What the Hell Happened to Music? This 1979 Top 10 Will make You Wonder! | Professor of Rock

It’s a blast from the past from the golden age of rock. Today, we’re going behind the Top 10 songs from this very same week in the year 1979 to find out which one is the biggest Hit all these years later. And as we count them down, we’re bringing you some crazy stories you won’t want to miss… Stories of stalkers, ill-advised f-bombs, ladies of the night, and yes, even spandex… But the question is, which of today’s countdown contenders will ultimately claim the crown? It’s Rock vs. Disco and We’ve got the Doobies, we’ve got Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart … we’ve got Neil Young’s backup singer, and we’ve got the legendary band who matched the Beatles with 6 straight #1 hits… And what are we doing talking about the Karate Kid in a '70s episode? Hey, there’s only one way to find out. I promise you, there’s no other show like this on YouTube. And it’s coming your way… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

Thank you to this episode’s sponsor, Zenni

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Executive Producer
Brandon Fugal

Honorary Producers
Glenn Beardmore, Jennifer Selvidge, Carl Curcuruto, Norman Buchwald, Cliff Konstans, Steve DocPinko Cloutier

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Hey Music Junkies Professor of Rock Always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you ever lit off cherry bombs and threw them in dumpsters as a kid you’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia, Make sure to subscribe below right now to be a part of our music history daily straight from the artists. And to become an honorary producer on our Patreon, click on the link in the description.

So it’s time for another edition of the Hit Song Redux, a show that takes us back to a week in the golden era of the rock and roll and has us re-ranking the top 10 songs of a specific week based on how much the world has listened to them since. For clarification, this list is not my personal top 10, but the actual top 10 from this exact week in 1979. This show is an unabashed tribute to my hero, the great Casey Kasem and his American Top 40 countdown. So many of us spent countless hours tuned in to that phenomenal program. And we’re all better off for it. Thank you Casey for all the great memories.

Okay, so to get us in the proper pop culture context of the day, let’s check out what was playing in theaters and on TV. If you wanted to catch a movie on this exact week back in 1979, you could watch The Man of Steel, Superman, starring Christopher Reeves. Or there was Leonard Nimoy in Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Remember that one? And then there was Mad Max with Mel Gibson. That one was a couple weeks away, but is too good not to mention.

On television, I know I wasn’t the only one watching those good ole boys Bo and Luke Duke on the Dukes of Hazzard. Also in its first season was a car show of a different kind: Taxi. Judd Hirsch, Danny DeVito, Tony Danza, Andy Kaufman… Classic! And finally, you might also being watching Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati.

So as we kick things off, I want to start by going in reverse. Normally, towards the end of each Redux episode, after we’ve counted down the Top 10, I throw in a few extra tracks that fell short of high-end success on the Hot 100. But today, we’re starting off with them… three underperforming song that didn’t live up to their chart potential, but definitely deserved to. Peaking at #86, it’s Queen with Don’t Stop Me Now. Talk about a head-scratcher. The second single from their 1978 album Jazz, Don’t Stop Me Now is an indisputable Queen

[ProfessorofRock]

Poll: Who is your pick for the GREATEST LYRICIST of the Rock era?

[michaelbaucom]

1979 was the year of SUPERTRAMP, in my eyes. The Breakfast In America album was a landmark, to understate. And WKRP In Cincinnati

[JasonTaylor-poxc]

Pick any random week from 1970 until the late 80s and it beats the pants off today's top 10.

[eddievonb.]

I used to love laying under the tree in our back yard with my transistor radio listening to Casey's Top 40. It started as soon as cartoons finished every Saturday. I'd love to relive one of those days....so chill....so happy.

[larryd]

I was the rare breed who enjoyed rock AND disco. All great songs.

[cindysnow]

I'm going to show my age but music from the 70s and 80s had heart in it!! You can feel the emotions in these singers and the songs!! I turned 59 recently!!

[gjmay]

Oh man, Dear Olivia . Such a talent. Losing her when she was only 73 still saddens me. Olivia was an artist, the epitome of a lady & used her fame from 1974 until her death in 2022 to champion for animal rights, the environment, & of course 30 years raising $ for alternative cancer treatments. She was a beautiful comet ☄️... We'll never see anyone as lovely as her again. RIP

[kathleenhudson]

I am 79 now, and I don’t find much music being released today that I like at all. I am told that most of the talented musicians are not with the record companies, but rather release their music on the internet. I have felt at times that maybe I should search it out, but I already have such an embarrassment of riches from past decades (even including before my birth) that I haven’t bothered to do so.

Thanks for your videos, Professor. Even when you cover artists I don’t care for, they are still interesting.

[christineml]

No autotune!! Just great songs and even greater voices to sing them. "Singers" today could learn a lot just from this list.

[teejae]

When I was 14, in 1979, I drew a poster for " last summer of the seventies" when I was grounded (that's how I rolled) and drew a picture for every song that came on the radio..and I still have it. And it's like time capsule for that time in my life and all those songs were a big part of it.

[johnolson]

63 years old and still jammin' to the classics of the 70's and 80's
The songs have so many memories

[PiratePrincessYuki]

I remember Robin Williams did a joke of Elmer Fudd Does Springsteen and he did it to Fire.

[ShannonPotratz]

I'm a little late to the comments but the music of Jim Croce has been fresh in my mind (and heart) lately. One year ago this month, I lost my mom, and my dad almost 3 years ago now. I miss them every single day, and I remember the music of Jim Croce playing on my Dad's reel-to-reel over and over. His music means more to me now than it ever has as I recall those days with my parents, and regret the times I was too busy. Time in a Bottle hits harder now than it ever has. And the tears swell up every time I hear it. Thank you for this analysis...

[MrJbassrw]

Ahh 1979. I was nine years old and in 3rd grade. What a great great time to have lived. I try so hard to describe it to my kids. Impossible. We lived by the radio and Casey Kasem’s countdown. Cheers!

[aprilrich]

My own sons will tell you that music from the late ‘70’s and all of the’80’s is leaps and bounds above what is now produced.

[alanchelnick]

I'm 74 years-old, never bought a record. Just listened to rock radio at work and in the car. The music is imprinted on my life experience. What a trip

[nathangreer]

In 1979, 9 year old me had an AM radio and never missed the top 40! Yes, there were pop stations on AM!

[Virgo-]

Graduated high school in '79. It was a great time for music. Real musicians, playing actual instruments, singing with real voices. It's hard to pick the top vocalist, but Michael McDonald has to be one of the best. David Bowie was amazing, too. Thank you for always bringing the memories, Professor! 😃☮

[kathycuster]

I was 19 years old having the time of my life! So much good music came out into the 70s. Nothing today touches it!

[rogerdeahl]

🎉❤

One thing is for today's music will never ever come close to the diversity of 1979s chart.

Thanks Professor!