100 Greatest Albums of 1979

Criteria: These albums were chosen for their initial and lasting popularity and their influence and impact on rock music in general. Also considered is critical acclaim. The list includes rock and roll and related genres that were influential on rock music.

Note: Yearly album lists go by earliest 'release date'. Not necessarily the year an album peaked in the U.S. charts.

1. Off The Wall
Michael Jackson
2. London Calling
The Clash
3. Bad Girls
Donna Summer
4. The Wall
Pink Floyd
5. Risqué
Chic
6. Highway To Hell
AC/DC
7. We Are Family
Sister Sledge
8. Unknown Pleasures
Joy Division
9. Tusk
Fleetwood Mac
10. I Am
Earth, Wind & Fire
11. Armed Forces
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
12. Damn The Torpedos
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
13. Regatta de Blanc
The Police
14. Uncle Jam Wants You
Funkadelic
15. Entertainment
Gang Of Four
16. Ladies Night
Kool & The Gang
17. Get The Knack
The Knack
18. Rust Never Sleeps
Neil Young
19. The Boss
Diana Ross
20. Spirits Having Flown
The Bee Gees
21. Winner Takes All
The Isley Brothers
22. Masterjam
Rufus & Chaka
23. The B-52's
The B-52's
24. The Whispers
The Whispers
25. The Long Run
The Eagles
26. The Gap Band II
The Gap Band
27. Where There's Smoke
Smokey Robinson
28. Rock On
Raydio
29. Pretenders
Pretenders
30. This Boot Is Made For Fonk-n
Bootsy's Rubber Band
31. Bustin' Out Of L7
Rick James
32. Fear Of Music
Talking Heads
33. Breakfast In America
Supertramp
34. Inspiration
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
35. Degüello
ZZ Top
36. Eat To The Beat
Blondie
37. Midnight Magic
The Commodores
38. The Romantics
The Romantics
39. Prince
Prince
40. Cut
The Slits
41. In Through The Out Door
Led Zeppelin
42. Teddy
Teddy Pendergrass
43. The Pleasure Principle
Gary Numan
44. Injoy
The Bar-Kays
45. Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants
Stevie Wonder
46. Head Games
Foreigner
47. The Message Is Love
Barry White
48. Priority
The Pointer Sisters
49. Overkill
Motörhead
50. Van Halen II
Van Halen
51. Stay Free
Ashford & Simpson
52. Low Budget
The Kinks
53. The Specials
The Specials
54. Brenda Russell
Brenda Russell
55. Secret Omen
Cameo
56. Machine Gun Etiquette
The Damned
57. Showcase
Black Uhuru
58. Just A Touch Of Love
Slave
59. Candy-O
The Cars
60. Another Taste
A Taste Of Honey
61. Big Fun
Shalamar
62. Madame Butterfly
Tavares
63. Rose Royce IV: The Rainbow Connection
Rose Royce
64. Star Walk
Graham Central Station
65. Live Rust
Neil Young
66. Disco Nights
GQ
67. Bop Till You Drop
Ry Cooder
68. You Know How To Love Me
Phyllis Hyman
69. Three Imaginary Boys
The Cure
70. Hot Property
Heatwave
71. Stars
Sylvester
72. Dynasty
KISS
73. Setting Sons
The Jam
74. The Gap Band
The Gap Band
75. In The Purest Form
Mass Production
76. 154
Wire
77. Music Box
Evelyn "Champagne" King
78. Back To The Egg
Wings
79. Soon Forward
Gregory Isaacs
80. One Step Beyond
Madness
81. Let's Talk It Over
Lee Fields
82. Desolation Angels
Bad Company
83. Black Rose: A Rock Legend
Thin Lizzy
84. Candy
Con Funk Shun
85. In The Heat Of The Night
Pat Benatar
86. Let Me Be Your Woman
Linda Clifford
87. Dream Police
Cheap Trick
88. Identify Yourself
The O'Jays
89. A Different Kind Of Tension
Buzzcocks
90. Survival
Bob Marley & The Wailers
91. Discovery
Electric Light Orchestra
92. McFadden & Whitehead
McFadden & Whitehead
93. Don't Let Go
Isaac Hayes
94. Sheik Yurbouti
Frank Zappa
95. Pizzazz
Patrice Rushen
96. The Jones Girls
The Jones Girls
97. Knock On Wood
Amii Stewart
98. Flag
James Taylor
98. Thanks I'll Eat It Here
Lowell George
100. Look Sharp!
Joe Jackson
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1979
An unheralded great album from 1979
Lew's choice:
* Squeezing Out Sparks
Graham Parker and The Rumour
Bruce's choice:
* Repeat When Necessary
Dave Edmunds
Brian's choice:
* Into the Music
Van Morrison
Brett's choice:
* Airwaves
Badfinger
⇐ 1978   |   1980 ⇒