100 Greatest Songs From 1980

record cover art for Call Me by Blondie and Another One Bites the Dust by Queen
Criteria: Songs listed are from Rock 'n' Roll and related sub-genres. Rankings are based on initial and lasting popularity and on acclaim received from critics and musicians.

Call Me single cover Another One Bites the Dust single cover You Shook Me All Night Long single cover Love Will Tear Us Apart single cover The Breaks single cover Keep on Loving You single cover I'm Coming Out single cover Hit Me With Your Best Shot single cover
Note: Yearly song lists go by earliest 'release date' (Single, Album, or Country of first release).
Not necessarily the year a song peaked in the U.S. charts.
No.
Song
Artist
1 Call Me Blondie
2 Celebration Kool & The Gang
3 Another One Bites the Dust Queen
4 You Shook Me All Night Long AC/DC
5 Whip It Devo
6 Love Will Tear Us Apart Joy Division
7 Rapture Blondie
8 Back In Black AC/DC
9 The Breaks Kurtis Blow
10 Once in a Lifetime Talking Heads
11 Upside Down Diana Ross
12 Any Way You Want It Journey
13 Crazy Train Ozzy Osbourne
14 Fame Irene Cara
15 More Bounce To the Ounce Part I Zapp
16 Master Blaster (Jammin') Stevie Wonder
17 The Spirit Of Radio Rush
18 Keep On Loving You REO Speedwagon
19 Hit Me With Your Best Shot Pat Benatar
20 Turning Japanese Vapors
21 I'm Coming Out Diana Ross
22 The Tide Is High Blondie
23 Stomp! Brothers Johnson
24 He's So Shy Pointer Sisters
25 Take Your Time (Do It Right) S.O.S. Band
26 Just The Two Of Us Grover Washington Jr. with Bill Withers
27 Double Dutch Bus Frankie Smith
28 He Stopped Loving Her Today George Jones
29 Ace Of Spades Motörhead
30 Mickey Toni Basil
31 Dancing With Myself Generation X/Billy Idol
32 Give Me The Night George Benson
33 Vienna Ultravox
34 Let My Love Open The Door Pete Townshend
35 Never Knew Love Like This Before Stephanie Mills
36 Misunderstanding Genesis
37 It's Still Rock N Roll To Me Billy Joel
38 On The Road Again Willie Nelson
39 All Out Of Love Air Supply
40 Could You Be Loved? Bob Marley & The Wailers
41 Shining Star Manhattans
42 Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me?) Gap Band
43 Hungry Heart Bruce Springsteen
44 One In A Million You Larry Graham
45 Games Without Frontiers Peter Gabriel
46 Tunnel of Love Dire Straits
47 Emotional Rescue Rolling Stones
48 That's Entertainment The Jam
49 I Know What Boys Like The Waitresses
50 I Will Follow U2
51 Against the Wind Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
52 Ashes To Ashes David Bowie
53 The Winner Takes It All ABBA
54 Biko Peter Gabriel
55 Fantastic Voyage Lakeside
56 (Just Like) Starting Over John Lennon
57 Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time for Love) Parts I & II Isley Brothers
58 Don't Stand So Close To Me The Police
59 You May Be Right Billy Joel
60 It's My Turn Diana Ross
61 Hells Bells AC/DC
62 The River Bruce Springsteen
63 Turn It On Again Genesis
64 A Forest The Cure
65 Late In the Evening Paul Simon
66 Watching the Wheels John Lennon
67 Going Underground The Jam
68 Sukiyaki A Taste Of Honey
69 The Glow Of Love Change
70 Lately Stevie Wonder
71 Hey Nineteen Steely Dan
72 De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da The Police
73 Talk of the Town Pretenders
74 Geno Dexys Midnight Riders
75 Redemption Song Bob Marley & The Wailers
76 Fashion David Bowie
77 Breaking The Law Judas Priest
78 Romeo And Juliet Dire Straits
79 She's So Cold Rolling Stones
80 Enola Gay Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark
81 Fade to Grey Visage
82 Atmosphere Joy Division
83 Mirror In the Bathroom English Beat
84 While You See A Chance Steve Winwood
85 People Who Died Jim Carroll Band
86 Take It On The Run REO Speedwagon
87 And The Cradle Will Rock Van Halen
88 Holiday In Cambodia Dead Kennedys
89 Los Angeles X
90 9 to 5 Dolly Parton
91 Lady Kenny Rogers
92 Morning Train (9 To 5) Sheena Easton
93 Theme from "New York, New York" Frank Sinatra
94 Love Sensation Loleatta Holloway
95 Heartbreak Hotel Jacksons
96 Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) Squeeze
97 Echo Beach Martha & The Muffins
98 Private Idaho The B-52s
99 Antmusic Adam & The Ants
100 Runaway Boys Stray Cats
20 more worth mentioning.
101 Super Trouper ABBA
102 Baggy Trousers Madness
103 Rough Boys Pete Townshend
104 Woman in Love Barbra Streisand
105 I Need Your Lovin' Teena Marie
106 Don't Stop the Music Yarbrough & Peoples
107 Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime Korgis
108 Love Stinks J. Geils Band
109 The Magnificent Seven The Clash
110 Happy Birthday Stevie Wonder
111 Lay All Your Love On Me ABBA
112 The Wanderer Donna Summer
113 Drivin' My Life Away Eddie Rabbitt
114 I Love a Rainy Night Eddie Rabbitt
115 Joy and Pain Maze feat. Frankie Beverly
116 I Heard It Through the Grapevine Part I Roger
117 Love T.K.O. Teddy Pendergrass
118 Start! The Jam
119 The Big Beat Billy Squier
120 Switchin' To Glide Kings
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1980
Jeff's Choice - Greatest Single Re-Entry
* Imagine (#1 UK for four weeks) John Lennon
Jeff's Choice - An unheralded great record from 1980
* Jersey Girl Tom Waits
Lew's Choice:
* Ah! Leah! Donnie Iris
Bruce's Choice:
* Till The Walls Come Tumblin' Down J. Geils Band
Brett's Choice:
* Weep For Love Denny Laine
Ryan's Choice:
* Independence Day Comsat Angels
Adam's Choice:
* Can't Put A Price On Love The Knack