Retro Albums of the Year 2010's: 2020

[ariich]

1979 is a really weird one for me - one superb album but then not much else that I've really listened to.

1. Pink Floyd - The Wall
2. The Alan Parsons Project - Eve
3. Rainbow - Down to Earth
4. Cheap Trick - Dream Police

[hefdaddy42]

1979 in no particular order:

Pink Floyd - The Wall
Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
Supertramp - Breakfast in America
Led Zeppelin - In Through the Out Door
Dire Straits - Communique
Earth, Wind & Fire - I Am
Joni Mitchell - Mingus
Van Halen - Van Halen II
Dixie Dregs - Night of the Living Dregs
ZZ Top - Deguello
Eagles - The Long Run
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Damn the Torpedoes

[Stadler]

Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
Dixie Dregs - Night of the Living Dregs

Two that I forgot that belong on my list for sure.

[hefdaddy42]

Michael Jackson - Off the Wall
Dixie Dregs - Night of the Living Dregs

Two that I forgot that belong on my list for sure.

Both of those are so good.

[Kwyjibo]

1979

AC/DC - Highway To Hell
Benatar, Pat - In The Heat Of The Night
Dire Straits - Communiqué
Journey - Evolution
Magnum - Magnum II
Police - Regatta De Blanc
Pink Floyd - The Wall
Supertramp - Breakfast In America
Toto - Hydra
Van Halen - VH II
Whitesnake - Love Hunter
ZZ Top - Degüello

[Kwyjibo]

Question to those that post really long lists:

Is this all you got from that year or is this what you think is best from that year and you have actually even more records from that year?

[MirrorMask]

Indeed, 'cause this in theory is "your favorite albums for each year" and not "show off how many album you heard or know from a selected year"....

[SoundscapeMN]

my list is usually a list of albums I know at least vaguely if not rather well. When I made those calendars years ago, they were Calendars of as many albums I not only own and enjoy, but were familiar with (at the time). I often would then scan the entire calendar I made, and add only those. I would not include in the rankings I posted in the Calendar entry, many records I didn't know well or wasn't really a fan of, but still deemed worth including on the actual Calendar, etc.

I do think it'll get interesting as we go along and get into more recent years, to see more of the variation in the lists.

[hefdaddy42]

Question to those that post really long lists:

Is this all you got from that year or is this what you think is best from that year and you have actually even more records from that year?

For me, it's the best.

Can't answer for others.

[ReaperKK]

Question to those that post really long lists:

Is this all you got from that year or is this what you think is best from that year and you have actually even more records from that year?

I clearly don't post large lists but for me it's albums I've listened to and ranked on RYM. I've heard a lot of albums posted here before I don't know them well enough for them to qualify for my list of that year, that's just my personal take on it.

[Kwyjibo]

Yeah, I try to keep it simple by listing the best ones (imo) from each year that I have on record. So far it's around ten records per year in the 70s (sometimes more, sometimes less). Maybe that will change when we get to the 80s and 90s where I simply have a lot more records from each year. 

[MirrorMask]

The problem will be to even remember all that stuff that came out. I guess I'll have top 10 for more recent years, or top 15 in case of "especially special" years.

[HOF]

I've been ranking just the albums I own for a given year, which I don't think has been more than 10 (if that) so far. Probably won't have to narrow it down to the best 10 or so until we get to the 90s.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

Question to those that post really long lists:

Is this all you got from that year or is this what you think is best from that year and you have actually even more records from that year?

My lists always consist of album that I love or at least really like. I have quite a few other albums from each of the years so far that weren't on my lists, that I either don't like enough to be considered or don't know well enough yet to properly rank.

[Zoom E]

1979

Pink Floyd - The Wall
UFO - Strangers in the Night
Scorpions - Lovedrive
Judas Priest - Unleashed in the East
Van Halen - Van Halen II
Motorhead - Overkill
Riot - Narita
The Clash - London Calling
The Police - Regetta de Blanc
AC/DC - Highway to Hell

[TAC]

Question to those that post really long lists:

Is this all you got from that year or is this what you think is best from that year and you have actually even more records from that year?

My lists always consist of album that I love or at least really like. I have quite a few other albums from each of the years so far that weren't on my lists, that I either don't like enough to be considered or don't know well enough yet to properly rank.

Yes, same here.

1979 begins some of my formative music years and this and the next few have some of my all time favorite albums.

[Stadler]

Question to those that post really long lists:

Is this all you got from that year or is this what you think is best from that year and you have actually even more records from that year?

I have something like 2500 CDs, and these years were the formative years for my musical life (I was 12 in 1979).  I rarely post albums I don't have (or have had, if i didn't convert over from vinyl) in my collection.  Sometimes I won't have the album itself, but I'll have a Greatest Hits of that artist.   I definitely do not post records I don't like just for the sake of padding out a list.

[Dedalus]

What's wrong with "long lists"?

There's no one posting lists with 100 or 200 discs. At most a little more than 30.
There are people who report listening to more records than that in a week (just look at "What album are you listening to?" thread  ).

I never thought this would be a problem. 

[Kwyjibo]

To be clear, I never said it was wrong. I was just curious.

[KevShmev]

Feels like 1979 saw a lot of good bands release albums that weren't among their best, the top few here notwithstanding.

01 Pink Floyd - The Wall
02 Talking Heads - Fear of Music
03 Van Halen - Van Halen II
04 Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage
05 Judas Priest - Hell Bent for Leather
06 Led Zeppelin - In Through the Out Door
07 Blue Oyster Cult - Mirrors
08 Kansas - Monolith
09 Supertramp - Breakfast in America
10 Styx - Cornerstone

[SoundscapeMN]

1980

1 record I included that I'd never heard of 6 months ago, Ultravox's Vienna, thanks to DJ Jake Rudh and Transmission every week on Twitch. Steven Wilson just remixed it in fact, and I'm seeking out that (on Record Store Day July 17th), and a 1st pressing on Vinyl now.

from Allmediareviews

1980, sort of a transitional year for music and progressive rock. I see the Yes and Genesis records as sort of their last of a classic era, and even better than their previous records.

Lot of Hard Rock and early Metal and interesting "new wave" stuff as well as Classic Rock artists putting out albums.

And the continuation and extension of a lot of Jazz-Fusion, although some good records, none of them being my favorites, but also hardly their worst.

Certainly a good year, and ultimately, better than some years from that era, but at the same time, hardly comparing to some of my favorite years overall.

1. Yes - Drama
2. Rush - Permanent Waves
3. Genesis - Duke
4. Hawkwind - Levitation
5. Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
6. Al Di Meola - Splendido Hotel
7. Queen - Flash Gordon
8. The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta
9. Bruce Springsteen - The River
10. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card
11. Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel [3]
12. Ultravox - Vienna
13. Yes - Yesshows
14. Van Halen - Women and Children First
15. Weather Report - Night Passage
16, Mike Rutherford - Smallcreep's Day
17. Queen - The Game
18. David Bowie - Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
19. U2 - Boy
20. XTC - Black Sea
21. Kerry Livgren - Seeds of Change
22. Steve Hackett - Defector
23. John Lennon and Yoko Ono - Double Fantasy
24. Bruford - Gradually Going Tornado

[Stadler]

1980

1 record I included that I'd never heard of 6 months ago, Ultravox's Vienna, thanks to DJ Jake Rudh and Transmission every week on Twitch. Steven Wilson just remixed it in fact, and I'm seeking out that (on Record Store Day July 17th), and a 1st pressing on Vinyl now.

I first heard the song "Vienna" at Live Aid and it blew me away.  Midge Ure appeared early on with Ultravox and their set was excellent (four songs, including Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" and "Vienna").  I'm 90% sure he appeared later on with someone else, but I can't remember who.   Trivia: Ure helped write and produce Band-aid "Do They Know It's Christmas" and helped stage Live Aid.  Supposedly he carried a grudge for decades that Geldof stole the limelight (and the credit) for staging the event.   I have a best of just to have those two songs.

[MirrorMask]

1980

1. IRON MAIDEN - Iron Maiden

The world changed and would have never been the same 

2. JUDAS PRIEST - British Steel

What a legendary year for british heavy metal!

3. BLACK SABBATH - Heaven and Hell

Speaking of legends and Britain.... here it comes, Dio joins Sabbath and history is being made!

4. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - The River

A long compilation of deep songs and silly ones, an album that has both the lines "Is a dream a lie if it don't come true or is it something worse" and "I knocked over a lamp before it hit the floor I caught it, aA salesman turned around said "boy, you break that thing you bought it". Not one of my very favorites from him but an important effort.

[SoundscapeMN]

1980

1 record I included that I'd never heard of 6 months ago, Ultravox's Vienna, thanks to DJ Jake Rudh and Transmission every week on Twitch. Steven Wilson just remixed it in fact, and I'm seeking out that (on Record Store Day July 17th), and a 1st pressing on Vinyl now.

I first heard the song "Vienna" at Live Aid and it blew me away.  Midge Ure appeared early on with Ultravox and their set was excellent (four songs, including Dancing With Tears In My Eyes" and "Vienna").  I'm 90% sure he appeared later on with someone else, but I can't remember who.   Trivia: Ure helped write and produce Band-aid "Do They Know It's Christmas" and helped stage Live Aid.  Supposedly he carried a grudge for decades that Geldof stole the limelight (and the credit) for staging the event.   I have a best of just to have those two songs.

Dancing with Tears in My Eyes is on 1 of their later records, Lament. I dunno if Jake has played that, but maybe I'll ask if there was a video for it.

I'm still in the process of checking out more of their music, but Ultravox are really good at times. I wasn't aware of the Live-Aid thing, although there's a documentary on YouTube about them I wonder if it's mentioned.

[ReaperKK]

1980:

1. Rush - Permanent Waves - 3.5 out of 5
2. AC/DC - Back In Black - 3.5 out of 5
3. Dire Straits - Making Movies - 3.5 out of 5

[TAC]

1980:

1. Rush - Permanent Waves - 3.5 out of 5
2. AC/DC - Back In Black - 3.5 out of 5

You are a tough grader.

[TAC]

Large list incoming Kwyjbo! 1980 was a another fantastic year!

1. Black Sabbath-Heaven And Hell
2. Ozzy Osbourne-Blizzard Of Ozz
3. UFO-No Place To Run
4. AC/DC-Back In Black
5. Thin Lizzy-Chinatown
6. Rush-Permanent Waves
7. Saxon-Strong Arm Of The Law
8. Van Halen-Women And Children First
9. Iron Maiden-s/t
10. Alice Cooper-Flush The Fashion
11. Michael Schenker Group-s/t
12. Def Leppard-On Through The Night
13. Judas Priest-British Steel
14. Blackfoot-Tomcattin'
15. Accept-I'm A Rebel
16. Tygers Of Pan Tang-Wild Cat
17. Whitesnake-Live In The Heart Of The City
18. Krokus-Metal Rendezvous
19. KISS-Unmasked
20. Saxon-Wheels Of Steel
21. Rolling Stones-Emotional Rescue
21. Gary Moore-G-Force
22. Motorhead-Ace Of Spades
23. Scorpions-Animal Magnetism
24. Molly Hatchet-Beatin' The Odds
25. REO Speedwagon-Hi Infidelity
26. Triumph-Progressions Of Power
27. Wild Horses-s/t

[WildRanger]

Large list incoming Kwyjbo! 1980 was a another fantastic year!

1. Black Sabbath-Heaven And Hell
2. Ozzy Osbourne-Blizzard Of Ozz
3. UFO-No Place To Run
4. AC/DC-Back In Black
5. Thin Lizzy-Chinatown
6. Rush-Permanent Waves
7. Saxon-Strong Arm Of The Law
8. Van Halen-Women And Children First
9. Iron Maiden-s/t
10. Alice Cooper-Flush The Fashion
11. Michael Schenker Group-s/t
12. Def Leppard-On Through The Night
13. Judas Priest-British Steel
14. Blackfoot-Tomcattin'
15. Accept-I'm A Rebel
16. Tygers Of Pan Tang-Wild Cat
17. Whitesnake-Live In The Heart Of The City
18. Krokus-Metal Rendezvous
19. KISS-Unmasked
20. Saxon-Wheels Of Steel
21. Rolling Stones-Emotional Rescue
21. Gary Moore-G-Force
22. Motorhead-Ace Of Spades
23. Scorpions-Animal Magnetism
24. Molly Hatchet-Beatin' The Odds
25. REO Speedwagon-Hi Infidelity
26. Triumph-Progressions Of Power
27. Wild Horses-s/t

No Lightning to the Nations?? I'm really shocked. 

[WildRanger]

My list:

1. Rush - Permanent Waves
2. Black Sabbath - Heaven & Hell
3. Diamond Head - Lightning to the Nations
4. Talking Heads - Remain in Light
5. Joy Division - Closer
6. Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
7. Motorhead - Ace of Spades
8. Iron Maiden - S/T
9. Van Halen - Women and Children First
10. Whitesnake - Ready an' Willing

Honorable mention: Dire Straits - Making Movies

[TAC]

For some reason, I've just never followed up on Diamond Head. They weren't anything I listened to. I had all of these albums when I was a kid.

[King Puppies and the Acid Guppies]

1980 was a great year for music! Long-ish list incoming! The top 15 are all at least 8/10's, the rest are no lower than 6.5/10, with Departure being the only 6.5/10.

1. Rush - Permanent Waves
2. Yes - Drama
3. Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
4. Kate Bush - Never Forever
5. Talking Heads - Remain in Light
6. Peter Gabriel - Peter Gabriel (Melt)
7. Black Sabbath - Heaven & Hell
8. The Cure - Seventeen Seconds
9. Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz
10. Steely Dan - Gaucho
11. REO Speedwagon - Hi Infidelity
12. Saga - Silent Knight
13. David Bowie - Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
14. Dire Straits - Making Movies
15. Judas Priest - British Steel
16. Joy Division - Closer
17. Blue Öyster Cult - Cultösaurus Erectus
18. Def Leppard - On Through the Night
19. Simple Minds - Empires and Dance
20. Genesis - Duke
21. Prince - Dirty Mind
22. Roxy Music - Flesh + Blood
23. The Police - Zenyattà Mondatta
24. Hawkwind - Levitation
25. Journey - Departure

[KevShmev]

After the 70's kind of staggered over the finish line with a not-so great 1979, 1980 hit and was a killer year for music!

01 Rush - Permanent Waves
02 Blue Oyster Cult - Cultosaurus Erectus
03 Talking Heads - Remain in Light
04 Judas Priest - British Steel
05 Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
06 XTC - Black Sea
07 AC/DC - Back in Black
08 Peter Gabriel - Melt
09 Genesis - Duke
10 Van Halen - Women and Children First
11 Queen - The Game
12 U2 - Boy
13 Yes - Drama
14 Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz
15 The Police - Zenyatta Mondatta
16 Kansas - Audio-Visions
17 Prince - Dirty Mind
18 Trevor Rabin - Face to Face
19 Jeff Beck - There and Back
20 Triumph - Progressions of Power

[ReaperKK]

1980:

1. Rush - Permanent Waves - 3.5 out of 5
2. AC/DC - Back In Black - 3.5 out of 5

You are a tough grader.

I have a very weird rating system that makes little sense so I'm not surprised I got that reaction.

Looking at the 80 list I see a lot of albums that I swore came out much later than 1980.

[HOF]

I’m kind of surprised how few albums I have from 1980, but there or some real favorites here, the top 4 especially.

1. Genesis - Duke
2. Peter Gabriel - 3/Melt
3. Rush - Permanent Waves
4. Steve Hackett - Defector
5. Talking Heads - Remain in Light
6. Journey - Departure

[ariich]

Not an especially special year, but some good albums and the top are are particularly excellent.

1. Rush - Permanent Waves
2. The Alan Parsons Project - The Turn of a Friendly Card
3. Queen - The Game
4. Black Sabbath - Heaven and Hell
5. Dire Straits - Making Movies
6. The Michael Schenker Group - The Michael Schenker Group
7. Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
8. Yes - Drama
9. Joy Division - Closer
10. Queen - Flash Gordon