Last month, in the final part of the year-long series on the singles charts of 1983, I promised that the next series along such a theme would be a 45-year look back at the 45s that were making all the noise in 1979. The difference being that I won’t be looking at the charts in any depth, but aiming instead to celebrate (mostly) those post-punk/new wave/alt singles which attracted the attention of the record-buying public. Makes sense to start in January…..
mp3: Ian Dury and The Blockheads – Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
Released in November 1978, it enjoyed a gradual climb up the charts to eventually reach #1 on 21 January, having patiently waited its turn for a couple of weeks at #2 behind Y.M.C.A, by The Village People. It has proved to be one of the most memorable, engaging, enduring and enjoyable singles of the era of appeal to music fans of all ages and with all tastes. And one of the few songs in which I don’t mind a sax solo.
mp3: Chic – Le Freak
Another that had been released in November 78 but reached its peak of #7 in January 79. It commemorates Studio 54 in New York City for its notoriously long customer waiting lines, exclusive clientele, and discourteous bouncers. According to Nile Rodgers, the song was devised during New Year’s Eve 1977, as a result of his and Bernard Edwards’ being refused entrance to the nightclub, where they had been invited by Grace Jones, due to her failure to notify the nightclub’s staff. The lyrics of the refrain were originally “Fuck off!” as that was what the bouncer had said as he slammed the door closed.
mp3: Funkadelic – One Nation Under A Groove
The only hit single in the UK for Funkadelic, and from what was their tenth album, having started out in 1970. I wasn’t quite 16 years of age at this point in time, and my musical tastes were still evolving. I didn’t know too much about funk, but I recognised immediately that this was a very special sounding track.
mp3: The Clash – Tommy Gun
It peaked at #19 in the final chart of the previous year, but was still hanging around during January, and indeed beyond. As Joe Strummer would late explain in the liner notes to the Clash On Broadway box set, he got the idea to write “Tommy Gun” when it occurred to him that terrorists – like rock and movie stars – probably enjoy reading the press about their so-called triumphs. Memorable in the main for Topper Headon’s drumming sounding like a machine gun as much as the lyrics condemning mindless violence.
mp3: Buzzcocks – Promises
This peaked at #20 in the final chart of the previous year, but was still just about hanging around into January. It was the band’s seventh single, and had maintained the momentum, of Ever Fallen In Love…and indeed was a song in a similar vein, given it dealt with a love affair gone wrong. There were no longer any hard and fast rules that such songs had to be sloppy.
mp3: Blondie – Hanging On The Telephone
This just qualifies and no more. It was a big hit (#5) in November 1978 but thanks to its 11-week stay in the Top 7 meant it was still listed come January. A fast and frantic cover version, it was the second single to be lifted from Parallel Lines….the real biggie was just about to hit the shops.
mp3: X-Ray Spex- Germ Free Adolescents
As with the above 45, this qualifies and no more. It had reached #19 in November 1978 but thanks to what proved to a 12-week stay in the Top 75, it was still listed come January. A single from an album by a band whom I grew to only really appreciate in later years upon realising how much of an influence it all was on what was to come.
The intention had been to cover all of the month in one post, but having already hit seven absolute belters from just the first week of the singles chart of January 1979, it’s probably a good idea to draw breath.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 