What was the title of the Buzzcocks’ first release, issued as a 1977 EP?

The Buzzcocks’ first release, issued as a 1977 EP, was titled Spiral Scratch.

The four-track EP was recorded in Manchester and released independently by the band’s own New Hormones label. It was one of the earliest significant self-released records of the British punk era, demonstrating that bands could bypass established record companies and distribute their music directly.

Spiral Scratch features “Boredom,” “Friends of Mine,” “Time’s Up,” and “Why Can’t I Touch It?” The original vocalist was Howard Devoto, who left the group soon afterward. Pete Shelley then became the Buzzcocks’ principal singer and songwriter.

The EP is sometimes confused with the band’s first studio album, Another Music in a Different Kitchen, which arrived in 1978. It is also distinct from Singles Going Steady, a 1979 compilation collecting several of the Buzzcocks’ early singles.