 1,000
Buzzcocks’ Singles Going Steady on Spotify
A lyrical snippet from Buzzcocks’ Singles Going Steady that’s evocative of the album in some way, maybe
Ever fallen in love, in love with someone you shouldn’t have fallen in love with?
What does the “best 1,000 albums ever” mean and why are you doing this?
Yeah, I know it’s audacious, a little crazy (okay, maybe a lot cray cray), bordering on criminal nerdery.
But here’s what it’s NOT: a definitive list of the Greatest Albums of All-Time. This is 100% my own personal super biased, incredibly subjective review of what my top 1,000 albums are, ranked in painstaking order over the course of doing research for nearly a year, Rob from High Fidelity style. Find out more about why I embarked on a best 1,000 albums ever project.