1979 in music

See also: 1978 in music, other events of 1979, 1980 in music, 1970s in music and the list of 'years in music'

Contents

Events

Disco reigned supreme in 1979, with several #1 hits from The Bee Gees and Donna Summer that year. Several artists who were not regarded as dance/disco acts, scored major successes by releasing disco singles, including New Wave band Blondie with their first US number one single "Heart Of Glass" and Rod Stewart with "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy".

However, the backlash against disco among rock loyalists was also peaking. An anti-disco event in Chicago ultimately forced the cancellation of a major league baseball game. When The Knack's song "My Sharona" hit Billboard's #1 for six weeks, many rock critics gushed that the band was "the next Beatles" and celebrated the beginning of the end for disco music. While 1979 may have marked the climax of disco, it was also the beginning of the end for The Knack, who quickly faded into obscurity.

One event of 1979 which would have later significance was the success of the single "Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang, which marked the commercial emergence of hip hop.

Chuck Brown & the Soul Searchers' Bustin' Loose was released; this is the first go go record.

Albums released

Chronological Table of US and UK Number One Hit Singles

US Number One Singles and Artist
(Weeks at Number One)
UK Number One Singles and Artist
(Weeks at Number One)
"Le Freak" - Chic (2 weeks in 1978 + 4 weeks in 1979)


"Too Much Heaven" - Bee Gees (2)
"Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" - Rod Stewart (4)
"I Will Survive" - Gloria Gaynor (3)
"Tragedy" - Bee Gees (2)
"What A Fool Believes" - Doobie Brothers (1)
"Knock On Wood" - Amii Stewart (1)
"Heart Of Glass" - Blondie (1)
"Reunited" - Peaches & Herb (4)
"Hot Stuff" - Donna Summer (3)
"Love You Inside Out" - Bee Gees (1)
"Ring My Bell" - Anita Ward (2)
"Bad Girls" - Donna Summer (5)
"Good Times" - Chic (1)
"My Sharona" - The Knack (6) best selling single of the year
"Sad Eyes" - Robert John (1)
"Halelujah" - Gali Atari feat. Milk and honey (2)
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" - Michael Jackson (1)
"Rise" - Herb Alpert (2)
"Pop Muzik" - M (1)
"Heartache Tonight" - The Eagles (1)
"Still" - Commodores (1)
"(No More Tears) Enough Is Enough" - Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer (2)
"Babe" - Styx (2)
"Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" - Rupert Holmes (2 weeks in 1979 + 1 week in 1980)
Also see: Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1979


"Y.M.C.A." - Village People (3) best selling single of the year
"Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" - Ian Dury & The Blockheads (1)
"Heart Of Glass" - Blondie (4)
"Tragedy" - Bee Gees (2)
"I Will Survive" - Gloria Gaynor (4)
"Bright Eyes" - Art Garfunkel (6)
"Sunday Girl" - Blondie (3)
"Ring My Bell" - Anita Ward (2)
Are Friends Electric?- Tubeway Army (4)
"I Don't Like Mondays" - Boomtown Rats (4)
"We Don't Talk Anymore" - Cliff Richard (4)
"Cars" - Gary Numan (1)
"Message In A Bottle" - The Police (3)
"Video Killed The Radio Star" - The Buggles (1)
"One Day At A Time" - Lena Martell (3)
"When Your In Love With A Beautiful Woman" - Dr. Hook (3)
"Walking On The Moon" - The Police (1)
"Another Brick In The Wall, Part II" - Pink Floyd (3 weeks in 1979 + 2 weeks in 1980)

Other significant singles

Published popular music

Classical music

Opera

Musical theater

Musical films

Births

Deaths

Awards

Grammy Awards

Country Music Association Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

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