This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1979.

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

January–February

March–April

May–August

September–December

Also in 1979

Bands formed

See Musical groups established in 1979

Bands disbanded

See Musical groups disestablished in 1979

Bands reformed

The Chipmunks

Albums released

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Release date unknown

• 3D – The Three Degrees • The Adventures of the Hersham Boys – Sham 69 • An American Dream - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band • The Audience with Betty Carter – Betty Carter • The Beat – The Beat • The Beatles Concerto – John Rutter • Born to Be Alive – Patrick Hernandez • Breaking Loose – Helix • Buona domenica – Antonello Venditti • Buy – James Chance & the Contortions • California – Gianna Nannini • The Candidate – Steve Harley • Casino Classics: Chapter One – Various artists • Chance Meeting on a Dissecting Table of a Sewing Machine and an Umbrella – Nurse With Wound • A Classy Pair – Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie • The Crack – The Ruts • Deltics – Chris Rea • Demo EP – Oingo Boingo • Disco Nights – GQ • Digital III at Montreux – Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Joe Pass • Don't Fight It – Red Rider • Earthquake – Electric Sun • Fine and Mellow – Ella Fitzgerald • French Skyline – Earthstar • Future Now – Pleasure • Grosses Wasser – Cluster • Hair – Various Artists – Soundtrack • Identify Yourself – The O'Jays • The Innes Book of Records – Neil Innes • Invasion of the Booty Snatchers – Parlet • Jardin Au Fou – Hans-Joachim Roedelius • The Kenny Rogers Singles Album – Kenny Rogers • Lenox Avenue Breakdown – Arthur Blythe • Let's Drip Awhile – Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons - Live • Live & Direct - Taj Mahal - Live • Live! Go for What You Know – Pat Travers Band • Living Dub Vol. 1 - Burning Spear • Lo Pasado, Pasado – José José • Looking for Saint Tropez – Telex • Lots of Luv' – Luv' • Lubbock (On Everything) – Terry Allen • A Million Vacations – Max Webster • Morning Dance – Spyro Gyra • Muddy "Mississippi" Waters – Live – Muddy Waters – Live • A Night at Studio 54 – Various artists • On the Road Again – Roy Wood • A Perfect Match – Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie • Rainbow's End – Resurrection Band • Rise – Herb Alpert • Rockit – Chuck Berry • Rock On – Raydio • The Roches – The Roches • Silent Cries and Mighty Echoes – Eloy • Sky – Sky • Slumberin' on the Cumberland - John Hartford • Songs of Love – Anita Ward • Star Trek: The Motion Picture – Jerry Goldsmith – Soundtrack • Stations of the Crass – Crass • Street Life – The Crusaders • Take It Home – B.B. King • Tango Palace - Dr. John • Teenage Head – Teenage Head • Teenage Warning – Angelic Upstarts • Thanks, I'll Eat It Here – Lowell George • Tiger in the Rain – Michael Franks • Together Again – The Dubliners • True Luv' – Luv' • Underdog – Atlanta Rhythm Section • The Very Best of Leo Sayer – Leo Sayer • Walking on Sunshine – Eddy Grant • Washes Whiter Than – Petra

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1979.

Chronological list of US and UK and Japan number-one hit singles

US number-one singles and artist (weeks at No. 1) UK number-one singles and artist (weeks at No. 1) Japanese Oricon number-one singles and artist (weeks at No. 1)

Top 40 Chart hit singles

Other Chart hit singles

• "Banana Splits (Tra La La Song)" – The Dickies (# 7 UK) • "Bat Out of Hell" – Meat Loaf (# 8 UK) • "Beautiful People" – Australian Crawl (# 22 Australia) • "Bright Side of the Road" – Van Morrison (# 63 UK, # 48 Netherlands) • "C'mon Aussie C'mon" – The Mojo Singers (# 1 Australia - originally released in 1978) • "Choirgirl" – Cold Chisel (# 14 Australia) • "Dancing Barefoot" – Patti Smith Group (# 39 Netherlands) • "Death Disco" – Public Image Ltd. (# 20 United Kingdom) • "The Eton Rifles" – The Jam (# 3 United Kingdom, # 50 Australia) • "Freedom's Prisoner" – Steve Harley (# 58 UK) • "Good Times Roll" - The Cars (# 41 United States, # 60 US Cash Box Top 100 Singles, # 74 Canada) • "Here Comes the Summer" – The Undertones (# 34 UK) • "Hersham Boys" – Sham 69 (# 6 UK) • "Hit and Run" – Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons (# 12 Australia) • "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" - Jimmy and the Boys (# 57 Australia) • "I Do Love You" – GQ (# 20 US, # 5 US R&B charts) • "I Just Can't Be Happy Today" – The Damned (# 46 UK) • "I Wanna Be Sedated" – Ramones • "Into the Valley" – The Skids (# 10 UK) • "Jezebel – Jon Stevens (# 1 New Zealand) • "Jimmy Jimmy" – The Undertones (# 16 UK) • "Just the Way You Are" – Barry White • "Just What I Needed" – The Cars • "Just When I Needed You Most" – Randy VanWarmer • "Lay Your Love on Me" – Racey • "Lead Me On" – Maxine Nightingale • "Let's Go" – The Cars • "Life During Wartime" – Talking Heads • "Little Bit of Soap" – Nigel Olsson • "The Logical Song" – Supertramp • "London Calling" – The Clash • "Lonesome Loser" – Little River Band • "The Long Run" – Eagles • "Lotta Love" – Nicolette Larson • "Love Song" – The Damned • "Lucky Number" – Lene Lovich • "The Main Event/Fight" – Barbra Streisand • "Make My Dreams a Reality" – GQ • "Making Plans for Nigel" – XTC • "Mama Can't Buy You Love" – Elton John • "A Message to You, Rudy/Nite Klub" – The Specials • "Message in a Bottle" – The Police • "Milk and Alcohol" – Dr. Feelgood • "Morning Dance" – Spyro Gyra • "Moskau" – Dschinghis Khan • "Music Box Dancer" – Frank Mills • "My Forbidden Lover" – Chic • "My Girl" – Madness • "My Life" – Billy Joel • "Nami Nori Pirates" – Pink Lady (band) • "Old Time Rock and Roll" – Bob Seger • "Oliver's Army" – Elvis Costello and the Attractions • "On My Radio" – The Selecter • "One Step Beyond" – Madness • "One Way or Another" – Blondie • "One Way Ticket" – Eruption • "Ooh Baby Baby" – Linda Ronstadt • "Ooh, Yes I Do" – Luv' • "Parisienne Walkways" – Gary Moore • "Playground Twist" – Siouxsie and the Banshees • "Please Don't Go" – KC & The Sunshine Band • "The Prince" – Madness • "Queen of Hearts" – Dave Edmunds • "Questions and Answers" – Sham 69 • "Rapper's Delight" – The Sugarhill Gang (#36 US: first rap song to hit Billboard's Top 40) • "Reasons to Be Cheerful (Part 3)" – Ian Dury & the Blockheads • "Refugee" – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers • "Rock with You" – Michael Jackson • "Rodrigo's Guitar Concerto" – The Shadows • "Roxanne" – The Police (released in 1978) • "Run Like Hell" – Pink Floyd • "Sad Eyes" – Robert John • "Sail On" – Commodores • "Shadows in the Moonlight" – Anne Murray • "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" – The Jacksons • "Shape I'm In" – Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons • "She Believes In Me" – Kenny Rogers • "Shine a Little Love" – Electric Light Orchestra • "Ships" – Barry Manilow • "Shivers" - The Boys Next Door • "Since You Been Gone" – Rainbow • "Slap and Tickle" – Squeeze • "Smash It Up" – The Damned • "Some Girls" – Racey • "Somethin' Else"/"Friggin' in the Riggin'" – Sex Pistols • "Somewhere in the Night" – Barry Manilow • "Song on the Radio" – Al Stewart • "Spiral Scratch" – Buzzcocks • "The Staircase (Mystery)" – Siouxsie and the Banshees • "Strange Town" – The Jam • "Street Life" – The Crusaders w/Randy Crawford • "Stumblin' In" – Suzi Quatro & Chris Norman • "Sultans of Swing" – Dire Straits (released in 1978) • "Take Me Home – Cher • "Take On The World" – Judas Priest • "Take The Long Way Home – Supertramp • "Talking In Your Sleep" – Crystal Gayle • "Tears of a Clown"/"Ranking Full Stop" – The Beat • "Theme from the Deerhunter (Cavatina)" – The Shadows • "Transmission" – Joy Division • "Union City Blue" – Blondie • "Up the Junction" – Squeeze • "Up There Cazaly" – The Two Man Band • "Video Killed The Radio Star" – The Buggles • "Voulez-Vous" – ABBA • "Waiting for an Alibi" – Thin Lizzy • "We Are Family" – Sister Sledge • "We Don't Talk Anymore" – Cliff Richard • "What I Like About You" - The Romantics (Began charting in 1980) • "Whatever You Want" – Status Quo • "When I Think of You" – Leif Garrett • "When You're Young" – The Jam • "Who Listens to the Radio" (Album version) - The Sports (# 35 Australia- original 45) - (# 45 United States - Album version) • "Wonderful Christmastime" – Paul McCartney • "Y.M.C.A" – Village People • "You Decorated My Life" – Kenny Rogers • "You Needed Me" – Anne Murray (in the UK; hit #1 in the US in 1978) • "You Take My Breath Away" – Rex Smith • "You're a Better Man Than I" – Sham 69 • "You've Got My Number (Why Don't You Use It?)" – The Undertones

Notable singles

Other Notable singles

• "Baby Doll" - Teenage Jesus and the Jerks • "Fa Cé La" - The Feelies • "Gidget Goes to Hell" - Suburban Lawns • "Orphans" - Teenage Jesus and the Jerks • "Rowche Rumble" - The Fall • "Run by Night" - Midnight Oil

Published popular music

Classical music

Opera

Jazz

Musical theatre

Musical films

Births

Deaths

Awards