Jan. 11. 1980 Gusto record review: Best albums of 1979

Not much enthusiasm in this edition of my annual list of best albums.

Jan. 11, 1980 

1979 was a year of rockslides, commercially and artistically

         Rock closed out the ‘70s in a cloud of pessimism and uncertainty. 1979 was a bad year in the music business.

         Record sales declined for the first time in a quarter century. The superstars of previous seasons didn’t shine as brightly. Disco fever suddenly cooled. The succeeding washes of the New Wave became weaker and weaker. And the brash young pop bands that were supposed to succeed the New Wave only succeeded in sounding like dim reflections of the Knack, whose inspired but obnoxious “My Sharona” throbbed at Number One all summer.

         My 30-best list for 1979 attempts to balance popular success, creative triumph and, of course, personal preference. The first 10 are the boldest artistically and brought their authors to attention, if not acclaim. The second 10 are strong albums that stick to previously established grooves. The remaining choices are variously flawed, but resound with outstanding performances, ideas and songs that brightened an otherwise mediocre 12 months.

         1 – Pink Floyd, “The Wall” (Columbia PC-2-36183). A grim, but endlessly fascinating concept piece that tangles with the basic questions of life, death, loving, growing up and the limits of sanity. It will take well into 1980 to unravel the layers of complexity in the music and lyrics, including the casual references to the veteran British band’s earlier works. It strikes an appropriately gloomy note for the changing of the decade. Above all, it lends a certain dark majesty and reflective depth to the occasion.

         2 – Supertramp, “Breakfast in America” (A&M SP-3708). Until we hit “The Wall,” this was the slickest, best conceived package of the year. The mood is lightly sarcastic, the music is impeccably well-assimilated Anglo-American pop and the breakfast menu cover is sheer delight. In all, love at first sight.

         3 – Tonio K., “Life in the Foodchain” (Full Moon JE-35545 Epic). Here’s a record that literally jumps from the grooves and grabs you by the throat. The brainchild of a pseudonymous California singer-songwriter, it abounds with unrestrained post-industrial cynicism and nastiness, all set to a churning blues-rock beat. Best of all is “H-A-T-R-E-D,” which erupts like Krakatoa from early tenderness to a raging chorus.

         4 – The Police, “Outlandos d’Amour” (A&M SP-4753) and “Regatta de Blanc” (A&M SP-4792). If this country tips into a reggae revolution in the’80s, as England did in the ‘70s, then this strong, well-textured British trio will be the pivot. Lead singer Sting, who appears in the Who’s “Quadrophenia” movie, does a neat bit of transubstantiation, assuming a lilting Jamaican tenor as his own in their first U.S. hit, “Roxanne,” and their most recent British success, “Message in a Bottle.”

         5 – Lene Lovich, “Stateless” (Stiff-Epic JE-36102). Here’s the best debut by a female singer all year and certainly the most striking. Lovich, an American transplanted in England, sings like the Bride of Dracula and is the latest in a line of discoveries by Britain’s maverick Still label. Her ghoulish rendition of Tommy James’ “I Think We’re Alone Now” adds a new dimension to the song, while her touch-tone bleeps on “Lucky Number” are plainly unique.

         6 – Elvis Costello, “Armed Forces” (Columbia JC-25709). Three in a row for the angry young man from London, who remains the most vivid talent in rock today. Drenched in ominous Third Reich imagery, Costello’s lyrics are more chillingly incisive than ever, while his melodies are dressed up with turgid overdubs by producer Nick Lowe. For serious scholars, earliest copies of the album will include a second, live version of “Accidents Will Happen” on a bonus EP.

         7 – Dave Edmunds, “Repeat When Necessary” (Swan Song SS-8507 Atlantic). Nick Lowe delivers pure ‘80s pop with a cruel twist, while bandmate Edmunds goes straight for the basics – lots of guitar and a big backbeat. After three solid and largely ignored rockabilly revival albums, he’s varied the diet on this one – with Elvis Costello’s “Girls Talk,” Graham Parker’s “Crawling From the Wreckage” and Howard DeVoto’s “Black Lagoon” – and it’s clearly his best.

         8 – Neil Young and Crazy Horse, “Rust Never Sleeps” (Reprise HS-2295 Warner Bros.) and “Live Rust” (Reprise 2RX-2296 Warner Bros.). Young has hovered over the decade like a ghost from the ‘60s, releasing a stream of haunting albums. This pair lands him squarely back on earth with a good rocking band and yet another commentary on the time, “Hey, Hey, My, My.” You can’t really call it a comeback, though. He’s been here all along.

         9 – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “Damn the Torpedoes” (Backstreet MCA-5105 MCA Records). One of the most gratifying sights of 1979 was seeing this reedy-looking blond guitarist from Florida finally making the breakthrough he’s long deserved.

         10 – Michael Franks, “Tiger in the Rain” (Warner Bros. BSK-3294). My favorite indulgence this year has been this casually sensual balladeer. Singer-songwriter Franks is classified as a jazz artist, thanks to the fine backup musicians he chooses, but whatever one wants to call him, he’s continually delightful in this bright and witty collection of tunes that promise (and deliver) escape from the ragged edges of everyday cares.

         11 – Spyro Gyra, “Morning Dance” (Infinity).

         12 – The Cars, “Candy-O” (Elektra).

         13 – Joe Jackson, “Look Sharp” and “I’m the Man” (A&M).

         14 – Talking Heads, “Fear of Music” (Sire).

         15 – David Bowie, “Lodger” (RCA).

         16 – Ian Dury and the Blockheads, “Do It Yourself” (Stiff-Epic).

         17 – Eagles, “The Long Run” (Asylum).

         18 – Iggy Pop, “New Values” (Arista).

         19 – Roxy Music, “Manifesto” (Atco).

         20 – Graham Parker and the Rumour, “Squeezing Out Sparks” (Arista).

         21 – Nick Lowe, “Labour of Lust” (Columbia).

         22 – Ry Cooder, “Bop Till You Drop” (Warner Bros.)

         23 – Van Morrison, “Into the Music” (Warner Bros.).

         24 – Little Feat, “Down on the Farm” (Warner Bros.).

         25 – Joni Mitchell, “Mingus” (Asylum).

         26 – The Fabulous Poodles, “Mirror Stars” (Epic).

         27 – Louise Goffin, “Kid Blue” (Asylum).

         28 – Greg Kihn, “In the Naked Eye” (Berserkley).

         29 – Carolyne Mas, “Carolyne Mas” (Mercury).

         30 – The Boomtown Rats, “A Tonic for the Troops” (Columbia).

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IN THE PHOTO: Album cover for “The Wall.”

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FOOTNOTE: With the exception of “The Wall” and the albums by the Police, 1979 still feels like a backwater year. In retrospect, maybe Pat Benatar's debut, "In the Heat of the Night," and the eponymous first effort by the British ska band, the Specials, should have made an appearance on the list. As for the year's other major breakthrough album, "Off the Wall," Michael Jackson's first collaboration with Quincy Jones, lots of people hailed it, but it left me cold.