Spiral Scratch

For the Doctor Who novel, see Spiral Scratch (novel).

Spiral Scratch
EP by
Buzzcocks
Released29 January 1977
Recorded28 December 1976 in Manchester, England
GenrePunk rock
Length10:01
LabelNew Hormones
ProducerMartin Hannett
Buzzcocks chronology
Spiral Scratch
(1977) 		Another Music in a Different Kitchen
(1978)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyB[2]
Mojo[3]
Pitchfork9.5/10[4]
Q[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[6]
Spin Alternative Record Guide9/10[7]
Uncut[8]

Spiral Scratch is an EP and the first release by the English punk rock band Buzzcocks. It was released on 29 January 1977. It is one of the earliest releases by a British punk band (preceded by The Damned's "New Rose" in October 1976, and both Sex Pistols' "Anarchy in the U.K." and the first two singles by The Vibrators in November 1976). Spiral Scratch and the album Time's Up are the only Buzzcocks studio releases with original singer Howard Devoto, who left shortly after the EP's release to form one of the first post-punk bands, Magazine.

When reissued in 1979, it reached number 31 in the UK Singles Chart.[9] In 2017, it was at the top of the UK Physical Singles Chart after being re-issued on its 40th anniversary.[10]

  1. ^ Ogg, Alex. "Spiral Scratch – Buzzcocks". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  2. ^ Flaherty, Mike (24 March 2000). "Spiral Scratch". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  3. ^ Savage, Jon (February 2017). "Howard's end". Mojo. No. 279. p. 102.
  4. ^ Wolk, Douglas (14 March 2017). "Buzzcocks: Time's Up / Spiral Scratch". Pitchfork. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Buzzcocks: Spiral Scratch". Q. No. 405. December 2019. p. 117.
  6. ^ Gross, Joe (2004). "The Buzzcocks". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 124–25. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  7. ^ Walters, Barry (1995). "Buzzcocks". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 65–66. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  8. ^ "Buzzcocks: Spiral Scratch". Uncut. No. 34. March 2000. p. 74.
  9. ^ "Spiral Scratch by Buzzcocks". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
  10. ^ "UK Official Physical Singles Chart Week of 3 February 2017". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 June 2017.