1978 in music

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Years in music:	1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981
Centuries:	19th Century · 20th century · 21st century
Decades:	1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s
Years:	1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981

See also:

1 Events
2 Albums released
3 Chronological Table of US and UK Number One Hit Singles
4 Other significant singles
5 Published popular music
6 Classical music
7 Opera
8 Musical theater
9 Musical films
10 Births
11 Deaths
12 External Charts

[edit] Events

January 14 - The Sex Pistols played their final show (until a 1996 reunion) at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom.
January 21 - Steve Martin performs the original "King Tut" on Saturday Night Live. The song is later released as a single and becomes a hit for the comedian.
April 22 - The Blues Brothers make their first appearance on Saturday Night Live. The duo of Jake & Elwood Blues (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) was introduced by Paul Shaffer (as Don Kirshner) and performed "Hey Bartender".
April 26 - Ringo Starr's, Ringo, a musical version of The Prince and the Pauper airs on American television. Starr's fellow former Beatle George Harrison provides the narration.
May 6 - The Knack forms
May 25 - In a performance used for The Kids are Alright, The Who play their last show with Keith Moon
June - The Dead Kennedys form.
July 19 - The Dead Kennedys play their first concert at the Mabuhay Gardens in San Francisco, California.
August 26 - The first Canada Jam Festival is held in Ontario, featuring sets by the Doobie Brothers, the Commodores, Kansas, Dave Mason and the Atlanta Rhythm Section.
A Now sober Alice Cooper is released from rehab. He releases the album "From the Inside", which tells of his stay in the rehab centre.
November 27 - Def Leppard's permanent drummer Rick Allen joins the band at the age of 15.
Gary Busey stars in The Buddy Holly Story, which won the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Best Adaptation Score, and was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Busey) and Best Sound.
The Beatles spoof, "The Rutles - All You Need Is Cash" airs on television.
The Eagles' "Hotel California" was nominated for a Grammy award
Kenny Rogers continues his highly successful solo career with the single (and album) "The Gambler" and will go on to star in no less than 5 movies based around the song.

In the UK, singles sales are at their all-time high this year, boosted by the simultaneous peak of the disco and punk phenomena and the success of singles from the movie Grease.
The Feelies' musical career starts
Van Halen's musical career begins
Duran Duran form
The Pretenders form
Social Distortion form
Ry Cooder records Bop Till You Drop, one of the first popular music albums to be recorded in Compact disc format.
The Sex Pistols disband
Be-Bop Deluxe disband
Television disband
Van der Graaf Generator disband for a second time

[edit] Albums released

Powerage - AC/DC
Is It Still Good To Ya - Ashford & Simpson
Central Heating - Heatwave
Natural High - Commodores
Fantasy Love Affair - Peter Brown
Girl Most Likely - Claudja Barry
Third/Sister Lovers - Big Star
Never Say Die! - Black Sabbath
Parallel Lines - Blondie
Return Of The Wanderer - Dion DiMucci
Street-Legal - Bob Dylan
Don't Look Back - Boston
Stage (live album) - David Bowie
Heaven Tonight - Cheap Trick
The Feeding of the 5000 - Crass
Génération 78 / Voilà pourquoi je chante / Ça me fait rêver - Dalida
Social Living - Burning Spear
The Kick Inside - Kate Bush
Greatest Hits - Captain & Tennille
The Cars - The Cars
Give 'Em Enough Rope - The Clash
From the Inside - Alice Cooper
This Year's Model - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Dire Straits (album) - Dire Straits (debut)
New Boots And Panties - Ian Dury and the Blockheads
Music For Films - Brian Eno
Dream Dancing - Ella Fitzgerald
Flamin' Groovies Now! - The Flamin' Groovies
Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel
Love Tracks - Gloria Gaynor
Golden Country Origins - Bill Haley (pre-Comets recordings)
Along the Red Ledge - Hall & Oates
Destiny - The Jacksons
All Mod Cons - The Jam
Equinoxe - Jean-Michel Jarre
Heavy Horses - Jethro Tull
Bursting Out - Jethro Tull
Stained Class - Judas Priest
Misfits - The Kinks
Waiting For Columbus - Little Feat
Animal Games - London
Jesus of Cool - Nick Lowe
Kaya - Bob Marley and the Wailers
One World - John Martyn
London Town - Paul McCartney & Wings
Once Upon A Time In The West - Ennio Morricone
Wavelength - Van Morrison
Aishiteiruto Ittekure - Miyuki Nakajima
The Only Ones - The Only Ones
Grease - Original Soundtrack
Saturday Night Fever - Original Soundtrack
2Hot - Peaches & Herb
The Modern Dance - Pere Ubu
If You Knew Suzi - Suzi Quatro
Jazz - Queen
Radios Appear - Radio Birdman
City To City - Gerry Rafferty
Raydio - Raydio
We'll Sing In The Sunshine - Helen Reddy
Live In London - Helen Reddy
Street Hassle - Lou Reed
Some Girls - The Rolling Stones
Hermit of Mink Hollow - Todd Rundgren
Hemispheres - Rush
Eternally Yours - The Saints
Stranger In Town - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
Boys in the Trees - Carly Simon
The Scream - Siouxsie and the Banshees
Darkness On The Edge Of Town - Bruce Springsteen
U.K. Squeeze - Squeeze
Songbird - Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits - Volume 2 - Barbra Streisand
Live & More - Donna Summer
More Songs about Buildings and Food - Talking Heads
Adventure - Television
Live And Dangerous - Thin Lizzy
So Alone - Johnny Thunders
Toto - Toto (debut)
Van Halen - Van Halen
Thank God It's Friday (soundtrack) - Various Artists
But Seriously Folks - Joe Walsh
Who Are You - The Who
Chairs Missing - Wire
Germ Free Adolescents - X-Ray Spex
The Gambler - Kenny Rogers
The Man Machine - Kraftwerk
Comes A Time - Neil Young

[edit] Chronological Table of US and UK Number One Hit Singles

US Number One Singles and Artist (Weeks at Number One)	UK Number One Singles and Artist (Weeks at Number One)
How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees (2 weeks in 1977 + 1 week in 1978) "Baby Come Back" - Player (3) Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees (4) "(Love Is) Thicker Than Water" - Andy Gibb (2) "Night Fever" - Bee Gees (8), best selling single of the year "If I Can't Have You" - Yvonne Elliman (1) "With A Little Luck" - Paul McCartney & Wings (2) "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" - Johnny Mathis & Deniece Willams (1) You're The One That I Want - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (1) "Shadow Dancing" - Andy Gibb (7) Miss You - Rolling Stones (1) "Three Times A Lady" - Commodores (2) Grease - Frankie Valli (2) "Boogie Oogie Oogie" - A Taste of Honey (3) "Kiss You All Over" - Exile (4) "Hot Child In The City" - Nick Gilder (1) "You Needed Me" - Anne Murray (1) "MacArthur Park" - Donna Summer (3) "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" - Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond (2) Le Freak - CHIC (2 weeks in 1978 + 4 weeks in 1979)	Mull of Kintyre/Girl's School - Paul McCartney & Wings (5 weeks in 1977 + 4 weeks in 1978) "Up Town Top Ranking" - Althia & Donna (1) "Figaro" - Brotherhood of Man (1) "Take A Chance On Me" - ABBA (3) Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush (4) "Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs" - Brian & MIchael (3) "Night Fever" - Bee Gees (2) "Rivers Of Babylon" - Boney M (5) best selling single of the year You're The One That I Want - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (9) "Three Times A Lady" - Commodores (5) Dreadlock Holiday - 10cc (1) "Summer Nights" - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (7) Rat Trap - Boomtown Rats (2) Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? - Rod Stewart (1) "Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord" - Boney M (4)

US Number One Singles and Artist
(Weeks at Number One)

UK Number One Singles and Artist
(Weeks at Number One)

How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees (2 weeks in 1977 + 1 week in 1978)

"Baby Come Back" - Player (3)
Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees (4)
"(Love Is) Thicker Than Water" - Andy Gibb (2)
"Night Fever" - Bee Gees (8), best selling single of the year
"If I Can't Have You" - Yvonne Elliman (1)
"With A Little Luck" - Paul McCartney & Wings (2)
"Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" - Johnny Mathis & Deniece Willams (1)
You're The One That I Want - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (1)
"Shadow Dancing" - Andy Gibb (7)
Miss You - Rolling Stones (1)
"Three Times A Lady" - Commodores (2)
Grease - Frankie Valli (2)
"Boogie Oogie Oogie" - A Taste of Honey (3)
"Kiss You All Over" - Exile (4)
"Hot Child In The City" - Nick Gilder (1)
"You Needed Me" - Anne Murray (1)
"MacArthur Park" - Donna Summer (3)
"You Don't Bring Me Flowers" - Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond (2)
Le Freak - CHIC (2 weeks in 1978 + 4 weeks in 1979)

Mull of Kintyre/Girl's School - Paul McCartney & Wings (5 weeks in 1977 + 4 weeks in 1978)
"Up Town Top Ranking" - Althia & Donna (1)
"Figaro" - Brotherhood of Man (1)
"Take A Chance On Me" - ABBA (3)
Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush (4)
"Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs" - Brian & MIchael (3)
"Night Fever" - Bee Gees (2)
"Rivers Of Babylon" - Boney M (5) best selling single of the year
You're The One That I Want - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (9)
"Three Times A Lady" - Commodores (5)
Dreadlock Holiday - 10cc (1)
"Summer Nights" - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (7)
Rat Trap - Boomtown Rats (2)
Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? - Rod Stewart (1)
"Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord" - Boney M (4)

[edit] Other significant singles

"Airport" - The Motors
"Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" - Van Halen
"All the Nice Boys and Girls in the World" - Riff Regan
"Another Night On The Road" - Sherbet
"Are You Old Enough" - Dragon
"Baker Street" - Gerry Rafferty
"Because The Night" - Patti Smith Group
"Best Of Both Worlds" - Robert Palmer
"Bluer Than Blue" - Michael Johnson
"Ça me fait rêver" - Dalida & Bruno Guillain
"Ca Plane Pour Moi" - Plastic Bertrand
"Can We Still Be Friends" - Todd Rundgren
"Coming Home" - Marshall Hain
"Copacabana (At The Copa)" - Barry Manilow
"Dancing In The City" - Marshall Hain
"Denis" - Blondie
"(You Gotta Walk)Don't Look Back" - Peter Tosh
"Down In The Tube Station At Midnight" - The Jam
"Dust in the Wind" - Kansas
"Eagle" - ABBA
"Eve Of The War" - Jeff Wayne
"Ever Fallen In Love" - Buzzcocks
"(An) Everlasting Love" - Andy Gibb
"Every Kinda People" - Robert Palmer
"FM (No Static At All)" - Steely Dan
"Floral Dance" - Terry Wogan
"Follow You, Follow Me" - Genesis
"Fool's Overture" - Supertramp
"Forever Autumn" - Justin Hayward
"The Gambler" - Kenny Rogers
"Génération 78" - Dalida & Bruno Guillain
"Goodnight Tonight" - Paul McCartney and Wings
"Got To Get You Into My Life" - Earth Wind and Fire
"Hanging On The Telephone" - Blondie
"Here You Come Again" - Dolly Parton
"Hollywood Nights" - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
"Hong Kong Garden" - Siouxsie and the Banshees
"Hot Blooded - Foreigner
"Hotlegs/I Was Only Joking" - Rod Stewart
"How You Gonna See Me Now" - Alice Cooper
"I Don't Mind" - The Buzzcocks
"I Don't Wanna Go To Chelsea" - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
"If The Kids Are United" - Sham 69
"I'm Every Woman" - Chaka Khan
"Instant Replay" - Dan Hartman
"Is This Love?" - Bob Marley and the Wailers
"Isn't It Time" - The Babys
"I've Had Enough" - Wings
"Jilted John" - Jilted John
"Just The Way You Are" - Billy Joel
"Khe Sanh" - Cold Chisel
"Le Lambeth Walk" - Dalida
"Life's Been Good" - Joe Walsh
"(A) Little More Love" - Olivia Newton-John
"Love Is Like Oxygen" - Sweet
"Love Will Find A Way" - Pablo Cruise
"Love You More" - The Buzzcocks
"Lovely Day" - Bill Withers
"Magnet And Steel" - Walter Egan
"Many Rivers To Cross" - Jimmy Cliff
"More Than A Woman" - Tavares
"Mr.Blue Sky" - Electric Light Orchestra
"My Angel Baby" - Toby Beau
"My Best Friend's Girl" - The Cars
"My Life" - Billy Joel
"Native New Yorker" - Odyssey
"Never Say Die" - Black Sabbath
"Nobody's Scared" - Vic Goddard and the Subway Sect
"Oh Carol" - Smokie
"Only You Can Rock Me" - UFO
"Paradise By The Dashboard Light" - Meat Loaf
"Promises" - The Buzzcocks
"Promises" - Eric Clapton
"Prove It All Night" - Bruce Springsteen
"Psycho Killer" - Talking Heads
"Public Image" - Public Image Limited
"Raining In My Heart" - Leo Sayer
"Rasputin" - Boney M
"Renegade" - Styx
"Rivers Of Babylon" - Boney M
"Runaway" - Jefferson Starship
"Runnin' With The Devil - Van Halen
"Shame" - Evelyn King
"She Believes In Me" - Kenny Rogers
"Sign Of The Times" - Bryan Ferry
"Songbird" - Barbra Streisand
"Stay" - Jackson Browne
"Still In Love With You" - Dragon
"Stuff Like That" - Quincy Jones
"Suburban Boy" - Dave Warner's From The Suburbs
"Sultans of Swing" - Dire Straits
"Sweet Talkin'Woman" - Electric Light Orchestra
"Take A Chance On Me" - ABBA
"Take Me I'm Yours" - Squeeze
"Teenage Kicks" - The Undertones
"Thank God It's Friday" - Love & Kisses
"There's No Way Out of Here" - David Gilmour
"Thunder Island" - Jay Ferguson
"Time Passages" - Al Stewart
"Too Much Heaven" - Bee Gees
"Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad" - Meat Loaf
"Voilà pourquoi je chante" - Dalida
"Walking In The Rain" - Cheetah
"Werewolves of London" - Warren Zevon
"What Do I Get?" - The Buzzcocks
"White Man In Hammersmith Palais" - The Clash
"Who Are You" - The Who
"Wild West Hero" - Electric Light Orchestra
"Wonderful Tonight" - Eric Clapton
"YMCA" - The Village People
"You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth" - Meat Loaf

[edit] Published popular music

"Another Suitcase In Another Hall" w. Tim Rice m. Andrew Lloyd Webber from the musical Evita
"Dallas theme song" m. Jerrold Immel
"Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" w. Tim Rice m. Andrew Lloyd Webber from the musical Evita
"Grease" w.m. Barry Gibb from the film Grease
"Honesty" w.m. Billy Joel
"Hopelessly Devoted To You" w.m. John Farrar introduced by Olivia Newton-John in the film Grease
"My Life" w.m. Billy Joel
"Only The Good Die Young" w.m. Billy Joel
"Sultans Of Swing" w.m. Mark Knopfler
"Thank You For Being a Friend" w.m. Andrew Gold
"Three Times A Lady" w.m. Lionel Richie
"You Don't Bring Me Flowers" w. Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman & Neil Diamond m. Neil Diamond
"You're The One That I Want" w.m. John Farrar introduced by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta in the film Grease