The whole playlist:

 

 

Disc 1:

 

 

Disc 2:

 

 

Disc 3:

 

 

With glam rock in decline, the singles charts of 1975/76 were full of novelty songs and cheesy pop and soul records and there was little for teenagers who watched Top Of The Pops each week to get excited about. Many of them decided to buy whatever musical instruments they could afford and started making their own music. Punk rock came first, a reaction to the corporate rock and progressive rock that dominated the albums chart, as well as what was going on in the singles charts, with the Sex Pistols leading the way.

 

Inspired by the impact of punk rock, another batch of groups began to be formed and these came to be known as the 'new wave'. Their music was more melodic than punk and less political, often with a sense of humour in their lyrics. Having been at school when all this was happening, it's a genre of music I have a lot of affection for and I've put together this collection of sixty of the best songs from the era. It's debatable when the new wave finished but I've taken it as far as 1984.

 

New wave is bit of an umbrella term but I've chosen to exclude the ska and 2 tone groups so The Specials, Madness and The Beat etc. don't appear here. There's also no synthpop but don't worry, Buzzjack Presents... Synthpop will be coming soon. There are a few bands here who veer towards the punk sound and I've decided to include The Stranglers but not The Clash and The Undertones.

 

All the songs were top 40 hits, with most of them reaching the top 10. There are seven number 1 singles which you'll find at the start of each of the three discs. The rest of the playlist is mainly in chronological order. I hope you all enjoy listening to it, whether you know every song already or you make some new discoveries. Let me know what you think.

 

Thanks to Colm for doing the amazing graphics.

 

 

 

Toyah's version of "Echo Beach", "Hanging On The Telephone", "Happy Birthday" were # 1 hits in my chart.

Yeah, that collection is pretty much my childhood.

Fantastic album, thanks for your work on that Rollo! Saving to my Spotify account now.

 

TheSnake (and anyone else interested), there's plenty of opportunity to get involved on projects not yet started. If you have a genre or theme in mind not covered already or listed as Colm by coming soon (as these are all nearly complete) then do let us know.

It's debatable when the new wave finished but I've taken it as far as 1984.

 

Yeah I mentioned King - Love and Pride which made #2 in the UK chart in early 1985 but maybe thats a bit too poppy to be new wave and could just go into a future '80s pop' edition.

Edited June 20, 20241 yr by TheSnake

Good job Rollo!

ooh so many classics there Rollo - and at least 3 of my BJSC potentials I've been holding on to :lol: So farewell, Passions, XTC. Split Enz I was entering then swapped for Boney M at the last minute, oops! Shouldve stuck with the original intention :D

 

There are 9 personal chart-toppers and as many or more number 2's on the 3 sides. Nitpicking, the only tracks I'd swap for something else are Wang Chung, The Alarm and Bow Wow Wow I think, so that's very strong overall. Well done! :cheer:

ooh so many classics there Rollo - and at least 3 of my BJSC potentials I've been holding on to :lol: So farewell, Passions, XTC. Split Enz I was entering then swapped for Boney M at the last minute, oops! Shouldve stuck with the original intention :D

At least two of those three songs would have had my 18 points in a final!

 

Great compilation Rollo, I look forward to listening and hearing the handful of songs I don't yet know!

ooh so many classics there Rollo - and at least 3 of my BJSC potentials I've been holding on to :lol: So farewell, Passions, XTC. Split Enz I was entering then swapped for Boney M at the last minute, oops! Shouldve stuck with the original intention :D

 

There are 9 personal chart-toppers and as many or more number 2's on the 3 sides. Nitpicking, the only tracks I'd swap for something else are Wang Chung, The Alarm and Bow Wow Wow I think, so that's very strong overall. Well done! :cheer:

At least you managed to enter Department S. The Passions song was on my potentials list as well. I ended up playing it as one of the warm up songs on one of my album of the month synctube listening sessions as it had a connection to the album that followed by Propaganda.

 

What's the next year release in the works? And can I have a chance to reveal it?

What's the next year release in the works? And can I have a chance to reveal it?

 

I know what I want and I want it now.*

 

(Colm told us a few posts back what would be the next year comp iirc) :D

 

 

*Track 1 Disc 1, please!

Edited June 25, 2024Jun 25 by TheSnake

Indeed, 1993 should be with us soon.

I recommended 2003. These are some of the songs that I think will make this:

 

In da Club, Bring Me to Life, I'm with You, Ignition, Satisfaction, Rock Your Body and Toxic.

 

Are You Ready for Love?, Spirit in the Sky and Everyway That I Can (Eurovision '03 winner) might be on as well.

Edited June 25, 2024Jun 25 by WazzupMyBoyz

why's no one responding?

Responding to what?

It's nothing.

To answer your question for 2003 Ignition probably wouldn't be on it but the other songs probably would (apart from Toxic as its from 2004). 'Every Way That I Can' is a great shout, I have great holiday memories being on holiday in Crete in summer 2003 and hearing it.

Cry Me a River is probably going to be on 2003 instead of Rock Your Body.

Looking forward to 1993 and 2003 being the next two years of our compilations - 2003 was an good year for dance hits in the UK and Europe too - Loneliness, Opera Song, The Way, Pretty Green Eyes, Summer Jam (DJ FRANK 2003 version), Fly On The Wings Of Love.

 

'I'm In Heaven' by Jason Nevins and Holly James not on Spotify yet though :(

Edited June 28, 2024Jun 28 by TheSnake

I think 1993 will be with us early next week. 2003 hasn't been scheduled yet.