A Podcast of Album Discussions
In August of 1979, Michael Jackson released his 5th studio album.
It was the first album released for Jackson on Epic following his departure from Motown. The album is also the first with Quincy Jones at the helm, whom Jackson had met on the film set of The Wiz.
It is considered a classic of the disco era and possibly his greatest record.
Let’s talk Michael Jackson, Off the Wall!
In November of 1979 Public Image Ltd released their sophomore album.
The album is a departure and giant leap forward from the debut. Lyrically it is less cringe, the rhythm section is on point, and the guitar work and tone shaped post punk to come.
The packaging ain’t too shabby, either.
Lets talk PiL, Metal Box!
In November of 1979 Pink Floyd released their 11th studio album.
What do you do when your tax dodging investment scheme goes tits up and find yourselves on the hook for an 83% tax liability of which you have no way to pay?
You call Bob Ezrin to turn your nightmare concept record about a sad, rich, rock star into a coherent masterpiece, that’s what.
Let’s talk Pink Floyd, The Wall!
In October of 1979 Fleetwood Mac released their 12th studio album.
Following the colossal success of Rumors the band opted to build their own studio to record the next album. A ten month cocaine binge and 20 songs later, the band released what was at the time the most expensive album ever made.
The double LP had a sticker shock price of $16.00 (which in 2022 monies equates to $63.72), only spent nine months on the Billboard charts, and was considered a failure by Warner Bros.
Let’s talks Fleetwood Mac, Tusk!
In February of 1979, power pop legends Cheap Trick released their breakthrough live album.
Recorded live at Nippon Budokan (originally constructed for the 1964 Olympics to host judo competitions) on the 28th & 30th of April 1978, the album captures one of the finest live acts of the day in their prime and catapulted the band from opener to headliners almost over night.
Let’s talk Cheap Trick, at Budokan!
In September of 1979 Gang of Four released their debut album.
Call it dance-punk, call it art-punk, or call it post-punk but just don’t call it late to dinner! This record is an important one in the shaping of the future of rock music.
Lets talk Gang of Four, Entertainment!
In June of 1979 Neil Young & Crazy Horse released Rust Never Sleeps.
Borrowing the Gerald Casale & Mark Mothersbaugh advertisement slogan for RustO-leum as the title, Young applied the philosophy to avoiding complacency with writing and putting on more progressive live shows.
The album is one of Young’s finest and is certainly a must listen.
Let’s talk Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Rust Never Sleeps!
In January of 1979 Elvis Costello released his 3rd studio album.
With Nick Lowe back at the helm, the album marks an end point to Costello’s “angry persona” and is as lyrically dark as he ever got, with many a fascist imagery and heartbreak weaving their way through an album absolutely sticky sweet with pop goodness.
Let’s talk Elvis Costello, Armed Forces!
In September of 1979, The Slits released their debut studio album.
Recorded over ten weeks time at Ridge Farm Studios, the album is ground zero for the beginnings of what would happen in Olympia, WA ten years later.
It’s influence is still being felt today and is (rightly so) considered by many a critic to be one of the best albums of all time.
Lets talk The Slits, Cut!
In November of 1979 Marian Faithfull released her 7th studio album.
The album is a comeback and also her masterpiece, following Marina’s trials and tribulations with anorexia, drug addiction, and homelessness.
Let’s talk Marian Faithfull, Broken English!
In November of 1979 Japan released their 3rd studio album.
Finding themselves floundering as a Glam act, the band decided to take a different musical path.
Teaming up with famed Italian synth pioneer Giorgio Moroder for the single, “Life in Tokyo” and subsequently dismissing him for a full length record; the band decided to give it a go with their manager (Simon Napier-Bell) and then, eventually, John Punter (who had worked with Roxy Music in the past).
The results more or less birthed the New Romantic movement, for better or for worse.
Let’s talk Japan, Quiet Life!
In December of 1979, The Clash released one of the only double records worth talking about.
Recorded over 3 months at Wessex South Studios w/ producer Guy Stevens, the album is a testament to the band’s talent and is truly one of the best records ever put to wax.
Let’s talk The Clash, London Calling!
May of 1979, known ruddy cheeked little scamps, The Undertones, released their debut album.
Recorded by Roger Béchirian in less than four weeks, the album stands as a testament to teenage angst, with its whip smart pop punk harmonies and counterpoints being considered amongst the best of the 70s and most certainly one of the finest punk albums of its day.
Let’s talk The Undertones – The Undertones!
In July of 1979 Chic released their 3rd studio album.
The record became a touchstone for the disco era and beyond, with it’s hit single, “Good Times” being heavily sampled in hip hop, notably on “Rappers Delight” and at least 215 other songs.
Let’s talk Chic, Risqué!
In June of 1979, Joy Division released their debut album.
It became the first LP put out by Factory records and the first of theirs to be recorded by Martin Hannett. The record’s use of space, odd percussive effects (see compressed air) and all around dark mood puts it far and away one of the greatest debut albums of all time and became an harbinger of the shape of post punk to be.
Let’s talk Joy Division, Unknown Pleasures!
In August of 1979, the Talking Heads released their third studio album.
With Brian Eno in the production seat for the second time, the band continues their incredible streak creating some of the best albums put to wax.
Lets talk Talking Heads, Fear of Music!
Intro music by Bullet Points
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In March of 1979, The Fall released their debut album.
Five days were booked at Sound Suite Studios to record these eleven songs but singer Mark E. Smith cancelled the first three on account of getting ill. The band knocked out the recording in a single day and the rest is history.
Let’s talk The Fall, Live at the Witch Trials!
Intro music by Bullet Points
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In October of 1979 The Police released their sophomore album.
The album title roughly translates from French to “White Reggae” and sounds as such.
Recorded over the course of four weeks at various times between February to August of the same year, the band was under no time crunch to produce and as a result the album is more polished than it’s predecessor; earning the band it’s first Grammy for “Best Rock Instrumental Performance” on the title track.
Let’s talk The Police, Reggatta De Blanc!
Intro music by Bullet Points
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In the year 1979, Can founder and AM radio enthusiast, Holger Czukay, released his 2nd album.
Being of the Stockhausen school of music, Czukay used a snippets of shortwave radio recordings and painstaking built songs around them. The album is a triumph of primitive sampling and deserves to be heard.
Let’s talk Holger Czukay, Movies!
Intro music by Bullet Points
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In July of 1979, known Athenians and thrift store party rockers, The B-52’s released their self-titled debut.
Back in April of 78 the band decided to release the single, “Rock Lobster”, to better help them book better shows and in so doing got themselves signed to Warner Bros.
With the major label backing, the band flew to Nassau and recorded at Compass Pointe Studios.
The results, you ask? Just one of the best post-punk albums, ever.
Lets talk The B-52’s, The B-52’s!
Intro music by Bullet Points
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In October of 79, the Germs released their one and only full length album.
Produced by Joan Jett and recorded over three weeks at Quad Teck studios, GI gives clarity to songs the band shambled through at their live shows.
The title is taken from an acronym the band used (Germs Incognito) for booking shows after they had been banned from performing at most of the clubs in the LA scene and is considered by most to be the first hardcore record ever released.
Let’s talk Germs, GI!
In the year 1979, The Crusaders released their 12th studio album (but 30th if you count their work as The Jazz Crusaders).
The record’s titular song became their most successful single, and the album reached #1 on Billboard’s Jazz Album list for 1979.
Let’s talk The Crusaders, Street Life!
In January of 1979, Sister Sledge released their 3rd studio album.
All of the tracks were co-written & produced by Chic founders Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, spawning such singles as the titular “We Are Family”, “He’s The Greatest Dancer”, and “Lost In Music”.
The record would go on to hit #3 on the Billboad top 200, #1 on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums, and remains a true highlight of the disco era.
Let’s talk Sister Sledge, We Are Family!
Intro music by Bullet Points
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In late July of 1979, AC/DC released their 6th studio album and would prove to be the last with Bon Scott.
The record is the first to be produced by Mutt Lange, who put the band through their paces with 15 hour a day studio sessions over the course of two months.
It eventually would go on to be a 7x Platinum selling record and set the boys up for true rock stardom.
The tracks ain’t too shabby, either.
Lets talk AC/DC, Highway to Hell!