1980 in music

List of years in music (table)
Years in music: 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983
Centuries: 19th century · 20th century · 21st century
Decades: 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
Years: 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1980.

Events

January–March

April–June

July–September

October–December

Also in 1980

Bands formed

See Category:Musical groups established in 1980

Bands disbanded

See Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1980

Albums released

January – March

Date Album Artist Notes
J
A
N
U
A
R
Y
4 The Romantics The Romantics
14 Permanent Waves Rush Sometimes claimed to be released on the 1st
18 Just Testing Wishbone Ash -
Metamatic John Foxx
19 Pretenders The Pretenders
28 Love Stinks The J. Geils Band
30 Air Pocket Roger Powell
? God Save the Queen/Under Heavy Manners Robert Fripp -
Is This Real? Wipers -
No Place to Run UFO -
The Return of the Durutti Column The Durutti Column
Rockin' into the Night 38 Special -
Sheer Greed Girl
Short Stories Jon and Vangelis -
Sit Down and Talk to Me Lou Rawls -
Un Peu de l'Âme des Bandits Aksak Maboul -
Union Jacks The Babys -
F
E
B
R
U
A
R
Y
4 End of the Century Ramones
5 Boys Don't Cry The Cure
10 The Age of Plastic The Buggles
12 Bryan Adams Bryan Adams
14 Bebe le Strange Heart
Lady T Teena Marie -
15 Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School Warren Zevon
...But the Little Girls Understand The Knack
Earth & Sky Graham Nash
Get Happy!! Elvis Costello
Malice in Wonderland Nazareth -
Metal for Muthas Various Artists
22 Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Sheep Farming in Barnet Toyah expanded reissue of 1979 EP
23 Too Much Pressure The Selector
25 Against the Wind Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
Warm Thoughts Smokey Robinson
27 Remorse Code Desperate Bicycles
? After Dark Andy Gibb
Argybargy Squeeze
Colossal Youth Young Marble Giants
Conquest Uriah Heep
Mad Love Linda Ronstadt
The Psychedelic Furs The Psychedelic Furs
Soldier Iggy Pop
Supercharged Tavares -
Survivor Survivor -
That's What You Get Babe Kevin Ayers
Willie Nile Willie Nile
M
A
R
C
H
3 Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway -
7 Nobody's Heroes Stiff Little Fingers
10 Glass Houses Billy Joel
12 Angel Witch Angel Witch -
14 On Through the Night Def Leppard
17 Let's Get Serious Jermaine Jackson
18 Dreams Grace Slick
23 Departure Journey
24 Keepin' the Summer Alive The Beach Boys
Rarities The Beatles Compilation
25 Progressions of Power Triumph
26 Naughty Chaka Khan -
Women and Children First Van Halen
28 Duke Genesis
Look Hear? 10cc
Loverboy Loverboy -
31 Animal Magnetism Scorpions -
? Coal Miner's Daughter Various Artists Soundtrack
Frantic City Teenage Head -
Let the Music Do the Talking The Joe Perry Project -
Lost in Love Air Supply -
Sacred Songs Daryl Hall -
Somebody's Waiting Anne Murray -

April – June

Date Album Artist Notes
A
P
R
I
L
3 The Barbara Dickson Album Barbara Dickson -
14 British Steel Judas Priest -
Iron Maiden Iron Maiden
18 Solo in Soho Phil Lynott -
21 Empty Glass Pete Townshend
Hypnotised The Undertones -
22 Seventeen Seconds The Cure
24 Cameosis Cameo
25 Heaven and Hell Black Sabbath -
26 Dolly, Dolly, Dolly Dolly Parton -
28 Flush the Fashion Alice Cooper
Go to Heaven Grateful Dead
? Crazy Rhythms The Feelies -
Give 'Em Hell Witchfynde -
Growing Up in Public Lou Reed -
Holiday '80 The Human League EP
Just One Night Eric Clapton Live
Lookin' for Trouble Toronto -
Los Angeles X -
Marauder Magnum Live
Middle Man Boz Scaggs -
Ska 'n' B Bad Manners -
Sky 2 Sky -
Snakes and Ladders Gerry Rafferty -
Tommy Tutone Tommy Tutone -
Waters Edge Sweet -
M
A
Y
5 Totale's Turns The Fall -
Wheels of Steel Saxon
8 The Golden Years Motörhead EP
9 Bass Culture Linton Kwesi Johnson -
Warm Leatherette Grace Jones -
13 21 at 33 Elton John -
16 Freedom of Choice Devo -
McCartney II Paul McCartney -
20 Unmasked Kiss -
22 Diana Diana Ross -
23 Flesh and Blood Roxy Music -
Peter Gabriel Peter Gabriel third album
28 Tight Shoes Foghat -
31 Ready an' Willing Whitesnake -
? Can't Stop the Music Village People Soundtrack
The Correct Use of Soap Magazine -
I Just Can't Stop It The Beat -
The Magic of Boney M. – 20 Golden Hits Boney M. Compilation
Music Man Waylon Jennings -
Quicksand Shoes Streetheart -
Roses in the Snow Emmylou Harris -
Songs the Lord Taught Us The Cramps -
Sportscar Judy Tzuke -
Suicide: Alan Vega and Martin Rev Suicide -
Tangram Tangerine Dream -
The Tale of the Tape Billy Squier -
Three Mantras Cabaret Voltaire -
Travelogue The Human League -
What's the Word The Fabulous Thunderbirds -
Woman Love Burton Cummings -
J
U
N
E
2 Found All the Parts Cheap Trick EP
I'm a Rebel Accept -
4 East Cold Chisel -
One for the Road The Kinks Live
6 The Blue Meaning Toyah -
10 Uprising Bob Marley & The Wailers -
14 Cultösaurus Erectus Blue Öyster Cult -
15 Chipmunk Punk The Chipmunks -
16 Come Upstairs Carly Simon -
20 The Blues Brothers Various Artists Soundtrack
Emotional Rescue The Rolling Stones -
Rise Up Peter Frampton Brazil
21 Danger Zone Sammy Hagar -
23 Saved Bob Dylan -
24 Hold Out Jackson Browne -
25 Huey Lewis and the News Huey Lewis and the News -
True Colours Split Enz
28 Underwater Moonlight The Soft Boys -
30 Demolition Girlschool -
The Game Queen -
Metal Rendez-vous Krokus -
Real People Chic -
? The Art of Walking Pere Ubu -
Defector Steve Hackett -
Endangered Species Klaatu -
Head On Samson -
I've Got Something to Say David Allan Coe -
Romance Dance Kim Carnes -
Scream Dream Ted Nugent -
There & Back Jeff Beck -
Tomcattin' Blackfoot -
Urban Cowboy Soundtrack Various Artists Soundtrack

July – September

Date Album Artist Notes
J
U
L
Y
1 John Anderson John Anderson -
11 Searching for the Young Soul Rebels Dexys Midnight Runners -
Vienna Ultravox -
15 Back on the Streets Donnie Iris -
16 Garden of Love Rick James -
18 Closer Joy Division -
Crocodiles Echo & the Bunnymen -
Full Moon Charlie Daniels Band -
Honeysuckle Rose Willie Nelson Soundtrack
Live Seventy Nine Hawkwind -
21 Chicago XIV Chicago -
25 Back in Black AC/DC -
TP Teddy Pendergrass -
28 Zapp Zapp -
29 Voices Hall & Oates -
? Deepest Purple: The Very Best of Deep Purple Deep Purple Compilation
Hot on the One James Brown Live
Live at Last Black Sabbath Live 1973
New Clear Days The Vapors -
Playing for Keeps Eddie Money -
Sinsemilla Black Uhuru -
The Voice of America Cabaret Voltaire -
A
U
G
U
S
T
1 The Affectionate Punch Associates -
Kaleidoscope Siouxsie & the Banshees -
5 Crimes of Passion Pat Benatar -
9 Give Me the Night George Benson -
13 S.O.S. The S.O.S. Band -
15 Alibi America -
Panorama The Cars -
18 Drama Yes -
No More Dirty Deals Johnny Van Zant -
20 24 Carrots Al Stewart -
21 Black Rose Cher -
23 Wild Cat Tygers of Pan Tang -
27 Wild Planet The B-52's -
29 A Jethro Tull -
Signing Off UB40 -
? Common One Van Morrison -
Doc at the Radar Station Captain Beefheart -
Gamma 2 Gamma -
Jealous Again Black Flag EP
Killing Joke Killing Joke -
Living in a Fantasy Leo Sayer -
The Michael Schenker Group Michael Schenker Group -
Neutronica Donovan -
Off the Coast of Me Kid Creole and the Coconuts -
One-Trick Pony Paul Simon -
Reach for the Sky The Allman Brothers Band -
Special Things The Pointer Sisters -
Stand Up and Fight Quartz -
The Swing of Delight Carlos Santana -
Xanadu Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra Soundtrack
S
E
P
T
E
M
B
E
R
1 Change of Address The Shadows -
Strong Arm of the Law Saxon -
2 Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables Dead Kennedys -
5 Telekon Gary Numan -
Never for Ever Kate Bush -
Waiting for a Miracle Comsat Angels -
8 Nothin' Matters and What If It Did John Cougar -
Times Square Various Artists Soundtrack
12 Black Sea XTC -
Empires and Dance Simple Minds -
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) David Bowie -
17 Oingo Boingo Oingo Boingo -
One Step Closer The Doobie Brothers -
19 White Spirit White Spirit -
20 Blizzard of Ozz Ozzy Osbourne UK
23 Greatest Hits Kenny Rogers Compilation
Guilty Barbra Streisand -
24 Deface the Music Utopia -
26 Absolutely Madness -
Triumph The Jacksons -
29 Celebrate! Kool & the Gang -
Hotter than July Stevie Wonder -
Kurtis Blow Kurtis Blow -
? The Absolute Game Skids -
Andy Gibb's Greatest Hits Andy Gibb -
Audio-Visions Kansas -
Beatin' the Odds Molly Hatchet -
Clues Robert Palmer -
Heartattack and Vine Tom Waits -
I Am What I Am George Jones -
I'm No Hero Cliff Richard -
Kenny Loggins Alive Kenny Loggins Live
Mr. Hands Herbie Hancock -
Out of Control Peter Criss -
Paris Supertramp Live
Rev Up The Rezillos as The Revillos
Shadows and Light Joni Mitchell Live

October – December

Date Album Artist Notes
O
C
T
O
B
E
R
1 Group Sex Circle Jerks -
In the Flat Field Bauhaus -
3 Lightning to the Nations Diamond Head -
Zenyatta Mondatta The Police-
8 Dirty Mind Prince-
Remain in Light Talking Heads-
10 Chance Manfred Mann's Earth Band-
Chinatown Thin Lizzy-
Icehouse Icehouse as Flowers
Kilamanjaro The Teardrop Explodes -
13 Avoid Freud Rough Trade -
INXS INXS-
14 Faces Earth, Wind & Fire-
17 Just Supposin' Status Quo -
Love Zombies The Monochrome Set -
Making Movies Dire Straits-
The River Bruce Springsteen-
20 Boy U2-
The Wanderer Donna Summer-
24 All Shook Up Cheap Trick-
Gentlemen Take Polaroids Japan -
Organisation Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark-
25 Aretha Aretha Franklin -
27 Drugstore Dancer Streetheart-
Levitation Hawkwind-
31 Dig It Klaus Schulze-
QE2 Mike Oldfield
? Beat Crazy Joe Jackson -
The Black Album The Damned -
Super Black Market Clash The Clash 10" mini LP released in U.S. & Canada only
Borderline Ry Cooder -
Commercial Album The Residents -
The Concert Creedence Clearwater Revival Live 1970
Explorer Suite New England -
Glory Road Gillan -
Grace and Danger John Martyn -
Greatest Hits Aerosmith Compilation
More George Thorogood and the Destroyers George Thorogood and the Destroyers -
More Specials The Specials -
On the Edge The Babys -
Rockabilly Blues Johnny Cash -
Seconds of Pleasure Rockpile -
Ultra Wave Bootsy Collins -
The Witch of Berkeley A II Z Live
Yellow EP Gang of Four -
N
O
V
E
M
B
E
R
1 Live...in the Heart of the City Whitesnake Live
Slade Smashes! Slade Compilation
2 Stage Struck Rory Gallagher Live
3 Hawks & Doves Neil Young -
Super Trouper ABBA -
7 Divine Madness Bette Midler Live
Eagles Live Eagles Live
8 Ace of Spades Motörhead -
10 The Jazz Singer Neil Diamond Soundtrack
17 Double Fantasy John Lennon & Yoko Ono -
Grotesque The Fall -
19 Barry Barry Manilow -
21 Foolish Behaviour Rod Stewart -
Gaucho Steely Dan -
Hi Infidelity REO Speedwagon -
22 Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers Motörhead EP
24 Bird Noises Midnight Oil -
Yesshows Yes Live
28 Laughter Ian Drury & The Blockheads -
Sound Affects The Jam -
Toyah! Toyah Live
? 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs Dolly Parton -
Autoamerican Blondie -
The Birthday Party The Birthday Party as The Boys Next Door
Jeopardy The Sound -
Kings of the Wild Frontier Adam and the Ants -
Loonee Tunes! Bad Manners -
Silent Knight Saga -
Solid Pleasure Yello -
Song of Seven Jon Anderson -
Stage Fright Witchfynde -
Stone Jam Slave -
Taking Liberties Elvis Costello Compilation
The Turn of a Friendly Card The Alan Parsons Project -
Turn the Hell On Fist -
D
E
C
E
M
B
E
R
5 Trombipulation Parliament -
8 Flash Gordon Queen Soundtrack
Live Fleetwood Mac Live
Replay Crosby, Stills & Nash -
10 Dream, After Dream Journey Soundtrack
12 Sandinista! The Clash -
26 Stand in the Fire Warren Zevon Live
31 Arc of a Diver Steve Winwood -
? The Decline of Western Civilization Various Artists Soundtrack
I've Always Wanted to Do This Jack Bruce -
Love Uprising Tavares -
Made in America The Blues Brothers Live
National Breakout The Romantics -
Shades of Blue Lou Rawls -

Release Date Unknown

Awards

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1980.

# Artist Title Year Country Chart entries
1 Pink Floyd Another Brick in the Wall (part 2) 1980 United Kingdom UK 1 – Dec 1979, US BB 1 – Feb 1980, Canada 1 – Jan 1980, Sweden (alt) 1 – Feb 1980, France 1 – Feb 1980, Austria 1 – Feb 1980, Switzerland 1 – Jan 1980, Norway 1 – Jan 1980, Germany 1 – Jan 1980, Éire 1 – Dec 1979, Poland 1 of all time, US CashBox 3 of 1980, Netherlands 3 – Dec 1979, Australia 4 of 1980, KROQ 6 of 1980, POP 7 of 1980, South Africa 8 of 1980, Germany 9 of the 1980s, Europe 11 of the 1970s, Italy 12 of 1980, US BB 15 of 1980, RYM 18 of 1979, TheQ 28, Virgin 39, Belgium 50 of all time, Scrobulate 51 of live, RIAA 296, Rolling Stone 375, Acclaimed 392, OzNet 594
2 Barbra Streisand Woman in Love 1980 United States UK 1 – Oct 1980, US BB 1 – Sep 1980, Netherlands 1 – Sep 1980, Sweden (alt) 1 – Oct 1980, Austria 1 – Dec 1980, Switzerland 1 – Oct 1980, Norway 1 – Nov 1980, Germany 1 – Jan 1981, Éire 1 – Oct 1980, Australia 1 for 2 weeks Sep 1981, South Africa 2 of 1980, Italy 3 of 1981, France 7 – Oct 1980, US CashBox 9 of 1980, Australia 21 of 1980, Germany 36 of the 1980s, RYM 157 of 1980
3 John Lennon (Just Like) Starting Over 1980 United Kingdom UK 1 – Nov 1980, US BB 1 – Nov 1980, Canada 1 – Nov 1980, Switzerland 1 – Dec 1980, Australia 1 for 4 weeks Dec 1981, Austria 2 – Feb 1981, Norway 2 – Dec 1980, Sweden (alt) 3 – Nov 1980, Germany 6 – Jan 1981, France 9 – Nov 1980, US BB 12 of 1980, Australia 18 of 1981, Italy 29 of 1981, RYM 32 of 1980, POP 49 of 1980, US CashBox 57 of 1980, Germany 298 of the 1980s, OzNet 683, Acclaimed 1637
4 Lipps Inc Funkytown 1980 United States US BB 1 – Apr 1980, Netherlands 1 – Apr 1980, Austria 1 – Jul 1980, Switzerland 1 – May 1980, Norway 1 – Jul 1980, Germany 1 – Jun 1980, UK 2 – May 1980, Sweden (alt) 2 – Jun 1980, US BB 4 of 1980, POP 5 of 1980, Scrobulate 7 of disco, Australia 9 of 1980, US CashBox 10 of 1980, Germany 14 of the 1980s, Italy 30 of 1980, RYM 73 of 1979, Acclaimed 520
5 Diana Ross Upside Down 1980 United States US BB 1 – Aug 1980, Sweden (alt) 1 – Aug 1980, France 1 – Aug 1980, Switzerland 1 – Aug 1980, Norway 1 – Aug 1980, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks Oct 1980, Australia 1 for 4 weeks Aug 1981, UK 2 – Jul 1980, Netherlands 2 – Jul 1980, Austria 2 – Oct 1980, US CashBox 4 of 1980, Germany 4 – Sep 1980, Canada 8 – Sep 1980, Italy 8 of 1980, South Africa 11 of 1980, Australia 15 of 1980, POP 22 of 1980, US BB 30 of 1980, Scrobulate 42 of disco, RYM 83 of 1980, Germany 87 of the 1980s, Acclaimed 1364

US and UK #1 hit singles

(in chronological order)

US #1 singles and artist(weeks at #1)
"Please Don't Go" – KC and 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" – Captain & Tennille (1)
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" – Queen (4)
"Another Brick in the Wall, Part II" – Pink Floyd (4)
"Call Me" – Blondie (6)
"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" – The 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" – Dexys 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)

US Top 40 Hits

Classical music

Opera

Musical theater

Musical films

Births

Deaths

References

  1. Lazell, Barry (1997). Indie hits, 1980-1989: the complete U.K. independent charts (singles & albums). London: Cherry Red. ISBN 978-0-9517206-9-1. OCLC 38292499.
  2. Loder, Kurt (December 10, 1980). "More charges may be pending in Henley Arrest". Anchorage Daily News. p. 86. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  3. "Eagle Arrested". Ottawa Citizen. November 25, 1980. p. 40. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  4. McCormick, Neil (November 1, 2007). "The Eagles: we're lucky to be alive". The Telegraph. Retrieved October 18, 2002.
  5. "Eagles' star fined $2,500 on drug charge". Miami Herald. Associated Press. February 26, 1981. p. 15. Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  6. Thedeadrockstarsclub.com — accessed August 2010
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