10 Songs To Bring You Back To The Summer Of 1979

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Do you remember the summer of 1979? For some, it may seem like another lifetime. It pretty much was. I graduated from high school in June 1979, so for me, that summer was filled with questions about where life was headed. But you never forget the songs from summers like that, and this article looks at 10 songs we think will take you back to the last summer of the 1970s. It was an interesting one for so many reasons. Starting out in June, McDonald’s introduced the Happy Meal. That’s something you probably never would have remembered. Also in sports, the Seattle SuperSonics won the NBA Championship. Sadly, during the summer of 1979, the Yankees lost Thurman Munson in a plane crash. It would be the last summer of Jimmy Carter’s presidency.

On July 12, the rock and roll world finally fought back against the domination of disco that had driven so many people crazy. At Chicago’s Comiskey Park, rock station WLUP hosted a Disco Demolition Night in which people burned disco records on the field. If you were driving during the summer of 1979, you might remember gas rationing due to the Iranian Hostage Crisis. The United States enacted a law stating you could only buy gas on odd or even days, depending on the last digit of your license plate. And, of course, we must note that as far as US currency goes, on July 2, the United States introduced the Susan B. Anthony dollar.

Since this is a rock and roll site, we try to stick more towards the rock songs that were big during the summer of 79. However, from a historical perspective on pop music, we should note that a few other songs were massively successful outside the rock and roll world during the summer of 1979. That would include “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer, which went to number one on July 14, and “Boogie Wonderland” and “After the Love Has Gone” by Earth, Wind & Fire, both of which were top 10 hits during the summer of 1979.

One of the summer’s biggest hits was Nile Rodgers and Chic’s “Good Times,” which reached number one on August 18. Anita Ward’s “Ring My Bell” hit number one in June, and Barbra Streisand’s “The Main Event” reached number three in July. Dr. Hook’s “When You’re in Love with a Beautiful Woman” hit number six in August.

Do you remember the song by Raydio called “You Can’t Change That,” which also was a top 10 hit in August? Then there was Maxine Nightingale’s “Lead Me On,” which was a top 10 hit towards the end of the summer.

Of course, there was Elton John with his Philadelphia-inspired soulful tune “Mama Can’t Buy You Love,” which was also a top 10 hit in August of 1979. And, of course, Led Zeppelin released their final studio album In Through the Out Door. Many more songs filled the airwaves that weren’t top 10 hits or maybe didn’t even break into the Billboard Hot 100. There’s so much music to look back at during that summer. Nonetheless, we thought we would pick 10 pretty popular ones that had an impact in more ways than one.

# 10 – Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) – Neil Young

Opening our 10 Songs to Bring You Back to the Summer of 1979 article is a roaring, intense rocker by Neil Young, “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black).” The song was released on June 22, 1979. The recording lineup for “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)” included Neil Young on vocals and guitar, with backing from Crazy Horse, consisting of Frank Sampedro on guitar, Billy Talbot on bass, and Ralph Molina on drums. The track opens with a thunderous guitar riff that sets the tone for Young’s raw, introspective lyrics, delivered with a haunting, almost prophetic edge. This one just blew us all away. What an album this was.

# 9 – Rock Lobster – The B-52s

After the first half of 1979, dominated by disco hits on the radio, especially by the likes of Donna Summer and the Bee Gees, rock music started to make a comeback in the summer of 1979. A new sound called New Wave had been brewing for a while, and no band represented it better than the B-52s. Their debut album was released on July 6, 1979, and radio stations immediately began playing one of the most original rock songs we had ever heard: the debut single “Rock Lobster.” At the time, the band consisted of Kate Pierson on vocals, keyboards, and bass, Cindy Wilson on vocals, Fred Schneider on vocals, Keith Strickland on drums, and Ricky Wilson on guitars.

# 8 – The Devil Went Down to Georgia – Charlie Daniels Band

This one was a big hit everywhere. Charlie Daniels Band had gotten into the mainstream many years earlier with “Uneasy Rider,” but this song catapulted the group worldwide across all charts. The song was released on the album Million Mile Reflections. “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by the Charlie Daniels Band is a vibrant and captivating fusion of Southern rock and country that tells a gripping story of a fiddle contest between a young man named Johnny and the Devil.

# 7 – The Logical Song – Supertramp

Supertramp had a great run in the late 1970s with a couple of very successful albums. “The Logical Song” was released on Supertramp’s 1979 album Breakfast in America. . Written by band member Roger Hodgson, the song’s lyrics delve into the nature of education, juxtaposing youthful wonder and curiosity against the demands of societal structure. Recorded between May and December 1978 at The Village Recorder in Los Angeles, Breakfast in America was crafted under the careful production of Supertramp, with Peter Henderson co-producing.

# 6 – Sad Eyes – Robert John

It may not be pure rock and roll, but it’s such a perfect pop song that we just had to include this one on the list. Definitely one of the most addictive melodies and choruses we’ve ever heard. And how could someone sing that high? Robert John’s song “Sad Eyes” was released in April of 1979. It hit the top 10 in August and then peaked at number one in October. So, pretty much, it was all over the radio that summer. The Knack’s “My Sharona” spent six weeks at number one beginning during the summer of 1979. That run was finally ended by Robert John’s “Sad Eyes.”

# 5 – Don’t Bring Me Down – Electric Light Orchestra

The music of Jeff Lynne’s Electric Light Orchestra will always fuel the memories of those of us who grew up in the 1970s. There was always something so strangely magical about ELO’s music. These guys worked hard, constantly releasing new material and touring, showcasing amazing light shows and stunning live productions. “Don’t Bring Me Down” was released on Electric Light Orchestra’s Discovery album, which was released in June of 1979. It was the second single from the album, as “Shine a Little Love” had become a hit earlier in the summer. “Don’t Bring Me Down” was released on August 25, but it did not peak until the first week of September, when it reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100.

# 4 – Gold – John Stewart

This is one of those songs that you probably forgot about. You haven’t heard it for a long time, and then suddenly, it pops up on the radio, and then you go, “Oh yeah, I remember this song. I loved this song.” John Stewart is one of those artists whom many people do not realize had such a successful musical career. He released fifty studio albums on his own. He was an original member of the Kingston Trio in the early 1960s. He wrote a huge Monkees hit, “Daydream Believer.” The man had a truly successful musical career. Nonetheless, this was a really special song that I think most of you will remember; it also featured Stevie Nicks on background vocals. John Stewart’s single “Gold” was released on July 14. It would peak at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 4.

# 3 – I Want You to Want Me – Cheap Trick

If you’re a classic rock fan, you’re probably a Cheap Trick fan. I don’t know how anybody can love classic rock music and not love Cheap Trick. This band had everything: perfect power-pop songs, great rock-and-roll playing, brilliant musicianship, stunning vocals, and a very cool, unique look. The song “I Want You to Want Me” was originally released in September 1977 on their second album, In Color. However, it was the live version from Cheap Trick at Budokan that became a hit. This song was huge during the summer of 1979. It peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 on July 21st.

# 2 – Chuck E’s in Love – Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee Jones’ arrival on the music scene was a breath of fresh, cool air for rock fans. Rickie Lee Jones was so unique in the way she sang her own songs and in her personal style—or at least the style she presented on stage. She was perfect for the late 1970s. Even the album cover was just so cool. This song was released on June 9th. It would peak about one month later, right after the 4th of July, on July 7, hitting number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Rickie Lee Jones was definitely “Coolsville.” She would be no flash in the pan, as she has had a long, distinguished, and wonderful musical career.

# 1 – My Sharona – The Knack

If there were ever a song that could remind you of the summer of 1979, or perhaps of the entire year, it would be The Knack’s “My Sharona.” That opening bass line, the sound of those drums, and everything else about this song are just so memorable. It’s just one of those songs you never get tired of. The album was released on June 18, 1979. The single was released on August 4. It hit number one on August 25. It’s interesting, but sometimes a song like this becomes so big, so popular, and has never gone away that you almost forget the first time you heard it. It almost loses its historical significance because it has just become part of pop culture forever.