The 25 best indie albums of 1978

25 July 2025, 17:59 | Updated: 15 December 2025, 15:21

Let's turn back the clock to the year of All Mod Cons, Parallel Lines, The Man Machine and Give 'Em Enough Rope...

By Radio X

@RadioX

1. Pere Ubu - The Modern Dance: released February 1978

   The debut album from the Cleveland post-punk pioneers included the singles in the shape of the title track and Street Waves.

   

2. Patti Smith Group - Easter: release date 3rd March 1978

   Smith's third album included the huge hit Because The Night, co-written with Bruce Springsteen.

   

3. Buzzcocks - Another Music In A Different Kitchen: release date 10th March 1978)

   The debut album from the pioneering Manchester punks included the single I Don't Mind.

   

4. Elvis Costello - This Year's Model: release date 17th March 1978

   Costello's second album - the follow-up to My Aim Is True from the previous year - included the hits Pump It Up and (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea.

   

5. The Only Ones - The Only Ones: released April 1978

   The only studio album from Peter Perrett's London punks included their classic song Another Girl Another Planet.

   

6. The Stranglers - Black And White: release date 12th May 1978

   The third album from the Guildford punks included the single Nice 'N' Sleazy.

   

7. The Cars - The Cars (released 6th June 1978)

   The Boston new wave band's debut include the classics My Best Friend's Girl and Just What I Needed.

   

8. Boomtown Rats - A Tonic For The Troops: released 9th June 1978

   The second album from Bob Geldof and co included a string of hits: She's So Modern, Like Clockwork and the No 1 Rat Trap.

   

9. Magazine - Real Life: released 16th June 1978

   Howard Devoto formed Magazine after he left Buzzcocks and their debut album included the amazing tracks Shot By Both Sides and The Light Pours Out Of Me.

   

10. Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings And Food: released 14th July 1978

    The NYC art rockers' second album includes the band's cover of Al Green's Take Me To The River.

    

11. Rezillos - Can't Stand The Rezillos: release date 21st July 1978

    The debut album by the Edinburgh punks included the hits Can't Stand My Baby and Top Of The Pops.

    

12. Devo - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! Release date: 28th August 1978

    The Akron, Ohio art punk's debut album includded the classic Jocko Homo and their cover of the Stones' (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction.

    

13. Wire - Chairs Missing: release date 8th September 1978

    The second album from the art punk collective included the influential tracks I Am The Fly and Outdoor Miner.

    

14. Ramones - Road To Ruin: released 22nd September 1978

    The fourth album from the pioneering punks included I Just Want To Have Something To Do and I Wanna Be Sedated.

    

15. Blondie - Parallel Lines: released 22nd September 1978

    The all-time classic Blondie album was actually their third outing, but it spawned the hits Heart Of Glass, Hanging On The Telephone, One Way Or Another, Picture This and Sunday Girl.

    

16. XTC - Go 2: release date 6th October 1978

    The second album by the Swindon post punk act included the single Are You Receiving Me?

    

17. The Police - Outlandos D'Amour: released 3rd November 1978

    The debut album from Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland included Roxanne, Can't Stand Losing You and So Lonely.

    

18. The Jam - All Mod Cons: released 3rd November 1978

    The third album from Weller, Foxton and Buckler included the legendary Down In The Tube Station At Midnight.

    

19. The Clash - Give 'Em Enough Rope: released 10th November 1978

    The second album from Joe Strummer's punks included the hit Tommy Gun.

    

20. X-Ray Spex - Germfree Adolescents: release date 10th November 1978

    Iconic punk singer Poly Styrene and her band issued their debut album, which featured the classic singles Identity and The Day The World Turned Dayglo.

    

21. Siouxsie & The Banshees - The Scream: released 13th November 1978

    This hugely-influential slab of post-punk was the band's debut album and included Overground and Metal Postcard.

    

22. Public Image Ltd - First Issue: released 8th December 1978

    A year after the Sex Pistols crashed and burned following the release of their only album Never Mind The Bollocks... frontman John Lydon returned with this uncompromising response. It included some songs originally intended for the Pistols and the single Public Image.