100 Greatest Albums of 1979

1979 record album covers for Off The Wall, London Calling, Bad Girls, and The Wall
Criteria: These 1979 albums were chosen for their initial and lasting popularity and their influence and impact on rock music in general. Also considered is critical acclaim. The list includes rock and roll and related genres that were influential on rock music.

Note: Yearly album lists go by earliest 'release date'.
Not necessarily the year an album peaked in the U.S. charts.
  1. Off The Wall - Michael Jackson
  2. London Calling - The Clash
  3. Bad Girls - Donna Summer
  4. The Wall - Pink Floyd
  5. Risqué - Chic
  6. Highway To Hell - AC/DC
  7. We Are Family - Sister Sledge
  8. Unknown Pleasures - Joy Division
  9. Tusk - Fleetwood Mac
10. I Am - Earth, Wind & Fire
11. Armed Forces - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
12. Damn The Torpedos - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
13. Regatta de Blanc - The Police
14. Uncle Jam Wants You - Funkadelic
15. Entertainment - Gang Of Four
16. Ladies Night - Kool & The Gang
17. Get The Knack - The Knack
18. Rust Never Sleeps - Neil Young
19. The Boss - Diana Ross
20. Spirits Having Flown - The Bee Gees
21. Winner Takes All - The Isley Brothers
22. Masterjam - Rufus & Chaka
23. The B-52's - The B-52's
24. The Whispers - The Whispers
25. The Long Run - The Eagles
26. The Gap Band II - The Gap Band
27. Where There's Smoke - Smokey Robinson
28. Rock On - Raydio
29. Pretenders - Pretenders
30. This Boot Is Made For Fonk-n - Bootsy's Rubber Band
31. Bustin' Out Of L7 - Rick James
32. Fear Of Music - Talking Heads
33. Breakfast In America - Supertramp
34. Inspiration - Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
35. Degüello - ZZ Top
36. Eat To The Beat - Blondie
37. Midnight Magic - The Commodores
38. The Romantics - The Romantics
39. Prince - Prince
40. Cut - The Slits
41. In Through The Out Door - Led Zeppelin
42. Teddy - Teddy Pendergrass
43. The Pleasure Principle - Gary Numan
44. Injoy - The Bar-Kays
45. Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants - Stevie Wonder
46. Head Games - Foreigner
47. The Message Is Love - Barry White
48. Priority - The Pointer Sisters
49. Overkill - Motörhead
50. Van Halen II - Van Halen
51. Stay Free - Ashford & Simpson
52. Low Budget - The Kinks
53. The Specials - The Specials
54. Brenda Russell - Brenda Russell
55. Secret Omen - Cameo
56. Machine Gun Etiquette - The Damned
57. Showcase - Black Uhuru
58. Just A Touch Of Love - Slave
59. Candy-O - The Cars
60. Another Taste - A Taste Of Honey
61. Big Fun - Shalamar
62. Madame Butterfly - Tavares
63. Rose Royce IV: The Rainbow Connection - Rose Royce
64. Star Walk - Graham Central Station
65. Live Rust - Neil Young
66. Disco Nights - GQ
67. Bop Till You Drop - Ry Cooder
68. You Know How To Love Me - Phyllis Hyman
69. Three Imaginary Boys - The Cure
70. Hot Property - Heatwave
71. Stars - Sylvester
72. Dynasty - KISS
73. Setting Sons - The Jam
74. The Gap Band - The Gap Band
75. In The Purest Form - Mass Production
76. 154 - Wire
77. Music Box - Evelyn "Champagne" King
78. Back To The Egg - Wings
79. Soon Forward - Gregory Isaacs
80. One Step Beyond - Madness
81. Let's Talk It Over - Lee Fields
82. Desolation Angels - Bad Company
83. Black Rose: A Rock Legend - Thin Lizzy
84. Candy - Con Funk Shun
85. In The Heat Of The Night - Pat Benatar
86. Let Me Be Your Woman - Linda Clifford
87. Dream Police - Cheap Trick
88. Identify Yourself - The O'Jays
89. A Different Kind Of Tension - Buzzcocks
90. Survival - Bob Marley & The Wailers
91. Discovery - Electric Light Orchestra
92. McFadden & Whitehead - McFadden & Whitehead
93. Don't Let Go - Isaac Hayes
94. Sheik Yurbouti - Frank Zappa
95. Pizzazz - Patrice Rushen
96. The Jones Girls - The Jones Girls
97. Knock On Wood - Amii Stewart
98. Flag - James Taylor
98. Thanks I'll Eat It Here - Lowell George
100. Look Sharp! - Joe Jackson



Off The Wall by Michael Jackson album cover
London Calling by The Clash album cover
Bad Girls by Donna Summer album cover
The Wall by Pink Floyd album cover
Risqué by Chic album cover
Highway To Hell by AC/DC album cover
 DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1979
  Lew's choice - An unheralded great album from 1979
   Squeezing Out Sparks - Graham Parker and The Rumour
  Bruce's choice:
   Repeat When Necessary - Dave Edmunds
  Brian's choice:
   Into the Music - Van Morrison
  Brett's choice:
   Airwaves - Badfinger


Top 100 Albums by Year: