The Only Music That Mattered: A Guide to Punk, Post-Punk and Second Wave Ska, 1976-1983

After the first full-fledged punk singles arrived in 1976, many punks threw out nearly all their records released before then--all but music containing the seeds of punk. This was called proto-punk, the foundation for punk, now considered a genre of its own. All roads of punk lead back to the golden era of punk, post-punk, and Second Wave ska from 1976 to 1983. This strange era between the hippie and the yuppie produced music that still resonates because of its authenticity and defiance.

This essential discography with commentary is a gateway into this era. It covers in detail the standout artists of this period, the not-to-be-overlooked B-sides, and the essential one-hit wonders. For both seasoned punks and newcomers to the genre, this book is the entry point to finding out about this celebrated era of music.