The Best Of 1979 - part 2

JUMP TO: 10-6 II 5-1

We're halfway through my top 10 favourite songs from 1979. Here's the rest of the countdown...


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

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