Saturday, August 25, 2012

1978 IN MUSIC



This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1978.

[edit]Events

[edit]January–April

[edit]May–July

[edit]August–December

[edit]Also in 1978

  • Kenny Rogers continues his highly successful solo career with the single (and album) "The Gambler" and will go on to star in no less than 5 movies based around the song.
  • In the UK, singles sales are at their all-time high this year, boosted by the simultaneous peak of the disco and punk phenomena and the success of singles from the movie Grease.
  • Mozambique holds its first National Dance Festival, involving half a million people.

[edit]Bands formed

[edit]Bands disbanded

[edit]Albums released

[edit]January

DayAlbumArtistNotes
18Excitable BoyWarren Zevon-
19PasticheThe Manhattan Transfer-
20City to CityGerry Rafferty-
InfinityJourney-
White MusicXTC-
27Bootsy? Player of the YearBootsy's Rubber Band-
-Attention Shoppers!Starz-
Double Live Gonzo!Ted NugentLive
Endless WireGordon Lightfoot-
I'm ReadyMuddy Waters-
Level HeadedSweet-
Open FireRonnie Montrose-
Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent TownEmmylou Harris-
Ten Years of GoldKenny RogersCompilation
Waylon & WillieWaylon Jennings and Willie Nelson-
Weekend in L.A.George BensonLive
White HotAngel-

[edit]February

DayAlbumArtistNotes
6EarthJefferson Starship-
10It Begins AgainDusty Springfield-
Stained ClassJudas Priest-
Van HalenVan Halen-
17Crossing the Red Sea with The AdvertsThe Adverts-
The Kick InsideKate Bush-
18Tell Us the TruthSham 69-
24WatchManfred Mann's Earth Band-
25CasinoAl Di Meola-
27Macho ManVillage People-
-All This and Heaven TooAndrew Gold-
Animal GamesLondon-
Drastic PlasticBe-Bop Deluxe-
Easter IslandKris Kristofferson-
Even NowBarry Manilow-
Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush – LiveMahogany RushLive
It Happened One BiteDan Hicks-
Let's Keep It That WayAnne Murray-
Street ActionBachman–Turner Overdrive-
Street HassleLou Reed-
What Do You Want from LiveThe TubesLive

[edit]March

DayAlbumArtistNotes
3EasterPatti Smith Group-
Zappa in New YorkFrank ZappaLive
10Another Music in a Different KitchenBuzzcocks-
NorthwindsDavid Coverdale-
13Double DoseHot TunaLive
Gettin' the SpiritRoberta Kelly-
Guilty Until Proven InsaneSkyhooks-
16You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can't Tuna FishREO Speedwagon-
17Generation XGeneration X-
This Year's ModelElvis Costello and the Attractions-
23KayaBob Marley & The Wailers-
31London TownPaul McCartney & Wings-
-Champagne JamAtlanta Rhythm Section-
Double FunRobert Palmer-
Hope & Anchor Front Row FestivalVarious ArtistsLive
Jesus of CoolNick Lowe-
The RutlesThe RutlesSoundtrack
A Song for All SeasonsRenaissance-
Son of a Son of a SailorJimmy Buffett-
Southern WindsMaria Muldaur-
SqueezeSqueeze-
U.K.U.K.-
Waiting for ColumbusLittle FeatLive
Warmer CommunicationsAverage White Band-
What IfDixie Dregs-

[edit]April

DayAlbumArtistNotes
7...And Then There Were Three...Genesis-
For YouPrince-
Hermit of Mink HollowTodd Rundgren-
9Long Live Rock 'n' RollRainbow-
10Heavy HorsesJethro Tull-
16The Last WaltzThe BandSoundtrack
20Come Get It!Rick James-
21Bad BoyRingo Starr-
-AdventureTelevision-
Boys in the TreesCarly Simon-
Cats Under the StarsJerry Garcia Band-
Double PlatinumKissRemix
FMVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
Future BoundTavares-
Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion PictureVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
A Live RecordCamelLive
MagazineHeartRe-issue with re-recordings
The Only OnesThe Only Ones-
Rainbow TakeawayKevin Ayers-
Real LifeMagazine-
Shadow DancingAndy Gibb-
ShowdownThe Isley Brothers-
StardustWillie Nelson-
V2The Vibrators-

[edit]May

DayAlbumArtistNotes
2You're Gonna Get It!Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers-
5Stranger in TownBob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band-
12Black and WhiteThe Stranglers-
16But Seriously, Folks...Joe Walsh-
LivetimeHall & OatesLive
19MisfitsThe Kinks-
25David GilmourDavid Gilmour-
PowerageAC/DC-
28Meanwhile Back In ParisStreetheart-
-Eternally YoursThe Saints-
Heaven TonightCheap Trick-
Love Me AgainRita Coolidge-
The Man-MachineKraftwerk-
Natural HighCommodores-
The ParkerillaGraham Parker and The RumourLive
Please Don't TouchSteve Hackett-
SongbirdBarbra Streisand-
Stone BlueFoghat-
Welcome HomeCarole King-

[edit]June

DayAlbumArtistNotes
2Darkness on the Edge of TownBruce Springsteen-
Live and DangerousThin LizzyLive
3Peter GabrielPeter Gabrielsecond album
6The CarsThe Cars-
9Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the WorldsJeff Wayne-
OctaveThe Moody Blues-
Some GirlsThe Rolling Stones-
15Street LegalBob Dylan-
19Thick as ThievesTrooper-
20Double VisionForeigner-
-Face to FaceThe Angels-
If I Weren't So Romantic I'd Shoot YouDerringer-
ObsessionUFO-
NestedLaura Nyro-
PyramidThe Alan Parsons Project-
Snakebite EPWhitesnakeEP
A Tonic for the TroopsThe Boomtown Rats-
We Have Come for Your ChildrenDead Boys-

[edit]July

DayAlbumArtistNotes
12NightwatchKenny Loggins-
21More Songs About Buildings and FoodTalking Heads-
23Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
-All Night LongSammy HagarLive
AmericanaLeon Russell-
Can't Stand the RezillosThe Rezillos-
Dream of a ChildBurton Cummings-
FameGrace Jones-
HeartbreakerDolly Parton-
Hobo with a GrinSteve Harley-
Lights from the ValleyChilliwack-
Love or Something Like ItKenny Rogers-
MidstreamDebby Boone-
Nightflight to VenusBoney M-
Norma JeanNorma Jean Wright-
Who Do Ya LoveKC and the Sunshine Band-

[edit]August

DayAlbumArtistNotes
2Don't Look BackBoston-
7Roberta FlackRoberta Flack-
11C'est ChicChic-
18Who Are YouThe Who-
28Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!Devo-
31Live and MoreDonna SummerDouble LP; 3 sides live, 1 side studio
-National Lampoon's Animal HouseVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
Chairs MissingWire-
Do It All NightCurtis Mayfield-
Is It Still Good To YaAshford & Simpson-
Jass-Ay-Lay-DeeOhio Players-
Kingdom of MadnessMagnum-
Luxury You Can AffordJoe Cocker-
Rose Royce III: Strikes Again!Rose Royce-
Sir Army SuitKlaatu-
Twin Sons of Different MothersDan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg-
Well Kept SecretJuice Newton-
White, Hot and BlueJohnny Winter-
With Luv'Luv'-

[edit]September

DayAlbumArtistNotes
1Molly HatchetMolly Hatchet-
Bloody Tourists10cc-
The Bride Stripped Bare (album)Bryan Ferry-
3RossDiana Ross-
8Pieces of EightStyx-
StageDavid BowieLive
Systems of RomanceUltravox-
Tracks on Wax 4Dave Edmunds-
15Studio TanFrank Zappa-
Wet DreamRick Wright-
18Ace FrehleyAce Frehley-
Along the Red LedgeHall & Oates-
Gene SimmonsGene Simmons-
Paul StanleyPaul Stanley-
Peter CrissPeter Criss-
19Living in the USALinda Ronstadt-
20TormatoYes-
22BreathlessCamel-
Bursting OutJethro TullLive
Love BitesBuzzcocks-
Road to RuinRamones-
23Parallel LinesBlondie-
25Cruisin'Village People-
28Never Say Die!Black Sabbath-
29Giant for a DayGentle Giant-
Green LightCliff Richard-
30Back on the StreetsGary Moore-
-Blue ValentineTom Waits-
Dog and ButterflyHeart-
Fallen AngelUriah Heep-
GillanGillan-
Leo SayerLeo Sayer-
One Nation Under a GrooveFunkadelic-
RoughTina Turner-
Skynyrd's First and... LastLynyrd SkynyrdRecorded 1971–'72
Some Enchanted EveningBlue Öyster CultLive
Time PassagesAl Stewart-
WavelengthVan Morrison-
Weekend WarriorsTed Nugent-
XKlaus Schulze-

[edit]October

DayAlbumArtistNotes
2Comes a TimeNeil Young-
Hot StreetsChicago-
M.I.U. AlbumThe Beach Boys-
625 Years OnHawkwindas Hawklords
7Dire StraitsDire Straits-
12ChakaChaka Khan-
13Christmas PortraitThe CarpentersChristmas
52nd StreetBilly Joel-
If You Want Blood You've Got ItAC/DCLive
15TotoToto-
16A Single ManElton John-
27Slade Alive, Vol. 2SladeLive
29HemispheresRush-
-Against the GrainPhoebe Snow-
Brass Construction IVBrass Construction-
Coliseum RockStarz-
Don't Cry Out LoudMelissa Manchester-
Inner SecretsSantana-
Killing MachineJudas Priest-
Live! BootlegAerosmithLive
The ManBarry White-
Music For FilmsBrian Eno-
Nervous BreakdownBlack FlagEP
New DimensionsThe Three Degrees-
Not AvailableThe Residents-
Photo-FinishRory Gallagher-
Prehistoric SoundsThe Saints-
Private PracticeDr. Feelgood-
TroubleWhitesnake-
Two for the ShowKansasLive
You Had to Be ThereJimmy BuffettLive

[edit]November

DayAlbumArtistNotes
2Outlandos d'AmourThe Police-
Wings GreatestWingsCompilation
3All Mod ConsThe Jam-
10Babylon by BusBob Marley & The WailersLive
Give 'Em Enough RopeThe Clash-
JazzQueen-
13LionheartKate Bush-
The ScreamSiouxsie and the Banshees-
14Tubeway ArmyTubeway Army-
15Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Vol. 2Barbra StreisandCompilation
Shakedown StreetGrateful Dead-
18Love BeachEmerson, Lake & Palmer-
24Blondes Have More FunRod Stewart-
IncantationsMike Oldfield-
27Love TracksGloria Gaynor-
28Briefcase Full of BluesThe Blues Brothers-
-BacklessEric Clapton-
Dub HousingPere Ubu-
Duck Stab/Buster & GlenThe Residents-
From the InsideAlice Cooper-
The GamblerKenny Rogers-
Germ Free AdolescentsX-Ray Spex-
Greatest Hits 1974-78Steve Miller BandCompilation
LegendPoco-
Live: Take No PrisonersLou ReedLive
Midnight OilMidnight Oil-
Profile: Best of Emmylou HarrisEmmylou HarrisCompilation
Move It On OverGeorge Thorogood & The Destroyers-
Rose TattooRose Tattoo-
SanctuaryThe J. Geils Band-
TNTTanya Tucker-
Totally HotOlivia Newton-John-

[edit]December

DayAlbumArtistNotes
1Minute by MinuteThe Doobie Brothers-
3Back to EarthCat Stevens-
8First IssuePublic Image Ltd-
15Here, My DearMarvin Gaye-
16You Don't Bring Me FlowersNeil Diamond-
17DestinyThe Jacksons-
-Back to the BarsTodd RundgrenLive
The Best of Top of the Pops '78Top of the PoppersCompilation
D.o.A: The Third and Final Report of Throbbing GristleThrobbing Gristle-
EquinoxeJean Michel Jarre-
First GlanceApril Wine-
Motor Booty AffairParliament-
Natural ActKris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge-

[edit]Release Date Unknown

[edit]Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1978.
#ArtistTitleYearCountryChart entries
1Bee GeesStayin' Alive1978United KingdomUS BB 1 – Dec 1977, Canada 1 – Jan 1978, Holland 1 – Feb 1978, France 1 – Feb 1978, Italy 1 of 1978, Australia 1 for 7 weeks Jan 1979, US CashBox 2 of 1978, Austria 2 – Apr 1978, Switzerland 2 – Mar 1978, Germany 2 – Mar 1978, Scrobulate 2 of disco, Sweden (alt) 3 – Mar 1978, UK 4 – Feb 1978, Norway 4 – Mar 1978, Australia 4 of 1978, South Africa 4 of 1978, US BB 8 of 1978, POP 8 of 1978, AFI 9, OzNet 9, Party 13 of 2007, RYM 34 of 1977, Europe 36 of the 1970s, 80 in 2FM list, RIAA 94, Acclaimed 98, Germany 100 of the 1970s, Rolling Stone 189
2John Travolta &Olivia Newton-JohnYou're the One That I Want1978United States / AustraliaUK 1 – May 1978, US BB 1 – Apr 1978, Canada 1 – Apr 1978, Holland 1 – May 1978, Sweden (alt) 1 – Jul 1978, Switzerland 1 – Jul 1978, Norway 1 – Jul 1978, Australia 1 of 1978, Germany 1 – Jun 1978, Éire 1 – Jun 1978, Australia 1 for 2 weeks Apr 1979, Austria 2 – Jul 1978, France 5 – May 1978, US CashBox 9 of 1978, Italy 12 of 1978, POP 15 of 1978, US BB 17 of 1978, Germany 17 of the 1970s, South Africa 17 of 1978, TOTP 20, Poland 26 – Jul 1998, Global 33 (5 M sold) – 1978, Europe 72 of the 1970s, RYM 153 of 1978
3The Village PeopleY.M.C.A.1978United StatesUK 1 – Nov 1978, Holland 1 – Dec 1978, Sweden (alt) 1 – Dec 1978, Austria 1 – Jan 1979, Switzerland 1 – Dec 1978, Germany 1 – Jan 1979, Éire 1 – Jan 1979, Australia 1 for 5 weeks Oct 1979, POP 1 of 1979, US BB 2 – Nov 1978, Canada 2 – Dec 1978, Norway 2 – Jan 1979, US BB 3 of 1979, France 3 – Dec 1978, Party 03 of 1999, US CashBox 4 of 1979, Global 7 (10 M sold) – 1978, Australia 15 of 1979, Germany 23 of the 1970s, Scrobulate 38 of disco, Europe 86 of the 1970s, RIAA 86, RYM 95 of 1978, Acclaimed 1662
4Boney MRivers of Babylon1978Jamaica / United Kingdom / ArubaUK 1 – Apr 1978, Holland 1 – Apr 1978, Sweden (alt) 1 – May 1978, France 1 – May 1978, Austria 1 – May 1978, Switzerland 1 – Apr 1978, Norway 1 – May 1978, Germany 1 – Apr 1978, Éire 1 – May 1978, Australia 1 for 6 weeks Apr 1979, South Africa 1 of 1978, Australia 3 of 1978, Germany 3 of the 1970s, TOTP 8, US BB 30 – Jul 1978, Italy 36 of 1978, RYM 77 of 1978, Global 100 (5 M sold) – 1978, OzNet 867
5Bee GeesNight Fever1978United KingdomUK 1 – Apr 1978, US BB 1 – Feb 1978, US CashBox 1 of 1978, Canada 1 – Feb 1978, France 1 – Apr 1978, Éire 1 – Apr 1978, Norway 2 – May 1978, Germany 2 – May 1978, Holland 3 – Apr 1978, Switzerland 3 – May 1978, Austria 4 – Jun 1978, Sweden (alt) 5 – May 1978, US BB 10 of 1978, POP 11 of 1978, South Africa 12 of 1978, Italy 29 of 1978, Scrobulate 39 of 70s, RYM 59 of 1978, Party 77 of 1999, Germany 94 of the 1970s, Europe 96 of the 1970s, OzNet 894, Acclaimed 2046

[edit]Chronological table of US and UK number one hit singles

US number one singles and artist
(weeks at number one)
UK number one singles and artist
(weeks at number one)
How Deep Is Your Love – Bee Gees (2 weeks in 1977 + 1 week in 1978)

"Baby Come Back" – Player (3)
Stayin' Alive – Bee Gees (4)
"(Love Is) Thicker Than Water" – Andy Gibb (2)
"Night Fever" – Bee Gees (8), best selling single of the year
"If I Can't Have You" – Yvonne Elliman (1)
"With a Little Luck" – Paul McCartney & Wings (2)
"Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" – Johnny Mathis & Deniece Willams (1)
You're The One That I Want – John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John (1)
"Shadow Dancing" – Andy Gibb (7)
Miss You – The Rolling Stones (1)
"Three Times A Lady" – Commodores (2)
Grease – Frankie Valli (2)
"Boogie Oogie Oogie" – A Taste of Honey (3)
"Kiss You All Over" – Exile (4)
"Hot Child In The City" – Nick Gilder (1)
"You Needed Me" – Anne Murray (1)
"MacArthur Park" – Donna Summer (3)
"You Don't Bring Me Flowers" – Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond (2)
"Le Freak" – Chic (2 weeks in 1978 + 4 weeks in 1979)

[edit]Other significant singles

[edit]Published popular music

[edit]Classical music

[edit]Opera

[edit]Ballet

[edit]Musical theater

[edit]Musical films

[edit]Births

[edit]Deaths

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