Category Archives: Uncategorized

     Anytime an artist or band explodes on the scene with an amazing debut, the obvious question is can they back it up with a second release?  Occasionally they are good enough to hit another home run, sometimes it is a complete flop, and they are never to be heard from again, and of courseContinue reading “Van Halen “Van Halen II” (1979)”

     Another landmark album in the “punk rock” movement, we have “London Calling” from The Clash.  This double-album release is highly regarded by most, as it is rated as the #16 album on Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.  It also rates as the #4 punk rock album of all time byContinue reading “The Clash “London Calling” (1979)”

     I’m probably overlooking someone right now, but in my mind, the two rock acts most directly associated with the state of Florida are Jacksonville’s Lynyrd Skynyrd and Gainesville’s Tom Petty.  Today brings us “Damn the Torpedoes”, the third album from Petty and his band the Heartbreakers, which proved to be his breakout success.  TheContinue reading “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers “Damn The Torpedoes” (1979)”

     Another dominant band of the 1970s reached the end of the line in 1979, with their last studio release, “The Long Run”.  By this point, Randy Meisner followed Bernie Leadon out the door, and the lineup for this album included Timothy B. Schmit in his place, along with Don Henley, Glenn Frey, Don FelderContinue reading “Eagles “The Long Run” (1979)”

     As I alluded to with the Who’s release of “Who Are You”, Led Zeppelin also over-corrected a bit with the infusion of keyboards, trying to evolve their sound as the music world was changing around them.  Part of it was the desire to be different, and part of it was borne out of necessityContinue reading “Led Zeppelin “In Through the Out Door” (1979)”

     The ‘80s are right around the corner, and perhaps the biggest and most successful performer of that decade gave notice of his arrival as a solo smash superstar with the release of “Off The Wall”.  His first major release as an adult singer, free from the confines of the Jackson 5, this was alsoContinue reading “Michael Jackson “Off the Wall” (1979)”

     Today we have the next release from AC/DC, in what would prove to be their last album with singer Bon Scott, who sadly died from alcohol overdose just a few months after the release of “Highway to Hell”.  I believe my friend Jim used to make the case that this was AC/DC’s best album. Continue reading “AC/DC “Highway to Hell” (1979)”

     Back into the world of punk rock today, and unlike most of the acts I have recently covered here, I had never heard of Stiff Little Fingers before.  They come from Belfast in Northern Ireland, and bring an even more aggressive vocal tone than anything I have heard so far as punk rock continuesContinue reading “Stiff Little Fingers “Inflammable Material” (1979)”

     We end 1978 with the #1 selling album of 1979, the next release from Billy Joel, “52nd Street”.  Like his other albums, this record continues his love affair with New York City.  Like “The Stranger”, this is Billy Joel at what I consider to be his peak, and is another fantastic album.  I alsoContinue reading “Billy Joel “52nd Street” (1978)”

     There are some guitarists you can almost instantly recognize when you hear their sound.  Eddie Van Halen immediately comes to mind, and I would probably  say the same for Jimi Hendrix, The Edge from U2, and perhaps even put Jimmy Page and Keith Richards to that list.  That being said, none of them, evenContinue reading “Dire Straits “Dire Straits” (1978)”