Released in 2013 by Cherry Red Records, Scared To Get Happy: A Story of Indie-Pop 1980–1989 is a monumental five-CD box set that serves as a definitive archive of the UK’s independent pop scene. Spanning 134 tracks, the collection traces the genre's evolution from the jagged, DIY spirit of post-punk and the seminal C86 movement to the melodic jangle-pop and early shoegaze of the late eighties. It features a mix of heavyweights like The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, and Prefab Sprout alongside dozens of cult favourites and obscure "one-single" bands, all accompanied by a 54-page booklet that provides a deep historical dive into the era's fiercely independent ethos.
Critics and fans generally view the set as an essential, high-quality document, often comparing its cultural importance to the garage-rock Nuggets compilation. While it has faced minor criticism for missing a few key acts like The Pastels or Felt due to licensing hurdles, it is praised for its ambitious scope and for rescuing many lost gems from obscurity. By capturing the transition from the post-punk "year zero" to the dawn of Britpop, the compilation offers a nostalgic yet scholarly look at a decade defined by fanzines, flexi-discs, and the rise of influential labels like Creation, Sarah, and Postcard.