Album Chart of 1979

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Album Chart of 1979

info.png 69 tracks, runtime 4h 43m. The playlist features the highest-rated track from each album (subject to what's available on YouTube) in chart order, with a minimum individual track-rating of 6.5 required for inclusion. To view the full tracklist, access shuffle-play or avoid in-play interruption due to territorially blocked videos, it might be best playing directly via YouTube external-link.png
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ENGLAND'S DREAMING

The so-called “British Invasion” of ’64 was a little bit of slap and tickle in comparison to the gigantic power-shift of the late 1970s, although the British scene was, at this time, largely Eurocentric. After the big-bang of ’76, there was absolutely no doubt as to where the alt-music strengths now lay. London had become well established as thee Jukebox Rebel hotspot in recent times, and remained so in 1979, albeit with some real heavyweight competition from Manchester.

The brilliance of Manchester was in evidence courtesy of Joy Division, The Fall and Buzzcocks. London, once again, was a hotbed of action with Madness, The Slits, Adam and The Ants, The Raincoats, The Clash, Elvis Costello and The Attractions, The Only Ones, Siouxsie and The Banshees and The Police all featuring in my Top 30 this year.

By now, though, the inventive DIY spirit was spreading like wild-fire all over the British Isles, with a further SEVEN towns or cities featuring in the 30. There was Coventry (The Specials); Derry (The Undertones); Belfast (Stiff Little Fingers); Woking (The Jam); South Shields (Angelic Upstarts); Dunfermline (Skids) and Glasgow (Simple Minds).

American music seems hopelessly marginalized right now, with only Germs, The B-52s and Talking Heads making a real good impression on me this time around. 3 in the Top 30 is an all-time low from the States. Compare and contrast: All 30 of my favourite albums in 1962 were American!

No doubt the platinum sellers’ lists will tell an entirely different story to mine…

The Jukebox Rebel
31-Oct-2016

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UNKNOWN PLEASURES
Joy Division
Factory FACT-10
England
9.50 “An elite masterpiece” Post-Punk

Jukebox picks: “Disorder” (10) • “She’s Lost Control” (10) • “Day Of The Lords” (10)
TJR saysArriving in the summertime of ’79 was the debut full-length from the Salfordian new sensations who lined up: Ian Curtis ...more →

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SPECIALS
The Specials
Two-Tone Records CDL-TT-5001
England
9.48 “A masterpiece” Ska / Rocksteady; Reggae

Jukebox picks: “Doesn’t Make It Alright” (10) • “Too Hot” (10) • “Stupid Marriage” (10)
TJR saysVery rarely does a group arrive so fully formed; so perfect with their sound, their message and their image. Taking no s...more →

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ONE STEP BEYOND
Madness
Stiff Records SEEZ-17
England
8.80 “A classic” Ska / Rocksteady

Jukebox picks: “My Girl” (10) • “One Step Beyond” (10) • “Night Boat To Cairo” (9.7)
TJR saysThe rockingest rocksteady beat of Madness ruled my junior world and, as far as I was concerned at that stage, Lord Suggs...more →

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LIVE AT THE WITCH TRIALS
The Fall
Step-Forward Records SFLP-1
England
8.68 “A classic” Post-Punk; Trance Rock

Jukebox picks: “Futures And Pasts” (9.5) • “Industrial Estate” (9.5) • “Frightened” (9.4)
TJR saysLive At The Witch Trials? Whut? Pffft, it’s not even live. Who are these chancers? At the time of their debut full-l...more →

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CUT
The Slits
Island Records ‎ILPS-9573
England
8.61 “A classic” Post-Punk; Dubbeat

Jukebox picks: “Adventures Close To Home” (9.5) • “Instant Hit” (9.2) • “Love Und Romance” (9.1)
TJR saysStaring back at you from the striking cover of their debut LP were (L to R): Ari Up (17, vocals); Viv Albertine (24, gui...more →

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DRAGNET
The Fall
Step-Forward Records SFLP-4
England
8.35 “Excellent” Trance Rock; Post-Punk; Rock n Roll / Rockabilly

Jukebox picks: “Dice Man” (9.7) • “A Figure Walks” (9.3) • “Flat Of Angles” (9.3)
TJR saysContinuing a late 70s trend, The Fall were the latest of the new breed to deliver two albums in the same year, with Octo...more →

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DIRK WEARS WHITE SOX
Adam and The Ants
Do It Records RIDE-3
England
8.27 “Excellent” Post-Punk; New Wave

Jukebox picks: “Cartrouble, parts 1 and 2” (9.6) • “Day I Met God” (9.5) • “Cleopatra” (9.5)
TJR saysMy love for this band will always be true; they were the first band I ever spent my own money on – how could it not? I s...more →

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INFLAMMABLE MATERIAL
Stiff Little Fingers
Rough Trade ROUGH-1
Northern Ireland
8.15 “Excellent” Punk

Jukebox picks: “Alternative Ulster” (10) • “Wasted Life” (10) • “Suspect Device” (9.5)
TJR saysBelfast’s raging in the 1970s and Stiff Little Fingers are screaming all about it. More explosive than a Molotov cocktai...more →

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RECENT SONGS
Leonard Cohen
Columbia JC-36264
Canada
8.01 “Excellent” Jazz

Jukebox picks: “The Lost Canadian (Un Canadien Errant)” (10) • “The Window” (9.7) • “The Guests” (9.1)
TJR saysAfter his blindingly brilliant stretch from ’67 to ’74, the charismatic Canadian took a miss-step in ’77 with the, large...more →

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SETTING SONS
The Jam
Polydor POLD-5028
England
7.73 “Brilliant” New Wave

Jukebox picks: “Smithers-Jones” (9.7) • “The Eton Rifles” (9.5) • “Little Boy Soldiers” (9.1)
TJR saysThe Jam’s brilliant form continues on the 4th long player, ending the decade on a major high. The set was released in No...more →

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JULIE
Le Grande Lolo Lolitta
Société Ivoirienne Du Disque SID-LPS-014
Congo-Brazzaville
7.60 “Brilliant” Africana

Jukebox picks: “Koum Koum” (9.5) • “C’est Trop Tard” (7.2) • “Oh Ma Julie” (6.9)
TJR saysLolita Babindamana, a Brazzavillian wanderer, is best described as a bit of an all-rounder with an interest in singing, ...more →

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THE RAINCOATS
The Raincoats
Rough Trade ROUGH-3
England
7.47 “Really good” Post-Punk; Indie

Jukebox picks: “Adventures Close To Home” (9.4) • “No Side To Fall In” (8.7) • “In Love” (8.0)
TJR saysMore non-typical girls. Yay! No lead singer, no guitar solos, no songs about smashing things up. The Raincoats have got ...more →

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A DIFFERENT KIND OF TENSION
Buzzcocks
United Artists Records UAG-30260
England
7.46 “Really good” New Wave; Punk

Jukebox picks: “A Different Kind Of Tension” (9.7) • “Sitting Around At Home” (8.8) • “You Say You Don’t Love Me” (8.2)
TJR saysBuzzcocks swansong LP (as was thought at the time) saw them bow out on a high, with a completely unblemished report card...more →

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RUST NEVER SLEEPS
Neil Young with Crazy Horse
Reprise Records HS-2295
Canada
7.39 “Really good” Folk Rock / Americana; Rock

Jukebox picks: “Powderfinger [live '78]” (9.3) • “Thrasher [live '78]” (8.3) • “My My, Hey Hey (Out Of The Blue) [live '78]” (8.2)
TJR saysBack in ’65 Bob Dylan had released “Bringing It All Back Home”, a half-acoustic / half-electric set, almost as if wary o...more →

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LONDON CALLING
The Clash
CBS CBS-CLASH-3
England
7.38 “Really good” New Wave; Punk

Jukebox picks: “The Guns Of Brixton” (9.8) • “Clampdown” (9.5) • “London Calling” (9.2)
TJR saysThe third Clash album was out just in time for Christmas 1979. Although it was a double album, the group insisted that C...more →

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(GI)
Germs
Slash SR-103
the USA
7.31 “Really good” Punk

Jukebox picks: “Lexicon Devil” (9.4) • “Shut Down (Annihilation Man)” (8.8) • “We Must Bleed” (8.3)
TJR saysWith so many albums in my collection it’s nearly impossible to remember where they all came from, but you always remembe...more →

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ARMED FORCES
Elvis Costello and The Attractions
Radar Records RAD-14
England
7.30 “Really good” New Wave

Jukebox picks: “Oliver’s Army” (10) • “Green Shirt” (8.0) • “Busy Bodies” (8.0)
TJR saysCostello and his band continue to shine brightly on “Armed Forces”, his one-and-only U.S. Top 10 album. “Emotional fasci...more →

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THE B-52’S
The B-52s
Warner Bros. Records BSK-3355
the USA
7.28 “Really good” New Wave

Jukebox picks: “Rock Lobster” (9.5) • “Planet Claire” (9.0) • “6060-842” (8.2)
TJR saysFuelled by the underground success of their “Rock Lobster” single from last year, the Athens, Georgia-based quintet were...more →

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FORCES OF VICTORY
Linton Kwesi Johnson
Island Records ILPS-9566
Jamaica
7.28 “Really good” Reggae

Jukebox picks: “Sonny’s Lettah (Anti-Sus Poem)” (9.1) • “Fite Dem Back” (7.9) • “Want Fi Goh Rave” (7.2)
TJR saysArriving in May ’79 was the second long-player from the hard-hitting 27-year-old Brixton-poet, the first to bear his own...more →

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INDODA MAHLATINI NA MADODANA
Indoda Mahlatini Na Madodana
Goli GOL (E) 307
South Africa
7.27 “Really good” Africana

Jukebox picks: “Akekho” (9.7) • “Sidedeleni Sigiye” (8.9) • “Isidwaba” (8.6)
TJR saysAt first I was thinking Madodana might be some sort of co-credited backing group, but I'm more inclined to guess the rea...more →

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CUMBOLO
Culture
Front Line FL-1040
Jamaica
7.25 “Really good” Reggae

Jukebox picks: “They Never Love In This Time” (9.3) • “Poor Jah People” (8.7) • “Innocent Blood” (8.0)
TJR saysCulture have been terrifically consistent from the start, and “Cumbolo” leaves their 70s report card in rude health. Tha...more →

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THE UNDERTONES
The Undertones
Sire ‎SRK-6071
Northern Ireland
7.09 “Really good” Punk

Jukebox picks: “Here Comes The Summer [album version, issue #1]” (9.3) • “Jimmy Jimmy” (8.9) • “Male Model” (7.9)
TJR saysThere was only one thing more ridiculous than band’s from Dunfermline and Coventry making it big in ’79 – a band from De...more →

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TEENAGE WARNING
Angelic Upstarts
Warner Bros. Records K-56717
England
7.08 “Really good” Punk

Jukebox picks: “Teenage Warning” (9.4) • “The Murder Of Liddle Towers” (8.6) • “I’m An Upstart” (8.6)
TJR saysTeenage Warning” and “I’m An Upstart” on coloured vinyl were two of my very earliest 7” single purchases, altho...more →

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SCARED TO DANCE
Skids
Virgin V-2116
Scotland
7.07 “Really good” Punk; New Wave

Jukebox picks: “Into The Valley” (9.8) • “Charles” (8.8) • “Of One Skin” (8.7)
TJR saysAnythin’ Faye Fyffe can dae, these four fae Fife can dae better, ken? The fab-four on a quest to further Dunfermline’s b...more →

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EVEN SERPENTS SHINE
The Only Ones
CBS CBS-83451
England
7.06 “Really good” New Wave

Jukebox picks: “You’ve Got To Pay” (8.8) • “From Here To Eternity” (8.4) • “Someone Who Cares” (7.7)
TJR saysOne year on and the quality remains high on the second LP from the cracking London 4-piece, augmented by some cool assis...more →

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LIFE IN A DAY
Simple Minds
Zoom Records ZULP-1
Scotland
7.04 “Really good” New Wave

Jukebox picks: “Chelsea Girl” (9.4) • “Life In A Day” (7.8) • “Wasteland” (7.6)
TJR saysAt last, a decent band from Glasgow, hallelujah. After 18 months of building momentum, the first-ever Simple Minds relea...more →

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JOIN HANDS
Siouxsie and The Banshees
Polydor ‎POLD-5024
England
6.92 “Good” Post-Punk

Jukebox picks: “Playground Twist” (9.5) • “Poppy Day” (7.2) • “The Lord’s Prayer” (7.2)
TJR says“Join Hands” was knocked for the bleakness by some critics but, hey, c’mon, some of us quite like a bit of bleakness in ...more →

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FEAR OF MUSIC
Talking Heads
Sire SRK-6076
the USA
6.90 “Good” New Wave

Jukebox picks: “Memories Can’t Wait” (8.7) • “Air” (7.6) • “Electric Guitar” (7.2)
TJR saysThe third album from the New York based quartet arrived in August ’79, with Brian Eno on production duties for the secon...more →

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DOOR DOOR
The Boys Next Door
Mushroom L-36931
Australia
6.89 “Good” New Wave; Post-Punk

Jukebox picks: “Shivers” (9.0) • “The Nightwatchman” (7.8) • “Dive Position” (7.5)
TJR saysOn the Boys Next Door debut Nick Cave comments: “It was a complete wet dream that record. I hate it. It wreaks of a ba...more →

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REGGATTA DE BLANC
The Police
A&M Records AMLH-64792
England
6.85 “Good” New Wave; Dubbeat

Jukebox picks: “The Bed’s Too Big Without You” (9.4) • “Message In A Bottle” (9.2) • “Walking On The Moon” (9.0)
TJR saysSpurred on by the success of their reissued “Roxanne” and “Can’t Stand Losing You” singles from earlier in the year, the...more →

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SURVIVAL
Bob Marley and The Wailers
Island Records ILPS-9542
Jamaica
6.82 “Good” Reggae

Jukebox picks: “So Much Trouble In The World” (8.1) • “Ambush In The Night” (8.0) • “Survival” (7.8)
TJR saysThe seeds of “Survival” were sown in '78 when Marley had spent some time in Shashamani, a Rastafarian settlement in Ethi...more →

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METAL BOX
Public Image Ltd.
Virgin METAL-1
England
6.78 “Good” Post-Punk

Jukebox picks: “Poptones” (8.6) • “The Suit” (8.0) • “Chant” (7.5)
TJR saysCanadian student Jim Walker had departed the group early in the year, dis-satisfied with the new direction they were tak...more →

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REPLICAS
Tubeway Army
Beggars Banquet BEGA-7
England
6.77 “Good” New Wave; Electronica

Jukebox picks: “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” (10) • “Replicas” (7.5) • “Me! I Disconnect From You” (7.4)
TJR saysArriving in April, 1979, just five months after their debut, was the second long player from the London trio fronted by ...more →

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DAYS IN EUROPA
Skids
Virgin V-2138
Scotland
6.72 “Good” New Wave; Punk

Jukebox picks: “Charade” (9.2) • “The Olympian” (7.7) • “Working For The Yankee Dollar” (7.3)
TJR saysThe second album of the year from the young Fifers arrived in October '79, with drummer Tam Kellichan having departed du...more →

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TOGETHER AGAIN
The Dubliners
RAM Records RMLP-1030
Ireland
6.71 “Good” Folk

Jukebox picks: “Danny Farrell” (8.2) • “The Mero” (7.7) • “And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda” (7.3)
TJR saysAfter 5 years with the group, guitarist-vocalist Jim McCann left the Dubliners in March, 1979, to pursue his solo career...more →

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THE FINE ART OF SURFACING
The Boomtown Rats
Ensign ENROX-11
Ireland
6.66 “Good” New Wave

Jukebox picks: “Someone’s Looking At You” (10) • “I Don’t Like Mondays” (9.8) • “Diamond Smiles” (9.1)
TJR saysSticking with producer Robert John 'Mutt' Lange all the while, the third album in three years from the Irish sextet, del...more →

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EAT TO THE BEAT
Blondie
Chrysalis CHE-1225
the USA
6.65 “Good” New Wave

Jukebox picks: “Dreaming” (9.3) • “Union City Blue” (9.2) • “Die Young, Stay Pretty” (9.2)
TJR saysFor the second album in a row Blondie present as a sextet: Deborah Harry (vocals), Chris Stein (guitar), Frank Infante (...more →

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LOOK SHARP!
Joe Jackson
A&M Records AMLH-64743
England
6.64 “Good” New Wave

Jukebox picks: “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” (10) • “Fools In Love” (8.0) • “One More Time” (6.9)
TJR saysThe debut album from the 24-year-old singer-songwriter-musician arrived in January '79 and, although was a bit of a slow...more →

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THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE
Gary Numan
Beggars Banquet BEGA-10
England
6.64 “Good” Electronica; New Wave

Jukebox picks: “Cars” (9.4) • “Observer” (7.4) • “M.E.” (7.1)
TJR saysAfter fronting two album with Tubeway Army, the 21-year-old delivered his first solo full length in September '79. Comin...more →

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TRUTHS AND RIGHTS
Johnny Osbourne
Studio One SOLP-0132
Jamaica
6.64 “Good” Reggae

Jukebox picks: “Can’t Buy Love” (8.3) • “Sing Jah Stylee” (8.1) • “Jah Promise” (7.1)
TJR saysAfter some nine years in Canada singing with various soul and reggae groups, Johnny, recently turned 30, returned to his...more →

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MYSTIC MAN
Peter Tosh
Intel Diplo
Jamaica
6.64 “Good” Reggae

Jukebox picks: “Crystal Ball” (7.9) • “Recruiting Soldiers” (7.0) • “Jah Seh No” (6.8)
TJR saysHis second album on the very welcome Rolling Stones platform continued to give him good exposure and he used it well. Fo...more →

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UMUNTU OTHULILE
Izintombi Zesi Manje Manje
Masterpiece Records LMS-541
South Africa
6.60 “Good” Africana

Jukebox picks: “Indoda Eyixoki” (7.3) • “Nhlebi Ndini” (7.2) • “Umuntu Othulile” (7.1)
TJR saysGood album, though not in the same class as previous efforts, largely down to this new “soulful” vibe which is infiltrat...more →

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ENTERTAINMENT!
Gang Of Four
EMI EMC-3313
England
6.59 “Good” Post-Punk; New Wave

Jukebox picks: “Ether” (8.1) • “At Home He’s A Tourist” (8.1) • “Damaged Goods” (7.2)
TJR saysWell, here we are in 1979 and already there are groups making Punk sound old-fashioned, its toughness herewith re-channe...more →

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NEW PICNIC TIME
Pere Ubu
Chrysalis CHR-1248
the USA
6.50 “Good” Avant-Garde

Jukebox picks: “Have Shoes, Will Walk (The Fabulous Sequel)” (8.7) • “Goodbye” (7.5) • “Jehovah's Kingdom Comes!” (7.2)
TJR saysIt's me again” yelps our frontman on the excellent “Have Shoes, Will Walk (The Fabulous Sequel)”, so introducin...more →

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MACHINE GUN ETIQUETTE
The Damned
Chiswick Records CWK-3011
England
6.43 “Decent enough” Punk

Jukebox picks: “Love Song” (9.5) • “Noise Noise Noise” (7.0) • “Machine Gun Etiquette” (6.9)
TJR saysTheir initial explosion which delivered two albums in '77 led to a pressured implosion early in '78 due to tensions with...more →

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OVERKILL
Motörhead
Bronze BRON-515
England
6.32 “Decent enough” Rock

Jukebox picks: “(I Won’t) Pay Your Price” (7.8) • “Overkill” (7.4) • “Tear Ya Down” (7.3)
TJR saysHaving survived from being on the verge of extinction, the London trio were now going from strength to strength, and the...more →

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QUIET LIFE
Japan
Ariola Hansa AHAL-8010
England
6.31 “Decent enough” New Wave

Jukebox picks: “Quiet Life” (9.3) • “All Tomorrow’s Parties” (6.6) • “Halloween” (6.5)
TJR saysAfter a rather underwhelming start, Japan came good in '79 on their third long-player, synthesizers to the fore and a ge...more →

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FREE FROM SIN
Prince Far I
Trojan Records TRLS-175
Jamaica
6.27 “Decent enough” Reggae

Jukebox picks: “Light Of Fire” (7.2) • “Don’t Deal With Folly” (7.1) • “When Jah Ready You Got To Move” (6.6)
TJR saysHis second album of '79 is on familiar grounds, preaching Rastafari with righteous conviction. A thoroughly decent set, ...more →

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THE QUALITY OF MERCY IS NOT STRNEN
The Mekons
Virgin V-2143
England
6.18 “Decent enough” Punk; Post-Punk

Jukebox picks: “What” (7.2) • “After 6” (6.8) • “Watch The Film” (6.6)
TJR says“The quality of mercy is not strain’d” is a quote from Act 4, Scene 1 of Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice. Acco...more →

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THE BELLS
Lou Reed
Arista AB-4229
the USA
6.14 “Decent enough” Cerebral Pop

Jukebox picks: “All Through The Night” (8.3) • “The Bells” (7.0) • “I Want To Boogie With You” (6.6)
TJR saysThe free spirited one co-wrote this with ex-Crazy-Horse Nils Lofgren and introduced experimental jazz trumpeter Don Cher...more →

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MOVIES
Holger Czukay
Harvest 1C-064-45-754
Poland
6.08 “Decent enough” Prog

Jukebox picks: “Hollywood Symphony” (7.0) • “Persian Love” (6.9) • “Oh Lord Give Us More Money” (5.4)
TJR saysCan's co-founding bassist quit the group late in 1977, allowing himself time for a break and leaving himself free to exp...more →

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WAVE
Patti Smith Group
Arista AB-4221
the USA
6.06 “Decent enough” New Wave; Soft Rock / A.O.R.; Songwriter

Jukebox picks: “Seven Ways Of Going” (7.5) • “Wave” (6.6) • “So You Want To Be (A Rock ’n’ Roll Star)” (6.4)
TJR saysPatti's fourth is decent enough, although Todd Rundgren's production could do with a bit more grit and edge for my taste...more →

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PASS THE PIPE
Toots and The Maytals
Island Records ILPS-9534
Jamaica
6.03 “Decent enough” Reggae

Jukebox picks: “Feel Free” (7.2) • “Famine” (6.8) • “Inside, Outside” (6.2)
TJR saysWith “Monkey Man” getting a 2-Tone makeover in '79, the timing for a new Toots & The Maytals record was good, but it see...more →

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BROKEN ENGLISH
Marianne Faithfull
Island Records M-1
England
5.99 “Average” Blues Rock / Soul Rock; Cerebral Pop; Dubbeat; Folk Rock / Americana; New Wave; Pop; Post-Punk; Soft Rock / A.O.R.

Jukebox picks: “Working Class Hero” (7.4) • “Why D'Ya Do It” (7.2) • “The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan” (6.3)
TJR saysThe sixth album from the 32-year-old singer-songwriter arrrived in November, 1979, and what an achievement it was, given...more →

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THE FEEDING OF THE 5000
Crass
Small Wonder Records ‎WEENY-2
England
5.97 “Average” Punk

Jukebox picks: “They’ve Got A Bomb” (8.0) • “Do They Owe Us A Living?” (7.7) • “Well?…Do They?” (7.6)
TJR saysCrass were just a name on the back of leather jackets – I was just too young to get them first time around – but I tend ...more →

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THE RAVEN
The Stranglers
United Artists Records UAG-30262
England
5.90 “Average” Post-Punk; New Wave

Jukebox picks: “Duchess” (7.2) • “Don’t Bring Harry” (6.7) • “Genetix” (6.2)
TJR saysDespite recent solo LPs from both Cornwell and Burnel, the Stranglers still managed to deliver their fourth LP in Septem...more →

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CRY TUFF DUB ENCOUNTER PART 2
Prince Far I
Front Line FLX-4002
Jamaica
5.88 “Average” Reggae

Jukebox picks: “Gongola Dub” (7.2) • “Suru-Lere Dub” (6.7) • “Ogun Dub” (6.2)
TJR saysFar I in dub once again, this time with Prince Jammy engineering the desk. Unlike the first chapter, almost all material...more →

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THREE IMAGINARY BOYS
The Cure
Fiction Records FIX-1
England
5.68 “Average” Post-Punk

Jukebox picks: “10.15 Saturday Night” (7.7) • “Accuracy” (6.7) • “Subway Song” (6.1)
TJR saysThe demo to “10:15 Saturday Night” had caught Chris Parry’s attention in 1978 and led him to sign the band to his ne...more →

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SECOND HAND DAYLIGHT
Magazine
Virgin V-2121
England
5.52 “Average” New Wave

Jukebox picks: “Rhythm Of Cruelty” (6.4) • “Permafrost” (6.2) • “Talk To The Body” (5.7)
TJR saysIn the nine months since their debut, departing drummer Martin Jackson had been replaced, and the Manchester five-piece ...more →

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THIS HEAT
This Heat
Piano THIS-1
England
5.48 “Below average” Avant-Garde

Jukebox picks: “Horizontal Hold” (8.5) • “Twilight Furniture” (8.3) • “24 Track Loop” (8.1)
TJR saysOn their September '79 debut this highly experimental group of multi-instrumentalists from London line-up: Charles Bulle...more →

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COOL FOR CATS
Squeeze
A&M Records AMLH-68503
England
5.46 “Below average” New Wave; Pop

Jukebox picks: “Up The Junction” (10) • “Cool For Cats” (9.4) • “Slap And Tickle” (8.2)
TJR says13 months on from their debut, the London five continue to frustrate on their second long-player, delivered in April '79...more →

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BOMBER
Motörhead
Bronze BRON-523
England
5.45 “Below average” Rock

Jukebox picks: “Poison” (6.3) • “Step Down” (6.1) • “All The Aces” (5.8)
TJR saysArriving in October '79 was the second album of the year from the re-energized group, just 7 months after “Overkill”. It...more →

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STARE WITH YOUR EARS
Ken Nordine
Snail Records SR-1001
the USA
5.41 “Below average” Crooner / Cabaret; Poetry

Jukebox picks: “Ballad Of The Final Page” (7.1) • “Seven Ways Of The Meek” (6.7) • “Scratch” (6.6)
TJR saysSilly silly me writing songs your ears can see, songs they are more said than sung, talking songs for solo tongue. So...more →

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REAL TO REAL CACOPHONY
Simple Minds
Zoom Records SPART-1109
Scotland
5.37 “Below average” New Wave

Jukebox picks: “Changeling” (6.5) • “Premonition” (6.4) • “Factory” (6.2)
TJR saysJust 7 months on from their debut, the second long-player from the Glasgow five-piece arrived in November, 1979, once ag...more →

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REPRODUCTION
The Human League
Virgin V-2133
England
5.33 “Below average” New Wave; Electronica

Jukebox picks: “Almost Medieval” (6.7) • “Empire State Human” (5.8) • “The Path Of Least Resistance” (5.6)
TJR says“//The League would like to positively affect the future by close attention to the present, allying technology with huma...more →

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BLACK ROSEː A ROCK LEGEND
Thin Lizzy
Vertigo 6360 169
Ireland
5.20 “Below average” Rock

Jukebox picks: “Do Anything You Wanna Do” (6.1) • “S And M” (5.9) • “Toughest Street In Town” (5.6)
TJR saysThe ninth album from the London-based quartet was recorded in Paris in early '79 and saw release in April. They line-up:...more →

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MANIFESTO
Roxy Music
EG 2310-651
England
5.00 “Below average” Cerebral Pop; New Wave; Pop

Jukebox picks: “Angel Eyes” (6.7) • “Trash” (6.4) • “Manifesto” (6.3)
TJR saysThe sixth Roxy album was delivered in March, '79, almost 4 years on from “Siren”. The very fine start of “Manifesto...more →

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DREAMS AND NIGHTMARES
Nash The Slash
Cut-Throat Records CUT-2
Canada
4.90 “Poor” Electronica

Jukebox picks: “Blind Windows / Countervail” (6.2) • “Moon Curse” (6.0) • “Islands” (5.4)
TJR saysDebut album from the 31-year-old Toronto musician, Jeff Plewman, introducing the rather off-putting surgical bandage loo...more →

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THE WALL
Pink Floyd
Harvest SHDW-411
England
4.80 “Poor” Rock; Prog; Songwriter

Jukebox picks: “The Trial” (7.2) • “Mother” (6.7) • “Another Brick In The Wall [album version, part II]” (6.2)
TJR saysFollowing on from “The Dark Side of the Moon” (1973), “Wish You Were Here” (1975) and “Animals” (1977), the eleventh Pin...more →

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VOULEZ VOUS
ABBA
Polar POLS-292
Sweden
4.68 “Poor” Pop

Jukebox picks: “Does Your Mother Know” (7.1) • “Voulez-Vous” (6.4) • “Chiquitita” (6.0)
TJR saysA flirtation with disco informs the April '79 long-player from the Swedish quartet, where, true to form, the good qualit...more →

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SLOW TRAIN COMING
Bob Dylan
Columbia FC-36120
the USA
4.56 “Poor” Soft Rock / A.O.R.

Jukebox picks: “Man Gave Names To All The Animals” (5.8) • “When He Returns” (5.6) • “Gotta Serve Somebody” (5.0)
TJR saysBob Dylan’s final LP of the 1970s was his first since becoming a born-again Christian, and all of the songs either expre...more →

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RISQUÉ
Chic
Atlantic SD-16003
the USA
4.54 “Poor” Disco / Funk; R n B

Jukebox picks: “Good Times” (7.9) • “My Forbidden Lover” (6.5) • “My Feet Keep Dancing” (4.9)
TJR saysThird album three years from le groupe très chic, including three singles; “Good Times” (US #1), “My Forbidden Lov...more →

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TUSK
Fleetwood Mac
Warner Bros. Records K-66088
England
4.50 “Poor” Folk Rock / Americana; Pop; Pop Ballad; Rock; Songwriter

Jukebox picks: “Never Make Me Cry” (6.4) • “That's All For Everyone” (6.1) • “That's Enough For Me” (5.9)
TJR saysI'm still not loving 70s Mac, but “Tusk” at least has a bit of a go at connecting with the new wave, resulting in almost...more →

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WE ARE FAMILY
Sister Sledge
Cotillion SD-5209
the USA
4.16 “Lame” Disco / Funk

Jukebox picks: “Lost In Music” (7.4) • “Thinking Of You” (5.9) • “He’s The Greatest Dancer” (5.1)
TJR saysThird long-player from the Philly vocal group, maintaining their record of an album every two years since '75. The sibli...more →

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NOKUZOLA
The Sherbone Stars
Ziya Duma BL-174
South Africa
3.68 “Terrible” Pop

Jukebox picks: “Nokuzola” (6.8) • “Kudala Ngihlupheka” (4.7) • “Ngiyizwile Inyoni” (4.3)
TJR saysIn the disco-soul-jive style of the day, this West Nkosi production was released in '79 on the Ziya Duma label. South Af...more →

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GLORYHALLASTOOPID (OR PIN THE TAIL ON THE FUNKY)
Parliament
Casablanca NBLP-7195
the USA
3.60 “Terrible” Disco / Funk

Jukebox picks: “The Big Bang Theory” (4.8) • “Prologue” (4.5) • “Colour Me Funky” (4.0)
TJR saysAnother tedious concept album which tries to explain that Funk was responsible for the creation of the universe. Tired, ...more →

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HIGHWAY TO HELL
AC/DC
Albert Productions APLP-040
Australia
3.37 “Terrible” Rock

Jukebox picks: “Beating Around The Bush” (4.6) • “Night Prowler” (4.6) • “Touch Too Much” (3.6)
TJR saysFor their sixth new music album in July, 1979, they line-up: Bon Scott (lead vocals), Angus Young (lead guitar), Malcolm...more →

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COMME UNE SYMPHONIE D’AMOUR
Myriam Makeba
Disques Espérance ‎ESP-7501
South Africa
3.20 “Terrible” Disco / Funk; Soul

Jukebox picks: “Murtala” (4.3) • “African Convention” (4.0) • “Ndibanga Hamba” (3.8)
TJR saysA new album although there are 2 reworkings from the back catalogue; “Malaisha (Bring The Axe)” (Live In Tokyo, 1968...more →

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OFF THE WALL
Michael Jackson
Epic FE-35745
the USA
2.45 “Dire” Disco / Funk

Jukebox picks: “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” (5.4) • “Working Day And Night” (4.0) • “Rock With You” (3.8)
TJR saysAmazingly, the fifth solo album from the 20-year-old singer arrived 4 years after the preceding “Forever, Michael”. By n...more →

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STREET LIFE
Crusaders
MCA Records MCA-3094
the USA
2.43 “Dire” Disco / Funk

Jukebox picks: “Street Life” (4.3) • “My Lady” (3.6) • “Rodeo Drive (High Steppin')” (2.5)
TJR saysBendy bass alert! The 28th album from the 19-year-old group gave them their greatest commercial success, propelled by th...more →

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MUSE
Grace Jones
Island Records ILPS-9538
Jamaica
1.83 “An embarrassment” Disco / Funk

Jukebox picks: “Atlantic City Gambler” (3.0) • “Don’t Mess With The Messer” (2.4) • “Saved” (1.9)
TJR saysThe character of her voice which suggests something different to the disco funk style starts to appear, albeit very slig...more →

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CHARTBUSTING MOTORTOWN HITS
Hits Machine Unlimited
Chevron CHVL-017
England
1.37 “An embarrassment” Soul

Jukebox picks: “I’ll Pick A Rose For My Rose” (2.2) • “Walk Away Rene” (2.0) • “Stop Her On Sight” (1.8)
TJR saysCopycat bobbins on the budget label, Chevron, exclusively licensed to Woolworths chain store....more →

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SPIRITS HAVING FLOWN
Bee Gees
RSO 2394 216
Australia
1.26 “An embarrassment” Pop; Pop Ballad

Jukebox picks: “Tragedy” (5.5) • “I’m Satisfied” (1.4) • “Stop (Think Again)” (1.3)
TJR saysFollowing on from the monster success of the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack in which they were heavily involved, the ...more →

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SON OF THE HOMELAND
Peter Morrison
Lismor Recordings LIDL-6003
Scotland
0.93 “Pathetically abysmal” Folk

Jukebox picks: “The Muckin’ O’ Geordie’s Byre” (4.0) • “The Soor Milk Cairt” (1.6) • “Roses Of Prince Charlie” (1.3)
TJR saysAn Arts & Law graduate of Glasgow University, his career-path changed forever after becoming a regular on “Songs of Scot...more →

see also: (B-list) Album Chart of 1979



Album Charts by year

“A-list”

1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

“B-list”

1943 1945 1946 1950 1951 1952 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Album Charts by decade

“A-list”

1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s

“B-list”

1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s

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