Albums of 1979

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1. 1
   Voulez-VousABBA

   Voulez-Vous

   ABBA · 1979 · Pop

   A disco-leaning peak of polished Swedish pop. Tuneful and beloved. A high point.

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   Highway to HellAC/DC

   Highway to Hell

   AC/DC · 1979 · Rock

   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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   Eat to the BeatBlondie

   Eat to the Beat

   Blondie · 1979 · Punk & New Wave

   A varied, tuneful new-wave peak of pop ambition. Bright and beloved. A strong follow-up to Parallel Lines.

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   SurvivalBob Marley and the Wailers

   Survival

   Bob Marley and the Wailers · 1979 · Reggae & Dub

   A militant, pan-African roots peak of political urgency. Bold and powerful. A strong late record.

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   Cheap Trick at BudokanCheap Trick

   Cheap Trick at Budokan

   Cheap Trick · 1979 · Rock

   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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   RisqueChic

   Risque

   Chic · 1979 · Soul & R&B

   A peak of sophisticated disco-funk, home to 'Good Times'. Sleek and hugely influential on hip-hop. A dancefloor landmark.

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   LodgerDavid Bowie

   Lodger

   David Bowie · 1979 · Rock

   The most accessible of the Berlin trilogy, worldly and angular. Underrated and inventive. A grower among fans.

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   Bad GirlsDonna Summer

   Bad Girls

   Donna Summer · 1979 · Funk & Disco

   A blockbuster disco double album, home to its title track and 'Hot Stuff'. Lavish and huge. Her commercial peak.

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   I AmEarth, Wind & Fire

   I Am

   Earth, Wind & Fire · 1979 · Funk & Disco

   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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    Armed ForcesElvis Costello

    Armed Forces

    Elvis Costello · 1979 · Punk & New Wave

    A sharp, pop-savvy peak of barbed political new wave. Tuneful and acclaimed. One of his best.

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    TuskFleetwood Mac

    Tusk

    Fleetwood Mac · 1979 · Rock

    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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    Entertainment!Gang of Four

    Entertainment!

    Gang of Four · 1979 · Punk & New Wave

    A jagged, danceable post-punk landmark of funk bass and Marxist critique. Angular and influential. A genre cornerstone.

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    The Pleasure PrincipleGary Numan

    The Pleasure Principle

    Gary Numan · 1979 · Punk & New Wave

    A cold, pioneering synth-rock landmark, home to 'Cars'. Influential and stark. A genre cornerstone.

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    Unknown PleasuresJoy Division

    Unknown Pleasures

    Joy Division · 1979 · Punk & New Wave

    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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    In Through the Out DoorLed Zeppelin

    In Through the Out Door

    Led Zeppelin · 1979 · Rock

    A keyboard-leaning final studio album of softer textures. Varied and reflective. A bittersweet close.

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    One Step Beyond...Madness

    One Step Beyond...

    Madness · 1979 · Punk & New Wave

    A joyous, ska-pop debut of 'nutty boy' energy and English humour. Fun and tuneful. A 2-tone classic.

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    Off the WallMichael Jackson

    Off the Wall

    Michael Jackson · 1979 · Pop

    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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    OverkillMotörhead

    Overkill

    Motörhead · 1979 · Metal

    A fast, raw peak that helped birth speed metal. Loud and beloved. A genre cornerstone.

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    BomberMotörhead

    Bomber

    Motörhead · 1979 · Metal

    A fast, raw hard-rock peak. Loud and beloved. A high point.

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    Rust Never SleepsNeil Young

    Rust Never Sleeps

    Neil Young · 1979 · Folk & Singer-Songwriter

    A two-sided acoustic-then-electric peak of restless energy. Bold and acclaimed. A high point.

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    The WallPink Floyd

    The Wall

    Pink Floyd · 1979 · Rock

    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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    Metal BoxPublic Image Ltd

    Metal Box

    Public Image Ltd · 1979 · Punk & New Wave

    Lydon's post-Pistols plunge into dub-heavy, dread-soaked experiment. Challenging and influential. A post-punk landmark.

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    We Are FamilySister Sledge

    We Are Family

    Sister Sledge · 1979 · Funk & Disco

    A Chic-produced disco peak, home to its euphoric, eternal title anthem. Joyful and huge. A genre classic.

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    Breakfast in AmericaSupertramp

    Breakfast in America

    Supertramp · 1979 · Rock

    A bright, hook-laden prog-pop blockbuster of wit and melody. Polished and enormous. A late-70s staple.

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    Fear of MusicTalking Heads

    Fear of Music

    Talking Heads · 1979 · Punk & New Wave

    A darker, Eno-produced step toward the rhythmic experiments to come. Tense and inventive. A pivotal record.

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    The B-52'sThe B-52's

    The B-52's

    The B-52's · 1979 · Punk & New Wave

    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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    London CallingThe Clash

    London Calling

    The Clash · 1979 · Punk & New Wave

    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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    Machine Gun EtiquetteThe Damned

    Machine Gun Etiquette

    The Damned · 1979 · Punk & New Wave

    A fast, fun punk peak, home to 'Smash It Up'. Energetic and beloved. A high point.

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    Setting SonsThe Jam

    Setting Sons

    The Jam · 1979 · Punk & New Wave

    A semi-conceptual peak of sharp English songcraft. Tuneful and acclaimed. A high point.

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    CutThe Slits

    Cut

    The Slits · 1979 · Punk & New Wave

    A playful, dub-inflected post-punk landmark of female energy and invention. Loose and influential. A singular debut.

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    The SpecialsThe Specials

    The Specials

    The Specials · 1979 · Punk & New Wave

    A vital 2-tone debut blending ska, punk and sharp social commentary. Danceable and urgent. A UK landmark.

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    20 Jazz Funk GreatsThrobbing Gristle

    20 Jazz Funk Greats

    Throbbing Gristle · 1979 · Electronic

    A subversive, foundational industrial landmark. Bold and influential. A genre cornerstone.

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    Damn the TorpedoesTom Petty and the Heartbreakers

    Damn the Torpedoes

    Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers · 1979 · Rock

    A tight, tuneful breakthrough of perfect heartland rock. Confident and hook-filled. Their commercial arrival.

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    154Wire

    154

    Wire · 1979 · Punk & New Wave

    A textured, art-rock peak of post-punk invention. Bold and acclaimed. A high point.

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    Drums and WiresXTC

    Drums and Wires

    XTC · 1979 · Punk & New Wave

    A sharp, angular new-wave peak, home to 'Making Plans for Nigel'. Inventive and tuneful. A breakthrough.

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    Solid State SurvivorYellow Magic Orchestra

    Solid State Survivor

    Yellow Magic Orchestra · 1979 · Electronic

    A playful, pioneering synth-pop landmark from Japan. Bright and influential. A genre cornerstone.

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