JUMP TO: 10-6 II 5-1
Number 5 is “Don’t Bring Me Down” by Electric Light Orchestra. You know how songs conjure up crystal clear mental images – a drive along the coast, a starry night, first love… Well, the memory I get when I hear this song is being in our laundry as a kid. Great, hey? Obviously, everyone loves the “Bruce” bit of the song (even though Jeff Lynne was singing something else entirely) – but for me it’s all about that driving beat (which has led to the song’s appearance on more than one of my road-trip playlists) and those unmistakable ELO harmonies.
One
of the main reasons I re-embraced 1979 can be found at number 4: “Don’t Stop 'Til You Get Enough” by Michael Jackson, which remains my favourite single he ever
released. From the moment Michael yelps and the beat kicks in, it’s a giddy
ride that does not let up – just like any good pop song should be.
At
number 3 is the ingenious “Knock On Wood” by Amii Stewart. I’ve always loved a
cover version that completely revamps the original recording – especially if it
shocks purists. (See also: Pet Shop Boys’ “Where The Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You)”, Tori Amos’ “Smells Like Teen Spirit”). And Amii’s
energetic take breathed new life into the soul standard.
Number
2 is “Goosebumps” by Christie Allen, a song I clearly remember from a K-Tel
compilation tape that got played on long car trips to Newcastle. I don’t know
that I ever saw the film clip at the time, although I do like the tricksy split
screen effects. “Goosebumps” reached number three in the proper charts, and
Christie had another massive hit the following year with “He’s My Number One”,
but this is the song I prefer.
And
at number 1, “Video Killed The Radio Star” by The Buggles. Famously the first
song played on MTV when it launched in the US two years later, it also
kick-started the careers of band member Trevor Horn, who’d go on to produce for
the likes of ABC, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Seal, and video director
Russell Mulcahy, who’d help turn Duran Duran into megastars. The best bit? Just
when you think it’s all over, the “you are… the radio star” bit at the
two-and-a-half minute mark leads into a final blast of the refrain.
My
top 100 for 1979 in full:
1 VIDEO KILLED THE
RADIO STAR The Buggles
2 GOOSE BUMPS Christie
Allen
3 KNOCK ON WOOD Amii
Stewart
4 DON’T STOP ’TIL YOU
GET ENOUGH Michael Jackson
5 DON’T BRING ME DOWN
ELO
6 DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW
ABBA
7 BORN TO BE ALIVE
Patrick Hernandez
8 I WAS MADE FOR LOVIN’
YOU Kiss
9 BABY IT’S YOU
Promises
10 GIMME!
GIMME! GIMME! (A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT) ABBA
11 GOOD
TIMES Chic
12 ROCK
WITH YOU Michael Jackson
13 HEART
OF GLASS Blondie
14 WE
ARE FAMILY Sister Sledge
15 THE
BOSS Diana Ross
16 LIGHT
MY FIRE/137 DISCO HEAVEN (MEDLEY) Amii Stewart
17 I
WILL SURVIVE Gloria Gaynor
18 HOT
STUFF Donna Summer
19 STAY
WITH ME TILL DAWN Judie Tzuke
20 DIM
ALL THE LIGHTS Donna Summer
21 LOST IN MUSIC Sister Sledge
22 BOOGIE
WONDERLAND Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions
23 GOT
TO BE REAL Cheryl Lynn
24 LOVE
PAINS Yvonne Elliman
25 UNDER
FIRE Jackie
26 THE
SECOND TIME AROUND Shalamar
27 LE
FREAK Chic
28 THE
RUNNER The Three Degrees
29 TAKE
ME HOME Cher
30 EVERY
TIME I THINK OF YOU The Babys
31 BABY
I’M BURNIN’ Dolly Parton
32 SHAKE
YOUR BODY (DOWN TO THE GROUND) The Jacksons
33 FEEL
THE NEED Leif Garrett
34 HE’S
THE GREATEST DANCER Sister Sledge
35 WE
DON’T TALK ANYMORE Cliff Richard
36 HEAVEN
KNOWS Donna Summer
37 DON’T
HOLD BACK Chanson
38 LET’S
GO The Cars
39 OFF
THE WALL Michael Jackson
40 WHATCHA
GONNA DO WITH MY LOVIN’ Stephanie Mills
41 I
WANNA MAKE IT WITH YOU TONIGHT Monalisa & Terry Young
42 COMPUTER
GAMES Mi-Sex
43 POP
MUZIK M
44 SHAKE
YOUR GROOVE THING Peaches & Herb
45 QUE
SERA MI VIDA (IF YOU SHOULD GO) Gibson Brothers
46 SPACER
Sheila B. & Devotion
47 LADIES
NIGHT Kool & The Gang
48 CRAZY
LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE Queen
49 NO
MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH) Donna Summer / Barbra Streisand
50 MESSAGE
IN A BOTTLE The Police
51 AIN’T
NO STOPPING US NOW McFadden & Whitehead
52 I’M
IN THE MOOD FOR DANCING The Nolans
53 DREAMING
Blondie
54 WHAT
A FOOL BELIEVES Doobie Brothers
55 SHINE
A LITTLE LOVE ELO
56 DO
THAT TO ME ONE MORE TIME Captain & Tennille
57 (BOOGIE
WOOGIE) DANCIN’ SHOES Claudja Barry
58 HAVEN’T
STOPPED DANCING YET Gonzalez
59 99
Toto
60 WITH
YOU I’M BORN AGAIN Billy Preston & Syreeta
61 IS
SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM Joe Jackson
62 DREAM
POLICE Cheap Trick
63 DON’T
STOP ME NOW Queen
64 HONESTY
Billy Joel
65 ANGEL
EYES / VOULEZ VOUS ABBA
66 BAD
GIRLS Donna Summer
67 I
ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU The Tourists
68 LONESOME
LOSER Little River Band
69 I’LL
SUPPLY THE LOVE Toto
70 DRIVER’S
SEAT Sniff ‘n’ The Tears
71 SHAPE
I’M IN Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons
72 HOT SUMMER NIGHTS Night
73 SOMETHING’S
MISSING IN MY LIFE Marcia Hines
74 I’LL
NEVER LOVE THIS WAY AGAIN Dionne Warwick
75 LOVE
BALLAD George Benson
76 AFTER
THE LOVE HAS GONE Earth, Wind & Fire
77 TRAGEDY
Bee Gees
78 PLEASE
DON’T GO KC & The Sunshine Band
79 MY
SHARONA The Knack
80 MY
FORBIDDEN LOVER Chic
81 DANCE
AWAY Roxy Music
82 GEORGY
PORGY Toto
83 ANGEL
EYES Roxy Music
84 CAN’T
STAND LOSING YOU The Police
85 CARS
Gary Numan
86 COOL
FOR CATS Squeeze
87 I
WANNA BE YOUR LOVER Prince
88 LAST
TRAIN TO LONDON ELO
89 GONNA
GET ALONG WITHOUT YOU NOW Viola Wills
90 LET
ME KNOW (I HAVE A RIGHT) Gloria Gaynor
91 HEAVEN
MUST HAVE SENT YOU Bonnie Pointer
92 ROXANNE
The Police
93 IS
IT LOVE YOU’RE AFTER Rose Royce
94 MAMA
CAN’T BUY YOU LOVE Elton John
95 TAKE
THAT TO THE BANK Shalamar
96 YOU
CAN DO IT Al Hudson & The Partners
97 I
WANT YOUR LOVE Chic
98 SUNDAY
GIRL Blondie
99 OLIVER’S
ARMY Elvis Costello & The Attractions
100 BRASS
IN POCKET The Pretenders
Sidebar: as with most pre-Internet years, my list includes songs I knew from the time as well as a few I’ve discovered in the years since.
What
were your favourites from 1979?
MY YEAR-END CHARTS
I was born in a distant 1983, but I heard all songs, which were in UK charts in 1979.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite song: Blondie - Sunday Girl
Signature songs from 1979 for me:
First time, it's all Blondie's singles from this year: Dreaming, Union City Blue, Heart Of Glass
Anita Skorgan - Oliver
Dana - Something's Cookin' In The Kitchen
ABBA - Angeleyes
ABBA - I Have A Dream
Fiddler's Dram - Day Trip to Bangor
Cats U.K. - Luton Airport
Patricia Paay & Yvonne Keely - The Best Friend I Know
Pussycat - Hey Joe
Maybe also songs from Dollar, Nolans, Dooleys
Blondie could do no wrong then. Some titles I'm not familiar with on your list - will check them out! Thanks for reading.
DeleteI likey these ones from your list...
ReplyDelete1. VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR The Buggles
3. KNOCK ON WOOD Amii Stewart
4. DON’T STOP ’TIL YOU GET ENOUGH Michael Jackson
5. DON’T BRING ME DOWN ELO
7. BORN TO BE ALIVE Patrick Hernandez
8. I WAS MADE FOR LOVIN’ YOU Kiss
10. GIMME! GIMME! GIMME! (A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT) ABBA
13. ROCK WITH YOU Michael Jackson
14. HEART OF GLASS Blondie
15. WE ARE FAMILY Sister Sledge
17. I WILL SURVIVE Gloria Gaynor
20. HOT STUFF Donna Summer
21. MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE The Police
23. GOT TO BE REAL Cheryl Lynn
28. LET’S GO The Cars
29. POP MUZIK M
30. CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE Queen
40. HE’S THE GREATEST DANCER Sister Sledge
50. IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM Joe Jackson
51. MY SHARONA The Knack
53. TRAGEDY Bee Gees
54. BRASS IN POCKET The Pretenders
56. VOULEZ VOUS ABBA
59. ROXANNE The Police
64. WALKING ON THE MOON The Police
68. WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES Doobie Brothers
76. LADIES NIGHT Kool & The Gang
78. CARS Gary Numan
81. I ONLY WANT TO BE WITH YOU The Tourists
83. GONNA GET ALONG WITHOUT YOU NOW Viola Wills
87. THE NIPS ARE GETTING BIGGER Mental As Anything
88. HIT AND RUN Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons
89. I DON’T LIKE MONDAYS The Boomtown Rats
93. DANCE AWAY Roxy Music
97. RING MY BELL Anita Ward
Very much looking forward to your other EOY lists Gavin as there's a few songs I haven't even heard in this one. :)
I'll be putting them all on eventually!
DeleteHere's my favourites for 1979...
ReplyDelete#1 - BABE - Styx
#2 - WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES - The Doobie Brothers
#3 - EL LUTE - Boney M.
#4 - HEARTACHE TONIGHT - Eagles
#5 - GIMME! GIMME! GIMME! (A MAN AFTER MIDNIGHT) - ABBA
#6 - SEPTEMBER - Earth, Wind & Fire
#7 - HOLD THE LINE - Toto
#8 - BORN TO BE ALIVE - Patrick Hernandez
#9 - GOTTA GO HOME - Boney M.
#10 - I WILL SURVIVE - Gloria Gaynor
#11 - MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE - The Police
#12 - LOST IN LOVE - Air Supply
#13 - HOORAY! HOORAY! IT'S A HOLI-HOLIDAY - Boney M.
#14 - SHAPE I'M IN - Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons
#15 - VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR - Buggles
#16 - DRIVER'S SEAT - Sniff 'n' The Tears
#17 - THE LOGICAL SONG - Supertramp
#18 - PAINTER MAN - Boney M.
#19 - ROXANNE - The Police
#20 - CHOIR GIRL - Cold Chisel
#21 - BAD CASE OF LOVIN' YOU (DOCTOR, DOCTOR) - Robert Palmer
#22 - I LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE (DISCO 'ROUND) - Alicia Bridges
#23 - COOL FOR CATS - U.K. Squeeze
#24 - HEART OF GLASS - Blondie
#25 - DON'T STOP 'TIL YOU GET ENOUGH - Michael Jackson
#26 - KNOCK ON WOOD - Amii Stewart
#27 - POP MUZIK - M
#28 - HOT STUFF - Donna Summer
#29 - BREAKFAST IN AMERICA - Supertramp
#30 - MY SHARONA - The Knack
#31 - DANCE AWAY - Roxy Music
#32 - CAN'T STAND LOSING YOU - The Police
#33 - LET'S GO - The Cars
#34 - HIT AND RUN - Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons
#35 - JUST WHAT I NEEDED - The Cars
#36 - HE'S THE GREATEST DANCER - Sister Sledge
#37 - TAKE ME TO THE RIVER - Talking Heads
#38 - BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE - Australian Crawl
#39 - I DON'T LIKE MONDAYS - The Boomtown Rats
#40 - IS SHE REALLY GOING OUT WITH HIM? - Joe Jackson
#41 - TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME - Supertramp
#42 - DON'T BRING ME DOWN - Electric Light Orchestra
#43 - BLAME IT ON THE BOOGIE - The Jacksons
#44 - TRAGEDY - Bee Gees
#45 - LADIES' NIGHT - Kool & The Gang
#46 - GOOD TIMES ROLL - The Cars
#47 - THE LONG RUN - Eagles
#48 - CHIQUITITA - ABBA
#49 - LONESOME LOSER - Little River Band
#50 - WE ARE FAMILY - Sister Sledge
#51 - I'M EVERY WOMAN - Chaka Khan
#52 - I WAS MADE FOR LOVIN' YOU - Kiss
#53 - VOULEZ-VOUS - ABBA
#54 - BETTER LOVE NEXT TIME - Dr. Hook
#55 - DON'T DO ME LIKE THAT - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
#56 - YOU MAKE ME FEEL (MIGHTY REAL) - Sylvester
#57 - THE NIPS ARE GETTING BIGGER - Mental as Anything
#58 - LOTTA LOVE - Nicolette Larson
#59 - COOL CHANGE - Little River Band
#60 - BLOW AWAY - George Harrison
#61 - CARS - Gary Numan
#62 - TAKE ME HOME - Cher
#63 - WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN - Dr. Hook
#64 - RING MY BELL - Anita Ward
#65 - DREAM LOVER - Glenn Shorrock
All of these songs you can listen to on my site :)
http://top100singles.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-top-singles-of-1979.html
Thanks for that - some good ones to add to my collection.
DeleteSo that's where Trevor Horn started. The things you learn. Finn
ReplyDelete