1979- the birth of post-punk, the last dominance of disco, the rise of New Wave & Synth-pop and a great music year smack dab in the middle of what I consider to be the 2nd golden age of the rock era. Normally I take 12 albums a week over a 2-week period to work to listen to for each year I’m reviewing. 1979 is so filled with amazing albums I had to extend the period to 3 weeks and the albums to 13 a week and there were still a few great albums left over. ’79 was also the first year I remember being fully cognizant of the radio. Sure I listened to radio before then, in my parents car and probably even in my own bedroom, but in ’79 I remember the big singles of the year as they were being released, rather than hearing them as oldies.

Though punk rock garnered little airplay in the U.S. and certainly didn’t reach my then 7-year old ears until I was much older, it remains one of the most enduring and influential genres of the seventies. Punk’s antecedents began in the late 60’s and early 70’s with groups like the Velvet Underground, the MC5, the Stooges & the New York Dolls, mostly in cities like New York, Detroit and Cleveland. By 1976 it had become a full-fledged scene with the Ramones leading the charge and East Village club CBGB’s as its home base. By 1977 the music blew up in the U.K. and became bigger that it had ever been in the U.K. The Sex Pistols, the Clash, the Buzzcocks & the Damned were some of the biggest bands of punk’s first wave. Scenes move quickly, especially in the U.K. and by 1979 Punk was dying out as a scene and splintering into different factions. The Sex Pistols had broken up and punk icon Sid Vicious (their bassist) had died in February of ’79. Lead singer Johnny Rotten formed Public Image Limited the previous year, a much more dissonant and even less commercial group. P.I.L. took the attitude of punk, but with their slow, drone-y sounds had more in common with krautrock, art rock, Jamaican dub and funk. In ’79 they released their classic second album “Metal Box” (released in the U.S. the following year and titled “Second Edition”) and would be known as one of the first and seminal bands of post-punk. Fellow British band Joy Division formed in 1977 but was largely unsuccessful until released their debut full length “Unknown Pleasures”, one of the true post punk classics and best alt rock albums of all time. Though the group hard a darker, gloomier sound than most other first wave Brit-Punk, their sound wasn’t fully fleshed until “Pleasures”. Other Brit acts carrying the post-punk tag and highly active in ’79 include Wire, Siouxsie & the Banshees, The Pop Group, Bauhaus & the Fall. Unlike Brit Punk’s first wave, whose common identity included fast, driving guitar chords, short song lengths and plenty of anger, most of the post-punkers had little in common in sound. What tied them together was their arty, experimental nature and anti-commercial, anti-establishment aesthetic. Bauhaus- along with Joy Division & Siouxsie, inspired the post-punk offshoot ‘Goth’. Bauhaus’s 1979 single “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” is still known as Goth’s signature song- its “Stairway to Heaven”.

Some of the first wave punkers had some tricks up their sleeves as well. The Clash released their third album “London Calling” in December of 1979. It’s a double album tour de force, melding punk, ska, dub reggae, fifties rock n’ roll & pure pop. It’s both experimental and commercial and it somehow all works. I voted it my very favorite album of the seventies and it’s one of my favorites of all time- a perfect end to the 70’s and intro to the 80’s. The Damned, who had released the first British punk hit single with “New Rose” in 1976 had faltered with their second album and broken up. They somehow got back together in 1979 and released what is largely regarded as their best full-length album “Machine Gun Etiquette”. The great Buzzcocks released their “Singles Going Steady” compilation covering all of their singles from 1977-79. It’s as essential a comp to the 70’s as “Staring At the Sea: the Singles” by the Cure is to the 80’s. They also released their third and last album in the first wave of the band “A Different Kind Of Tension”. Like the Clash and Joy Division it moved away from simple three-chord punk of their earlier years and toward a more challenging, experimental sound. The Jam released their third album “Setting Sons”, a punk concept album, which is a British classic even if mostly unknown in America and contains the brilliant single “Eton Rifles”. Though they weren’t first wave Irish punk group the Undertones released their full-length debut. It was a throwback to pure power pop punk and contains “Teenage Kicks”, frankly one of the best singles of all-time- punk or not.

Some other important British bands emerged in the late 70’s who were tough to file under either the punk or post-punk tag. Only one of these groups would become hugely commercially successful and even then not until much later. This was the Cure who released their first album “Three Imaginary Boys” and a great slew of singles “Killing An Arab”, “Boys Don’t Cry” and “Jumpin’ Someone Else’s Train” all in late ’78 or ’79. The Cure’s original sound was much more lively and connected to punk than anything they released after it. Socialist leaning group Gang Of Four released their debut “Entertainment!” another true classic of the post-punk era. GOF’s lyrics are nearly exclusively political and the band played an extremely tightly wound punk funk hybrid. You can either thank them or lambast them for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Fishbone, but though their music is highly danceable they were hardly a party band. They also remain the single biggest influence on the dance punk revival of the last decade. Three important female dominated punk groups formed in 1979 as well- the Slits, the Raincoats and the Delta 5. Though none sold well, all three would become hugely influential on 80’s underground music and especially the Riot Grrrl movement of the early 90’s. The Delta 5’s first single “Mind Your Own Business” is a punk classic and The Raincoats self-titled debut along with the Slits “Cut” are both fantastic albums. By ’79 Punk was hardly just a boys club and began to incorporate an increasing number of women, gay people and people of color. It became known as music for people who had been societal outcasts with politically progressive attitudes and at its best invoked freedom in both its music and its values.

Another great offshoot of both punk & reggae music happened in ’79 as well. The 2- Tone Ska movement consisting most prominently of bands like the Specials, Madness, the Selecter and later the Beat (the English Beat in the U.S.). All of these groups were on the same indie label- 2-Tone. In ’79 the Specials released their brilliant self-titled debut album (produced by Elvis Costello!), another classic album of all-time ever. It would probably easily make my top 100 albums of all-time I gets better each time I hear it. Tracks like “A Message To You Rudy”, “Gangsters” and “Little Bitch” are 2nd wave Ska classics. Madness released their debut album as well “One Step Beyond”, including the classic title cut and “My Girl” and the Selecter had the great single “On My Radio”. Along with the Clash, the Slits, the Police (whose second album “Reggata De Blanc” was released in ’79) and the Raincoats, who all incorporated both ska and reggae into their sounds, it showed how big an influence Jamaican music and culture was on Great Britain in the late 70’s. Reggae itself was going through a transitional phase. Though its greatest practitioner Bob Marley released the very solid and very political “Survival” album in 1979 most of reggae’s other biggest acts lay formant in the very late 70’s. Reggae would move to a less organic, cheesier sound into the 80’s.

A handful of less experimental, more commercial new British artists were operating at a high octane pace in ’79 as well. Elvis Costello released his third amazing album in a row “Armed Forces”, which included successful singles “Accidents Will Happen”, “Oliver’s Army” and the definitive “What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding” (included on U.S. version of album only). The latter song was written by Nick Lowe, who released his own second album “Labour Of Lust”, which contains hit single (even in America!) “Cruel To Be Kind”. Joe Jackson released his debut album, the great “Look Sharp!” as well as his follow-up “I’m The Man”. “Is She Really Going Out With Him” was on his debut and is probably his signature track. Graham Parker & the Rumour released their third and best album “Squeezing Out Sparks”. These four gentlemen tend to get lumped together as young, angry, brilliant singer-songwriters indebted to both early 70’s British Pub Rock, classic rock n’ roll and punk if more in spirit than in actual sound. Along with fellow British groups like XTC (songwriters: Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding) and Squeeze (songwiters: Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook) they comprised most of the best songwriters of the New Wave era and a fresh start away from the leading lights of the 1st Rock era. One of the most important artists of the 70’s, who really bridged the gap between the 60’s and 70’s more than almost anyone else, David Bowie, released the last album “Lodger”, of his Berlin trilogy. If not one of his very best albums, it was certainly another outstanding Bowie effort. Bowie fit in just as well with the New Wavers and the Punks as he has in the previous British Glam-Rock era.

From the above paragraphs its pretty clear that Brits dominated the rock landscape in 1979, but that’s not to say that there was nothing going on in America except for disco. America had its own big New Wave bands. The Cars, from Boston, released the follow-up to their note perfect debut, titled “Candy-O”. Even if not quite up to the caliber of its predecessor “Candy-O” is a very underrated album and has classics like the title cut, hot song “Let’s Go” and “Dangerous Type”. Atlanta’s B-52’s combined punk, New Wave, surf music and a drag queen aesthetic to create a wildly unique sound & look. Their debut “The B-52’s” is the best of their albums with classic tracks “Rob Lobster”, “Dance This Mess Around”, “Planet Claire” and “52 Girls”. CBGB’s originals Blondie and Talking Heads continued to rise in commercial prominence. Blondie’s “Eat To the Beat” has the great singles “Atomic” and “Dreaming” and the Talking Heads “Fear Of Music” began incorporating African polyrhythms and had a minor hit with “Life During Wartime”. One of the biggest American hits was one hit wonder “My Sharona” by New Wave Skinny tie band the Knack. It dominated the airwaves in 1979 more than any other rock song and the group even had a great follow up hit “Good Girls Don’t”, but would fall into increasing obscurity after being unable to follow up their earlier success. The other really popular American rock music at the time came from the arena rock/hard rock & heavy metal communities. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers bridged the gap very well between New Wave and arena rock and had a huge year with their “Damn the Torpedoes” album, which had four hit songs “Refugee”, “Here Comes My Girl”, “Even the Losers” and “Don’t Do Me Like That”. Major Label, heavily touring bands like Boston, Foreigner, Journey, Styx, & REO Speedwagon all had huge hits and successes in the late 70’s. And each of the bands had some great songs to go along with some sutter cheese. Most of their albums (the first Boston album excluded) were very top heavy with singles and lots of filler and the bands were tough to get behind. Many of those songs have lived on though and the bands still tour even if only on nostalgia. There were some landmark heavy rock releases in ’79 as well. Cheap Trick, who had already released three studio albums to little success in their native America, came out with “Live at Budokan”, as they were already a huge band in Japan, and finally achieved a major hit. The live version or “Want You To Want Me” became their staple cut and “Budokan” remains a definitive live album in the annals of hard rock. Australia’s AC/DC, who had been releasing albums since 1975, finally had success in America as well with 1979’s “Highway to Hell”. Unfortunately singer Bon Scott died of an alcohol overdose shortly thereafter. The band would unexpectedly go on to even bigger fame with replacement single Brian Johnson in the 80’s, but Bon Scott remains irreplaceable. Los Angeles band Van Halen, who could honestly receive both credit and shame for spawning the hair metal generation, released their second self-titled album Van Halen II. Like the Cars, it might not have been up to the quality of the debut, but it was a great album in its own right. English group Motorhead pretty much invented the Thrash Metal genre with their 1979 albums “Overkill” and “Bomber”. Their frontman, Lemmy Kilminster, remains one of the biggest icons icons in Heavy Metal today and is also beloved by Punks and seems like one of the coolest men alive.

Some other big rock records in 1979 were known for their excess. Progressive group Pink Floyd released their epic album “The Wall”, which was a sprawling & confusing album about the trials & tribulations of a boy growing up in post WWII England, who loses his father, is domineered and overprotected by his mother, becomes a rock star and loses himself in excess and his own childhood hang-ups. Though it was mostly maligned critically compared to Floyd’s other 70’s albums it is extremely beloved by the post-Boomer generation. I know that this kid spend many hours over-analyzing the movie and soundtrack and the VHS tape remains the only one that I broke due to excessive plays. After becoming the biggest rock band in the world in the mid 70’s Fleetwood Mac, also released the double album “Tusk”. Though it definitely contains its share of filler time has also treated it well- there are a handful of gems on the record like “Think About Me”, What Makes You Think You’re the One”, and “Sara”. California soft-rockers the Eagles released their last album “The Long Run”, which was also critically lambasted at the time, but it contains great songs like the title cut, “In the City” and the beautiful ballad “I Can’t Tell You Why”. Not a terrible way to go out. British progressive pop group Supertramp released “Breakfast in America”, their biggest hit song. Four tracks off of the album – the title cut, “Goodbye Stranger”, “The Logical Song” & “Take the Long Way Home” remain staples on classic rock radio to this day. The biggest rock band of the 70’s Led Zeppelin released their final studio album “In Through the Out Door”. It may not have been up to the quality of the group’s other definitive releases, but it was more than solid and would still better most bands best efforts. The band would call it quits after drummer John Bonham died of an alcohol overdose in the following year, capping off the most amazing career in the annals of hard rock. Classic rock artist Neil Young capped off the decade perfectly with his “Rust Never Sleeps” album with band Crazyhorse. He was one of the only first wave boomer artists who gave props to punk. In his track “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)” he sang the lines “The King is gone but he’s not forgotten, this is the story of Johnny Rotten”, nodding to both early rock n’ roll and the punk movement, acknowledging that the old must give way to the new but should continue to be respected. The song also includes the oft quoted “It’s better to burn out than to fade way”.

Though disco music was at its greatest heights in 1978 in the wake of the “Saturday Night Fever” phenomenon, it was still producing fantastic stuff in ’79. But little did its supporters and the record companies know, backlash was just around the corner.  The infamous “Disco Sucks” rally was held at the Chicago White Sox baseball stadium on July 12 of ’79 and though there were still plenty of disco hits afterward that rally signified the beginning of the end of the genre- at least in its most popular form.  But disco was still all over the airwaves in 1979.   The Bee Gees followed up their “SNF” success with the “Spirits Have Flown” album. It wasn’t as big a hit but does contain disco classics like “Tragedy” and excellent ballads like “Too Much Heaven” and “Love You Inside Out”. Swedish band ABBA, much bigger internationally than in the U.S., released their “Voules-Vous” album to big success. There were also several huge one hit wonders in 1979 disco like Anita Ward’s “Ring My Bell”, Amii Stewart’s cover of “Knock On Wood” and Philly soul producers McFadden & Whitehead’s iconic “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now”, which along with Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family”, became the soundtracks to the Pittsburgh Pirates world series winning team (sadly over my Baltimore Orioles). Speaking of Sister Sledge disco in 1979 was really dominated by three sounds. Chic, consisting of songwriter/producers Nile Rodgers (also the guitarist) and Bernard Edwards (the bassist) produced Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” album, which also held hit singles “Lost In Music” and “He’s the Greatest Dancer”. Chic also released their third and best album “Risque”, which had single “Good Times”, was one of the best disco songs period. It has been copped and sampled in hip hop too many times to count and the sophisticated funk of Chic remains hugely influential on today’s dance oriented musicians. German producer Giorgio Moroder, who had found his muse in Boston singer Donna Summer, produced her biggest album, 1979’s “Bad Girls”. The title track, “Hot Stuff” and “Dim All the Lights” were all disco smashes. Donna also released non-album singles “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” with Barbara Streisand and “Heaven Knows”. It was her biggest year and ensured her with the legendary status she enjoys today. The third sound was Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones. Quincy produced Michael’s 1979’s come-back album “Off the Wall”, which was the first album in the second act of his career and what really pushed him to superstardom. The title track, “Rock With You” and “Don’t Stop Til’ You Get Enough” are all R&B/Disco classics and to my ears “Off the Wall” is an even better album than 1982’a “Thriller”.

Another huge star in the making in 1979 was Prince, who released his second self-titled album. Though he would only have a few comparatively minor R&B hits with “Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad” & “I Wanna Be Your Lover”, industry insiders already understood his talent and knew he was on his way. The Parliament-Funkadelic machine, which so dominated funk music in the 70’s, particularly after James Brown descended, released the “Gloryhallostoopid” and “Uncle Jam Wants You” albums in 1979. Neither was either groups best effort but tracks like “Not Just Knee Deep” and “Theme from the Black Hole” are P-funk classics. The band would peter out in the early 80’s. Other funk disco or funk R&B hybrids like Earth, Wind & Fire, Brass Construction, Mass Production & the Gap Band had major hits in ’79 as well, but the biggest story in black music in 1979 was rap. Though it was thought of as a novelty and only achieved one chart success in 1979, the Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” it was the beginning of what would eventually become the biggest commercially dominant form of music for over a decade. A few other early rap classics were released in ’79- “Spoonin’ Rap” by Spoonie Gee, “Christmas Rappin’” by Kurtis Blow and “Rappin’ and Rockin’ the House” by the Funky Four + 1. The music would explode in ensuing years even if it remained a fairly insular scene for the next half decade. But check out those early rap tracks- they are all surprisingly great and lines from each track are often referenced in later rap classics.

JOE JACKSON- LOOK SHARP!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Look Sharp! (Bonus Track Version) – Joe Jackson
Buy Look Sharp! (Remastered) Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MOTORHEAD- OVERKILL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Overkill – Motörhead
Buy Overkill Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MICHAEL JACKSON- OFF THE WALL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Off the Wall – Michael Jackson
Buy Off the Wall Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE POLICE- REGATTA DE BLANC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Reggatta de Blanc (Remastered) – The Police
Buy Reggatta De Blanc (Remastered)Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GANG OF FOUR- ENTERTAINMENT!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Entertainment! (Remastered) – Gang of Four
Buy Entertainment! (Expanded & Remastered) (US Release)Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE CARS- CANDY-O

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Candy-O – The Cars
Buy Candy-O (US Release) Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOY DIVISION- UNKNOWN PLEASURES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Unknown Pleasures (Remastered) – Joy Division
Buy Unknown Pleasures Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TALKING HEADS- FEAR OF MUSIC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Fear of Music (Remastered) – Talking Heads
Buy Fear Of Music [w/Bonus Tracks]Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE CLASH- LONDON CALLING

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy London Calling – The Clash
Buy London Calling Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE BUZZCOCKS- A DIFFERENT KIND OF TENSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy A Different Kind of Tension (Special Edition) – Buzzcocks
Buy A Different Kind Of Tension [Special Edition]Amazon
 

 

 

 

 

ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS- ARMED FORCES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Armed Forces – Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Buy Armed Forces Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE DAMNED- MACHINE GUN ETIQUETTE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Machine Gun Etiquette – The Damned
Buy Machine Gun Etiquette Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE B-52’S- THE B-52’S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy The B-52’s – The B-52’s
Buy The B-52’s Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS- DAMN THE TORPEDOES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Damn the Torpedoes (Remastered) – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Buy Damn The Torpedoes [Remastered]Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GRAHAM PARKER & THE RUMOUR- SQUEEZING OUT SPARKS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Squeezing Out Sparks + Live Sparks (Remastered) – Graham Parker
Buy Squeezing Out Sparks + Live SparksAmazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE SLITS- CUT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Cut (Deluxe Edition) – The Slits
Buy Cut [Explicit] Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE SPECIALS- THE SPECIALS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy The Specials – The Specials
Buy The Specials Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VAN HALEN- II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Van Halen II – Van Halen
Buy Van Halen II (US Internet Release)Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PINK FLOYD- THE WALL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy The Wall (Deluxe Experience Edition) [Remastered] – Pink Floyd
Buy The Wall [2011 – Remaster] (2011 – Remaster)Amazon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEIL YOUNG & CRAZYHORSE- RUST NEVER SLEEPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buy Rust Never Sleeps – Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Buy Rust Never Sleeps Amazon

Best of 1979 Volume 1 (9/30/02)

1.  The Sugarhill Gang- Rapper’s Delight (Short 12″ Version)

Buy Rapper’s Delight – Rhino Hi-Five: The Sugarhill Gang – EP
Buy Rapper’s Delight (LP Version) Amazon

 

2.  Michael Jackson- Rock With You

Buy Rock With You – Off the Wall
Buy Rock with You (Single Version) Amazon
3. The B-52’s- Rock Lobster

Buy Rock Lobster – The B-52’s

Buy Rock Lobster (Album Version) Amazon

 

4. The Cars- Candy-O

Buy Candy-O – Candy-O

Buy Candy-0 Amazon

 

5. Gang Of Four- I Found That Essence Rare

Buy I Found That Essence Rare – Entertainment! (Remastered)

Buy I Found that Essence Rare (Remastered Album Version) Amazon

 

6. The Clash- London Calling

Buy London Calling – London Calling

Buy London Calling Amazon

 

7. Elvis Costello & the Attractions- (What’s So Funny Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding

Buy (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding – Armed Forces

Buy (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding (Album Version)Amazon

 

8. Graham Parker & the Rumour- Passion Is No Ordinary Word

Buy Passion Is No Ordinary Word – Squeezing Out Sparks + Live Sparks (Remastered)

Buy Passion Is No Ordinary Word (Digitally Remastered 1996)Amazon

 

9. Joe Jackson- Is She Really Going Out With Him

Buy Is She Really Going Out With Him? – Look Sharp! (Bonus Track Version)

Buy Is She Really Going Out With Him? (Album Version) Amazon

 

10. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers- Even the Losers

Buy Even the Losers – Damn the Torpedoes (Remastered)

Buy Even The Losers (Album Version) Amazon

 

11. The Cure- Boys Don’t Cry

Buy Boys Don’t Cry (Single Version) – Three Imaginary Boys (Deluxe Edition)

Buy Boys Don’t Cry ( LP Version ) Amazon

 

12. Joy Division- Transmission

Buy Transmission – The Best of Joy Division

Buy Transmission Amazon

 

13. The Jam- The Eton Rifles

Buy The Eton Rifles – Setting Sons (Remastered)

Buy The Eton Rifles Amazon

 

14. The Specials- A Message To You Rudy

Buy A Message To You Rudy – The Specials

Buy A Message To You Rudy (2002 Remaster)Amazon

 

15. Bob Marley & the Wailers- One Drop

Buy One Drop – Survival

Buy One Drop (Album Version) Amazon

 

16. Pink Floyd- Comfortably Numb

Buy Comfortably Numb – The Wall (Remastered)

Buy Comfortably Numb (2011 – Remaster)Amazon

 

17. Neil Young & Crazy Horse- Powderfinger

Buy Powderfinger – Rust Never Sleeps

Buy Powderfinger Amazon

 

18. Chic- Good Times

Buy Good Times – Rhino Hi-Five – Chic – EP

BuyGood Times Amazon

Best of 1979 Volume 2 (10/1/02)

1. AC/DC- Highway To Hell

Buy Highway to Hell – Highway to Hell
*Not available via Amazon

2. Led Zeppelin- In the Evening

Buy In the Evening – In Through the Out Door (Remastered)
Buy In The Evening (2007 Remastered LP Version)Amazon

3. Neil Young & Crazyhorse- Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)

Buy My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) – Rust Never Sleeps
Buy Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black) Amazon

4. The Clash- Clampdown

Buy Clampdown – London Calling
Buy Clampdown Amazon

5. Talking Heads- Life During Wartime

Buy Life During Wartime – Fear of Music (Remastered)
Buy Life During Wartime ( LP Version )Amazon

6. Elvis Costello & the Attractions- Oliver’s Army

Buy Oliver’s Army – Armed Forces
Buy Oliver’s Army (Album Version) Amazon

7. Squeeze- Up the Junction

Buy Up the Junction – Singles 45’s and Under
Buy Up The Junction Amazon

8. Blondie- Dreaming

Buy Dreaming – Eat to the Beat
Buy Dreaming (2001 – Remaster) Amazon

9. The Slits- Typical Girls

Buy Typical Girls – Cut
Buy Typical Girls Amazon

10. The Buzzcocks- Why Can’t I Touch It?

Buy Why Can’t I Touch It? – Singles Going Steady
Buy Why Can’t I Touch It? (2001 Digital Remaster) Amazon

11. The Specials- Nite Klub

Buy Nite Klub – The Specials
Buy Nite Klub (2002 Digital Remaster) (Feat. Rico)Amazon

12. David Bowie- D.J.

Buy D.J. – Lodger (Remastered)
Buy DJ (1999 Digital Remaster) Amazon

13. Sister Sledge- He’s the Greatest Dancer

Buy He’s the Greatest Dancer – We Are Family
Buy He’s The Greatest Dancer Amazon

14. Gang Of Four- At Home He’s a Tourist

Buy At Home He’s a Tourist – Entertainment! (Remastered)
Buy At Home He’s A Tourist (Remastered Album Version)Amazon

15. The B-52’s- 52 Girls

Buy 52 Girls – The B-52’s
Buy 52 Girls (Album Version) Amazon

16. Joy Division- She’s Lost Control

Buy She’s Lost Control – Unknown Pleasures (Remastered)
Buy She’s Lost Control [12-Inch Version]Amazon

17. Graham Parker & the Rumour- You Can’t Be Too Strong

Buy You Can’t Be Too Strong – Squeezing Out Sparks + Live Sparks (Remastered)
Buy You Can’t Be Too Strong (Digitally Remastered 1996)Amazon

18. Van Morrison- Bright Side of the Road

Buy Bright Side of the Road – Into the Music
Buy Bright Side Of The Road Amazon

19. Donna Summer- Dim All the Lights

Buy Dim All the Lights – Bad Girls (Deluxe Edition)
Buy Dim All The Lights (12″ Version)Amazon

20. Pink Floyd- Goodbye Blue Sky

BuyGoodbye Blue Sky – The Wall (Remastered)
BuyGoodbye Blue Sky (2011 – Remaster) Amazon

Best of 1979 Volume 3 (5/8/04)

1. Cheap Trick- I Want You To Want Me (Live)

Buy I Want You to Want Me (Live) – At Budokan (Live)
Buy I Want You to Want Me (Live At Budokan: The Complete Concert) Amazon

2. The Knack- My Sharona

Buy My Sharona – Get the Knack
Buy My Sharona (2002 – Remaster) Amazon

3. Michael Jackson- Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough

Buy Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough – Off the Wall
Buy Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (Single Version) Amazon

4. Donna Summer- Hot Stuff

Buy Hot Stuff – Bad Girls (Deluxe Edition)
Buy Hot Stuff (Album Version) Amazon

5. The B-52’s- Lava

Buy Lava – The B-52’s
Buy Lava (Album Version) Amazon

6. Pink Floyd- Young Lust

Buy Young Lust – The Wall (Remastered)
Buy Young Lust (2011 – Remaster) Amazon

7. The Damned- Smash It Up (Part 2)

Buy Smash It Up – Punk Generation: Best of the Damned (Oddities & Versions)
Buy Smash It Up Amazon

8. Van Halen- D.O.A.

Buy D.O.A. – Van Halen II
Buy D.O.A. (Album Version) Amazon

9. Gang Of Four- Damaged Goods

Buy Damaged Goods – Entertainment! (Remastered)
Buy Damaged Goods (Remastered Album Version) Amazon

10. The Specials- Little Bitch

Buy Little Bitch – The Specials
Buy Little Bitch (2002 Digital Remaster) Amazon

11. Siouxsie & the Banshees- Love In a Void

Buy Love In a Void – Once Upon a Time – The Singles
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12. Prince- Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?

Buy Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad? – The Hits / The B-Sides\
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13. AC/DC- Shot Down in Flames

Buy Shot Down In Flames – Highway to Hell
*Track not available via Amazon

14. Funkadelic- (Not Just) Knee Deep (Part 1)

Buy Not Just Knee Deep – George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic: Live at Montreux 2004
Buy Not Just Knee Deep (Reprise) Amazon

15. Joy Division- Disorder

Buy Disorder – Unknown Pleasures (Collector’s Edition)
Buy Disorder [2007 Re-mastered Album Version] Amazon

16. Elvis Costello & the Attractions- Accidents Will Happen

Buy Accidents Will Happen – Armed Forces
Buy Accidents Will Happen (Album Version) Amazon

17. Dead Kennedys- California Uber Alles

Buy California Uber Alles – Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
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18. The Clash- Rudie Can’t Fail

Buy Rudie Can’t Fail – London Calling
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19. The Cure- Jumping Someone Else’s Train

Buy Jumping Someone Else’s Train – Three Imaginary Boys (Deluxe Edition)
Buy Jumping Someone Else’s Train [Single Version]Amazon

20. XTC- Making Plans For Nigel

Buy Making Plans for Nigel – Drums and Wires
Buy Making Plans For Nigel (2001 – Remaster)Amazon

21. Talking Heads- Heaven

Buy Heaven – The Best of Talking Heads (Remastered)
BuyHeaven Amazon

Best of 1979 Volume 4 (5/12/04)

1. M- Pop Muzik

Buy Pop Muzik – Pop Muzik
Buy Popmuzik Amazon

2. Van Halen- Dance the Night Away

Buy Dance the Night Away – Van Halen II
Buy Dance The Night Away (Album Version) Amazon

3. The Police- Bring On the Night

Buy Bring On the Night – Reggatta de Blanc (Remastered)
Buy Bring On The Night (2003 Stereo Remastered Version) Amazon

4. Parliament- Theme From the Black Hole (Single Edit)

Buy Theme from the Black Hole – Gloryhallastoopid
Buy Theme From The Black Hole Amazon

5. Anita Ward- Ring My Bell

Buy Ring My Bell – Ring My Bell
Buy Ring My Bell (Single, Short Version)Amazon

6. Donna Summer- Bad Girls

Buy Bad Girls – Donna Summer: Gold
Buy Bad Girls (Album Version) Amazon

7. Gary Numan- Cars

8.  The Raincoats- Fairytale In the Supermarket

Buy Fairytale In the Supermarket – The Raincoats
Buy Fairytale in the Supermarket Amazon

9. The Cars- Let’s Go

Buy Let’s Go – Candy-O
Buy Let’s Go Amazon

10. The Ramones- Rock N’ Roll High School

Buy Rock ‘N Roll High School – End of the Century (Deluxe Version)
Buy Rock ‘N’ Roll High School (Remastered LP Version) Amazon

11. The Buzzcocks- Everybody’s Happy Nowadays

Buy Everybody’s Happy Nowadays – Singles Going Steady
Buy Everybody’s Happy Nowadays Amazon

12. The Damned- I Just Can’t Be Happy Today

Buy I Just Can’t Be Happy Today – Machine Gun Etiquette
Buy I Just Can’t Be Happy Today Amazon

13. Joy Division- New Dawn Fades

Buy New Dawn Fades – Unknown Pleasures (Remastered)
Buy New Dawn Fades [2007 Re-mastered Album Version] Amazon

14. The Clash- Guns of Brixton

Buy The Guns of Brixton – London Calling
Buy The Guns of Brixton Amazon

15. The Jam- Strange Town

Buy Strange Town – 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Jam (Remastered)
Buy Strange Town Amazon

16. The Boomtown Rats- I Don’t Like Mondays

Buy I Don’t Like Mondays – 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Boomtown Rats
Buy I Don’t Like Mondays (Album Version) Amazon

17. Led Zeppelin- Fool In the Rain

Buy Fool In the Rain – In Through the Out Door (Remastered)
Buy Fool In The Rain Amazon

18. Joe Jackson- Fools In Love

Buy Fools In Love – Look Sharp! (Bonus Track Version)
Buy Fools In Love (Album Version) Amazon

19. Gang Of Four- Naturals’s Not In It

Buy Natural’s Not In It – Entertainment! (Remastered)
Buy Natural’s Not In It (Remastered Album Version) Amazon

20. Graham Parker & the Rumour- Discovering Japan

Buy Discovering Japan – Squeezing Out Sparks + Live Sparks (Remastered)
Buy Discovering Japan (Digitally Remastered 1996)Amazon

21. The Specials- Too Much Too Young

BuyToo Much Too Young – The Specials
BuyToo Much Too Young (2002 Digital Remaster) Amazon

Best of 1979 Volume 5 (5/24/07)

1.  The Clash- Armagideon Time

Buy Armagideon Time – Sound System
Buy Armagideon Time Amazon

2.  Madness- One Step Beyond

Buy One Step Beyond – One Step Beyond…
Buy One Step Beyond Amazon

3. The Fall- Rebellious Jukebox

Buy Rebellious Jukebox – Live At the Witch Trials
Buy Rebellious Jukebox Amazon

4. Gary Numan/The Tubeway Army- Are ‘Friends’ Electric

Buy Are “Friends” Electric? – Replicas
Buy Are ‘friends’ Electric?Amazon

5. The Ruts- Babylon’s Burning

Buy Babylon’s Burning – The Best of the Ruts – Something That I Said
Buy Babylon’s Burning Amazon

6. The Pop Group- She is Beyond Good & Evil

Buy She Is Beyond Good and Evil – Y
Buy She Is Beyond Good And EvilAmazon

7. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers- Here Comes My Girl

Buy Here Comes My Girl – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Greatest Hits
Buy Here Comes My Girl (Album Version) Amazon

8. Pink Floyd- Mother

Buy Mother – The Wall (Remastered)
Buy Mother (2011 – Remaster)Amazon

9. Marianne Faithfull- Why’d You Do It

Buy Why d’Ya Do It? – Broken English
Buy Why’d Ya Do It? (Original Mix)Amazon

10. The Buzzcocks- I Believe

Buy I Believe (2008 Remastered) – A Different Kind of Tension (Special Edition)
Buy I Believe (2008 Digital Remaster)Amazon

11. Suicide- Dream Baby Dream

Buy Dream Baby Dream – Ghost Riders
Buy Dream Baby Dream (Long version)Amazon

12. Cheap Trick- The Dream Police

Buy Dream Police – Dream Police (Bonus Track Version)
Buy Dream Police Amazon

13. Talking Heads- Mind

Buy Mind – Fear of Music (Remastered)
Buy Mind ( LP Version ) Amazon

14. Michael Jackson- Off the Wall

Buy Off the Wall – Off the Wall
Buy Off the Wall Amazon

15. McFadden & Whitehead- Ain’t Not Stopping Us Now

Buy Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now – Boogie Nights (Music from the Original Motion Picture)
Buy Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us NowAmazon

16. David Bowie- Boys Keep Swinging

Buy Boys Keep Swinging – Lodger (Remastered)
Buy Boys Keep Swinging (1999 Digital Remaster)Amazon

17. The Slits- Love und Romance

Buy Love und Romance – Cut
Buy Love Und Romance Amazon

18. Wire- Map Ref 41 N 93 W

Buy Map Ref 41 Degrees N 93 Degrees W – 154 (Remastered)
Buy Map Ref 41 Degrees N 93 Degrees W (2006 Digital Remaster)Amazon

19. The Specials- Gangsters

Buy Gangsters – Stereo-Typical: A’s B’s & Rarities
Buy Gangsters Amazon

Best of 1979 Volume 6 (5/26/07)

1. The B-52’s- Planet Claire

Buy Planet Claire – The B-52’s
Buy Planet Claire (Album Version) Amazon

2. Talking Heads- I Zimbra

Buy I Zimbra – Fear of Music (Remastered)
Buy I Zimbra (2005 Remastered Album Version))Amazon

3. Public Image Limited- Poptones

Buy Poptones – Second Edition
Buy Poptones (Album Version)Amazon

4. Joy Division- Shadowplay

Buy Shadowplay – Unknown Pleasures (Collector’s Edition)
Buy Shadowplay Amazon

5. Gary Numan- M.E.

Buy M.e. – The Pleasure Principle
Buy M.e. Amazon

6. The Jam- Private Hell

Buy Private Hell – Setting Sons (Remastered)
Buy Private Hell Amazon

7. Pink Floyd- Another Brick In the Wall (Part 2)

Buy Another Brick In the Wall, Pt. 2 – The Wall (Remastered)
Buy Another Brick In The Wall, Pt. 2 (2011 – Remaster)Amazon

8. Mission of Burma- Peking Spring

Buy Peking Spring – Peking Spring
Buy Peking Spring Amazon

9. The Slits- Shoplifting

Buy Shoplifting – Cut
Buy Shoplifting Amazon

10. Gang Of Four- Return the Gift

Buy Return the Gift – Entertainment! (Remastered)
Buy Return The Gift (Remastered Album Version)Amazon

11. Nick Lowe- Cruel To Be Kind

Buy Cruel to Be Kind – Basher – The Best of Nick Lowe
Buy Cruel To Be Kind Amazon

12. The Charlie Daniels Band- The Devil Went Down to Georgia

Buy The Devil Went Down to Georgia – The Essential Charlie Daniels Band
Buy The Devil Went Down To GeorgiaAmazon

13. ZZ Top- Cheap Sunglasses

Buy Cheap Sunglasses – Deguello
Buy Cheap Sunglasses (Remastered)Amazon

14. The Damned- Plan 9 Channel Zero

Buy Plan 9 Channel 7 – Machine Gun Etiquette
Buy Plan 9 Channel 7 Amazon

15. Motorhead- Stone Dead Forever

Buy Stone Dead Forever – Bomber
Buy Stone Dead Forever (Album Version) Amazon

16. The Buzzcocks- Harmony In My Head

Buy Harmony in My Head – Singles Going Steady
Buy Harmony In My Head (2001 Digital Remaster)Amazon

17. The Clash- Train In Vain

Buy Train In Vain – London Calling
Buy Train in Vain Amazon

18. Prince- I Wanna Be Your Lover (Single Edit)

Buy I Wanna Be Your Lover (Single Version) – The Very Best of Prince
Buy I Wanna Be Your Lover [Single Version]Amazon

19. The Bee Gees- Love You Inside Out

Buy Love You Inside Out – Spirits Having Flown
Buy Love You Inside Out Amazon

Best of 1979 Volume 7 (9/21/13)

1.  Buggles- Video Killed the Radio Star

Buy Video Killed the Radio Star – The Age of Plastic
Buy Video Killed The Radio Star Amazon

2.  The Records- Starry Eyes

Buy Starry Eyes – Smashes, Crashes and Near Misses
Buy Starry Eyes Amazon

3.  The Damned- Love Song

Buy Love Song – Punk Generation: Best of the Damned (Oddities & Versions)
Buy Love Song Amazon

4.  The Buzzcocks- You Say You Don’t Love Me

Buy You Say You Don’t Love Me (2008 Remastered) – A Different Kind of Tension (Special Edition)
Buy You Say You Don’t Love MeAmazon

5.  Blondie- Atomic

Buy Atomic – Eat to the Beat
Buy Atomic (2001 Digital Remaster)Amazon

6.  Michael Jackson- Burn This Disco Out

Buy Burn This Disco Out – Off the Wall
Buy Burn This Disco Out (Album Version)Amazon

7.  E.L.O.- Don’t Bring Me Down

Buy Don’t Bring Me Down – Discovery
Buy Don’t Bring Me Down Amazon

8.  Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers- Refugee

Buy Refugee – Damn the Torpedoes (Remastered)
Buy Refugee (Album Version)Amazon

9.  The Police- Walking On the Moon

Buy Walking On the Moon – Reggatta de Blanc (Remastered)
Buy Walking On The Moon (2003 Stereo Remastered Version)Amazon

10.  David Bowie- Fantastic Voyage

Buy Fantastic Voyage – Lodger (Remastered)
Buy Fantastic Voyage (1999 Digital Remaster)Amazon

11.  Wire- Blessed State

Buy Blessed State – 154 (Remastered)
Buy Blessed State (2006 Digital Remaster)Amazon

12.  Patti Smith Group- Dancing Barefoot

Buy Dancing Barefoot – Wave (Remastered)
Buy Dancing Barefoot (Digitally Remastered 1996)Amazon

13.  The Slits- I Heard It Through the Grapevine

Buy I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Cut
Buy I Heard It Through The Grapevine Amazon

14.  Delta 5- Mind Your Own Business

Buy Mind Your Own Business – Singles & Sessions 1979-81
Buy Mind Your Own Business Amazon

15.  The Specials- Monkey Man

Buy Monkey Man – The Specials
Buy Monkey Man (2002 Digital Remaster)Amazon

16.  The Selecter- On My Radio

Buy On my Radio – The Very Best of The Selecter
Buy On my Radio Amazon

17.  Joy Division- Interzone

Buy Interzone – Unknown Pleasures (Collector’s Edition)
Buy Interzone [2007 Re-mastered]Amazon

18.  Gang Of Four- Ether

Buy Ether – Entertainment! (Remastered)
Buy Ether (Remastered Album Version)Amazon

19.  The Clash- Spanish Bombs

Buy Spanish Bombs – London Calling
Buy Spanish Bombs Amazon

20.  Pink Floyd- Run Like Hell

Buy Run Like Hell – The Wall (Remastered)
Buy Run Like Hell (2011 – Remaster)Amazon

21.  Motorhead- Overkill

Buy Overkill – The Very Best of Motörhead
Buy Overkill Amazon

Best of 1979 Volume 8 (9/21/13)

1.  Frank Zappa- Joe’s Garage (Single Version)

Buy Joe’s Garage – Joe’s Garage: Acts I, II & III
Buy Joe’s Garage Amazon

2.  The Specials- (Dawning Of a) New Era

Buy (Dawning Of A) New Era – The Specials
Buy (Dawning Of A) New Era (2002 Digital Remaster)Amazon

3.  XTC- Life Begins At the Hop

Buy Life Begins at the Hop – Drums and Wires
Buy Life Begins At the Hop Amazon

4.  Graham Parker & the Rumour- Local Girls

Buy Local Girls – You Can’t Be Too Strong – An Introduction to Graham Parker
Buy Local Girls (Digitally Remastered 1996)Amazon

5.  The Cars- Dangerous Type

Buy Dangerous Type – Candy-O
Buy Dangerous Type Amazon

6.  Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers- Don’t Do Me Like That

Buy Don’t Do Me Like That – Damn the Torpedoes (Remastered)
Buy Don’t Do Me Like That (Album Version)Amazon

7.  Fleetwood Mac- Think About Me

Buy Think About Me – Tusk
Buy Think About Me Amazon

8. The Eagles- I Can’t Tell You Why

Buy I Can’t Tell You Why – The Long Run
Buy I Can’t Tell You Why Amazon

9.  The Roches- Hammond Song

Buy Hammond Song – The Roches
Buy Hammond Song (2006 Remastered Album Version)Amazon

10.  Neil Young & Crazyhorse- Thrasher

Buy Thrasher – Rust Never Sleeps
Buy Thrasher Amazon

11.  Joy Division- Day Of the Lords

Buy Day of the Lords – Unknown Pleasures (Collector’s Edition)
Buy Day Of The Lords [2007 Re-mastered Album Version]Amazon

12.  Pink Floyd- One Of My Turns

Buy One of My Turns – The Wall (Remastered)
Buy One Of My Turns (2011 – Remaster)Amazon

13.  The Buzzcocks- Hollow Inside

Buy Hollow Inside (2008 Remastered) – A Different Kind of Tension (Special Edition)
Buy Hollow Inside (2008 Digital Remaster)Amazon

14.  The Undertones- True Confessions

Buy True Confessions – The Undertones
Buy True Confessions Amazon

15.  The Germs- Richie Dagger’s Crime

Buy Richie Dagger’s Crime – Gi
Buy Richie Dagger’s Crime Amazon

16.  The Raincoats- Off Duty Trip

Buy Off Duty Trip – The Raincoats
Buy Off Duty Trip Amazon

17.  Elvis Costello & the Attractions- Green Shirt

Buy Green Shirt – Armed Forces
Buy Green Shirt Amazon

18.  Joe Jackson- Sunday Papers

Buy Sunday Papers – Look Sharp! (Bonus Track Version)
Buy Sunday Papers (Album Version)Amazon

19.  The Clash- Lost In the Supermarket

Buy Lost In the Supermarket – London Calling
Buy Lost in the SupermarketAmazon

20.  Supertramp- Goodbye Stranger

Buy Goodbye Stranger – Breakfast in America (Remastered)
Buy Goodbye Stranger Amazon