[Music] The Greatest Albums of 1979

studio150 · May 1, 2019

The Belfast Telegraph published their 20 greatest albums of 1979 earlier this week, which were:

20. I'm The Man - Joe Jackson
19. Bop Til You Drop - Ry Cooder
18. We Are Family - Sister Sledge
17. Broken English - Marianne Faithful
16. Setting Sons - The Jam
15. Highway To Hell - AC/DC
14. Damn The Torpedoes - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
13. Metal Box - Public Image Ltd
12. Into The Music - Van Morrison
11. The Specials - The Specials
10. Armed Forces - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
9. The Wall - Pink Floyd
8. Entertainment - Gang of Four
7. Tusk - Fleetwood Mac
6. Off The Wall - Michael Jackson
5. Rust Never Sleeps - Neil Young and Crazy Horse
4. Squeezing Out Sparks - Graham Parker and the Rumour
3. Fear of Music - Talking Heads
2. Unknown Pleasure - Joy Division
1. London Calling - The Clash

A couple of strange entries and at least Setting Sons far too low.

But what are the obvious omissions from this list from 40 years ago

Juan Albion · May 1, 2019

I would have had "Look Sharp" by Joe Jackson ahead of "I'm the Man".

studio150 · May 1, 2019

Juan Albion said:
I would have had "Look Sharp" by Joe Jackson ahead of "I'm the Man".

Look Sharp was released in 1978

Juan Albion · May 1, 2019

studio150 said:
Look Sharp was released in 1978

No it wasn't.

Is it PotG? · May 1, 2019

Setting Sons, imho, is the perfect album and represents The Jam in full splendour.
Thick as Thieves is beyond words, with the richer, fuller production from All Mod Cons

Lewes Punk · May 1, 2019

All depends on your taste of course but two brilliant albums that year were:

Wire - 154
The Fall - Dragnet

BTW I have never understood the hype over London Calling. I like the Clash but it's a messy over-long album with some bad, lazy songs on it.

Garry Nelson's teacher · May 1, 2019

studio150 said:
The Belfast Telegraph published their 20 greatest albums of 1979 earlier this week, which were:

20. I'm The Man - Joe Jackson
19. Bop Til You Drop - Ry Cooder
18. We Are Family - Sister Sledge
17. Broken English - Marianne Faithful
16. Setting Sons - The Jam
15. Highway To Hell - AC/DC
14. Damn The Torpedoes - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
13. Metal Box - Public Image Ltd
12. Into The Music - Van Morrison
11. The Specials - The Specials
10. Armed Forces - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
9. The Wall - Pink Floyd
8. Entertainment - Gang of Four
7. Tusk - Fleetwood Mac
6. Off The Wall - Michael Jackson
5. Rust Never Sleeps - Neil Young and Crazy Horse
4. Squeezing Out Sparks - Graham Parker and the Rumour
3. Fear of Music - Talking Heads
2. Unknown Pleasure - Joy Division
1. London Calling - The Clash

A couple of strange entries and at least Setting Sons far too low.

But what are the obvious omissions from this list from 40 years ago

A good year! Looking at the list there's a real diversity of musical styles/genres. For me, it got worse in the 80s but was probably better in the 60s...……..Not sure if it was an 'obvious ommission' but I would have expected and like to have seen Supertramp's Breakfast in America in there.

Nitram · May 1, 2019

One Step Beyond by Madness, love that album.

BN9 BHA · May 1, 2019

Lewes Punk said:
BTW I have never understood the hype over London Calling. I like the Clash but it's a messy over-long album with some bad, lazy songs on it.

The first album is miles better than London Calling.
But you knew that already

Stato · May 1, 2019

How did theBelfast Telegraph miss this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzWguSYLko8&list=PL8a8cutYP7fpNIYtOIWxREZyA1iRYs-lW

Gregory2Smith1 · May 1, 2019

some reckon it's there best

not for me

but it's very good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnnXmemeMYQ&list=PLZAT-Z1E3R1QvnZ6er7-af0FLpAMzJlrN&index=2

Stato · May 1, 2019

Lewes Punk said:
BTW I have never understood the hype over London Calling. I like the Clash but it's a messy over-long album with some bad, lazy songs on it.

I know its all about personal opinion, but I'd be interested to know which songs you mean. I can't think of one I don't like.

gazingdown · May 1, 2019

The Cure - Three Imaginary Boys
Makes my list..

Weststander · May 1, 2019

1. Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division

2. Setting Sons - The Jam

3. Reggatta de Blanc - The Police

4. Sister Sledge - We Are Family

5. Breakfast in America - Supertramp

6. Risqué - Chic

7. ABBA - Voulez-Vous

8. Replicas - Tubeway Army

9. Days in Europa - Skids

Pogue Mahone · May 1, 2019

Lewes Punk said:
All depends on your taste of course but two brilliant albums that year were:

Wire - 154
The Fall - Dragnet

BTW I have never understood the hype over London Calling. I like the Clash but it's a messy over-long album with some bad, lazy songs on it.

bn9 bha said:
The first album is miles better than London Calling.
But you knew that already

Disagree completely.

London Calling is a sublime album fro start to finish, and remains one of my favourite albums of all time.

I saw The Clash many times live, and love most of their output. But London Calling was their masterpiece.

Lewes Punk · May 1, 2019

Stato said:
I know its all about personal opinion, but I'd be interested to know which songs you mean. I can't think of one I don't like.

Well just my opinion as you say but since you asked: Lost in the Supermarket. I just went back to listen to it to remind myself why it grates and it's the lazy, anything-will-do of the lyrics for one thing:

I wasn't born so much as I fell out
No one ever listened to me
We had a hedge back home in the suburbs
Over which, I never could see.

Wrong Em Boyo, Death or Glory, Jimmy Jazz - I always feel like I'm listening to a pub band playing to some bored pensioners more interested in their dominoes game.

Sorry.

Weststander · May 1, 2019

Garry Nelson's teacher said:
I would have expected and liked to have seen Supertramp's Breakfast in America in there.

That’s a stunning album. At the time as a kid into new wave, synth pop and post punk, that shouldn’t been my ‘cup of tea’, but I loved it straight away (my Dad played it).

BN9 BHA · May 1, 2019

Pogue Mahone said:
Disagree completely.

London Calling is a sublime album fro start to finish, and remains one of my favourite albums of all time.

I saw The Clash many times live, and love most of their output. But London Calling was their masterpiece.

Opinions and taste.

Nothing on London Calling comes close to ( White man ) in Hammersmith Palais or Police & Thieves, IMO of course.
Nothing wrong with London Calling and it obviously has more tracks than the first album, but I can't say I love ALL the tracks on London Calling TBH.

Juan Albion · May 1, 2019

Weststander said:
That’s a stunning album. At the time as a kid into new wave, synth pop and post punk, that shouldn’t been my ‘cup of tea’, but I loved it straight away (my Dad played it).

Coincidentally I picked up a picture disc version of BiA just yesterday.

Roger Hodgson is touring this year highlighting the album to celebrate the 40th anniversary.

Pogue Mahone · May 1, 2019

bn9 bha said:
Opinions and taste.

Nothing on London Calling comes close to ( White man ) in Hammersmith Palais or Police & Thieves, IMO of course.
Nothing wrong with London Calling and it obviously has more tracks than the first album, but I can't say I love ALL the tracks on London Calling TBH.

Well, White Man can't come into the equation as it was never on an album, but I agree that it is hard to argue against it being their best track.

Lewes Punk mentioned Lost in the Supermarket - to me this is one of their greatest songs. Revolution Rock, Clampdown, Rudie Can't Fail, Train in Vain...to my mind all these are better than anything on their first album.

I also think Safe European Home, Tommy Gun and Stay Free from the second album are better than anything on the first,

As you say, it's all about opinions.

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[Music] The Greatest Albums of 1979

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