Punk, arena rock, new wave, soft rock, disco, funk: All those genres were in the mix for music fans circa July 1979. As you might expect, some monumental albums came out of that time period as well.
We went back in time to pinpoint five albums that not only made an impact 45 years ago, but have also displayed impressive shelf lives. These records still hold a special place in the hearts of fans, and they hold up very well in general upon listening to them today.
Rust Never Sleeps by Neil Young
Young took the idea that Jackson Browne started with Running on Empty, i.e. recording an album of new songs on the road, and tweaked it a bit. The songs from Rust Never Sleeps were recorded live at first, but Young later touched them up a bit with overdubs. That matters little compared to the overall quality of the songs, which was high even for a guy with a catalog so imposing. Bookending the album with essentially the same song (“My My, Hey Hey” and “Hey Hey, My My”) played in two drastically different versions was a clever gambit. “Powderfinger” is one of his finest guitar epics, while “Thrasher” goes a long way to explaining Young’s career-long wanderlust.
Highway to Hell by AC/DC
Fate didn’t allow this version of AC/DC to move forward, but what a swan song they left behind. Bon Scott pretty much had it all figured out as a lead singer on Highway to Hell, the last album the band recorded before his death. He ditched the shtick without losing the sense of humor, and his toughness on “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)” expertly matches the tone of the music. Angus and Malcolm Young just keep pumping out hooks, the rhythm section of Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd makes it all swing, and producer Mutt Lange makes sure songs like the title track are sonically ready to be played at the highest volume.
The B-52’s by The B-52’s
While the rest of the music world seemed to be excessively dour and serious, The B-52’s came blasting out of Athens, Georgia, daring to have fun. But don’t think for a second it was only a matter of attitude that got the band across. On that debut album, the instrumental tracks are relentlessly rhythmic and effortlessly melodic, so the foundation is in place. That lets the personalities, Fred Schneider with his comical intonations and Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson with their chiming vocal chops, do their thing. You’re completely forgiven if you feel an undeniable urge to “Dance This Mess Around” after listening to this record.
Low Budget by The Kinks
After milking a lot of mileage out of some idyllic, bucolic, largely forgotten England on some of the classic Kinks albums, Ray Davies decided, for this album, to look at the country the way it appeared outside his window in 1979. Low Budget is the result of that, a series of searing portraits of people frustrated and on the edge. But the album never wallows, instead addressing the issues of the day with Dave Davies’ serrated guitars and, on the breakout single “(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman,” four-on-the-floor drums. It’s almost miraculous how “Catch Me Now I’m Falling” and the title track rock-match the old garage attitude and intensity of their earliest singles.
First Under the Wire by Little River Band
Most groups roughly considered to be within the Yacht Rock genre are often judged by their hit singles. The Aussies in the Little River Band could certainly deliver in that respect. From this album, you get “Lonesome Loser,” which captures a rocking Eagles’ vibe better than most of the songs on The Long Run, and “Cool Change,” a song so mellow you can practically feel the breeze on your face even if you’re listening inside. But this is a solid record front-to-back, including album cuts like “By My Side” and “Mistress of Mine” that are rife with ambitious arrangements and winning melodic twists.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Photo by Chris McKay/Shutterstock
Most Popular
Comments / 0