10 Best Singles From The Golden Age Of Punk

There is nothing more tiresome than a movement that takes itself too seriously - prog rock anyone? Fortunately there was plenty of humour to go round in the golden years of punk - Jilted John, John Cooper Clarke, The Albertos and John Otway were all embraced without prejudice by the punk audiences of '77. Plastic Bertrand was, in some ways essentially a novelty act, but he still managed to release a couple of classic singles, 'Pogo Pogo' and of course 'Ca Plane Pour Moi'.

The song had been kicking around for some time before Bertrand covered it. Elton Motello did the original, as 'Jet Boy Jet Girl' - his version was later covered by The Damned. The original lyrics were not really radio friendly but Plastic Bertrand's bore no relation to them whatsoever - or in fact any relation to anything that even made sense.

All that really mattered was the energy and the 'ooh, ooh ooh' hook. Insanely catchy - once heard and never forgotten - in reality the single was no more 'gimmicky' than something like 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker'. Joe Strummer always said that it was one of his all-time favourite punk songs - no higher recommendation exists.