The Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks This recording is a lot of things, but mostly, it is just a great recording, a classic in the true sense of the word. The Pistols were created to be horrifying, mocking and downright anti-social in an era that took rock music too seriously. This is the band that people think of when the term punk rock is used. It may be a touchstone, but there were other artists that lived the punk ethos as opposed to play punk rocker for the camera.

The Clash: s/t, Give 'em Enough Rope, London Calling Where the Pistols were a product of their media whore manager Malcolm McClaren, The Clash was the real McCoy. Joe Strummer's subjects were relevant to the working Brit, the average guy who couldn't make it in a depressed Britain. His voice was important, like a crude Springsteen, who apologized to no one for his thoughts or words. Strummer's recent death is a tragedy, and his importance to popular music history has yet to be felt.

The Ramones: s/t Simple power, melody and fun in the era of Supertramp and bloated Monsters of Rock. In 1976, they changed the direction of music, period, and this was the start.

Television: Marquee Moon Two of the greatest rock guitarists of all time, Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd, create a whirlwind of intricate interplay that contradicted anyone foolish enough to say that there was no one from the late '70s New York scene that could play their asses off. These two, along with Ivan Julian, with Richard Hell and the Voidoids, brought virtuosity to that awful heading "punk rock".

Buzzcocks: Singles Going Steady The melodic fury of this collection of singles is almost unmatched by any recording from any band in the late '70s. Inspired so many musicians to try to muster that same melodic intensity without letting the song turn into a piledriving caricature of itself. As important as Never Mind the Bollocks by The Sex Pistols or London Calling by the Clash.

The Jam: In The City Another furious recording, Paul Weller wore his great influences on his sleeve on this debut. The Jam inspired the Mod movement of the late '70s in England and was an inspiration for the artists who were the driving force behind Brit pop. The debut is a recording of its time that is representative of some of the best of the late '70s, but that is about it.

The Saints: I'm Stranded Australian rockers who were not pretenders. This recording is a sonic masterpiece, and reveals an artist who transcends the late '70s punk era and understood that the stripped down four on the floor intensity should come from the heart to be real.

Mission of Burma: Signals, Calls and Marches (EP) For years, people in the know have raved about M of B and their importance. I saw them on their recent reunion tour in Los Angeles and purchased this the day of the show. This is angry, passionate music for the sophisticated listener. A hugely influential recording from a hugely influential band.

Wipers: Is this Real? Actually recorded in 1980, this is a band that personifies "defying categories". Equal parts punk, pop and Detroit-inspired rock, this album was the beginning of a series of excellent releases by the great Greg Sage. See, also, Youth of America, Over the Edge available from www.zenorecords.com

NOTE: We will add to this list, I promise.