1979 was probably the year I really got into music. I was 12 and remember vividly buying my first 7” singles from Martins in Poulton - Up the Junction & Masquerade!!
But it was watching Are Friends Electric on TOTP that really changes things and I moved on from Showaddywaddy to something a bit better 😃
I was desperate to be a punk but, aged 13, the best I could manage was my mum's hairspray. I also bought Masquerade and a Clash single or two. It would have been nice to be a few years older and seen Joy Division, Killing Joke, Cabaret Voltaire in this breakthrough year. The anti-Thatcherism was building nicely!
A great article. Yes, great times musically. I especially remember Message to you, Rudi by the Specials and Are Friends Electric? by Tubeway Army. Hugely influential but just another couple of post-punk oddities at the time. I also remember a school trip to London during which we had to walk through Soho to a theatre. The teachers asked us to be careful about rats (a long rubbish-collectors strike was still on) and punks, who also lurked on every street corner.
Top stuff, kid. Please find attached a pretty decent playlist to accompany the read, note that I did not compile it so no complaints please! 1979 opened my eyes to music in all its many wonderful forms and it was the opening bars of LC at the end of the year that truly was my rallying call to all that has followed… https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1vgWWGzzTWg7s7MZ5KHWzg?si=e30LbIKXQPuc5DJi5dCYPg&pi=7MzZpLBWTGyuj
I turned 13 that year and much of my musical taste was formed in 1979. In the US we didn't have Top of the Pops, but we had American Bandstand and Soul Train (both had fascinating dancers), which aired back-to-back on Saturday afternoons where I lived. Even thought it was all lip synching those shows treated viewers to all kinds of acts; many of whom were not played much on the small stations I had access to in a mid-sized city in Michigan. And we had Casey Kasem's countdown show which I listened to every Sunday after finishing my paper route. This is where I first heard artists like Bad Company, Blondie, Donna Summer, Rod Stewart, Cliff Richard, ELO, Sister Sledge, Roxy Music, Supertramp, The Police and many others.
I remember seeing in the news about some of the issues plaguing Great Britain at the time and feeling really bad that so many people were suffering there.
I went from 18 to 19 in 1979. I was moving away from TOTP, the programme that had given me Bowie, Bolan, Roxy et al, towards the dark and mysterious delights of the Old Grey Whistle Test but I still saw it most weeks as my younger brother and sister still watched it. Along with Whistle Test, it was the only music programme on TV. I remember my first ever ‘live’ glimpse of Motörhead on TOTP in 1979 as well as the shock of seeing Black Sabbath performing ‘Never Say Die’, Ozzy hunched over like a rock Richard III. The awkwardness of rock and punk bands on TOTP as they had to mime in front of an audience of (mostly) teenage girls who were there for their own teen idols was always obvious to me.
I remember TOTP so vividly Steve. The contrasts between the competing artists made it feel almost tribal.
Coincidentally I’m reading about the 1979 Iranian Revolution and its impact on music (particularly ‘Western‘ music) with its fondness for bans and censorship …. it was a big year in the world’s cultural calendar still resonating 45+ years on …
Where there is harmony, let us bring disunity…or words to that effect from the great Lederene herself after her very own top of the pops speech from the front doorstep of No 10 in that very same year…ha-ha!
The sheer variety of the charts in those days, and as you reminded me, especially that year, was pretty impressive.
And where are we now? I’d argue these are truly the beige, vanilla, brown days the 1970s are so often accused of being, no?
Thanks for the lovely reminder, Steve, that tutti-frutti tastes better than a Mr Whippy sans its 99 flake!
I was in the record business in 1979 working for a retail outlet and in their warehouse. So, I saw a great deal happening of all of what you are mentioning. The nice thing was that I also had an in with reps from the major labels and heard new releases and new acts first, long before the stores got deliveries and long before the public. Sometimes even before radio stations. It was a very cool job, just no money. Thanks for the memories. Great read!
Yep, the year to get out of that bucket chair…and dance. Or join in with the ‘Pogo’ in the playground with the big boys. Bought my first single in ‘79, (‘Cars’).
Brilliant read again kid.
1979 was probably the year I really got into music. I was 12 and remember vividly buying my first 7” singles from Martins in Poulton - Up the Junction & Masquerade!!
But it was watching Are Friends Electric on TOTP that really changes things and I moved on from Showaddywaddy to something a bit better 😃
Remember it like yesterday!
I was desperate to be a punk but, aged 13, the best I could manage was my mum's hairspray. I also bought Masquerade and a Clash single or two. It would have been nice to be a few years older and seen Joy Division, Killing Joke, Cabaret Voltaire in this breakthrough year. The anti-Thatcherism was building nicely!
omg yes, Shawaddywaddy!
A great article. Yes, great times musically. I especially remember Message to you, Rudi by the Specials and Are Friends Electric? by Tubeway Army. Hugely influential but just another couple of post-punk oddities at the time. I also remember a school trip to London during which we had to walk through Soho to a theatre. The teachers asked us to be careful about rats (a long rubbish-collectors strike was still on) and punks, who also lurked on every street corner.
Ha, yes - glory days Ali!
Top stuff, kid. Please find attached a pretty decent playlist to accompany the read, note that I did not compile it so no complaints please! 1979 opened my eyes to music in all its many wonderful forms and it was the opening bars of LC at the end of the year that truly was my rallying call to all that has followed… https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1vgWWGzzTWg7s7MZ5KHWzg?si=e30LbIKXQPuc5DJi5dCYPg&pi=7MzZpLBWTGyuj
great list!
Brilliant mate
I turned 13 that year and much of my musical taste was formed in 1979. In the US we didn't have Top of the Pops, but we had American Bandstand and Soul Train (both had fascinating dancers), which aired back-to-back on Saturday afternoons where I lived. Even thought it was all lip synching those shows treated viewers to all kinds of acts; many of whom were not played much on the small stations I had access to in a mid-sized city in Michigan. And we had Casey Kasem's countdown show which I listened to every Sunday after finishing my paper route. This is where I first heard artists like Bad Company, Blondie, Donna Summer, Rod Stewart, Cliff Richard, ELO, Sister Sledge, Roxy Music, Supertramp, The Police and many others.
I remember seeing in the news about some of the issues plaguing Great Britain at the time and feeling really bad that so many people were suffering there.
I went from 18 to 19 in 1979. I was moving away from TOTP, the programme that had given me Bowie, Bolan, Roxy et al, towards the dark and mysterious delights of the Old Grey Whistle Test but I still saw it most weeks as my younger brother and sister still watched it. Along with Whistle Test, it was the only music programme on TV. I remember my first ever ‘live’ glimpse of Motörhead on TOTP in 1979 as well as the shock of seeing Black Sabbath performing ‘Never Say Die’, Ozzy hunched over like a rock Richard III. The awkwardness of rock and punk bands on TOTP as they had to mime in front of an audience of (mostly) teenage girls who were there for their own teen idols was always obvious to me.
Great days!
I remember TOTP so vividly Steve. The contrasts between the competing artists made it feel almost tribal.
Coincidentally I’m reading about the 1979 Iranian Revolution and its impact on music (particularly ‘Western‘ music) with its fondness for bans and censorship …. it was a big year in the world’s cultural calendar still resonating 45+ years on …
Definitely mate - really encouraged us to listen to different stuff
You could make an argument that 1979 was one of the strongest years ever for rock music... possibly even as good as 1967.
Where there is harmony, let us bring disunity…or words to that effect from the great Lederene herself after her very own top of the pops speech from the front doorstep of No 10 in that very same year…ha-ha!
The sheer variety of the charts in those days, and as you reminded me, especially that year, was pretty impressive.
And where are we now? I’d argue these are truly the beige, vanilla, brown days the 1970s are so often accused of being, no?
Thanks for the lovely reminder, Steve, that tutti-frutti tastes better than a Mr Whippy sans its 99 flake!
I was in the record business in 1979 working for a retail outlet and in their warehouse. So, I saw a great deal happening of all of what you are mentioning. The nice thing was that I also had an in with reps from the major labels and heard new releases and new acts first, long before the stores got deliveries and long before the public. Sometimes even before radio stations. It was a very cool job, just no money. Thanks for the memories. Great read!
Yep, the year to get out of that bucket chair…and dance. Or join in with the ‘Pogo’ in the playground with the big boys. Bought my first single in ‘79, (‘Cars’).
The entire year was Off The Wall.
Enjoyed this trip, thank you Steve.
The highlights from that year for me were ‘Join Hands’ by Siouxsie and the Banshees and ‘Money’ by the Flying Lizards
Where’s Joy Division on that list??
Such a rich range of musical styles, many of which I’ve embraced ever
since. Late seventies, edging into the eighties, was such an amazing era - I’m still mining it all for singles and albums I’ve missed.
An episode of TOTP would provide something for everyone.
Also the last time the Banshees appeared with John McKay and Kenny Morris
And so many of those singles bought (or liberated) from Woolworths. We were sooooo lucky to be growing up during those times.
Amen!