Top Songs of 1979
Rank▼ All Time Rank▼ Artist▼ Song▼ Genres▼
1
21
 The Clash London Calling Punk Rock
2
112
 Chic Good Times Disco
3
118
 The Sugarhill Gang Rapper's Delight Disco Rap, East Coast Hip Hop
4
227
 Michael Jackson Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough Disco
5
291
 AC/DC Highway to Hell Hard Rock
6
295
 Pretenders Brass in Pocket New Wave
7
411
 Pink Floyd Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2 Art Rock
8
457
 The Cure Boys Don't Cry New Wave, Post-Punk
9
461
 Joy Division Transmission Post-Punk
10
533
 Pink Floyd Comfortably Numb Art Rock, Progressive Rock
11
603
 The Police Message in a Bottle New Wave, Pop Rock
12
660
 The Buggles Video Killed the Radio Star New Wave, Synthpop
13
711
 Neil Young & Crazy Horse Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) Hard Rock, Singer/Songwriter
14
726
 Gary Numan Cars New Wave, Synthpop
15
751
 XTC Making Plans for Nigel New Wave, Post-Punk
16
761
 The Knack My Sharona New Wave, Power Pop
17
785
 Elvis Costello and The Attractions Oliver's Army New Wave, Piano Rock
18
800
 Michael Jackson Rock with You Contemporary R&B, Disco, Pop
19
827
 Bauhaus Bela Lugosi's Dead Gothic Rock, Post-Punk
20
839
 The Clash Train in Vain (Stand by Me) New Wave, Pop Rock
21
903
 Tubeway Army Are 'Friends' Electric? New Wave, Synthpop
22
967
 Sister Sledge We Are Family Disco, Pop Soul
23
971
 Blondie Atomic New Wave
24
1042
 Joy Division She's Lost Control Post-Punk
25
1051
 The Specials Gangsters 2 Tone
26
1139
 The Jam The Eton Rifles Mod Revival, New Wave, Power Pop
27
1222
 The Specials A Message to You Rudy 2 Tone, Rocksteady
28
1277
 Donna Summer Hot Stuff Disco
29
1307
 Talking Heads Life During Wartime New Wave, Post-Punk
30
1338
 The Slits Typical Girls Art Punk, Post-Punk
31
1353
 Lipps Inc. Funkytown Electro-Disco
32
1481
 Neil Young & Crazy Horse Powderfinger Country Rock, Hard Rock
33
1490
 Patti Smith Group Dancing Barefoot Art Rock, Singer/Songwriter
34
1586
 Fleetwood Mac Tusk Pop Rock
35
1649
 Squeeze Up the Junction New Wave, Power Pop
36
1664
 Dead Kennedys California Über Alles Hardcore Punk, Surf Punk
37
1684
 Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Refugee Heartland Rock
38
1855
 Blondie Dreaming New Wave, Power Pop
39
1879
 Prince I Wanna Be Your Lover Disco, Funk
40
1917
 Rickie Lee Jones Chuck E.'s in Love Jazz Pop, Singer/Songwriter
41
1970
 Suicide Dream Baby Dream Minimal Synth, Synthpop
42
1971
 Donna Summer Bad Girls Disco
43
1977
 The Clash The Guns of Brixton Post-Punk, Reggae
44
2046
 Kiss I Was Made for Lovin' You Hard Rock, Pop Rock
45
2215
 Anita Ward Ring My Bell Disco, Funk
46
2217
 McFadden and Whitehead Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now Disco
47
2224
 Sister Sledge Lost in Music Disco, Pop Soul
48
2281
 The Police Walking on the Moon New Wave, Pop Reggae
49
2410
 Pretenders Kid New Wave, Pop Rock
50
2426
 Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions Boogie Wonderland Disco
51
2429
 Madness One Step Beyond 2 Tone
52
2460
 Neil Young & Crazy Horse My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue) Contemporary Folk, Folk Rock, Singer/Songwriter
53
2465
 The Selecter On My Radio 2 Tone
54
2481
 Cabaret Voltaire Nag Nag Nag Industrial, Minimal Synth, Post-Punk, Synth Punk
55
2525
 Gang of Four At Home He's a Tourist Dance-Punk
56
2589
 M Pop Muzik New Wave, Synthpop
57
2617
 The Clash I Fought the Law Punk Rock
58
2624
 Joy Division Disorder Post-Punk
59
2648
 Smokey Robinson Cruisin' Pop Soul, Smooth Soul
60
2718
 Earth, Wind & Fire After the Love Has Gone Pop Soul, Smooth Soul
61
2736
 Nick Lowe Cruel to Be Kind New Wave, Power Pop
62
2990
 Throbbing Gristle Hot on the Heels of Love Electro-Disco, Minimal Synth, Synthpop
63
3005
 Supertramp The Logical Song Pop Rock, Progressive Pop
64
3006
 The Pop Group She Is Beyond Good and Evil Art Punk, Experimental Rock, Post-Punk
65
3090
 The Boomtown Rats I Don't Like Mondays New Wave, Pop Rock
66
3095
 The B-52's Dance This Mess Around New Wave
67
3112
 Public Image Ltd. Death Disco / Swan Lake Dance-Punk
68
3128
 James Chance & The Contortions Contort Yourself Dance-Punk, No Wave
69
3130
 Joy Division Shadowplay Gothic Rock, Post-Punk
70
3151
 The Ruts Babylon's Burning Punk Rock
71
3176
 The Clash Lost in the Supermarket New Wave, Post-Punk
72
3177
 Delta 5 Mind Your Own Business Dance-Punk
73
3240
 Michael Jackson Off the Wall Disco
74
3241
 Wire The 15th Art Punk, Post-Punk
75
3296
 The Flying Lizards Money Art Pop, New Wave
76
3462
 The B-52's Planet Claire New Wave, Post-Punk
77
3502
 The Charlie Daniels Band The Devil Went Down to Georgia Country Rock, Progressive Bluegrass
78
3782
 The Cars Let's Go New Wave, Power Pop
79
3815
 Marianne Faithfull Broken English Art Rock, New Wave
80
3829
 Fleetwood Mac Sara Pop Rock
81
4072
 Queen Crazy Little Thing Called Love Pop Rock, Rockabilly
82
4157
 Camarón La leyenda del tiempo Flamenco Nuevo, Jazz-Rock
83
4160
 The Members The Sound of the Suburbs New Wave, Punk Rock
84
4181
 Marianne Faithfull The Ballad of Lucy Jordan New Wave, Synthpop
85
4229
 Motörhead Overkill Heavy Metal
86
4274
 Elvis Costello and The Attractions Accidents Will Happen New Wave, Pop Rock
87
4299
 ABBA Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) Euro-Disco, Europop
88
4488
 The Romantics What I Like About You New Wave, Power Pop
89
4569
 The Roches Hammond Song Folk Pop
90
4617
 Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Don't Do Me Like That Heartland Rock, Pop Rock, Roots Rock
91
4746
 Madness My Girl 2 Tone
92
4764
 The Slits I Heard It Through the Grapevine Art Punk, Post-Punk
93
4830
 Ian Dury and The Blockheads Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3 Disco Rap, Funk, New Wave, UK Hip Hop
94
4867
 Supertramp Goodbye Stranger Pop Rock, Progressive Pop
95
5040
 Led Zeppelin Fool in the Rain Pop Rock, Samba-Rock
96
5072
 AC/DC Touch Too Much Hard Rock
97
5087
 Electric Light Orchestra Don't Bring Me Down Pop Rock
98
5146
 The Specials Nite Klub 2 Tone
99
5288
 The Clash Spanish Bombs New Wave
100
5303
 The Whispers And The Beat Goes On Boogie
101
5323
 Public Image Ltd. Poptones Experimental Rock, Post-Punk
102
5377
 Funkadelic (Not Just) Knee Deep P-Funk, Synth Funk
103
5468
 Donna Summer On the Radio Disco, Pop Soul
104
5482
 Francis Cabrel Je l'aime à mourir Chanson
105
5570
 Pretenders Stop Your Sobbing Folk Rock, New Wave, Pop Rock
106
5600
 Amii Stewart Knock on Wood Disco
107
5623
 Umberto Tozzi Gloria Europop, Italo Pop
108
5767
 Van Halen Dance the Night Away Hard Rock, Pop Rock
109
5769
 Candido Jingo Latin Disco
110
5803
 Joy Division New Dawn Fades Post-Punk
111
5815
 Motörhead Bomber Hard Rock, Heavy Metal
112
5818
 Machine There But for the Grace of God Go I Disco
113
5910
 Sparks The Number One Song in Heaven Hi-NRG, Synthpop
114
5921
 The Jam Strange Town Mod Revival, New Wave, Power Pop
115
5931
 Buzzcocks Everybody's Happy Nowadays Pop Punk, Power Pop
116
6107
 Neil Young & Crazy Horse Pocahontas Contemporary Folk, Folk Rock, Singer/Songwriter
117
6154
 Dave Edmunds Girls Talk New Wave, Power Pop
118
6284
 Tubeway Army Down in the Park New Wave, Synthpop
119
6310
 Dan Hartman Relight My Fire Disco
120
6339
 Spoonie Gee Spoonin Rap Disco Rap, East Coast Hip Hop
121
6431
 Patti Smith Group Frederick Art Rock, Pop Rock
122
6442
 The Clash Rudie Can't Fail Reggae
123
6584
 KC and The Sunshine Band Please Don't Go Pop Soul
124
6613
 Rainbow Since You Been Gone Hard Rock, Pop Rock
125
6667
 Christopher Cross Sailing Adult Contemporary, Soft Rock, Yacht Rock
126
6881
 David Bowie Boys Keep Swinging Art Rock, Glam Rock, Pop Rock
127
6933
 Talking Heads Heaven New Wave, Post-Punk
128
6934
 Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Electricity Synthpop
129
7006
 Sparks Beat the Clock Electro-Disco, New Wave, Synthpop
130
7012
 Dexys Midnight Runners Dance Stance Blue Eyed Soul, New Wave
131
7022
 Supertramp Take the Long Way Home Pop Rock, Progressive Pop
132
7038
 Village People In the Navy Disco
133
7043
 Steve Forbert Romeo's Tune Heartland Rock, Piano Rock, Singer/Songwriter
134
7092
 Christopher Cross Ride Like the Wind Yacht Rock
135
7100
 ZZ Top Cheap Sunglasses Blues Rock
136
7181
 Bob Dylan Gotta Serve Somebody Christian Rock, Singer/Songwriter
137
7199
 Demics New York City Punk Rock
138
7206
 Bee Gees Tragedy Disco
139
7372
 Wire Map Ref. 41 Deg. N 93 Deg. W Art Punk, Post-Punk
140
7475
 Janet Kay Silly Games Lovers Rock
141
7480
 Kool & The Gang Ladies Night Disco, Funk
142
7594
 The Clash Clampdown New Wave, Punk Rock
143
7621
 Madness The Prince 2 Tone
144
7627
 Herb Alpert Rise Disco, Smooth Jazz
145
7664
 The Crusaders Street Life Disco, Funk, Smooth Soul
146
7718
 Japan Quiet Life Art Pop, New Romantic
147
7864
 The Slits Shoplifting Art Punk, Post-Punk
148
7896
 Led Zeppelin All My Love Pop Rock
149
7955
 Michigan & Smiley Nice Up the Dance Dancehall
150
8021
 GQ Disco Nights (Rock-Freak) Disco
151
8049
 The Jam The Butterfly Collector Mod Revival, New Wave, Power Pop
152
8063
 Patrick Hernandez Born To Be Alive Euro-Disco, Hi-NRG
153
8134
 Styx Babe AOR, Soft Rock
154
8149
 Madness Night Boat to Cairo 2 Tone
155
8179
 The Kendalls Just Like Real People Country
156
8193
 The Gap Band Oops Upside Your Head (I Don't Believe You Won't Get Up and Dance) Disco, Funk
157
8228
 Michael Jackson She's Out of My Life Pop Soul
158
8246
 Rufus & Chaka Do You Love What You Feel Soul
159
8269
 Bette Midler The Rose Adult Contemporary, Film Soundtrack
160
8290
 Commodores Still Adult Contemporary, Pop Soul
161
8390
 Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Even the Losers Pop Rock
162
8400
 Cliff Richard We Don't Talk Anymore Pop
163
8487
 Ramones Rock 'n' Roll High School Pop Punk, Surf Punk
164
8685
 Eagles Heartache Tonight Country Rock, Pop Rock
165
8689
 Jacno Rectangle French Pop, Synthpop
166
8761
 Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) Disco
167
8997
 Telex Moskow Diskow Electro-Disco, Synthpop
168
9019
 Van Morrison It's All in the Game Adult Contemporary, Pop Rock, Singer/Songwriter
169
9037
 Sister Sledge Thinking of You Disco, Pop Soul
170
9038
 Bad Company Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Hard Rock
171
9048
 John Stewart Gold Soft Rock
172
9106
 The B-52's 52 Girls New Wave
173
9149
 Talking Heads Memories Can't Wait New Wave, Post-Punk
174
9320
 Public Image Ltd. Memories Post-Punk
175
9332
 Pylon Cool Post-Punk
176
9346
 Bruce Cockburn Wondering Where the Lions Are Folk Pop, Singer/Songwriter
177
9352
 Marie & Les Garcons Re-Bop New Wave, Pop Rock
178
9387
 The Fall Rowche Rumble Post-Punk
179
9463
 Martin Circus Disco Circus Disco
180
9634
 Lili Drop Sur ma mob New Wave
181
9698
 The Slits Instant Hit Art Punk, Post-Punk
182
9720
 Rupert Holmes Escape (The Piña Colada Song) Yacht Rock
183
9780
 Téléphone La Bombe humaine Rock
184
9802
 Holly and the Italians Tell That Girl to Shut Up New Wave, Power Pop
185
9815
 Hank Williams, Jr. Family Tradition Outlaw Country
186
9911
 ABBA Voulez-Vous Euro-Disco, Europop
187
9969
 Gang of Four Natural's Not In It Art Punk, Post-Punk
188
9996
 Skids Into the Valley New Wave, Punk Rock

Songs "bubbling under" the all-time top 10,000:
Squeeze Cool For Cats New Wave, Pub Rock
Ian Hunter Cleveland Rocks Glam Rock
Dan Fogelberg Longer Folk Pop, Singer/Songwriter
The Damned Smash It Up Punk Rock
ABBA Does Your Mother Know Dance-Pop, Europop, Pop Rock
Camarón Volando voy Flamenco Nuevo, Rumba Flamenca
Cheap Trick Dream Police Power Pop
Roxy Music Dance Away New Romantic, Pop Rock
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Here Comes My Girl Heartland Rock
Frank Zappa Joe's Garage Pop Rock
Godley & Creme An Englishman in New York Art Pop
Billy Preston and Syreeta With You I'm Born Again Adult Contemporary, Film Soundtrack, Soul
Eagles The Long Run Country Rock, Pop Rock
Michael Jackson I Can't Help It Pop Soul, Smooth Soul
The Clash Brand New Cadillac Punk Rock, Rockabilly
Michael Jackson Workin' Day and Night Contemporary R&B, Disco, Funk
Gianna Nannini America Pop Rock
Molly Hatchet Flirtin' with Disaster Hard Rock, Southern Rock
J.D. Souther You're Only Lonely Country Rock
Monty Python Always Look on the Bright Side of Life Film Soundtrack, Musical Comedy, Novelty, Satire
Pat Benatar Heartbreaker Hard Rock, Pop Rock
Serge Gainsbourg Aux armes et caetera Reggae
Paul McCartney and Wings Goodnight Tonight Pop Rock
The Cure Jumping Someone Else's Train Post-Punk
Frank Zappa Bobby Brown (Goes Down) Comedy Rock, Pop Rock
Captain and Tennille Do That to Me One More Time Adult Contemporary, Soft Rock
The Fatback Band King Tim III (Personality Jock) Disco Rap, Funk
Randy Vanwarmer Just When I Needed You Most Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock
Robert Palmer Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor) Pop Rock
David Bowie Fantastic Voyage Art Pop, Pop Rock
Jacques Higelin Champagne Art Pop, Art Rock, French Pop, Piano Rock
ZZ Top I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide Blues Rock, Southern Rock
Status Quo Whatever You Want Boogie Rock, Pop Rock
Lio Le Banana Split French Pop
The Raincoats Lola Post-Punk, Twee Pop
Joe Jackson It's Different for Girls New Wave
The Feelies Fa-cé-la Art Punk, Post-Punk
The Police The Bed's Too Big Without You New Wave, Pop Reggae
The Clash Armagideon Time Dub
Fleshtones American Beat Garage Punk, Garage Rock Revival
Gino Soccio Dancer Disco
Mental as Anything The Nips Are Getting Bigger New Wave, Pop Rock
Wire Blessed State Art Punk, Post-Punk
Buzzcocks Harmony In My Head Pop Punk, Post-Punk
Raydio You Can't Change That Pop Soul
Kirsty MacColl They Don't Know Pop Rock, Singer/Songwriter
The Beat Tears of a Clown 2 Tone
Graham Parker & The Rumour Local Girls New Wave, Power Pop, Pub Rock
XTC Life Begins at the Hop New Wave
Prince I Feel For You Contemporary R&B, Pop Soul
Téléphone Crache ton venin Rock
Sparks Tryouts for the Human Race Electropop, Hi-NRG, Space Disco, Synthpop
The Undertones Jimmy Jimmy Pop Punk
Supertramp Child of Vision Progressive Pop
Electric Light Orchestra Last Train to London Disco
David Bowie Look Back in Anger Art Rock
The Undertones You Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It) New Wave, Pop Punk, Power Pop
Misty in Roots Man Kind Roots Reggae
Adam and The Ants Zerox Post-Punk
Funky Four Plus One Rappin' and Rocking the House Disco Rap, East Coast Hip Hop
Kermit [Jim Henson] Rainbow Connection Children's Music, Film Soundtrack, Folk Pop
Stevie Wonder Send One Your Love Pop Soul
Gang of Four I Found That Essence Rare Dance-Punk
Jefferson Starship Jane AOR
Spinners Working My Way Back to You - Forgive Me, Girl Disco, Pop Soul
George Harrison Blow Away Soft Rock
Van Morrison Bright side of the road Folk Rock, Singer/Songwriter
Led Zeppelin In the Evening Hard Rock
Earth, Wind & Fire In the Stone Disco, Soul
Chic My Feet Keep Dancing Disco
Adam and The Ants Cartrouble Post-Punk
Fela Kuti I.T.T. (International Thief Thief) Afrobeat
Waylon Jennings Amanda Outlaw Country
Jackie Moore This Time Baby  Disco
Alberto Fortis La sedia di lillà Canzone d'autore
Laurent Voulzy Le Cœur grenadine Adult Contemporary, French Pop
AC/DC Girls Got Rhythm Hard Rock
Jacques Higelin Tête en l'air Chanson, Pop Rock
Journey Lovin, Touchin, Squeezin Pop Rock
Daryl Hall & John Oates Wait for Me Soft Rock
Michael Jackson Get on the Floor Disco, Funk
The Teardrop Explodes Bouncing Babies Neo-Psychedelia, Post-Punk
Public Image Ltd. Careering Experimental Rock, Post-Punk
Dire Straits Lady Writer Pop Rock
Ashford & Simpson Found a Cure Disco
The Undertones Get Over You Pop Punk, Power Pop
Blondie Union City Blue New Wave, Pop Rock
Eagles In the City Pop Rock
The Human League Empire State Human Minimal Synth, Synthpop
The Fall Industrial Estate Post-Punk
Gérard Manset Royaume de Siam Chanson, Singer/Songwriter
Thin Lizzy Waiting for an Alibi Hard Rock
Misfits Night of the Living Dead Horror Punk
Alain Chamfort Manureva Disco, French Pop
Graham Parker & The Rumour Discovering Japan New Wave, Power Pop
The Pop Group 3'38 Art Punk, Experimental Rock, Post-Punk
Sun Ra and His Arkestra Door of the Cosmos Spiritual Jazz
David Bowie D.J. Art Rock, New Wave
Alain Chamfort Palais royal French Pop
Bob Marley and The Wailers Zimbabwe Roots Reggae
Talking Heads I Zimbra Dance-Punk, New Wave
AC/DC Walk All Over You Hard Rock
Donnie & Joe Emerson Baby Blue Eyed Soul, Soft Rock
Marianne Faithfull Why'd Ya Do It? Art Rock, New Wave
Elton John Are You Ready for Love Blue Eyed Soul, Disco
Electric Light Orchestra Shine a Little Love Disco, Pop Rock
Wire I Should Have Known Better Art Punk, Post-Punk
Pink Floyd Hey You Art Rock
Black Uhuru Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Dub, Roots Reggae
Positive Force We Got The Funk Disco
The Younger Generation We Rap More Mellow Disco Rap, East Coast Hip Hop
Ry Cooder Little Sister Tex-Mex
Franco Battiato L'era del cinghiale bianco New Wave, Progressive Pop
Germs Manimal Hardcore Punk
AC/DC If You Want Blood (You've Got It) Hard Rock
Supertramp Breakfast in America Pop Rock
The Cars It's All I Can Do New Wave
The Ruts In a Rut Punk Rock
Joni Mitchell God Must Be a Boogie Man Jazz Fusion, Singer/Songwriter, Vocal Jazz
Joe Jackson Fools in Love New Wave
Eagles I Can't Tell You Why Soft Rock
Blackfoot Train, Train Southern Rock
Cheap Trick Gonna Raise Hell Hard Rock, Power Pop
Public Image Ltd. The Suit Experimental Rock, Post-Punk
Nina Hagen Band African Reggae Dub, New Wave
The Motels Total Control New Wave
Lou Reed The Bells Glam Rock
Japan All Tomorrow's Parties Art Pop, New Romantic
The Clash Death or Glory New Wave, Punk Rock
Pink Floyd Young Lust Art Rock, Hard Rock
Supertramp Lord Is It Mine Piano Rock
The Selecter Too Much Pressure 2 Tone
Alain Chamfort Géant French Pop
Pink Floyd Mother Art Rock, Folk Rock
Rocky Burnette Tired of Toein' the Line Power Pop, Rock & Roll
Donna Summer Dim All the Lights Disco
Silicon Teens Memphis Tennessee Synthpop
Pink Floyd Nobody Home Art Rock, Piano Rock, Symphonic Rock
Robin Lane & The Chartbusters Why Do You Tell Lies New Wave, Power Pop
Roxy Music Angel Eyes Disco, Pop Rock
Ray, Goodman & Brown Special Lady Smooth Soul
The Undertones Here Comes the Summer Pop Punk, Power Pop
The Raincoats In Love Post-Punk
Joe Jackson Sunday Papers New Wave, Power Pop
Graham Parker & The Rumour Protection New Wave, Power Pop
Pink Floyd The Show Must Go On Art Rock
The Pop Group We Are All Prostitutes Art Punk, Experimental Rock, Post-Punk
Lester Bangs Let It Blurt Art Punk
Skids The Saints Are Coming Punk Rock
Pink Floyd Run Like Hell Art Rock, Progressive Rock
Rainbow All Night Long Hard Rock
Spizz Energi Where's Captain Kirk? New Wave, Post-Punk, Punk Rock
Mike Oldfield Guilty Electro-Disco, Synthpop
Patrice Rushen Haven't You Heard Disco, Pop Soul
Buzzcocks You Say You Don’t Love Me Pop Punk
The Stranglers Duchess New Wave
The Distractions Time Goes By So Slow New Wave
The Damned Love Song Punk Rock
Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine Alligators 427 Chanson
Sheila B. Devotion Spacer Euro-Disco
Dave Edmunds Queen of Hearts Country Pop
Chic My Forbidden Lover Disco
Eloy The Apocalypse Progressive Rock, Space Rock