Here is a 10 Songs with a secret theme… I’ll tell you what at the end.
1. Ever Fallen In Love With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve – The Buzzcocks – Gender bending sexual confusion reached a height on this proto-type for the Smiths and huge huge huge influence on generations of pop singers still to come, there is a sweet twist to its emotional destituteness thoroughly original and completely fascinating – A
2. Public Image – PiL – Is it Lydon’s or Jah Wobble’s bass that annouces the official end of punk? Or maybe just the overall coming of age tenor of the track – A
3. Miss You – The Rolling Stones – A New York song for the ages and the disco song no one had the slightest idea the Stones were capable, a defining triumph and a vocal tour de force – A+
4. Radio Radio – Elvis Costello and the Attractions – Steve Nieve’s pumped up organ owns the track – A
5. Hit Me With You Rhythm Stick – Ian Dury And The Blockheads – Dury was disabled and so the obvious disco rhythm had yet another meaning – A
6. Ambition – Subway Sect – Another great organ post punk masterpiece – A
7. I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass – Nick Lowe – His Bowie tribute – A
8. It’s The New Thing – The Fall – circa Witch Trials, as catchy and brilliant as pop music by a a young rebellious jukeboxer – A
9. Germfree Adolescents – X-Ray Specs – The great Poly gone too soon but here she was teaching the world – A
10. Night People – Allen Toussaint – Great New Orleans disco beat syncopated and smart – A
The secret theme? all of them made NME’s Top 30 songs of 1978. Check out Tim Brown’s “Stupefaction” blog here