Albums of 1979
The records from 1979 that made our lists.
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1Voulez-VousABBA
Voulez-Vous
A disco-leaning peak of polished Swedish pop. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.
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2Highway to HellAC/DC
Highway to Hell
The album that made AC/DC global, Bon Scott's last with the band, all swagger and killer riffs. Raucous and fun. Hard rock perfected.
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3Eat to the BeatBlondie
Eat to the Beat
A varied, tuneful new-wave peak of pop ambition. Bright and beloved. A strong follow-up to Parallel Lines.
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4SurvivalBob Marley and the Wailers
Survival
A militant, pan-African roots peak of political urgency. Bold and powerful. A strong late record.
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5Cheap Trick at BudokanCheap Trick
Cheap Trick at Budokan
A blockbuster live album of power-pop hooks, home to 'I Want You to Want Me'. Fun and huge. Their breakthrough.
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6RisqueChic
Risque
A peak of sophisticated disco-funk, home to 'Good Times'. Sleek and hugely influential on hip-hop. A dancefloor landmark.
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7LodgerDavid Bowie
Lodger
The most accessible of the Berlin trilogy, worldly and angular. Underrated and inventive. A grower among fans.
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8Bad GirlsDonna Summer
Bad Girls
A blockbuster disco double album, home to its title track and 'Hot Stuff'. Lavish and huge. Her commercial peak.
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9I AmEarth, Wind & Fire
I Am
A glossy disco-funk peak, home to 'Boogie Wonderland' and 'After the Love Has Gone'. Lavish and huge. A commercial high.
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10Armed ForcesElvis Costello
Armed Forces
A sharp, pop-savvy peak of barbed political new wave. Tuneful and acclaimed. One of his best.
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11TuskFleetwood Mac
Tusk
The sprawling, eccentric follow-up to Rumours, lurching from pop to lo-fi experiment on a then-record budget. Divisive then, beloved now. A brave left turn.
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12Entertainment!Gang of Four
Entertainment!
A jagged, danceable post-punk landmark of funk bass and Marxist critique. Angular and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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13The Pleasure PrincipleGary Numan
The Pleasure Principle
A cold, pioneering synth-rock landmark, home to 'Cars'. Influential and stark. A genre cornerstone.
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14Unknown PleasuresJoy Division
Unknown Pleasures
Stark, cavernous post-punk shaped by Martin Hannett's spacious production and Ian Curtis's haunted baritone. It still sounds isolated and modern decades on. A foundational record for goth, post-punk and everything that followed.
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15In Through the Out DoorLed Zeppelin
In Through the Out Door
A keyboard-leaning final studio album of softer textures. Varied and reflective. A bittersweet close.
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16One Step Beyond...Madness
One Step Beyond...
A joyous, ska-pop debut of 'nutty boy' energy and English humour. Fun and tuneful. A 2-tone classic.
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17Off the WallMichael Jackson
Off the Wall
Jackson's grown-up arrival, a joyous disco-soul record that still sounds effortless and warm. 'Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough' and 'Rock with You' set a new bar for dancefloor pop. Many listeners love it even more than Thriller.
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18OverkillMotörhead
Overkill
A fast, raw peak that helped birth speed metal. Loud and beloved. A genre cornerstone.
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19BomberMotörhead
Bomber
A fast, raw hard-rock peak. Loud and beloved. A high point.
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20Rust Never SleepsNeil Young
Rust Never Sleeps
A two-sided acoustic-then-electric peak of restless energy. Bold and acclaimed. A high point.
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21The WallPink Floyd
The Wall
An ambitious rock opera about isolation and breakdown, theatrical and bleak, with 'Comfortably Numb' as its emotional peak. It works as narrative and as a run of strong individual songs. Best taken in one sitting.
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22Metal BoxPublic Image Ltd
Metal Box
Lydon's post-Pistols plunge into dub-heavy, dread-soaked experiment. Challenging and influential. A post-punk landmark.
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23We Are FamilySister Sledge
We Are Family
A Chic-produced disco peak, home to its euphoric, eternal title anthem. Joyful and huge. A genre classic.
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24Breakfast in AmericaSupertramp
Breakfast in America
A bright, hook-laden prog-pop blockbuster of wit and melody. Polished and enormous. A late-70s staple.
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25Fear of MusicTalking Heads
Fear of Music
A darker, Eno-produced step toward the rhythmic experiments to come. Tense and inventive. A pivotal record.
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26The B-52'sThe B-52's
The B-52's
A kitschy, exuberant new-wave debut of surf guitar and party energy, home to 'Rock Lobster'. Fun and distinctive. A cult classic.
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27London CallingThe Clash
London Calling
A sprawling double album that blew punk wide open, folding in reggae, ska, rockabilly and soul without losing its urgency. Politically charged and endlessly tuneful, it is regularly named among the greatest rock records ever. The ideal entry point to the band.
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28Machine Gun EtiquetteThe Damned
Machine Gun Etiquette
A fast, fun punk peak, home to 'Smash It Up'. Energetic and beloved. A high point.
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29Setting SonsThe Jam
Setting Sons
A semi-conceptual peak of sharp English songcraft. Tuneful and acclaimed. A high point.
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30CutThe Slits
Cut
A playful, dub-inflected post-punk landmark of female energy and invention. Loose and influential. A singular debut.
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31The SpecialsThe Specials
The Specials
A vital 2-tone debut blending ska, punk and sharp social commentary. Danceable and urgent. A UK landmark.
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3220 Jazz Funk GreatsThrobbing Gristle
20 Jazz Funk Greats
A subversive, foundational industrial landmark. Bold and influential. A genre cornerstone.
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33Damn the TorpedoesTom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Damn the Torpedoes
A tight, tuneful breakthrough of perfect heartland rock. Confident and hook-filled. Their commercial arrival.
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34154Wire
154
A textured, art-rock peak of post-punk invention. Bold and acclaimed. A high point.
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35Drums and WiresXTC
Drums and Wires
A sharp, angular new-wave peak, home to 'Making Plans for Nigel'. Inventive and tuneful. A breakthrough.
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36Solid State SurvivorYellow Magic Orchestra
Solid State Survivor
A playful, pioneering synth-pop landmark from Japan. Bright and influential. A genre cornerstone.