The year 1979 was a particularly fun one for music fans. There were so many different existing genres of music that were all fighting for the attention of fans, and there were more still that were just beginning to form out of nowhere.
With that in mind, we thought it would be fun to look back to September 1979. Here are the five fantastic albums released 45 years ago this month.
Eat to the Beat by Blondie
Blondie has to be one of the most underrated bands of its era. Their versatility at being able to bounce from style to style within a single album was hard for any of their peers to match. And with Debbie Harry presiding over it all, they had a lead singer whose personality was so strong it allowed the band to make those moves without losing the plot. Eat to the Beat features a dozen tracks and there are no misses. “Dreaming” is a sugar rush of an opening track, “Atomic” sounds like new wave meets ’60s spy music, and “Shayla” is the deep album cut that’s a true keeper.
Recent Songs by Leonard Cohen
Cohen must have inherently realized the splashy album project wasn’t for him, especially after the strained connection with producer Phil Spector on the 1977 misfire Death of a Ladies Man. Even the title Recent Songs seemed an effort to scale things back to a more modest level. But when you dive into this record, you’ll find some of the most affecting work of Cohen’s career. His melodies are extremely sharp here, with “The Guests” and “The Smokey Life” especially fine. “Ballad of the Absent Mare” is the epic closer, full of humor and sorrow, to close this one out in ideal fashion.
The Long Run by Eagles
It’s hard to fairly judge The Long Run, in large part because we know now how the bad vibes that burbled up during its making helped to put an end to the band (at least until they reunited in the ’70s). Truth be told, there are some clunkers in the batch. Still, the high points make this one more than worthwhile, even it can’t quite match predecessor Hotel California. “Those Shoes” finds a moody groove that it rides all the way home, “In the City” is an outstanding Joe Walsh showcase, and “The Sad Cafe” works as a fine elegy for the band’s early days.
The Pleasure Principle by Gary Numan
Technically, the ’70s still had about four months left when Numan released his solo debut record. But for all intents and purposes, what we would know as ’80s music pretty much begins here. And don’t go thinking this album consists of “Cars,” the sneaky hit single, and filler. If anything, you could argue there are several tracks on this collection that top that iconic song. More than anything, however, The Pleasure Principle sustains its mood brilliantly, sounding both brimming with possibilities and foreboding all at once. One of the first synth-based records, and still one of the best.
Dream Police by Cheap Trick
When they assembled to make their fourth album, Cheap Trick was in the midst of becoming superstars, thanks to the unpredictable ascension of their live album Cheap Trick at Budokan. For the most part, they made the most of their newfound exposure. Dream Police doesn’t soar all the way through, but it’s always energetic and occasionally inspired. The title track benefits from Rick Nielsen’s wonderfully askew songwriting perspective, and “Voices” lets Robin Zander show off his pipes. The long songs that close out the album’s two sides show this band could cook even in a studio setting.
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