[Music] The Greatest Albums of 1979

[studio150]

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]

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

 

[studio150]

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

Look Sharp was released in 1978

 

[Juan Albion]

Look Sharp was released in 1978

No it wasn't.

 

[Is it PotG?]

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]

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]

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]

One Step Beyond by Madness, love that album.

 

[BN9 BHA]

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]

How did theBelfast Telegraph miss this?

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

 

[Gregory2Smith1]

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]

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]

The Cure - Three Imaginary Boys
Makes my list..

 

[Weststander]

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]

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.

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.