Going Underground

Between 1977 and 1981 a myriad of influences, fashions and styles collided to make a heady musical brew. In the wake of Punk’s brief flare-up there emerged a dazzling band of diverse talents who came to be known under the umbrella term New Wave. ‘Going Underground’ is a 66-track, 3-CD set that sets out to tell the story of those exciting, experimental days. From the UK, explosive newcomers like The Jam, Elvis Costello and Siouxsie & The Banshees took on our domestic singles charts and won, with hit after landmark hit. From the USA, The Ramones, Patti Smith, Blondie and The Pretenders gave them all a run for their money. Meanwhile burgeoning future legends like The Cure, Ian Dury and Bob Geldof’s Boomtown Rats rubbed shoulders with crazily inventive one-offs like The Flying Lizards, Lene Lovich, Jilted John and Belgium’s Plastic Bertrand.