The 100 Greatest Songs of 1979 #1 “Comfortably Numb” Pink Floyd (2 Viewers)

[timschochet]

60. Pink Floyd “Young Lust” (from The Wall) 

https://youtu.be/42HBGCXcd7g

It’s time to start discussing Pink Floyd’s greatest album (no that was NOT a typo.) “Young Lust” is one of the few songs on this masterpiece that was written and sung by David Gilmour. Waters is technically credited with co-writing duties but this is Gilmour’s creation, and its arguably the hardest rocking tune on the album. The hook is so good on this classic rock song that I’m surprised it wasn’t released as a single; even so it’s one of the most famous tunes on the entire work, deservedly so. Who couldn’t use a dirty woman, after all? 

 

[FairWarning]

60. Pink Floyd “Young Lust” (from The Wall) 

https://youtu.be/42HBGCXcd7g

It’s time to start discussing Pink Floyd’s greatest album (no that was NOT a typo.) “Young Lust” is one of the few songs on this masterpiece that was written and sung by David Gilmore. Waters is technically credited with co-writing duties but this is Gilmore’s creation, and its arguably the hardest rocking tune on the album. The hook is so good on this classic rock song that I’m surprised it wasn’t released as a single; even so it’s one of the most famous tunes on the entire work, deservedly so. Who couldn’t use a dirty woman, after all? 

Animals was released in 1977.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Plus, it’s David Gilmour, not Gilmore. Not trying to go grammar nazi, but let’s get the names of legends correct, eh? 

The Wall was a life-changing album for me. I think Dark Side is better, but The Wall is probably more of a nostalgic favorite for me. Young Lust is a rare light moment from an otherwise bleak affair. 

 

[zamboni]

60. Pink Floyd “Young Lust” (from The Wall) 

https://youtu.be/42HBGCXcd7g

It’s time to start discussing Pink Floyd’s greatest album (no that was NOT a typo.) “Young Lust” is one of the few songs on this masterpiece that was written and sung by David Gilmore. Waters is technically credited with co-writing duties but this is Gilmore’s creation, and its arguably the hardest rocking tune on the album. The hook is so good on this classic rock song that I’m surprised it wasn’t released as a single; even so it’s one of the most famous tunes on the entire work, deservedly so. Who couldn’t use a dirty woman, after all? 

Based on your criteria, Comfortably Numb and Hey You are out (released in 1980), so this seems reasonable. Still a few other high quality tunes (hoping not to see their big hit)

 

[timschochet]

Based on your criteria, Comfortably Numb and Hey You are out (released in 1980), so this seems reasonable. Still a few other high quality tunes (hoping not to see their big hit)

They’re not out. They were released as singles in 1980, but the album was released in 1979. It’s whatever was released first. So both songs remain eligible. 

 

[FairWarning]

Totally forgot about 'The Firm' but then again not a lot to forget other than what could have been.

I actually saw them live.  Really a disappointment.  

The supergroup of the 80's that is overlooked (only around for a month but released an album) is HSAS.  A lot of the concert is on Youtube.  Journey really held back Neal Schon.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Based on your criteria, Comfortably Numb and Hey You are out (released in 1980), so this seems reasonable. Still a few other high quality tunes (hoping not to see their big hit)

Aside from Another Brick II, I have no idea what songs from The Wall were hits on the pop charts, but I know that five songs were massive classic rock mainstays for decades (six, if your market played Mother as well).

 

[zamboni]

Aside from Another Brick II, I have no idea what songs from The Wall were hits on the pop charts, but I know that five songs were massive classic rock mainstays for decades (six, if your market played Mother as well).

Two songs were singles: Brick (hit #1 in the US) and Run Like Hell (#53). But yeah, several have been classic rock mainstays.  

 

[dkp993]

60. Pink Floyd “Young Lust” (from The Wall) 

https://youtu.be/42HBGCXcd7g

It’s time to start discussing Pink Floyd’s greatest album (no that was NOT a typo.) “Young Lust” is one of the few songs on this masterpiece that was written and sung by David Gilmore. Waters is technically credited with co-writing duties but this is Gilmore’s creation, and its arguably the hardest rocking tune on the album. The hook is so good on this classic rock song that I’m surprised it wasn’t released as a single; even so it’s one of the most famous tunes on the entire work, deservedly so. Who couldn’t use a dirty woman, after all? 

Animals was released in 1977.

This.  

The guitar solo on Dogs alone pushes Animals above The Wall. 

 

[Dan Lambskin]

This.  

The guitar solo on Dogs alone pushes Animals above The Wall. 

Les Claypool does a pretty great Animals cover

 

[DocHolliday]

60. Pink Floyd “Young Lust” (from The Wall) 

https://youtu.be/42HBGCXcd7g

It’s time to start discussing Pink Floyd’s greatest album (no that was NOT a typo.) “Young Lust” is one of the few songs on this masterpiece that was written and sung by David Gilmour. Waters is technically credited with co-writing duties but this is Gilmour’s creation, and its arguably the hardest rocking tune on the album. The hook is so good on this classic rock song that I’m surprised it wasn’t released as a single; even so it’s one of the most famous tunes on the entire work, deservedly so. Who couldn’t use a dirty woman, after all? 

The Wall is my favorite Floyd album by a mile.   Young Lust is a killer song.   Great choice for the list.  

 

[sho nuff]

EWF was probably the most versatile band of the '70s. They did guitar-based jams, drop-your-underwear ballads, sweaty party funk, all manner of international sounds.

And their records still sound great. So, of course, George Clinton hated them and blasted them as sterile imposters on his P Funk album covers. 

And were then used by other bands and groups of different genre's as backing tracks.  Great great band.

 

[timschochet]

59. The Romantics “What I Like About You” (released as a single) 

https://youtu.be/Rqnw5IfbZOU

These guys play fast, with a lot of energy. I’m exhausted by the end of the video. The guitar structure is derivative of Neil Diamond’s “Cherry Cherry”, but the melody is very different so I guess it works. Anyhow it sticks in your head. 

 

[zamboni]

59. The Romantics “What I Like About You” (released as a single) 

https://youtu.be/Rqnw5IfbZOU

These guys play fast, with a lot of energy. I’m exhausted by the end of the video. The guitar structure is derivative of Neil Diamond’s “Cherry Cherry”, but the melody is very different so I guess it works. Anyhow it sticks in your head. 

Really good tune that unfortunately has become so overplayed to the point of exhaustion. 

In addition to "Cherry Cherry", the opening riff also a bit like "I'm The Man", which I imagine we'll see later on in this countdown. Then again, it's a pretty generic riff that you'll find in other tunes.

 

[timschochet]

58. XTC “Making Plans for Nigel”  (from Drums and Wires) 

https://youtu.be/s29RKnB7l7o

Written by Colin Moulding, the band’s bassist, this was their breakthrough single. It was supposed to be a subtle criticism of the route one takes in modern society to become a cog in the corporate world. Naturally British Steel, with no sense of irony whatsoever, paid XTC handsomely for the use of the song which they then featured in various commercials with employees named Nigel. XTC accepted the money and probably laughed themselves silly. 

 

[Andy Dufresne]

58. XTC “Making Plans for Nigel”  (from Drums and Wires) 

https://youtu.be/s29RKnB7l7o

Written by Colin Moulding, the band’s bassist, this was their breakthrough single. It was supposed to be a subtle criticism of the route one takes in modern society to become a cog in the corporate world. Naturally British Steel, with no sense of irony whatsoever, paid XTC handsomely for the use of the song which they then featured in various commercials with employees named Nigel. XTC accepted the money and probably laughed themselves silly. 

Kind of like when Reagan's campaign used "Born in the U.S.A.". Do people not even listen to the lyrics?

Cool song.

 

[timschochet]

57. Supertramp “Breakfast in America” (from Breakfast in America) 

https://youtu.be/PZahtmWhH5g

On the album cover this song is credited to Davies but Hodgson insists it’s his own, though he does credit Davies for the spoken lyrics “What you got? Not a lot”. 

The lyrics are a bit sexist but funny, and the melody is music hall based, similar in a way to works by McCartney and Ray Davies. Very fun and catchy tune. 

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Very fun and catchy tune. 

 

[zamboni]

57. Supertramp “Breakfast in America” (from Breakfast in America) 

https://youtu.be/PZahtmWhH5g

On the album cover this song is credited to Davies but Hodgson insists it’s his own, though he does credit Davies for the spoken lyrics “What you got? Not a lot”. 

The lyrics are a bit sexist but funny, and the melody is music hall based, similar in a way to works by McCartney and Ray Davies. Very fun and catchy tune. 

Love the song but kippers, not so much.

 

[Tau837]

The Supertramp discussion in here prompted me to go back and listen to their greatest hits while working today. Gotta say, only about 7-8 songs really do much for me. I do really like several of those songs, though, and half of them will probably end up in this countdown.  

 

[timschochet]

56. Robert John “Sad Eyes” (from Robert John) 

https://youtu.be/sOK4U_pSxGA

I’ve been discussing songs with falsetto vocals; how about the most falsetto vocal of all? Robert John had struggled for years as a solo artist, scoring one hit in the early 70s with a cover of The Tokens “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. Then he wrote this monster and reached the top spot on Billboard. It was the “slow song” for my 8th grade dance, and at roller skating rinks they would call for couples when this song came on. But it’s not a tune I’ve heard a lot of over the years since. 

 

[timschochet]

55. Led Zeppelin “Fool in the Rain” (from In Through the Out Door) 

https://youtu.be/Zp-LBD_q0sQ

I’ve always loved this song but, not being a musician or drummer, I never paid attention to the extraordinary performance by John Bonham. Now it’s true that I noted Bonham’s drumming in my write up for the #1 song of 1971, “When the Levee Breaks”, but you can’t help hear him on that tune; the drums are pounding and insistent, arguably the main instrument featured. On “Fool in the Rain” they are more subtle, yet critics and drummers regard this as one of the greatest performances ever. 
Led Zeppelin’s last single (anything from Coda doesn’t really count) is a bit of an earwig; it sticks in your head. But it’s not unpleasant. 

 

[timschochet]

This is from the YouTube comments: 

Bonham is playing a polyrhythmic beat, meaning 2 rhythms at the same time. The first is in 4/4 time with triplets from the hi hat opening and closing and a ghost note thrown in from the snare. The second beat under that is a swung half time shuffle on the bass and snare (at the same time.) The piano and guitar play in 12/8 time over that 4/4 beat. Creating that famous syncopated triplet feel. Led Zeppelin were masters at playing in different time signatures, and that gave them their unique sound. They could NEVER have done it without those beats from John Bonham. He held it altogether. 
 

I don’t fully understand all of this but I get the gist and it’s pretty impressive. 

 

[Bracie Smathers]

55. Led Zeppelin “Fool in the Rain” (from In Through the Out Door) 

I'm making my list of the 'Next 100 Songs From 1979' off to the side and was trying to figure out which songs would fall to me and for some reason I thought this wouldn't make your list but obviously I was wrong.

FWIW I had it #2 on my list of songs that I felt 'would' be available so I felt it would be ranked higher.  I have to re-jigger my list.  This will make it a lot more difficult but I'm up for the challenge.

 

[BobbyLayne]

55. Led Zeppelin “Fool in the Rain” (from In Through the Out Door) 

https://youtu.be/Zp-LBD_q0sQ

I’ve always loved this song but, not being a musician or drummer, I never paid attention to the extraordinary performance by John Bonham. Now it’s true that I noted Bonham’s drumming in my write up for the #1 song of 1971, “When the Levee Breaks”, but you can’t help hear him on that tune; the drums are pounding and insistent, arguably the main instrument featured. On “Fool in the Rain” they are more subtle, yet critics and drummers regard this as one of the greatest performances ever. 
Led Zeppelin’s last single (anything from Coda doesn’t really count) is a bit of an earwig; it sticks in your head. But it’s not unpleasant. 

earworm

perfectly pleasant song. could probably count on one hand how often I’ve listened to it in the past 40+ years but it was definitely in heavy rotation my senior year (‘79-‘80.)

 

[Ghost Rider]

Fool in the Rain is awesome. A top 5 LZ tune for me. I was blown away to shreds the first time I heard it and worked for weeks to find out the name of it (early 90’s,  DJ off the radio didn’t identify it by name, and none of my friends knew what song I was talking about when I referenced the few lyrics I could recall). 

 

[timschochet]

54. Elvis Costello & The Attractions “Accidents Will Happen” (from Armed Forces) 

https://youtu.be/aU_zMvaX05Q

Armed Forces is not nearly as good an album as This Year’s Model or Trust (his two best ever albums, IMO) but it’s highlights match theirs and this is easily one of those. Costello has stated that his influences for this pop classic were Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and you can hear that in the lush melody. 

 

[zamboni]

54. Elvis Costello & The Attractions “Accidents Will Happen” (from Armed Forces) 

https://youtu.be/aU_zMvaX05Q

Armed Forces is not nearly as good an album as This Year’s Model or Trust (his two best ever albums, IMO) but it’s highlights match theirs and this is easily one of those. Costello has stated that his influences for this pop classic were Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and you can hear that in the lush melody. 

Great tune - one of his best IMO. This would have easily been top 20 for me, but glad to see it regardless.

ETA: killer bass work here

 

[timschochet]

53. Earth, Wind & Fire with the Emotions “Boogie Wonderland” (from I Am) 

https://youtu.be/god7hAPv8f0

First off if you’ve never seen it check out the video. From the costumes to the dancing it’s one of the all time greats. 
The Emotions are already responsible for the greatest ever disco song “Best of of My Love”, so you combine them with EWF and the result is going to be incredibly awesome and it is. This song is glorious. 

 

[FairWarning]

I would place Fool in the Rain in the bottom five of their songs

 

[Gr00vus]

I will be sad when Funkytown gets ranked higher than Boogie Wonderland. The latter is a much better aural locale. The former sucks ###.

 

[Gr00vus]

This is from the YouTube comments: 

Bonham is playing a polyrhythmic beat, meaning 2 rhythms at the same time. The first is in 4/4 time with triplets from the hi hat opening and closing and a ghost note thrown in from the snare. The second beat under that is a swung half time shuffle on the bass and snare (at the same time.) The piano and guitar play in 12/8 time over that 4/4 beat. Creating that famous syncopated triplet feel. Led Zeppelin were masters at playing in different time signatures, and that gave them their unique sound. They could NEVER have done it without those beats from John Bonham. He held it altogether. 
 

I don’t fully understand all of this but I get the gist and it’s pretty impressive. 

It's basically the Purdie shuffle.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

53. Earth, Wind & Fire with the Emotions “Boogie Wonderland” (from I Am) 

https://youtu.be/god7hAPv8f0

First off if you’ve never seen it check out the video. From the costumes to the dancing it’s one of the all time greats. 
The Emotions are already responsible for the greatest ever disco song “Best of of My Love”, so you combine them with EWF and the result is going to be incredibly awesome and it is. This song is glorious. 

Unfortunately this tragically lead to the great sequin shortage of 1980.  Kidding. 

Luv me some EWF.  Mo White was a really interesting cat.  Very spiritually awake.  Remember seeing a TV interview with him at the height of their popularity and he had a replica of one of their album covers in his back yard set up in a geometric grid like a maze and he explained its meaning to whoever was interviewing him.  It was based on being uplifting and positive and that comes out in the music.  

 

[timschochet]

52. The B-52s “Rock Lobster” (from The B-52’s) 

https://youtu.be/n4QSYx4wVQg

Somehow I’ve never watched that video before and it’s awesome. Fred looks totally different as befits the 70s, the two girls are absolutely gorgeous, and we get a good look at just how strong the rhythm section for this band is. 

 

[Ghost Rider]

Boogie Wonderland is great stuff.

One of my favorite quotes by a rock star ever is by David Lee Roth, "The reason most critics like Elvis Costello is because most of them look like Elvis Costello."

 

[Mr. Mojo]

53. Earth, Wind & Fire with the Emotions “Boogie Wonderland” (from I Am) 

https://youtu.be/god7hAPv8f0

First off if you’ve never seen it check out the video. From the costumes to the dancing it’s one of the all time greats. 
The Emotions are already responsible for the greatest ever disco song “Best of of My Love”, so you combine them with EWF and the result is going to be incredibly awesome and it is. This song is glorious. 

They really were in quite a groove at that time.

 

[timschochet]

51. The Cure  “Jumping Someone Else’s Train” (from Three Imaginary Boys) 

https://youtu.be/s1oWf07FRCw

This song begins with a great guitar riff and just gets better from there. The Cure will he remembered as an New Wave/Goth band that had their biggest hits in the latter half of the 1980s. But it would be difficult to argue with the proposition that their very best music came from their debut in 1979. 

 

[woodstock]

51. The Cure  “Jumping Someone Else’s Train” (from Three Imaginary Boys) 

https://youtu.be/s1oWf07FRCw

This song begins with a great guitar riff and just gets better from there. The Cure will he remembered as an New Wave/Goth band that had their biggest hits in the latter half of the 1980s. But it would be difficult to argue with the proposition that their very best music came from their debut in 1979. 

Oh hai. Spotlighted this one eearler.  

 

[Brony]

51. The Cure  “Jumping Someone Else’s Train” (from Three Imaginary Boys) 

https://youtu.be/s1oWf07FRCw

This song begins with a great guitar riff and just gets better from there. The Cure will he remembered as an New Wave/Goth band that had their biggest hits in the latter half of the 1980s. But it would be difficult to argue with the proposition that their very best music came from their debut in 1979. 

is that video of train tracks for 3 minutes straight the 'official' video? 

 

[timschochet]

is that video of train tracks for 3 minutes straight the 'official' video? 

That’s what it says. No idea. 

 

[timschochet]

50. Pink Floyd “Hey You” (from The Wall) 

https://youtu.be/TFjmvfRvjTc

A couple of interesting notes I read on the wiki page: 

1. This song uses a fretless bass, and it is played on the recording  not by Waters, the band’s normal bassist, but by Gilmour. Gilmour also plays the guitar. 
2. The producers of the film The Wall, fearful that it was running too long, decided to cut this song out. Seems like an odd choice. 

Which leads me to a side question: what do you guys think of the film? I’ve always liked it (I’m a big Bob Geldof fan anyhow) but it’s gotten mixed reviews over the years. 

 

[zamboni]

50. Pink Floyd “Hey You” (from The Wall) 

https://youtu.be/TFjmvfRvjTc

A couple of interesting notes I read on the wiki page: 

1. This song uses a fretless bass, and it is played on the recording  not by Waters, the band’s normal bassist, but by Gilmour. Gilmour also plays the guitar. 
2. The producers of the film The Wall, fearful that it was running too long, decided to cut this song out. Seems like an odd choice. 

Which leads me to a side question: what do you guys think of the film? I’ve always liked it (I’m a big Bob Geldof fan anyhow) but it’s gotten mixed reviews over the years. 

I believe Waters also felt the song didn't fit the mood of the film. "The Show Must Go On" was the other song on the album that didn't make the movie..

As for the movie, it's interesting but I was never a big fan of it. Of course, when baked it's a different experience.

 

[dkp993]

50. Pink Floyd “Hey You” (from The Wall) 

https://youtu.be/TFjmvfRvjTc

A couple of interesting notes I read on the wiki page: 

1. This song uses a fretless bass, and it is played on the recording  not by Waters, the band’s normal bassist, but by Gilmour. Gilmour also plays the guitar. 
2. The producers of the film The Wall, fearful that it was running too long, decided to cut this song out. Seems like an odd choice. 

Which leads me to a side question: what do you guys think of the film? I’ve always liked it (I’m a big Bob Geldof fan anyhow) but it’s gotten mixed reviews over the years. 

Great song.  One of my favorite from the Album.  
 

I’m a big fan of the movie but admittedly I watched it the first night I ever got high so I thought it was the coolest thing ever.  Don’t smoke anymore but the movie still holds a soft in my heart because of that memory.  

 

[Ghost Rider]

The film was what me made a huge Floyd fan, so I’ll always love it. I believe Hey You was omitted because the footage was similar to stuff we see in other parts of the movie, so it was easy to cut once concerns about length crept up. I like the song a lot, although it’s never been a favorite. 

 

[STBootleg]

63. Sister Sledge “We Are Family” (from We Are Family) 

https://youtu.be/uyGY2NfYpeE

Written by that great duo of 1979, Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers. We will be hearing from them again. The girls have a cool dance on the video; this song is a disco classic. 

But whenever I think of this song, only one thing comes to mind: the 1979 World Series and the Pittsburgh Pirates  coming back from a 3-1 deficit to win. Willie Stargell and Dave Parker. I was not a Pirates fan, though I loved the Steelers even back then, but I think a lot of America became Pirates fans that fall because it was such an unlikely, exciting run. And they just kept playing this tune over and over...

Screw this song and the Pirates. Broke my heart as a seven year old kid.

 

[timschochet]

49. Donna Summer “Bad Girls” (from Bad Girls)

https://youtu.be/NF46NnUn5nw

Donna Summer got to work with some of the most talented people in the recording business, including her producer and bassist Giorgio Morodor, and it showed in the polish of her greatest disco recordings. This song and double album are Summer at her very best. 

 

[Ghost Rider]

Fun little tune. I might like the other number 1 hit from this album more (still to come in this list, I’m guessing), but Bad Girls is good fun. 

 

[timschochet]

48. The Specials “A Message to You, Rudy” (from The Specials) 

https://youtu.be/cntvEDbagAw

The Specials were a short lived but highly influential ska band, although the song in question is “rocksteady” (I never could tell the difference between reggae, ska, rocksteady, etc., it all grew out of Jamaica and became popular during this time period when British bands started adopting its sounds.) This record was produced by Elvis Costello. 

 

[zamboni]

48. The Specials “A Message to You, Rudy” (from The Specials) 

Interestingly enough, 1979 was also the year of Rudy the Rabbit.

 

[timschochet]

47. Prince “I Wanna Be Your Lover” (from Prince) 

https://youtu.be/Rp8WL621uGM

1979 was a falsetto paradise! 
Prince was actually his second album, but this song was his breakout hit. I must have been aware of it at the time because it’s always been very recognizable to me, but I was not aware of the artist until “Little Red Corvette” exploded on MTV a few years later. 
As always, this funk gem was written and produced by the same guy who also manages to play all of the instruments. One of the very greatest musical geniuses of our time.