1977: The Year Punk Broke is a critically acclaimed three-CD, 87-track compilation box set released in June 2019. Serving as a definitive audio time capsule, the album chronicles the seismic explosion of the British punk rock, new wave, and pub rock scenes during its most pivotal calendar year. While 1976 is traditionally viewed as punk's underground "Year Zero," 1977 was the year the movement truly erupted into the mainstream consciousness. Arranged largely in chronological order of release, the set maps out how raw, sub-three-minute adrenaline bursts evolved from independent club novelties into a national, culture-shifting phenomenon over a twelve-month span.
Compiled by music historians David Wells and John Reed, the box set balances world-famous anthems from breakthrough icons with hyper-rare tracks from obscure, short-lived acts. Listeners can find cornerstone recordings from bands like the Buzzcocks, The Damned, The Jam, and The Stranglers sitting alongside heavy metal pioneers like Motörhead and ultra-rare private-press singles from cult bands like The Exile and The Users. Accompanied by a comprehensive 60-page booklet featuring detailed band biographies and rare illustrations, the compilation provides an exhaustive, energetic, and highly informative overview of a musical revolution.
