Best of 1979 Mix

 

 

1979 was an interesting year.  There is an interesting change in the air.  Listening to this mix back it feels so disjointed in many ways.  

20. Train in Vain (Stand by Me) by The Clash

     I'm not the biggest Clash fan, but this is a great song.  

19. Love in a Void by Siouxsie and the Banshees

     Back in 1979 I had no idea music like this existed.  I wouldn't discover Siouxsie for another 7 years.  

18. Cruisin' by Smokey Robinson

     This song seems ideal for 1979 as it feels like the end of the R&B era that carried over from the 60's.  We'll see as we get into 1980, but it all does seem to be changing.  

17.  Good Times by Chic

     One of the changes I see coming is reflected in music like this song from Chic.  This is heavily influenced by the funk movement  happening in the 70's which has been very underground and also artists like Sly & the Family Stone.  Those influences will continue to be very important as we move forward.  

16. Cars by Gary Numan

     I bought this 45 back in 1979.  Little did I know this was seen as one of the early steps toward new wave.  

15. Three Imaginary Boys by The Cure

     The debut album from The Cure.  Another band I would discover in 1986.  

14.  I Wanna Be Your Lover by Prince

     This song would be Prince's first number 1 song on the R&B chart and it went all the way to 11 on the US chart.  

13. We Are Family by Sister Sledge

      This song is 1979.

12. Ladies Night by Kool & the Gang

      I loved this song in 1979.  

11.  London Calling by The Clash

     Like I said I'm not the biggest Clash fan, but this song is The Clash and so you can't just ignore it.  

10.  The Logical Song by Supertramp

     If I were to pick an album of the year from 1979 it would probably be this Supertramp album, Breakfast in America.  I really liked this song then and still listen to it all the time now.  

9.  The Devil Went Down to Georgia by The Charlie Daniels Band

     I always thought this single came out sooner than 1979.  Another 45 I bought.  

8.  I Can't Tell You Why by Eagles

     This is probably my favorite Eagles song.  I may have already said that about another one, but I really do like this song.  So pretty.  

7.  Rock With You by Michael Jackson

     This song always makes me think of one of our fellow fifth graders doing a dance routine to this song for the whole class.  

6.  Breakfast in America by Supertramp

     Great song.  

5.  Is She Really Going Out With Him?  by Joe Jackson

      This is another great song.  So iconic to me.  

4.  Deja Vu by Dionne Warwick

     OK I had completely forgotten about this song until I was doing this exercise.  I loved this song in 1979 and it still sounds fantastic today.  

3.  Rainbow Connection by Kermit

     Ah the Muppet Show, the Muppet Movie.  Such great memories from 1979.  

2.  Images by Saga

     For a long time this was my favorite song by Saga.  Just love the sound of it.  Maybe no other song represents their early work better than this song. 

1.  Sailing by Christopher Cross

     This is one of my all time favorite songs.