Raw Power by Iggy and the Stooges

This album was recorded in a couple of weeks and then Iggy was just given a day to mix it on a primitive desk and by his own admission made a bit of a bodge of it. The record company hated it. He called in his pal David Bowie who did his best to salvage something and eventually produced a master that was released.

There have been various attempts to revisit this over the years, trying to capture the spirit of the original, including one 1997 attempt by Iggy which is famously the loudest record ever released with everything turned up to 11 and oodles of compression and distortion. The 2023 remasters hit the spot for me though.

Whichever mix you listen to, this is an album that does exactly what it says on the tin. The literal raw power of Iggy Pop’s vocals and guitarist James Williamson’s blistering riffs bleed through your speakers and make your hair stand on end. I think this is as good a point as any to declare this as being year zero for punk, defining the sound for generations to come.