Marquee Moon is the 1977 debut studio album by American rock band Television. By 1974, the group had become a prominent act on the New York music scene and generated interest from a number of record labels. Television rehearsed extensively in preparation for Marquee Moon and, after signing to Elektra Records, recorded the album at A & R Recording in September 1976. It was produced by the band’s frontman Tom Verlaine and sound engineer Andy Johns.

For Marquee Moon, Verlaine and fellow guitarist Richard Lloyd abandoned contemporary punk rock’s power chords in favor of rock and jazz-inspired interplay, melodic lines, and counter-melodies. Verlaine’s lyrics combined urban and pastoral imagery, references to lower Manhattan, themes of adolescence, and influences from French poetry. He also used puns and double-entendres to give his songs an impressionistic quality describing the perception of an experience rather than its specific details.

When Marquee Moon was released in February 1977, it received widespread critical acclaim and unexpected commercial success in the United Kingdom, but sold poorly in the United States. The record has since been viewed by critics as one of the greatest albums of all time and a foundational record of alternative rock. Television’s innovative post-punk instrumentation on Marquee Moon strongly influenced the indie rock and new wave movements of the 1980s, as well as rock guitarists such as John Frusciante, Will Sergeant,

Released: February 1977

Recorded: September 1976 at A & R Recording in New York City

Genre: Post-punk, Rock, Art punk

Length: 45:54

Label: Elektra

Producers: Andy Johns and Tom Verlaine

Singles released from the Album:

“Marquee Moon” Released in April 1977

“Prove It” Released in July 1977