Radio X's ranking of the 25 best indie rock songs of 1978

1978 was a year of major upheaval for rock music, as the long wave of the punk revolution was already starting to morph into the first stirrings of the post-punk and new wave era. That evolution is embodied by the No. 1 spot in this new ranking from Radio X magazine, dedicated to the best indie rock tracks of that year (“Shot By Both Sides” by the seminal Magazine).

But this top 25 also brings together other genres, from the reggae-rock of Police to the synth-pop of Human League, not to mention a great classic penned by Bruce Springsteen–Patti Smith.

So here is the ranking of the 25 best indie rock songs of 1978 according to Radio X (full feature here).

1. Magazine – “Shot By Both Sides”

2. Squeeze – "Take Me I'm Yours"

3. Wire – “I Am The Fly”

4. Elvis Costello & The Attractions – “(I Don’t Want To Go To) Chelsea”

5. Devo – "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"

6. The Police – “Roxanne”

7. Patti Smith Group – “Because The Night”

8. The Only Ones – “Another Girl Another Planet”

9. The Normal – “Warm Leatherette”

10. The Clash – “(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais”

11. The Human League – “Being Boiled”

12. Jilted John – "Jilted John"

13. Siouxsie & The Banshees – “Hong Kong Garden”

14. Ramones – "Don't Come Close"

15. Talking Heads – “Take Me To The River”

16. Blondie – “Hanging On The Telephone”

17. The Boomtown Rats – “Rat Trap”

18. Gang Of Four – “Damaged Goods”

19. The Jam – “Down In The Tube Station At Midnight”

20. Public Image Ltd – "Public Image"

21. Adam And The Ants – “Young Parisians”

22. The Undertones – “Teenage Kicks”

23. The Cars – “My Best Friend’s Girl”

24. Ian Dury & The Blockheads – “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick”

25. The Cure – “10.15 Saturday Night”

Below, we bring you Radio X's top 25 best indie rock albums of 1978 (full feature here).

1. Pere Ubu – “The Modern Dance” (February 1978)
2. Patti Smith Group – "Easter" (March 3, 1978)
3. Buzzcocks – “Another Music in a Different Kitchen” (March 10, 1978)
4. Elvis Costello – “This Year’s Model” (17 marzo 1978)
5. The Only Ones – “The Only Ones” (aprile 1978)
6. The Stranglers – “Black and White” (12 maggio 1978)
7. Kraftwerk – “The Man Machine” (May 19, 1978)
8. Thin Lizzy – “Live and Dangerous” (2 giugno 1978)
9. The Cars – “The Cars” (6 giugno 1978)
10. Boomtown Rats – “A Tonic for the Troops” (9 giugno 1978)
11. Magazine – “Real Life” (June 16, 1978)
12. Talking Heads – “More Songs About Buildings and Food” (July 14, 1978)
13. Rezillos – “Can’t Stand the Rezillos” (21 luglio 1978)
14. The Who – “Who Are You” (18 agosto 1978)
15. Devo – “Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!” (August 28, 1978)
16. Wire – “Chairs Missing” (September 8, 1978)
17. Ramones – “Road to Ruin” (September 22, 1978)
18. Blondie – "Parallel Lines" (September 22, 1978)
19. XTC – “Go 2” (October 6, 1978)
20. The Police – “Outlandos d’Amour” (November 3, 1978)
21. The Jam – “All Mod Cons” (November 3, 1978)
22. The Clash – “Give ‘Em Enough Rope” (November 10, 1978)
23. X-Ray Spex – "Germfree Adolescents" (November 10, 1978)
24. Siouxsie & The Banshees – “The Scream” (13 novembre 1978)
25. Public Image Ltd – “First Issue” (December 8, 1978)

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