Classic Post Punk Album: Throbbing Gristle’s 20 Jazz Funk Greats

RIP Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson

On This Date, December 10th in 1979: Industrial music pioneers Throbbing Gristle released their third album, 20 Jazz Funk Greats (Industrial Records). The album’s cover photograph was taken at Beachy Head, a chalk headland on the south coast of England. The cliff located there is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain, rising to 530 feet above sea level.


In addition to offering spectacular coastal views, its height has also made Beachy Head notorious as one of the world’s most popular suicide spots. On the original cover of 20 Jazz Funk Greats, a nude and apparently dead male body appears in the foreground.

3 thoughts on “Classic Post Punk Album: Throbbing Gristle’s 20 Jazz Funk Greats”

  1. I bought this gem the day it was released (on import). I used it to further alienate my peers. Surprisingly, there is very little “jazz” and/or “funk” contained within these hallowed grooves. A lot of throbbing though…

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