Here Are the Imperative Lists.  These are the CD's I believe are the most important and representative of each of the categories I have defined.  I have also taken a shot at defining an overall list of ten CD's that I feel would let you best experience the music of the entire punk era.  I have chosen the CD's I believe you will find most entertaining.  I have also attempted to balance out the different styles to lend the most diversity to the Imperative lists.  I have limited myself to 10 Punk CD's, and 5 CD's each from the New Wave, Pre Punk, and Post Punk categories.  However, I believe any of the bands and CD's I have mentioned on this site would make a great addition to your collection.

Punk Imperative:

1. Sex Pistols - "Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols" (1979)
2. The Clash - "London Calling" (1979)
3. The Damned - "The Best of the Damned" (1980)
4. Ramones - "Ramonesmania" (Best-of, 1988)
5. Siouxsie and the Banshees - "Kaleidoscope" (1980)
6. The Buzzcocks - "Singles Going Steady" (1979)
7. Dead Kennedys - "Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables" (1980)
8. Gang of Four - "Brief History of the 20th Century" (Best-of, 1990)
9. Elvis Costello - "My Aim Is True" (1977)
10. Talking Heads - "Talking Heads 77" (1977)

New Wave Imperative

1. The B-52's - "The B-52's" (1979; also, "Wild Planet" if you like the B-52's)
2. Devo - "Freedom of Choice" (1980)
3. Psychedelic Furs - "Talk Talk Talk" (1981)
4. Generation X - "Perfect Hits 75-81" (released 1997)
5. The Dickies - "Dawn of the Dickies" (1979)

Pre Punk Imperative

1. Stooges - "Raw Power" (1973)
2. New York Dolls - "New York Dolls" (1973)
3. Velvet Underground - "Velvet Underground and Nico" (1967)
4. Patti Smith - "Radio Ethiopia" (1976)
5. David Bowie - "Ziggy Stardust" (1972)

Post Punk Imperative

1. Husker Du - "Zen Arcade" (1984)
2. X - "Los Angeles/Wild Gift" (1980/1981, reisuued 1988)
3. Violent Femmes - "Violent Femmes" (1982)
4. The Replacements - "Let It Be" (1984)
5. Decline of Western Civilization (Soundtrack/Compilation 1980; Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Fear, and X)

Total Imperative.  The ten most representative albums from the entire punk era.

1. Sex Pistols - "Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols" (1979)
2. The Clash - "London Calling" (1979)
3. The Damned - "The Best of the Damned" (1980)
4. Ramones - "Ramonesmania" (Best-of, 1988)
5. Dead Kennedys - "Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables" (1980)
6. The B-52's - "The B-52's" (1979)
7. Husker Du - "Zen Arcade" (1984)
8. Violent Femmes - "Violent Femmes" (1982)
9. Decline of Western Civilization (Soundtrack/Compilation 1980)
10. Stooges - "Raw Power" (1973)

Finally, here is a list of some of my personal favorites.  If I had to go to a bunker some day and I could only bring 13 CD's from the punk era with me, I would bring the following (in no specific order):

• Husker Du - "Zen Arcade" (1984)
• Sex Pistols - "Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols" (1977)
• The Clash - "London Calling" (1979)
• Gang of Four - "Brief History of the 20th Century" (Best-of, 1990)
• Elvis Costello - "My Aim Is True" (1977)
• The English Beat - "I Just Can't Stop It" (1980)
• The B-52's - "The B-52's" (1979)
• Psychedelic Furs - "Talk Talk Talk" (1981)
• Violent Femmes - "Violent Femmes" (1982)
• X - "Los Angeles/Wild Gift" (1980/1981, reissued 1988)
• Bad Brains - "Rock For Light" (1983)
• Angry Samoans - "Back From Samoa" (1982)
• Echo and the Bunnymen - "Songs to Learn and Sing" (Best-of, 1985)

Punk Imperative (™) is a trademark.  All rights reserved. Copyright © 1998.  L. Scott.  All rights reserved.