1980 in music

Events

January

*January 1 - The year starts off with a strong disco backlash, which causes the majority of musicians to abandon the use of real instruments in an attempt to distant themselves from anything associated with disco. The decade will be dominated by electronically made music and numerous musicians who had played in disco orchestras find themselves without a job. Cliff Richard is appointed an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II. The only other pop music acts to be created MBEs are the Beatles and Elton John
*January 1 The Melbourne Music scene explodes with independent bands, with various influences from US and UK Punk/New Wave. The Zorros audition Drummer Greg Pedley on new years day.
*January 7 - At the age of 45, songwriter Larry Williams is found dead in his Los Angeles, California home of a gunshot wound to the head. Investigators are never able to determine whether his death was a murder or suicide.
*January 13 - The Beach Boys, Grateful Dead, and Jefferson Starship perform at a benefit concert at Oakland Coliseum for the people of Kampuchea.
*January 16 - Paul McCartney is arrested in Tokyo for possession of a half pound of marijuana. The remaining part of McCartney's tour had to be canceled.
*January 25 - Paul McCartney is released from a Japanese jail and is kicked out of the country by Japanese authorities.
*January - Daniel Amos and Randy Stonehill wrap up the first part of the "Amos and Randy Tour" in Toronto. Both artists are joined on stage by Larry Norman for an encore. The event makes the news on local television and newspapers.
*January - The Buggles created their Music video for their song Living in the Plastic Age.

February

*February 8 - David Bowie and his wife of nearly 10 years, Angie, file for divorce. Bowie gets custody of their 9 year old son, Zowie
*February 14 - Lou Reed marries Sylvia Morales in New York City's Greenwich Village
*February 19 - Bon Scott, lead singer of AC/DC, dies in London. Although common folklore cites pulmonary aspiration of vomit as the cause of his death, the official cause was listed as "Acute alcohol poisoning" and "Death by Misadventure".
*February 29 - Buddy Holly's trademark eyeglasses and the Big Bopper's wristwatch are "rediscovered" in old police files by the Mason City, Iowa Sheriff. Holly and the Big Bopper were killed in a plane crash on February 3, 1959 along with singer Ritchie Valens.

March

*March 1 - Patti Smith marries former MC5 member Fred "Sonic" Smith
*March 3 - Sotheby's Auction house in London auctions off a Rivera Hotel, Las Vegas napkin signed by Elvis Presley for 500 pounds. Other items auctioned included four American dollar bills autographed by the Beatles, for 220 pounds and a collection of personal letters belonging to the Rolling Stones, also for 220 pounds
*March 8-March 16 - Tbilisi Rock Festival (1980): the first state-sanctioned rock music festival in the Soviet Union.
*March 14 - Record producer Quincy Jones receives a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame
*March 19 - Elvis Presley's autopsy is subpoenaed during the trial of Dr. George Nichopoulous, who would later be found guilty of overprescribing drugs to Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and other clients.

April–December

*April 13 - The Broadway musical "Grease" closes its run of 3,388 performances, making it the longest running show on Broadway up until that time.
*April 14 - A member of the New Jersey State assembly introduces a resolution to make Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run" the official state song.
*April 17 - As the "official guests of State", Bob Marley and the Wailers perform at Zimbabwe's Independence festival. Marley calls the event the "greatest honor of my life."
*April 30 - The Roger Daltrey film, "McVicar", opens in London.
*May 18 - Ian Curtis, vocalist of pioneering post-punk group Joy Division, hangs himself in his Macclesfield home. His death comes just days before Joy Division are scheduled to begin their first U.S. tour.
*June - Rock and Roll pioneer Bill Haley performs for the last time during a tour of South Africa. After this tour, his health deteriorates and he dies in February 1981. July 1980 marks the 25th anniversary of Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" reaching No. 1 on the American singles charts.
*July 11 - Ringo Starr steps back into recording a new studio album.
*August 23 – The Heatwave festival near Toronto featured The B-52's, the Talking Heads, The Pretenders, Elvis Costello and many others.
*August 31 - Karen Carpenter marries Thomas Burris in their shortly-lived marriage of three years. "Because We Are in Love" is played at their wedding.
*September 20 - Ozzy Osbourne's breakthrough debut album Blizzard of Ozz is released in the UK.
*September 25 - Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham found dead at age 32.
*November 21 - The Eagles' Don Henley is arrested when cocaine, Quaaludes, and marijuana were found in his hotel room after a nude 16 year old prostitute had drug-related seizures. Henley is also subsequently charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
*December - Duran Duran signs with EMI after finalizing its lineup and touring as a support act for Hazel O'Connor.
*December 4 - Led Zeppelin disbands after John Bonham dies.
*December 7 - Darby Crash, leader of seminal L.A. punk band The Germs dies of a heroin overdose in a suicide pact.
*December 8 - John Lennon is shot dead outside of his apartment building in New York City.

Other events

*
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*The single "Groovy Ghost Show" by Casper is one of the first recorded hip hop music from Chicago, Illinois
*The Hee Bee Gee Bees release cutting parody of Bee Gees' disco-style single. Though not a hit in the UK, it is a huge success elsewhere, particularly in Australia, and helps to encourage the Gibb brothers to diversify stylistically
*Network Riddum Band's "Breaking Out" is the first occurrence of the term
*Phil Collins signs a contract with Atlantic Records to distribute his solo records in the US and in Europe outside the UK (on WEA label)
*Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler is injured in a motorcycle crash that leaves him hospitalized for two months.

Bands disbanded

*Seals & Crofts
*Bachman-Turner Overdrive break up (they reform periodically over the years)
*The Eagles break up (they reform in 1994)
*The Germs (later reformed in 2005 with actor Shane West as their singer)
*George Clinton dissolves Parliament-Funkadelic
*Horslips
*Gentle Giant
*The Buggles (Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes join Yes)
*The Tourists disband and become Eurythmics
*Boys Next Door disband and become The Birthday Party
*Wire disband (they reform in 1985)
*Joy Division
*Led Zeppelin

Bands formed

*Aztec Camera
*Anti-Nowhere League
*Bad Religion
*Böhse Onkelz
*Bow Wow Wow
*Depeche Mode
*The Church
*Einstürzende Neubauten
*The Fixx
*Flux of Pink Indians
*A Flock of Seagulls
*Haircut 100
*Heaven 17
*The Hooters
*Level 42
*Meat Puppets
*Mercyful Fate
*Minor Threat
*Missing Persons
*Mission of Burma
*New Model Army
*Quarterflash
*R.E.M.
*Reagan Youth
*The Sisters of Mercy
*The Smithereens
*Soft Cell
*Tom Tom Club
*The Vandals
*Warumpi Band
*The Zorros

Albums released

*"A" - Jethro Tull
*"Absolutely" - Madness
*"Ace of Spades" - Motörhead
*"Acnalbasac Noom" - Slapp Happy
*"Adventures in Utopia" - Utopia
*"After Dark" - Andy Gibb
*"Against the Wind" - Bob Seger
*"Alibi" - America
*"All Shook Up" - Cheap Trick
*"Amar Como Jesus Amou" - Jorge Ferreira
*"Animal Magnetism" - Scorpions
*"Arc of a Diver" - Steve Winwood
*"Argybargy" - Squeeze
*"Army Life" - The Exploited
*"The Art of Walking" - Pere Ubu
*"Audio Visions" - Kansas
*"Authority Stealing" - Fela Kuti
*"Autoamerican" - Blondie
*"Autumn" - George Winston
*"Avoid Freud" - Rough Trade
*"Baby's Got a Gun" - The Only Ones
*"Back in Black" - AC/DC
*"Back On The Streets" - Donnie Iris
*"Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School" - Warren Zevon
*"Barry" - Barry Manilow
*"Bass Culture" - Linton Kwesi Johnson
*"Beat Crazy" - Joe Jackson
*"Beatin' the Odds" - Molly Hatchet
*"Bebe Le Strange" - Heart
*"The Beginning" - Midnight Star
*"Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers" (EP) - Motörhead
*"The Best of Top of the Pops '80" - Top of the Poppers
*"Between a Hard Place and the Ground" - Mike Bloomfield
*"Bird Noises" - Midnight Oil
*"The Birthday Party" - The Birthday Party
*"The Black Album" - The Damned
*"Black Market Clash" - The Clash
*"Black Sea" - XTC
*"Blizzard of Ozz" - Ozzy Osbourne (solo debut)
*"Blue Angel" - Blue Angel
*"Blue Kentucky Girl" - Emmylou Harris
*"The Blues Brothers" - Original Soundtrack
*"Borderline" - Ry Cooder
*"Boy" - U2 (debut)
*"Boys Don't Cry" - The Cure
*"The Brains" - The Brains
*"British Steel" - Judas Priest
*"Brother Ray is at it Again" - Ray Charles
*"Bryan Adams" - Bryan Adams
*"Bunny Wailer Sings the Wailers" - Bunny Wailer
*"Burning Blue Soul" - Matt Johnson
*"Butcher Baby (EP)" - Plasmatics
*"Camellia III" and "Camellia IV" - Ebiet G. Ade
*"Cameosis" - Cameo
*"Carnaval" - Spyro Gyra
*"Caught You" - Steel Pulse
*"Chicago XIV" - Chicago
*"Christopher Cross" - Christopher Cross
*"Clear Approach" - Trillion
*"Closer" - Joy Division
*"Clues" - Robert Palmer
*"Coal Miner's Daughter" - Original Soundtrack
*"Colassal Youth" - Young Marble Giants
*"Come Upstairs" - Carly Simon
*"Commercial Album" - The Residents
*"Common One" - Van Morrison
*"The Concert" - Creedence Clearwater Revival (live)
*"The Correct Use of Soap" - Magazine
*"Crazy Rhythms" - The Feelies
*"Crimes of Passion" - Pat Benatar
*"Crocodiles" - Echo and the Bunnymen
*"Cultosaurus Erectus" - Blue Öyster Cult
*"The Decline of Western Civilization Soundtrack" - Various Artists
*"" - Deep Purple
*"Deface the Music" - Utopia
*"Departure" - Journey
*"Demolition" - Girlschool (debut)
*"Diana" - Diana Ross
*"A Different Kind of Tension" - The Buzzcocks
*"Dirty Mind" - Prince
*"Divine Madness" (live) - Bette Midler
*"Doc at the Radar Station" - Captain Beefheart
*"Dome 1" - Dome
*"Don't Fight It" - Red Rider
*"Double Fantasy" - John Lennon & Yoko Ono
*"Drama" - Yes
*"Drastic Measures" - 7 Seconds
*"Dream After Dream" - Journey
*"Dub Disco" - Bunny Wailer
*"Duke" - Genesis
*"Eagles Live" - The Eagles
*"Earth & Sky" - Graham Nash
*"East" - Cold Chisel
*"80/81" - Pat Metheny
*"Eje Nlogba" - King Sunny Ade
*"Elephant Parts" - Mike Nesmith
*"Emotional Rescue" - The Rolling Stones
*"Empires and Dance" - Simple Minds
*"Empty Glass" - Pete Townshend
*"End of the Century" - The Ramones
*"The European Tour" - John Coltrane
*"Exploited Barmy Army" - The Exploited
*"Faces" - Earth, Wind and Fire
*"Fame" - Original Soundtrack
*"The First, the Best and the Last" - Sham 69
*"Flash Gordon" - Queen
*"Flesh + Blood" - Roxy Music
*"Flush the Fashion" - Alice Cooper
*"The Flying Lizards" - The Flying Lizards
*"Framed" - Asleep at the Wheel
*"Freedom of Choice" - Devo
*"Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables" - Dead Kennedys
*"Full Moon" - Charlie Daniels Band
*"Gap Band III" - The Gap Band
*"The Game" - Queen
*"The Game" - Sham 69
*"Garden of Love" - Rick James
*"Gaucho" - Steely Dan
*"Gentlemen Take Polaroids" - Japan
*"Get Happy!!" - Elvis Costello
*"Give Me the Night" - George Benson
*"Glass House Rock" - Greg Kihn
*"Glass Houses" - Billy Joel
*"Go to Heaven" - The Grateful Dead
*"God Save the Queen/Under Heavy Manners" - Robert Fripp
*"The Golden Years" (EP) - Motörhead
*"Good News" - Sweet Honey in the Rock
*"Grace and Danger" - John Martyn
*"Greatest Hits" - Kenny Rogers
*"Grotesque (After the Gramme)" - The Fall
*"Group Sex" - Circle Jerks (debut)
*"Growing Up in Public" - Lou Reed
*"Guilty" - Barbra Streisand
*"Gyrate" - Pylon
*"Habibi Ana" - Samir Al-Ajani
*"Hail H.I.M." - Burning Spear
*"Hanx" - Stiff Little Fingers
*"Happy Woman Blues" - Lucinda Williams
*"Hawks & Doves" - Neil Young
*"Head Games" - Foreigner
*"Head On" - Samson
*"Heartattack and Vine" - Tom Waits
*"Heathen Earth" - Throbbing Gristle
*"Heaven and Hell" - Black Sabbath
*"Hi-Infidelity" - REO Speedwagon
*"Hideaway" - David Sanborn
*"Hold On" - Carolyne Mas
*"Hold Out" - Jackson Browne
*"Honeysuckle Rose" - Willie Nelson
*"Hot on the One" - James Brown
*"Hotter than July" - Stevie Wonder
*"Huey Lewis and the News" - Huey Lewis & The News (debut)
*"Humans" - Bruce Cockburn
*"Hypnotised" - The Undertones
*"I Am What I Am" - George Jones
*"I Believe" - The Buzzcocks
*"Ikite Itemo Iidesuka" - Miyuki Nakajima
*"Iron Maiden" - Iron Maiden (debut)
*"Immer nur träumen" - Die Flippers
*"In Concert, Zürich October 28, 1979" - Chick Corea and Gary Burton
*"In 'n' Out" - Rick James
*"In The Flat Fields" - Bauhaus
*"Inside Job" - Dion DiMucci
*"Inside My Brain - Angry Samoans (debut)
*"The Inside Story" - Robben Ford
*"INXS" - INXS
*"I Just Can't Stop It" - The English Beat
*"I'm a Rebel" - Accept
*"It's What's Inside That Counts" - Critical Mass
*"IV" - The Stranglers
*"I've Got Something to Say" - David Allan Coe
*"Jack Rabbit!" - Doug Dillard
*"The Jazz Singer" - Neil Diamond
*"Jazziz"- John Serry
*"Jealous Again" (EP) - Black Flag
*"The Jealous Kind" - Delbert McClinton
*"Joe's Garage Acts II and III" - Frank Zappa
*"John Anderson" - John Anderson
*"Joy and Pain" - Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
*"Just Like That" - Toots and the Maytals
*"Just One Night" - Eric Clapton
*"Kaleidoscope" - Siouxie and the Banshees
*"Kano" - Kano (debut)
*"Kurtis Blow" - Kurtis Blow
*"Kilamanjaro" - The Teardrop Explodes
*"Killing Joke" - Killing Joke
*"Kings of the Wild Frontier" - Adam and the Ants
*"Keeping Our Love Warm" - Captain & Tennille
*"Lady T" - Teena Marie
*"Ladies Man" - April Wine
*"Laughter" - Ian Dury and the Blockheads
*"Let's Get Serious" - Jermaine Jackson
*"Levitation" - Hawkwind
*"Lightning to the Nations" - Diamond Head
*"Little Stevie Orbit" - Steve Forbert
*"Live At Last" - Good Rats
*"Live in der Balver Höhle" - Piirpauke
*"Live In Vienna" - Cluster & Farnbauer
*"Live Seventy Nine" - Hawkwind
*"Living Dub" - Burning Spear
*"LKJ in Dub" - Linton Kwesi Johnson
*"London Calling" - The Clash (U.S. Release)
*"The Long Riders" - Ry Cooder
*"Look Hear?" - 10cc
*"Looking at Bird" - Archie Shepp
*"Loonee Tunes!" - Bad Manners
*"The Lord Will Make a Way" - Al Green
*"Los Angeles" - X
*"Loud N" Clear" - Sammy Hagar
*"Love in Exile" - Eddy Grant
*" Love Lives Forever" - Minnie Riperton
*"Love Stinks" - J. Geils Band
*"Loverboy" - Loverboy
*"Maestra Vida: Primera Parte" - Ruben Blades
*"The Magic of Boney M. - 20 Golden Hits" - Boney M.
*"Making Movies" - Dire Straits
*"Making Movies" - Dire Straits
*"Malice in Wonderland" - Nazareth
*"McCartney II" - Paul McCartney
*"Me Myself I" - Joan Armatrading
*"Metal-rendez-vous" - Krokus
*"Mekons" - The Mekons
*"Memories" - Barbra Streisand
*"Merzbild Schwet" - Nurse With Wound
*"Metamatic" - John Foxx
*"Middle Man" - Boz Scaggs
*"Mondo Bongo" - Boomtown Rats
*"Monster" - Herbie Hancock
*"More George Thorogood and the Destroyers" - George Thorogood and the Destroyers
*"More Specials" - The Specials
*"Mr. Hands" - Herbie Hancock
*"Music of Many Colors" - Fela Kuti with Roy Ayers
*"A Musical Affair" - Ashford and Simpson
*"My Babe" - Roy Buchanan
*"National Breakout" - The Romantics
*"Naughty" - Chaka Khan
*"Neutronica" - Donovan
*"Never Alone" - Amy Grant
*"Never for Ever" - Kate Bush
*"New Hope for the Wretched" - Plasmatics
*"Night Passages" - Weather Report
*"9 to 5" - Dolly Parton
*"1980" - Gil Scott Heron
*"Nothin' Matters And What If It Did" - John Cougar Mellencamp
*"Nurds" - The Roches
*"Off the Coast of Me" - Kid Creole and the Coconuts
*"Official Secrets Act" - M
*"On Through the Night" - Def Leppard
*"One Bad Habit" - Michael Franks
*"One for the Road" - The Kinks
*"One Trick Pony" - Paul Simon
*"Operation Radication" - Yellowman
*"Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark" - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
*"Organisation" - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
*"Ori Mi Ja Fun Mi" - King Sunny Ade
*"Panorama" - The Cars
*"Paradise Theater" - Styx
*"Paranoid Time" (EP) - Minutemen
*"Paris" - Supertramp
*"Paul Davis" - Paul Davis
*"People" - James Brown
*"Permanent Waves" - Rush
*"Peter Gabriel" - Peter Gabriel
*"Play" - Magazine
*"Play Me or Trade Me" - Parlet
*"Playing for Keeps" - Eddie Money
*"Pretenders" - The Pretenders (US)
*"Progressions of Power" - Triumph
*"The Psychedelic Furs" - The Psychedelic Furs
*"Rarities" - The Beatles
*"Rastakraut Pasta" - Moebius & Plank
*"Ready an' Willin"' - Whitesnake
*"Real Eyes" - Gil Scott Heron
*"Real People" - Chic
*"Real to Real Cacophony" - Simple Minds
*"Reflections" - Chet Atkins
*"Remain in Light" - Talking Heads
*"Right or Wrong" - Rosanne Cash
*"The River" - Bruce Springsteen
*"Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway" - Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
*"Rockabilly Blues" - Johnny Cash
*"Romance Dance" - Kim Carnes
*"The Romantics" - The Romantics
*"The Rose" (OST) - Bette Midler
*"Roses in the Snow" - Emmylou Harris
*"Running for my Life" - Judy Collins
*"Sacred Songs" - Daryl Hall
*"San Antonio Blues" - Willie Nelson with Ray Price
*"Sandinista!" - The Clash
*"Saved - Bob Dylan
*"Wheels of Steel" - Saxon
*"Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)" - David Bowie
*"Scream Dream" - Ted Nugent
*"Searching For The Young Soul Rebels" - Dexy's Midnight Runners
*"Second Edition" - Public Image Limited
*"Second Time Around" - The Kinks
*"Seconds of Pleasure" - Rockpile
*"Selbstportrait - Vol. II" - Hans-Joachim Roedelius
*"Selbstportrait Vol. III "Reise durch Arcadien"" - Hans-Joachim Roedelius
*"Seventeen Seconds" - The Cure
*"Shadows and Light" - Joni Mitchell
*"Signing Off" - UB40
*"The Singles Album" - UB40
*"Sinsemilla" - Black Uhuru
*"Ska 'n' B" - Bad Manners
*"Snakes and Ladders" - Gerry Rafferty
*"Snap Crackle and Bop" - John Cooper Clarke
*"Social Studies" - Carla Bley
*"Soldier" - Iggy Pop
*"Solo in Soho" - Phil Lynott
*"Something Better Change" - D.O.A.
*"Songs the Lord Taught Us" - The Cramps
*"The S.O.S. Band" - The S.O.S. Band
*"Soul Syndrome" - James Brown
*"Sound Affects" - The Jam
*"Special Things" - The Pointer Sisters
*"Spellbound" - Dennis Brown
*"Stand in the Fire" - Warren Zevon
*"Stations of the Crass" - Crass
*"Stone Jam" - Slave (band)
*"Storm Windows" - John Prine
*"Strong Arm of the Law" - Saxon
*"Suicide" - Suicide
*"Super Trouper" - ABBA
*"Sweat Band" - Sweat Band
*"The Swing of Delight" - Carlos Santana
*"Take It Easy Baby" - Buckwheat Zydeco
*"Taking Liberties" - Elvis Costello
*"The Tale of the Tape" - Billy Squier
*"Tangerine Dream" - Tangerine Dream
*"Telekon" - Gary Numan
*"Tennis" - Chris Rea
*"That's What You Get Babe" - Kevin Ayers
*"There and Back" - Jeff Beck
*"This Time" - Al Jarreau
*"Three Mantras" - Cabaret Voltaire
*"To the Quiet Men from a Tiny Girl" - Nurse With Wound
*"Tomcattin"' - Blackfoot
*"Totale's Turns (It's Now or Never) - The Fall
*"TP" - Teddy Pendergrass
*"Travelogue" - The Human League
*"" - Frank Sinatra
*"Triumph" - The Jacksons
*"Trombipulation" - Parliament
*"Truth Decay" - T-Bone Burnett
*"The Turn of a Friendly Card" - Alan Parsons Project
*"21 at 33" - Elton John
*"Two Bit Monsters" - John Hiatt
*"Ultra Wave" - Bootsy Collins
*"Underwater Moonlight" - The Soft Boys
*"Unmasked" - Kiss
*"The Up Escalator" - Graham Parker
*"Up-Front" - The Fleshtones
*"Uprising" - Bob Marley and the Wailers
*"Urban Cowboy Soundtrack - Various Artists
*"Victims of the Fury" - Robin Trower
*"The Voice of America" - Cabaret Voltaire
*"Voices" - Daryl Hall & John Oates
*"The Wanderer" - Donna Summer
*"Warm Leatherette" - Grace Jones
*"Warm Thoughts" - Smokey Robinson
*"Water's Edge" - Sweet
*"We Are...Every One of Us" - Sweet Honey in the Rock
*"What's the Word" - The Fabulous Thunderbirds
*"When Two Worlds Collide" - Jerry Lee Lewis
*"Who's Been Talking" - The Robert Cray Band
*"Wild Planet" - The B-52's
*"Willie Nile" - Willie Nile (debut)
*"Women and Children First" - Van Halen
*"Xanadu" (soundtrack by Olivia Newton-John, Electric Light Orchestra)
*"Yellow" - Gang of Four
*"Yesshows" - Yes
*"Your Cassette Pet" - Bow Wow Wow
*"Zapp" - Zapp
*"Zenyatta Mondatta" - The Police
*"Zydeco Gris Gris" - Beausoleil

Awards

*BBC Young Musician of the Year: Nicholas Daniel, oboist
*Boy Edgar Award: Rein de Graaff
*Country Music Association Awards
*Eurovision Song Contest 1980
*Grammy Awards of 1980
*Harriet Cohen International Music Award

Charts

List of Number 1 Hits

*Hot 100 number-one hits of 1980 (USA)

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest [http://tsort.info/music/yr1980.htm chart positions] in the charts of 1980.

US and UK #1 hit singles

(in chronological order)

US #1 Singles and Artist	(Weeks at #1)
"Please Don't Go" - KC & The Sunshine Band	(1)
"Escape (The Piña Colada Song)" - Rupert Holmes	(2 weeks in 1979 + 1 week in 1980)
"Rock with You" - Michael Jackson	(4)
"Do That to Me One More Time" - The Captain & Tennille	(1)
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" - Queen	(4)
"Another Brick in the Wall, Part II" - Pink Floyd	(4)
"Call Me" - Blondie	(6), best selling single of the year
"Funkytown" - Lipps Inc	(4)
"Coming Up (Live At Glasgow)" - Paul McCartney	(3)
"It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" - Billy Joel	(2)
"Magic" - Olivia Newton-John	(4)
"Sailing" - Christopher Cross	(1)
"Upside Down" - Diana Ross	(4)
"Another One Bites the Dust" - Queen	(3)
"Woman in Love" - Barbra Streisand	(3)
"Lady" - Kenny Rogers	(6)
"(Just Like) Starting Over" - John Lennon	(1 week in 1980 + 2 weeks in 1981)

UK #1 Singles and Artist	(Weeks at #1)
"Another Brick in the Wall, Part II" - Pink Floyd	(3 weeks in 1979 + 2 weeks in 1980)
"Brass in Pocket" - Pretenders	(2)
"The Special AKA Live!" - The Specials	(2)
"Coward of the County" - Kenny Rogers	(2)
"Atomic" - Blondie	(2)
"Together We Are Beautiful" - Fern Kinney	(1)
"Going Underground/The Dreams Of Children" - The Jam	(3)
"Working My Way Back to You" - Detroit Spinners	(2)
"Call Me" - Blondie	(1)
"Geno" - Dexy's Midnight Runners	(2)
"What's Another Year" - Johnny Logan	(2)
"Suicide Is Painless" (Theme From M*A*S*H)- The Mash	(3)
"Crying" - Don McLean	(3)
"Xanadu" - Olivia Newton-John & Electric Light Orchestra	(2)
"Use It Up and Wear It Out" - Odyssey	(2)
"The Winner Takes It All" - ABBA	(2)
"Ashes To Ashes" - David Bowie	(2)
"Start!" - The Jam	(1)
"Feels Like I'm in Love" - Kelly Marie	(2)
"Don't Stand So Close to Me"- The Police	(4), best selling single of the year
"Woman in Love" - Barbra Streisand	(3)
"The Tide Is High" - Blondie	(2)
"Super Trouper" - ABBA	(3)
"(Just Like) Starting Over" - John Lennon	(1)
"There's No One Quite Like Grandma" - St Winifred's School Choir	(1 week in 1980 + 1 week in 1981)

Other significant singles

*"9:30 May 2" - The Minutemen (band)
*"11 O'Clock Tick Tock" - U2
*"An Cat Dubh" - U2
*"A Day Without Me" - U2
*"Ace of Spades" - Motörhead
*"Against the Wind" - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
*"Ah! Leah!" - Donnie Iris
*"Alabama Getaway" - The Grateful Dead
*"All I Do" - Stevie Wonder
*"All Night Long" - Joe Walsh
*"All Night Long" - Rainbow
*"All Out of Love" - Air Supply
*"All Over the World" - Electric Light Orchestra
*"All The Way From America" - Joan Armatrading
*"And the Beat Goes On" - The Whispers
*"And the Cradle Will Rock..." - Van Halen
*"Animal Space" - The Slits
*"Another Day" - U2
*"Another Nail In My Heart" - Squeeze
*"Antmusic" - Adam & the Ants
*"Any Way You Want It" - Journey
*"Atmosphere/She's Lost Control" - Joy Division
*"Atomic" - Blondie
*"Atrocity Exhibition" - Joy Division
*"Babe" - Styx
*"Babooshka" - Kate Bush
*"Babylon Sisters" - Steely Dan
*"Back in Black - AC/DC
*"Back Together Again" - Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
*"Baggy Trousers" - Madness
*"Bankrobber" - The Clash
*"Barrel of Pain" - Graham Nash
*"Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" - John Lennon
*"Behind the Groove" - Teena Marie
*"Better Love Next Time" - Dr. Hook
*"Betty Lou's Gettin' Out Tonight" - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
*"The Biggest Part of Me" - Ambrosia
*"Biko" - Peter Gabriel
*"Biology" - Joe Jackson
*"Blackman Redemption" - Bob Marley and the Wailers
*"The Boat Family" - The Roches
*"Bombs Away" - The Police
*"Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)" - The Talking Heads
*"Boulevard" - Jackson Browne
*"Breakdown Dead Ahead" - Boz Scaggs
*"Breathing" - Kate Bush
*"Broken English" - Marianne Faithfull
*"Buffalo Soldier" - Bob Marley and the Wailers
*"Butcher Baby/Tight Black Pants" - Plasmatics
*"By The Author Of Psycho" - The Couch (proto-Drum and bass)
*"The Call Up" - The Clash
*"Can You Feel It" - The Jacksons
*"Canary in a Coalmine" - The Police
*"Can't Help Myself" - Flowers
*"Captain Kennedy" - Neil Young
*"Career Opportunities" - The Clash
*"Cars" - Gary Numan
*"Celebration" - Kool and the Gang
*"Chant Down Babylon" - Bob Marley and the Wailers
*"Cheap Wine" - Cold Chisel
*"Chemical Warfare" - Dead Kennedys
*"Chinatown" - Thin Lizzy
*"Cities" - The Talking Heads
*"City Hobgoblins" - The Fall (band)
*"Clampdown" - The Clash
*"Cleanup Time" - John Lennon
*"Clones (We're All)" - Alice Cooper
*"Clubland" - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
*"Columbus" - Burning Spear
*"Come Back" - J. Geils Band
*"Come to Me" - France Joli
*"Comfortably Numb" - Pink Floyd
*"Coming Up" - Paul McCartney
*"Cool Change" - Little River Band
*"Could I Have This Dance" - Anne Murray
*"Could You Be Loved" - Bob Marley and the Wailers
*"Coward Of The County" - Kenny Rogers
*"Crazy Train" - Ozzy Osbourne's Blizzard of Oz
*"Christine" - Siouxie and the Banshees
*"Crosseyed and Painless" - The Talking Heads
*"Cruisin'" - Smokey Robinson
*"Cry Blood Africans" - Burning Spear
*"Cupid/I've Loved You for a Long Time" - The Spinners
*"Dance (Pt. 1)" - The Rolling Stones
*"Dance Stance" - Dexy's Midnight Runners
*"Dancing With Myself" - Generation X
*"Decades" - Joy Division
*"Déjà Vu" - Dionne Warwick
*"Desire" - Andy Gibb
*"Disco Apocalypse" - Jackson Browne
*"Do Nothing" - The Specials
*"Do You Dream In Colour?" - Bill Nelson
*"Do You Love What You Feel" - Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
*"Do You Remember Rock And Roll Radio?" - Ramones
*"Dog Eat Dog" - Adam & the Ants
*"Don't Ask Me Why" - Billy Joel
*"Don't Bring Me Down" - Electric Light Orchestra
*"Don't Do Me Like That" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
*"Don't Ease Me In" - The Grateful Dead
*"Don't Fall In Love With a Dreamer" - Kenny Rogers & Kim Carnes
*"Don't Leave Me Now" - Pink Floyd
*"Don't Let Go" - Isaac Hayes
*"Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time For Love)" - The Isley Brothers
*"Don't Stand So Close to Me" - The Police
*"Downtown" - Tom Waits
*"Dream About Fun" - Mark White
*"Dreamer" - Supertramp
*"Drive All Night" - Bruce Springsteen
*"Driven To Tears" - The Police
*"Drivin' My Life Away" - Eddie Rabbit
*"Echo Beach" - Martha and the Muffins
*"Eighth Day" - Hazel O'Connor
*"The Electric Co." - U2
*"Embarrassment" - Madness
*"Emotional Rescue" - The Rolling Stones
*"Enjoy Yourself" - The Specials
*"Enola Gay" - OMD
*"The Eternal" - Joy Division
*"Every Time You Go Away" - Hall & Oates
*"Every Woman in the World to Me" - Air Supply
*"Everybody Wants Some" - Van Halen
*"Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime" - The Korgis
*"Expresso Love" - Dire Straits
*"Fade To Grey" - Visage
*"Fame" - Irene Cara
*"Fanmail" - The Dickies
*"Fantastic Voyage" - Lakeside
*"Fascist Architecture" - Bruce Cockburn
*"Fashion" - David Bowie
*"Fire Lake" - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
*"Fool For Your Loving" - Whitesnake
*"Forever Loving Jah" - Bob Marley and the Wailers
*"Freedom of Choice" - Devo
*"Games People Play" - Alan Parsons Project
*"Games Without Frontiers" - Peter Gabriel
*"Gates of Steel" - Devo
*"Generals and Majors" - XTC
*"Geno" - Dexy's Midnight Runners
*"Gigantor" - The Dickies
*"Gimme Some Lovin'" - The Blues Brothers
*"Girl U Want" - Devo
*"Give It All You Got" - Chuck Mangione
*"Give Me Back My Man" - The B-52's
*"Give Me the Night" - George Benson
*"Going Underground/The Dreams Of Children" - The Jam
*"The Great Curve" - The Talking Heads
*"Grim Traveller" - Bruce Cockburn
*"Guerilla Betrayed" - Bruce Cockburn
*"Guilty" - Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb
*"The Guns of Brixton" - The Clash
*"Happy Birthday" - Stevie Wonder
*"Happy House" - Siouxie and the Banshees
*"The Harder They Come" - Joe Jackson
*"The Hardest Part" - Blondie
*"Head Games" - Foreigner
*"Heart Hotels" - Dan Fogelberg
*"Heartbreaker" - Pat Benatar
*"He's So Shy" - Pointer Sisters
*"Her Strut" - Bob Seger
*"Hey Nineteen" - Steely Dan
*"Hey You" - Pink Floyd
*"High Fidelity" - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
*"Him" - Rupert Holmes
*"Hit Me With Your Best Shot" - Pat Benatar
*"Hitsville UK" - The Clash
*"Hold on Hold Out" - Jackson Browne
*"Hold on to my Love" - Jimmy Ruffin
*"Hold Out" - Jackson Browne
*"Holiday in Cambodia" - Dead Kennedys
*"Horizontal Bop" - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
*"Hot Rod Hearts" - Robbie Dupree
*"How Do I Make You" - Linda Ronstadt
*"How Does It Feel To Be Back" - Hall & Oates
*"How I Wrote 'Elastic Man'" - The Fall (band)
*"Hungry Heart" - Bruce Springsteen
*"Hurt So Bad" - Linda Ronstadt
*"I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down" - Elvis Costello
*"I Can't Tell You Why" - Eagles
*"" - Gary Numan
*"I Don't Remember" - Peter Gabriel
*"I Don't Wanna Get Drafted" - Frank Zappa
*"I Got You" - Split Enz
*"I Know" - Bob Marley
*"I'm a Rocker" - Bruce Springsteen
*"I'm Alright" - Kenny Loggins
*"I'm Coming Out" - Diana Ross
*"I'm Ready" - Kano (band)
*"I'm Happy Just to Dance with You" - Anne Murray
*"I Made It Through the Rain" - Barry Manilow
*"I Never Knew Love Like This Before" - Stephanie Mills
*"I Pledge My Love" - Peaches & Herb
*"I Wanna Be Sedated" - The Ramones
*"I Wanna Be Your Lover" - Prince
*"I Wanna Destroy You" - The Soft Boys
*"I Want To Be Straight" - Ian Dury and the Blockheads
*"I Zimbra" - The Talking Heads
*"If I Didn't Love You" - Squeeze
*"Imitation of Christ" - The Psychedelic Furs
*"In America" - Charlie Daniels Band
*"In Every Dream Home(a Nightmare)" - Joe Jackson
*"In The Beginning There Was Rhythm" - The Slits
*"Independence Day" - Bruce Springsteen
*"India" - The Psychedelic Furs
*"Inside of You" - Ray, Goodman & Brown
*"International Jet Set" - The Specials
*"Into the Heart / Out of Control" - U2
*"Isolation" - Joy Division
*"Ita" - Cold Chisel
*"It's Different For Girls" - Joe Jackson
*"It's My Turn" - Diana Ross
*"It's Still Rock and Roll to Me" - Billy Joel
*"Ivan Meets G.I. Joe" - The Clash
*"Jane" - Jefferson Starship (released in 1979)
*"Jersey Girl" - Tom Waits
*"Jesse" - Carly Simon
*"Johnny Hit and Run Pauline" - X (U.S. band)
*"JoJo" - Boz Scaggs
*"Jump Niyahbinghi" - Bob Marley and the Wailers
*"Just Can't Wait" - J. Geils Band
*"(Just Like) Starting Over" - John Lennon
*"Keep Away" - Lou Reed
*"The Kid Is Hot Tonight" - Loverboy
*"Kill the Poor" - Dead Kennedys
*"Killer On The Loose" - Thin Lizzy
*"Kinda Kute" - Joe Jackson
*"Kings of the Wild Frontier" - Adam and the Ants
*"Kiss Me In the Rain" - Barbra Streisand
*"Kiss on My List" - Hall & Oates
*"Komakino" - Joy Division
*"Landlord" - Gladys Knight and the Pips
*"The Last of the New Wave Riders" - Utopia (band)
*"Late in the Evening" - Paul Simon
*"Let Me Go" - The Rolling Stones
*"Let Me Love You Tonight" - Pure Prairie League
*"Let My Love Open The Door" - Pete Townshend
*"Let's Go Round Again" - Average White Band
*"Lip Up Fatty" - Bad Manners
*"Listening Wind" - The Talking Heads
*"Little Jeannie" - Elton John
*"Living After Midnight" - Judas Priest
*"Living Through Another Cuba" - XTC
*"The Long Run" - The Eagles
*"Longer" - Dan Fogelberg
*"London Calling" - The Clash
*"Look What You've Done to Me" - Boz Scaggs
*"Lookin' for Love" - Johnny Lee
*"Los Angeles" - X (U.S. band)
*"Lost in Art" - Pere Ubu
*"Lost in Love" - Air Supply
*"Lost in the Supermarket" - The Clash
*"Love At First Night" - Kim Hart
*"Love Canal" - Flipper
*"Love on the Rocks" - Neil Diamond
*"Love Stinks" - J. Geils Band
*"Love the World Away" - Kenny Rogers
*"Love TKO" - Teddy Pendergrass
*"Love Will Tear Us Apart" - Joy Division
*"Lovin',Touchin',Squeezin' " - Journey
*"The Magnificent Seven" - The Clash
*"Man Gave Names to All the Animals" - Bob Dylan
*"Man in a Suitcase" - The Police
*"Man Next Door" - The Slits
*"Master Blaster (Jammin')" - Stevie Wonder
*"Me Myself I" - Joan Armatrading
*"Meltdown With The Ramones(EP)" - The Ramones
*"Mirror in the Bathroom" - The Beat
*"Misunderstanding" - Genesis
*"Money (song)" - Flying Lizards
*"Money Changes Everything" - The Brains
*"Monkey Suit/Squirm(live)" - Plasmatics
*"More Love" - Kim Carnes
*"More Than I Can Say" - Leo Sayer
*"Mr. Jones" - The Psychedelic Furs
*"My Baby" - Cold Chisel
*"My Old Piano" - Diana Ross
*"My Perfect Cousin" - The Undertones
*"Nausea" - X (U.S. band)
*"Need Your Loving Tonight" - Queen
*"New Amsterdam" - Elvis Costello
*"Nie mehr allein sein" - Tony Holiday
*"No One Driving" - John Foxx
*"No Self Control" - Peter Gabriel
*"The Ocean" - U2
*"Off the Wall" - Michael Jackson
*"Oh Yeah (On The Radio)" - Roxy Music
*"The Old Homestead" - Neil Young
*"Old Pervert" - The Soft Boys
*"On the Radio" - Donna Summer
*"Once in a Lifetime" - The Talking Heads
*"One Fine Day" - Carole King
*"One in a Million You" - Larry Graham
*"Out in the Street" - Bruce Springsteen
*"Over You" - Roxy Music
*"Paranoid Time" - The Minutemen (band)
*"Party Out of Bounds" - The B-52's
*"People Who Died" - The Jim Carroll Band
*"Pilot of the Airwaves" - Charlie Dore
*"Play The Game" - Queen
*"Poison Ivy" - The Lambrettas
*"Police and Thieves" - Junior Murvin
*"Police on my Back" - The Clash
*"The Pop Group" - The Slits
*"Pop Muzik" - M (band)
*"Private Idaho" - The B-52's
*"Private Life" - Grace Jones
*"Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)" - Squeeze
*"The Puppet – Echo & the Bunnymen
*"Putta Block" - The Fall (band)
*"Quiche Lorraine" - The B-52's
*"Rastaman Live Up!" - Bob Marley
*"Rat Race" - The Specials
*"Real Love" - The Doobie Brothers
*"Real Situation" - Bob Marley
*"Rebel Waltz" - The Clash
*"Redemption Song" - Bob Marley and the Wailers
*"Refugee" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
*"Requiem" - Killing Joke
*"Rescue" - Echo & the Bunnymen
*"Respectable Street" - XTC
*"Ride Like The Wind" - Christopher Cross
*"Rise" - Herb Alpert
*"Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" - AC/DC
*"Rock Lobster" - The B-52s
*"Rocket From a Bottle" - XTC
*"Romeo and Juliet" - Dire Straits
*"Romeo's Tune" - Steve Forbert
*"The Rose" - Bette Midler
*"Rosie" - Joan Armatrading
*"Rough Boys" - Pete Townshend
*"Rudy Can't Fail" - The Clash
*"Run Like Hell" - Pink Floyd (released in 1979)
*"Sara" - Fleetwood Mac
*"Sargent Rock (Is Going To Help Me)" - XTC
*"Save Me" - Queen
*"Saved" - Bob Dylan
*"The Second time Around" - Shalamar
*"September Morn" - Neil Diamond
*"Set Me Free" - Utopia (band)
*"Seven Bridges Road" - The Eagles
*"Sexy Eyes" - Dr. Hook
*"Shadows in the Rain" - The Police
*"She's Out of My Life" - Michael Jackson
*"She's So Cold" - The Rolling Stones
*"Shining Star" - The Manhattans
*"Simon Templar/Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps" - Splodgenessabounds
*"Singing In The 80's" - The Monitors
*"Sister Europe" - The Psychedelic Furs
*"Six Pack (EP)" - The Police
*"Skateaway" - Dire Straits
*"Sleeping With the Television On" - Billy Joel
*"So Lonely" - The Police
*"Sock It To 'em J.B." - The Specials
*"Solid Rock" - Bob Dylan
*"Sometimes a Fantasy" - Billy Joel
*"Spanish bombs" - The Clash
*"The Special AKA Live EP" - The Specials
*"Special Brew" - Bad Manners
*"Special Lady" - Ray, Goodman & Brown
*"Spirit of Radio" - Rush
*"Staring at the Rude Boys" - The Ruts
*"Start" - The Jam
*"State of the Heart" - Mondo Rock
*"Stayin' Power" - Neil Young
*"Steal Away" - Robbie Dupree
*"Stereotype" - The Specials
*"Stiff Necked Fools" - Bob Marley and the Wailers
*"Stomp" - The Brothers Johnson
*"Stop the Cavalry" - Jona Lewie
*"Stop Your Sobbing" - The Pretenders
*"Stories For Boys" - U2
*"Strangers on a Train" - The Sports
*"Strobe Light" - The B-52's
*"Super Trouper" - ABBA
*"Take This Town" - XTC
*"Take Your Time (Do It Right)" - The S.O.S. Band
*"Talk of the Town" - The Pretenders
*"Tattooed Love Boys" - The Pretenders
*"Teach the Gifted Children" - Lou Reed
*"Tears of a Clown" - The English Beat
*"Tell It Like It Is" - Heart
*"Ten Feet Tall" - XTC
*"Three Little Birds" - Bob Marley and the Wailers
*"That Girl Could Sing" - Jackson Browne
*"The Tide Is High" - Blondie
*"Theme from New York, New York" - Frank Sinatra
*"Think About Me" - Fleetwood Mac
*"This Feminine Position" - The Roches
*"This is it" - Kenny Loggins
*"Time Out of Mind" - Steely Dan
*"Tired of Toein' the Line" - Rocky Burnette
*"To Cut A Long Story Short" - Spandau Ballet
*"Too Hot" - Kool and the Gang
*"Totally Wired" - The Fall (band)
*"Touch" - U2
*"Touch and Go" - The Cars
*"Touch Too Much (Live)" - AC/DC
*"Towers of London" - XTC
*"Train in Vain" - The Clash (released in 1979)
*"Treat me right" - Pat Benetar
*"Tunnel of Love" - Dire Straits
*"Turn It On Again" - Genesis
*"Turn Me Loose" - Loverboy
*"Turn Out the Light" - Joan Armatrading
*"Turning Japanese" - The Vapors
*"Twilight" - U2
*"Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone" - The Manhattan Transfer
*"The Wanderer" - Donna Summer
*"Underpass" - John Foxx
*"Voices Inside My Head" - The Police
*"Wait For Me" - Hall & Oates
*"Wait Til Your Boat Goes Down" - XTC
*"Wardance" - Killing Joke
*"Washington Bullets" - The Clash
*"Watching the Wheels" - John Lennon
*"Watching You" - Slave (band)
*"We Are Glass" - Gary Numan
*"We Don't Talk Anymore" - Cliff Richard
*"Wedding Cake Island" - Midnight Oil
*"Wednesday Week" - The Undertones
*"When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best of What's Still Around" - The Police
*"Whip It" - Devo
*"Whole Lotta Rosie (Live)" - AC/DC
*"Why Don't You Kill Yourself" - The Only Ones
*"Why Me?" - Styx
*"With You I'm Born Again" - Billy Preston & Syreeta Wright
*"Woman" - John Lennon
*"Working My Way Back to You" - The Spinners
*"Wrong 'Em Boyo" - The Clash
*"Yes, I'm Ready" - Teri Desario with KC
*"You Better Run" - Pat Benatar
*"You Lost That Loving Feeling" - Hall and Oates
*"You May Be Right" - Billy Joel
*"You Shook Me All Night Long" - AC/DC
*"You'll Accomp'ny Me" - Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
*"You'll Always Find Me In The Kitchen At Parties" - Jona Lewie
*"You'll Have to Go Sideways" - The Soft Boys
*"Young Miles in the Basement" - Pere Ubu
*"Your Phones Off the Hook, But You're Not" - X (U.S. band)
*"You're Gonna Get What's Coming" - Bonnie Raitt
*"You're Only Lonely" - J.D. Souther
*"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - Hall & Oates

Published popular music

* "Come Follow the Band" w. Michael Stewart m. Cy Coleman from the musical "Barnum"
* "Desire" w.m. Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb & Robin Gibb
* "Do Right" w.m. Paul Davis
* "Fame" w. Dean Pitchford m. Michael Gore
* "He's So Shy" w. Cynthia Weil m. Tom Snow
* "Memory" w. T. S. Eliot & Trevor Nunn m. Andrew Lloyd Webber from the musical "Cats"
* "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" w.m. Sharon Vaughan
* "Never Knew Love Like This Before" w.m. James Mtume & Reginald Lucas
* "Nine to Five" w.m. Dolly Parton from the film "Nine to Five"
* "No Night So Long" w. Will Jennings m. Richard Kerr
* "The Winner Takes It All" w.m. Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus

Classical music

*George Crumb - "A Little Suite for Christmas, A.D. 1979" for piano
*Mario Davidovsky - "Consorts" for symphonic band
*Mario Davidovsky - "String Quartet No. 4"
*Trygve Madsen - "Sonata for Tuba and Piano"
*Krzysztof Penderecki - "Symphony No. 2 - "Christmas"

Opera

*Philip Glass - "Satyagraha"
*Kirke Mechem - "Tartuffe"
*William Mathias - "The Servants" (libretto by Iris Murdoch)
*David Warrack - "Drummer"

Musical theater

* "Barnum" Broadway production opened at the St. James Theatre on April 30 and ran for 854 performances
* "Brigadoon" (Lerner & Loewe) - Broadway revival opened at the Majestic Theatre on October 16 and ran for 133 performances

* "Camelot" (Lerner & Loewe) - Broadway revival opened at the New York State Theatre on July 8 and ran for 56 performances
* "Colette" London production opened at the Comedy Theatre on September 24 and ran for 47 performances
* "A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine" Broadway production opened at the John Golden Theatre on April 2 and transferred to the Royale Theatre on June 17 for a total run of 588 performances
* "Forty-Second Street" Broadway production opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on August 25, transferred to the Majestic Theatre on March 30, 1981 and transferred to the St. James Theatre on April 7, 1987 for a total run of 3486 performances
* "The Life and Adventures Of Nicholas Nickleby" London production opened at the Aldwych Theatre on June 5
* "On The Twentieth Century" London production opened at Her Majesty's Theatre on March 19 and ran for 165 performances
* "Sweeney Todd" (Stephen Sondheim) - London production opened at the Drury Lane Theatre on July 2 and ran for 157 perofrmances
*"The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg" London production opened at the Phoenix Theatre on April 10
* "West Side Story" (Leonard Bernstein) - Broadway revival opened at the Minskoff Theatre on February 14 and ran for 333 performances

Musical films

* "Can't Stop the Music"
* "Disco Godfather"
* "Fame"
* "Popeye"
* "Xanadu"

Births

*January 25 - Alicia Keys
*January 28 - Nick Carter, The Backstreet Boys
*February 15 - Conor Oberst, Bright Eyes
*February 18 - Regina Spektor
*February 27 - Cyrus Bolooki, New Found Glory
*March 21 - Deryck Whibley, Sum 41
*March 31 - Maaya Sakamoto, Japanese singer
*April 12 - Brian McFadden, Westlife
*April 29 - Kian Egan, Westlife
*May 28 - Mark Feehily, Westlife
*June 20 - Tony Lovato, Mest
*June 26 - Jason Schwartzman, Phantom Planet
*July 10 - Jessica Simpson
*July 20 - Mike Kennerty, The All-American Rejects
*July 23 - Michelle Williams, Destiny's Child
*July 26 - Dave Baksh, Sum 41
*September 11 - Mikey Way, My Chemical Romance
*September 13 - Teppei Teranishi, Thrice
*October 5 - Paul Thomas, Good Charlotte
*October 12 - Soledad Pastorutti
*October 24 - Monica, R&B singer
*November 17 - Clarke Isaac Hanson, Hanson
*November 18 - Dustin Kensrue, Thrice
*December 10
**Sarah Chang, violinist
**Chris Gaynor, The All-American Rejects
*December 18 - Christina Aguilera

Deaths

*January 2 - Larry Williams
*January 6 - Poley McClintock, jazz musician
*January 7 - Carl White, the Rivingtons
*January 29 - Jimmy Durante pianist & entertainer
*January 30 - Professor Longhair pianist
*February 19 - Bon Scott, lead singer of AC/DC, alcohol poisoning
*March 26 - Jon Paulus (32), the Buckinghams, drug overdose
*March 26 - Ted Shapiro, songwriter & pianist
*March 28 - Dick Haymes, (63), Argentinian-born US singer and actor
*March 30 - Annunzio Mantovani, Italian-born British orchestra leader and composer
*April 28 - Tommy Caldwell, Marshall Tucker Band, car accident
*May 18 - Ian Curtis, lead singer of Joy Division, suicide by hanging
*June 16 - Bob Nolan, country singer and songwriter
*June 20 - Allan Pettersson, Swedish composer
*June 21 - Bert Kaempfert, German composer, bandleader and arranger
*June 27 - Barney Bigard, jazz clarinetist
*June 28 - Jose Iturbi, pianist
*July 5 - A. J. Potter, Irish composer
*July 15 - Ben Selvin, "The Dean of Recorded Music"
*July 23 - Keith Godchaux, Grateful Dead, car accident
*August 17 - Harold Adamson, lyricist
*August 20 - Joe Dassin, singer, heart attack
*September 12 - Lillian Randolph, actress and singer
*September 15 - Bill Evans (51), jazz pianist
*September 25 - John Bonham, Led Zeppelin
*October 27 - Steve Peregrin Took, bongo player for Tyrannosaurus Rex, choking
*December 7 - Darby Crash, The Germs, suicide
*December 8 - John Lennon, The Beatles, gunshot
*December 29 - Tim Hardin, Singer Songwriter - If I Were A Carpenter Heroin Overdose.
* Georgeanna Tillman - The Marvelettes

ee also

* List of musical events