Shakedown 1979: The Strangest Year in Music

It gave us disco’s peak, new wave, rap, and a whole lot of weirdness.

Jeremy Helligar

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ABBA sings “Does Your Mother Know” (Photo: YouTube)

I just came across a 2014 WatchMojo.com countdown of the “Top 10 Years with the Best Music Released” on YouTube and after watching the 14-minute video, I must admit I was impressed. It’s certainly one of their most on-point shortlists.

Although I’m not as high on 2001 as they were and they left off my beloved 1978, I have to give them props for including four of my most significant years, 12-month periods that also produced some pretty stellar tunes: 1. The year I was born (number 1), 2. The year I graduated from high school (number 2), 3. The year I graduated from college (number 3), and 4.
The year I had a one-year subscription to Billboard magazine, a Christmas present from my mom the previous December 25 (number 6).

Drumroll, please …

10. 1995

9. 2001

8. 1999

7. 1970

6. 1984

5. 1977

4. 1979

3. 1991

2. 1987

Honorable Mentions: 2007, 1962, 1959, 1988, 1982

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Jeremy Helligar

Brother Son Husband Friend Loner Minimalist World Traveler. Author of “Is It True What They Say About Black Men?” and “Storms in Africa” https://rb.gy/3mthoj