B-Side Guys

The Best Albums of 1979

Every album of 1979, ranked by B-Side Breakdown: the reviews from 38 outlets we trust, put on one 0–100 scale. An album needs at least 5 reviews to make the list.

Album cover for Metal Box by Public Image Ltd.Number one of 1979Public Image Ltd.Metal Box98 A+8 critics · 100% approval · Unanimous · A-Side
Average Breakdown85across 1979's albums. That's higher than 98% of the other years here.
Liked83%of 1979's albums scored 75 or higher. Across every year it's 50%.
Most divisiveDividedBlondie, Eat to the Beat split the critics more than any other album of the year.A-Sides20%of 1979's albums earned an A-Side. Across every year it's 6%.
  1. 1Album cover for Metal Box by Public Image Ltd.
    Public Image Ltd.Metal BoxNovember 1979 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  2. 2Album cover for Entertainment! by Gang of Four
    Gang of FourEntertainment!September 25, 1979 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  3. 3Album cover for London Calling by The Clash
    The ClashLondon CallingDecember 14, 1979 · 10 reviews · 90% approval · Broad agreement
    97A+
  4. 4Album cover for The Specials by The Specials
    The SpecialsThe SpecialsOctober 19, 1979 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    96A
  5. 5Album cover for Fear of Music by Talking Heads
    Talking HeadsFear of MusicAugust 3, 1979 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    96A
  6. 6Album cover for Tusk by Fleetwood Mac
    Fleetwood MacTuskOctober 12, 1979 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  7. 7Album cover for Risqué by Chic
    ChicRisquéJuly 30, 1979 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    89B+
  8. 8Album cover for 154 by Wire
    Wire154September 21, 1979 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    89B+
  9. 9Album cover for Cut by The Slits
    The SlitsCutSeptember 1979 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    89B+
  10. 10Album cover for The Undertones by The Undertones
    The UndertonesThe UndertonesMay 1979 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    88B+

How 1979 grades

Share of albums at each letter grade. A is 90 and up, F is below 60.

1979

A20%
B57%
C20%
D3%
F0%

Every year

A6%
B25%
C37%
D21%
F10%
  1. 11Album cover for Damn the Torpedoes by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
    Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersDamn the TorpedoesOctober 19, 1979 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    88B+
  2. 12Album cover for Bad Girls by Donna Summer
    Donna SummerBad GirlsApril 25, 1979 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    88B+
  3. 13Album cover for Live at the Witch Trials by The Fall
    The FallLive at the Witch TrialsMarch 16, 1979 · 5 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  4. 14Album cover for The Pleasure Principle by Gary Numan
    Gary NumanThe Pleasure PrincipleSeptember 7, 1979 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  5. 15Album cover for Highway to Hell by AC/DC
    AC/DCHighway to HellJuly 27, 1979 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  6. 16Album cover for Broken English by Marianne Faithfull
    Marianne FaithfullBroken English1979 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    86B
  7. 17Album cover for A Different Kind of Tension by Buzzcocks
    BuzzcocksA Different Kind of TensionSeptember 1979 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Broad agreement
    84B
  8. 18Album cover for One Step Beyond… by Madness
    MadnessOne Step Beyond…October 19, 1979 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Broad agreement
    84B
  9. 19Album cover for Candy-O by The Cars
    The CarsCandy-OJune 12, 1979 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    84B
  10. 20Album cover for Overkill by Motörhead
    MotörheadOverkillMarch 24, 1979 · 7 reviews · 57% approval · Divided
    83B
  11. 21Album cover for (GI) by The Germs
    The Germs(GI)October 1979 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Broad agreement
    83B
  12. 22Album cover for Machine Gun Etiquette by The Damned
    The DamnedMachine Gun EtiquetteNovember 2, 1979 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Divided
    82B-
  13. 23Album cover for Is This Real? by Wipers
    WipersIs This Real?1979 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Unanimous
    80B-
  14. 24Album cover for Reggatta de Blanc by The Police
    The PoliceReggatta de BlancOctober 5, 1979 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Some debate
    78C+
  15. 25Album cover for Eat to the Beat by Blondie
    BlondieEat to the BeatSeptember 28, 1979 · 7 reviews · 57% approval · Divided
    77C+

Where 1979 sits

Average Breakdown, for albums with five or more reviews.

Next to the years around it

197784
197882
1979 (this year)85
198082
  1. 26Album cover for Breakfast in America by Supertramp
    SupertrampBreakfast in AmericaMarch 16, 1979 · 7 reviews · 57% approval · Some debate
    73C
  2. 27Album cover for The Bells by Lou Reed
    Lou ReedThe BellsApril 20, 1979 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Some debate
    72C-
  3. 28Album cover for New Values by Iggy Pop
    Iggy PopNew ValuesApril 20, 1979 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Divided
    72C-
  4. 29Album cover for Duty Now for the Future by Devo
    DevoDuty Now for the FutureJune 7, 1979 · 6 reviews · 33% approval · Broad agreement
    70C-
  5. 30Album cover for The Long Run by Eagles
    EaglesThe Long RunSeptember 24, 1979 · 6 reviews · 33% approval · Some debate
    65D
  1. 1Album cover for Metal Box by Public Image Ltd.
    Public Image Ltd.Metal BoxNovember 1979 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  2. 2Album cover for Entertainment! by Gang of Four
    Gang of FourEntertainment!September 25, 1979 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    98A+
  3. 3Album cover for Fear of Music by Talking Heads
    Talking HeadsFear of MusicAugust 3, 1979 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Unanimous
    96A
  4. 4Album cover for Tusk by Fleetwood Mac
    Fleetwood MacTuskOctober 12, 1979 · 8 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    90A-
  5. 5Album cover for 154 by Wire
    Wire154September 21, 1979 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    89B+
  6. 6Album cover for Cut by The Slits
    The SlitsCutSeptember 1979 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    89B+
  7. 7Album cover for The Undertones by The Undertones
    The UndertonesThe UndertonesMay 1979 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    88B+
  8. 8Album cover for Damn the Torpedoes by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
    Tom Petty and the HeartbreakersDamn the TorpedoesOctober 19, 1979 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    88B+
  9. 9Album cover for The Pleasure Principle by Gary Numan
    Gary NumanThe Pleasure PrincipleSeptember 7, 1979 · 7 reviews · 100% approval · Broad agreement
    87B+
  10. 10Album cover for Highway to Hell by AC/DC
    AC/DCHighway to HellJuly 27, 1979 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Some debate
    87B+
  11. 11Album cover for One Step Beyond… by Madness
    MadnessOne Step Beyond…October 19, 1979 · 7 reviews · 86% approval · Broad agreement
    84B
  12. 12Album cover for Candy-O by The Cars
    The CarsCandy-OJune 12, 1979 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Some debate
    84B
  13. 13Album cover for Reggatta de Blanc by The Police
    The PoliceReggatta de BlancOctober 5, 1979 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Some debate
    78C+
  14. 14Album cover for Eat to the Beat by Blondie
    BlondieEat to the BeatSeptember 28, 1979 · 7 reviews · 57% approval · Divided
    77C+
  15. 15Album cover for Breakfast in America by Supertramp
    SupertrampBreakfast in AmericaMarch 16, 1979 · 7 reviews · 57% approval · Some debate
    73C
  16. 16Album cover for The Bells by Lou Reed
    Lou ReedThe BellsApril 20, 1979 · 5 reviews · 40% approval · Some debate
    72C-
  17. 17Album cover for New Values by Iggy Pop
    Iggy PopNew ValuesApril 20, 1979 · 5 reviews · 60% approval · Divided
    72C-
  18. 18Album cover for Duty Now for the Future by Devo
    DevoDuty Now for the FutureJune 7, 1979 · 6 reviews · 33% approval · Broad agreement
    70C-
  19. 19Album cover for The Long Run by Eagles
    EaglesThe Long RunSeptember 24, 1979 · 6 reviews · 33% approval · Some debate
    65D
  1. 1Album cover for London Calling by The Clash
    The ClashLondon CallingDecember 14, 1979 · 10 reviews · 90% approval · Broad agreement
    97A+
  2. 2Album cover for A Different Kind of Tension by Buzzcocks
    BuzzcocksA Different Kind of TensionSeptember 1979 · 8 reviews · 88% approval · Broad agreement
    84B
  3. 3Album cover for Overkill by Motörhead
    MotörheadOverkillMarch 24, 1979 · 7 reviews · 57% approval · Divided
    83B
  4. 4Album cover for (GI) by The Germs
    The Germs(GI)October 1979 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Broad agreement
    83B
  5. 5Album cover for Machine Gun Etiquette by The Damned
    The DamnedMachine Gun EtiquetteNovember 2, 1979 · 8 reviews · 75% approval · Divided
    82B-
  6. 6Album cover for Is This Real? by Wipers
    WipersIs This Real?1979 · 6 reviews · 83% approval · Unanimous
    80B-

← 1978 · Every year, back to the 1950s · 1980 →

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