185) The Stooges

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Fueled by "a little marijuana and a lotta alienation," Michigan's Stooges gave the lie to hippie idealism, playing with a savagery that unsettled even the most blase clubgoers. The band was signed to Elektra, despite label head Jac Holzman's misgivings that "the Stooges could barely play their instruments. How were we going to get this on record?" Ex-Velvet Underground member John Cale produced a primitive debut wherein, amid Ron Asheton's wah-wah blurts, Iggy Stooge (ne James Osterberg) snarled seminal punk classics such as "I Wanna Be Your Dog," "No Fun" and "1969." The record stiffed, but it undeniably gave birth to punk rock.

Total album sales: Under 500,000

Peak chart position: 106

Next: Sly and the Family Stone

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