AMERICAN HIT RADIO – MORE ALBUM TRACKS FROM THE WINTER OF ‘79

PLAY THE SHOW

Two weeks ago, we took a look at a few albums that were released in the winter of ’79. At that time, we stuck mostly to albums that ‘fit the mold’ of what would be expected at such a time. What I mean is that those artists fit in well with what came before them. From our current perspective, you could more or less predict the development of rock and roll, from its birth in 1955 until the winter of 1979. For example, the rough-edged genius of rockabilly gets smoothed out a bit, then integrates girl groups and incorporates soul. The Beatles stand as the single best of indicator of rock and roll’s development in the ‘60s, taking us from “I Want to Hold Your Hand” to “She Cam In Through the Bathroom Window.” Afterward, singer/songwriters took a foothold, while rock splintered into subgroups such as ‘Art Rock’, ‘Glitter’ and ‘Southern Rock’. By 1978, a few bands felt that it was time to challenge the status quo. Today, we cover that side of that coin. As 1978 turned to 1979, a significant line had been drawn in popular music, with older acts struggling to retain significance in the onslaught of the newer, younger, brasher punk and ‘new wave’ bands. Here is our playlist;

1)    Hanging on the Telephone – Blondie

2)    One Way or Another – Blondie

3)    (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – Devo

4)    Jocko Homo – Devo

5)    Safe European Home – The Clash

6)    Julie’s in the Drug Squad – The Clash

7)    Next to You - The Police

8)    Born in the ‘50s – The Police

9)  You Can’t Have Me – Big Star

10)  Down in the Tube Station at Midnight – The Jam