Comments on: Popular ‘78

By: Billy Smart

Billy Smart — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:29:05 +0000

Again, the Melody Maker readers’ poll for 1978 is following a different script to the NME one;

1. Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street
2. Blue Oyster Cult - Don’t Fear The Reaper
3. Genesis - Follow You Follow Me
4. The Rolling Stones - Miss You
5. Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights
6. Patti Smith - Because The Night
7. Thin Lizzy - Rosalie
8. Joe Walsh - Life’s Been Good
9. Black Sabbath - Never Say Die
10. ELO - Mr Blue Sky

By: Billy Smart

Billy Smart — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:37:30 +0000

Aha! Found out the missing single from the NME critics’ list;

In that all-important number 50 position, ‘Power’ by Lester Bowie. I bet that DJ Punctum knows it!

By: Billy Smart

Billy Smart — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:22:49 +0000

NME Readers’ poll for 1978, ‘Best single’ category;

1. The Clash - White Man In Hammersmith Palais
2. PiL - Public Image
3. The Boomtown Rats - Rat Trap
4. The Jam - Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
5. Siouxsie & The Banshees - Hong Kong Garden
6. Magazine - Shot By Both Sides
7. The Rolling Stones - Miss You
8. Patti Smith - Because The Night
9. Jilted John - Jilted John
10. Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street

By: Chris Brown

Chris Brown — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 21:47:48 +0000

Weirdly, the four I voted for have become the Top 4. Should I admit that? ‘Night Fever’ is only just a six, and even then possibly only because I was in the right mood when I voted.
This being my birth year, I can’t claim to have appreciated any of this at the time, but I can see there’s a lot of very good music that didn’t top the chart (some mentioned in other comments) as there always is. For reasons I can’t quite recall, I was discussing the parallel lists of UK and US chart-toppers on Usenet somewhere and boy did the US get the dirty end of the stick there, Chic aside. At least the UK Number Ones aren’t consistently awful, and even the bad ones are mostly well-known.

Oh and I may have asked this before, but is ‘Summer Night City’ one of those records that sounds massively better on disc than on the radio?

By: alephnaughtpix

alephnaughtpix — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:30:16 +0000

“What would people have given Summer Night City if it had kept their run going?”

Summer Night City > Take a Chance on Me IMHO

By: wichita lineman

wichita lineman — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 21:18:30 +0000

Conrad, it’s a 9 for me, close to perfection. But such a slow burner, it baffled me at the time; the giant dynamo took a while to lure me in. Snap for most of Abba’s ‘79 45s.

By: Doctormod

Doctormod — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:30:22 +0000

Amazing, simply amazing.

This is the first time my votes have been so closely aligned with the majority.

This can only mean that the end is near for the 1970s!!

By: Conrad

Conrad — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:18:54 +0000

Re 24, a definite 10.

And I don’t know how I missed Shot By Both Sides from my list. The best debut single since, oh, Wuthering Heights…
(actually I think they may have been released around the same time).

By: mike

mike — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:55:50 +0000

#13 - Bah, Patti Smith’s “Because The Night” got accidentally deleted from my list. It should have been at #5.

By: DJ Punctum

DJ Punctum — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:35:14 +0000

I voted for both Grease-related entries so careful with the “weirdo” business there.

By: wichita lineman

wichita lineman — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:27:55 +0000

Or those Grease fans… weirdos. Abba would only have got a 5 from me, tho. All a matter of taste, and relativity. What would people have given Summer Night City if it had kept their run going?

By: DJ Punctum

DJ Punctum — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:37:58 +0000

Probably the same people who voted for MBC and Figaro.

By: Mark G

Mark G — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:33:18 +0000

Um, don’t mind me, but is it true some people are voting not to give Kate Bush more than 6 out of ten? Althea and Donna also? Heck, I even gave that Abba one more than 6…

By: wichita lineman

wichita lineman — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:32:16 +0000

Lest we forget…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZJ75BLo0WE

But I do prefer their ‘68 entry, Stress by Odd Borre.

By: DJ Punctum

DJ Punctum — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:20:55 +0000

You’ll never be so wrong. Not in a lifetime.

By: Erithian

Erithian — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:09:24 +0000

And big ups to Bonnie Tyler for the time she threw an egg at Noel Edmonds on Swap Shop for his fabourite misheard lyric: “It’s A Hard Egg”. Bonus points if she’d actually hit him. Her 70s singles rather more likeable and less overblown than one the bunny prevents me mentioning.

And Norway put Jahn Teigen at number one? Need I remind anybody what that song was famous for?

By: o sobek!

o sobek! — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 02:44:01 +0000

big ups to holland for that FOXY love

By: wichita lineman

wichita lineman — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 19:18:34 +0000

And the German number ones…

Mull Of Kintyre - Wings
Smurf Song - Father Abraham
Rivers Of Babylon - Boney M
You’re The One That I Want - JT & ONJ
Dancing In The City - Marshall Hain
Rasputin - Boney M
Mexican Girl - Smokie
Substitute - Clout
You’re The Greatest Lover - Luv’
YMCA - Village People

Justice for Rasputin and Substitute rather outweighed by 17 weeks at the top for Rivers Of Babylon.

1978 no.1s in Holland…

If I Had Words - Scott Fitzgerald & Yvonne Keeley
Denis - Blondie
Stayin’ Alive - Bee Gees
Rivers Of Babylon - Boney M (9 weeks)
You’re The One That I Want (9 more, no escape…)
You’re The Greatest Lover - Luv’
Grease - Frankie Valli
Hopelessly Devoted To You - ONJ
Dreadlock Holiday - 10CC
Get Off - Foxy
Trojan Horse - Luv’
Paradise By The Dashboard Light - Meat Loaf

Norway went with
Darling - Baccara
It’s A Heartache - Bonnie Tyler (12 weeks)
Mil Etter Mil - Jahn Teigen
Rivers Of Babylon
YTOTIW (18 bleedin weeks)
Smurfesangen - Geir Borresen

By: Billy Smart

Billy Smart — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:21:11 +0000

Record Mirror did a list that year, too;

1 Patti Smith Because of the Night
2 Jam Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
3 Magazine Shot By Both Sides
4 Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King Shame
5 Gerry Rafferty Baker Street
6 Steel Pulse Ku Klux Klan
7= The Normal TVOD/Warm Letherette
7= Boomtown Rats Rat Trap
9 Elvis Costello I Don’t Want To Go To Chelsea
10 Boney M Rivers Of Babylon
10= Dire Straights Sultans Of Swing
10= Billy Joel Just The Way You Are

By: Billy Smart

Billy Smart — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:17:47 +0000

Sounds also did a critics’ top ten that year;

1) Because the night: Patti Smith
2) Public image: Public Image
3) White man in hammersmith palais: Clash
4) Miss you: Rolling Stones
5) Hong kong garden: Siouxsie & the Banshees
6) Teenage kicks: Undertones
7) Down in the tube station at midnight: Jam
8) Shot by both sides: Magazine
9) Night fever: Bee Gees
10) Tommy gun: Clash

(never much cared for ‘Because the Night’, myself. Indeed, I’d rather listen to ‘Rat Trap’)

By: Billy Smart

Billy Smart — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 17:14:58 +0000

The NME critics’ poll for 1978 is mightily good, despite it’s odd omission of a number 50;

1. Ever Fallen in Love - The Buzzcocks
2. Public Image - Public Image
3. What a waste - Ian Dury
4. Miss You - Rolling Stones
5. Radio Radio - Elvis Costello
6. I Don’t want to go to Chelsea - Elvis Costello
7. Hong Kong Garden - Siouxsie & the Banshees
8. White man in Hammersmith Palais - The Clash
9. Shot Both sides - Magazine
10. Sign of the times - Bryan Ferry
11. Shame - Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King
12. Hit me with your rhythm stick - Ian Dury
13. Rising Free - Tom Robinson Band
14. Satisfaction - Devo
15. Ambition - Subway sect
16. Take me to the river - Talking Heads
17. It’s the new thing - The Fall
18. I love the sound of breaking glass - Nick Lowe
19. What do I get - The Buzzcocks
20. Germ free adolescents - X ray spex
21. I am the fly - Wire
22. Because the night - Patti Smith
23. Damaged goods - Gang of four
24. Mr know it all - Gregory Isaacs
25. Night People - Alan Toussaint
26. Mighty Real - Sylvester
27. Private plane - Thomas Leer
28. Where were you - The Mekons
29. Hard workin man - Captain Beefheart
30. Down at the doctors - Doctor Feelgood
31. Little way different - Errol Dunkley
32. Don’t come close - The Ramones
33. Dangerous woman - Tapper Zuki
34. Love don’t live here any more - Rose Royce
35. Surrender - Cheap trick
36. Dry up your tears - The bold one/Clint Eastwood
37. Stayin’ alive - Bee Gees
38. Badlands - Bruce Springsteen
39. Tommy gun - The Clash
40. Jilted John - Jilted John
41. Human fly - The cramps
42. Natty never get weary - Culture
43. Picture this - Blondie
44. Shank block bologna - Scritti Politti
45. Which way is up - Starguard
46. Statue of liberty - XTC
47. Tomorrow night - Shoes
48. News of the world - The Jam
49. D.I.Y. - Peter Gabriel

Melody Maker didn’t do a poll, but did declare ‘Shame’ as their single of the year.

By: mike

mike — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:36:23 +0000

My top fifty non-chart-topping UK Top 40 hits of 1978:

1 Clash - (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
2 Sylvester - You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)
3 Elvis Costello & The Attractions - (I Don’t Wanna Go To) Chelsea
4 Rose Royce - Love Don’t Live Here Anymore
5 Blue Oyster Cult - (Don’t Fear) The Reaper
6 Earth Wind & Fire - September
7 Electric Light Orchestra - Mr Blue Sky
8 Jam - Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
9 Buzzcocks - What Do I Get
10 Rose Royce - Wishing On A Star
11 Electric Light Orchestra - Sweet Talkin’ Woman
12 Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King - Shame
13 Chaka Khan - I’m Every Woman
14 Public Image Ltd - Public Image
15 Funkadelic - One Nation Under A Groove
16 Earth Wind & Fire - Got To Get You Into My Life
17 A Taste Of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie
18 Yvonne Elliman - If I Can’t Have You
19 Chic - Everybody Dance
20 Ian Dury & Blockheads - What A Waste
21 Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Radio Radio
22 Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t've)?
23 X-Ray Spex - The Day The World Turned Day-Glo
24 Undertones - Teenage Kicks
25 Jam - David Watts / A Bomb In Wardour Street
26 Bill Withers - Lovely Day
27 Earth Wind & Fire - Fantasy
28 Bee Gees - Stayin’ Alive
29 Blondie - Denis
30 Nick Lowe - I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass
31 Sylvester - Dance (Disco Heat)
32 Crown Heights Affair - Galaxy Of Love
33 Plastic Bertrand - Ca Plane Pour Moi
34 Blondie - (I’m Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear
35 Jacksons - Blame It On The Boogie
36 X-Ray Spex - Germ Free Adolescence
37 Siouxsie & The Banshees - Hong Kong Garden
38 Rezillos - Top Of The Pops
39 Voyage - From East To West
40 Buzzcocks - Love You More
41 X-Ray Spex - Identity
42 Jilted John - Jilted John
43 Tavares - More Than A Woman
44 Herbie Hancock - I Thought It Was You
45 Alicia Bridges - I Love The Night Life (Disco Round)
46 Hi Tension - Hi Tension
47 Phil Hurtt - Giving It Back
48 Buzzcocks - Promises
49 Musique - In The Bush
50 Stargard - Theme From Which Way Is Up

A wonderful year for the singles charts… but the best was yet to come.

By: o sobek!

o sobek! — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 04:07:14 +0000

‘homicide’ has slightly (much moreso than ‘rat trap’ stateside at least i’d bet) vaguely vaguely sorta yes?

By: Billy Smart

Billy Smart — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:11:59 +0000

Here are the same charts for 1978 seen upside-down, ie the singles that only got to number 40 that year;

21 Jan Jam Jam Jam - The People’s Choice - 1 week

18 Feb Sweet Sweet Smile - The Carpenters - 1

15 Apr Hey Senorita - War - 1

23 Sep Where Did Our Love Go? - Manhatten Transfer - 1

25 Nov Homicide - 999 - 1

None of these have overcome their comparative neglect at the time to pass into popular memory.

By: Lena

Lena — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:40:24 +0000

OMG where to begin with the awesomeness of 1978? I voted for eight of the songs here, and of the US #1s I would happily vote for fourteen. SUCH a great year…

Other songs I remember from the time:

Cheap Trick - “Surrender”
Earth Wind & Fire - “September” & “Fantasy”
Electric Light Orchestra - “Mr. Blue Sky” (the whole version, from the album, can make me cry, also Hello Arcade Fire)
Walter Egan - “Magnet And Steel”
Olivia Newton-John - “A Little More Love”
Parliament - “Flash Light” (first synth bass in a song?)
Gerry Rafferty - “Baker Street” (I happen to like the sax and guitar) & “Right Down The Line”
Chris Rea - “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)”
Patti Smith - “Because The Night”
Talking Heads - “Take Me To The River”
Van Halen - “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” & “Runnin’ With The Devil”
John Paul Young - “Love Is In The Air”
Warren Zevon - “Werewolves of London”

Not forgetting Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman” and “Shame” by Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King, or Cheryl Lynn’s “Got To Be Real” or Chic…

Also gloriously looming on the horizon - first singles from Adam and the Ants, Human League, Scritti Politti and I can’t forget Thomas Leer, Flying Lizards, The Rutles or Nick Lowe’s “I Love The Sound of Breaking Glass.” WHEW! The amazing thing is that 1979 is going to be even better (insert Westwood-type bomb here).