E11: The Winter of Discontent – Post Punk pt.2

Listen to the full episode here:

Jeremy and Tim continue our mini-series on post-punk with a bit of 1978 scene-setting. Describing the inflationary crises, militant shop stewards and series of strikes in the UK and US, Jeremy paints a picture of the historic moment out of which a series of self-consciously anti-bourgeois bands were emerging. We hear about Jonny Rotten’s metamorphosis into John Lydon, take a moment to reflect on some of Leeds’ favourite sons the Gang of Four, and cross over to the Rust Belt to listen to an early track by Ohio’s own Pere Ubu. Sticking in the States, Tim spends time talking about Talking Heads’ second album More Songs About Buildings and Food, unleashes the Disco Clone, and enjoys the B52s Rock Lobster. Plus: Eno, Feminism, and the first ever thrift shop in NYC. 

Tracklist:
Pere Ubu - The Modern Dance
Public Image Ltd - Public Image
Gang of Four - Damaged Goods
Al Green - Take Me to the River
Cristina - Disco Clone
B52s - Rock Lobster

Books:
Bernard Gendron - Between Montmartre and the Mudd Club