1980 in music

List of years in music (table)

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

Specific locations

Specific genres

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

Day Album Artist Notes
4 The Romantics The Romantics
The Age of Plastic The Buggles First released in Australia, was released in the UK on February 4
8 Union Jacks The Babys
No Place to Run UFO
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
The Return of the Durutti Column The Durutti Column
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

February

Day Album Artist Notes
2 After Dark Andy Gibb
4 End of the Century Ramones
5 Boys Don't Cry The Cure
7 Sugarhill Gang The Sugarhill Gang
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 Selecter
25 Against the Wind Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
Warm Thoughts Smokey Robinson
27 Remorse Code Desperate Bicycles
? Argybargy Squeeze
Colossal Youth Young Marble Giants
Conquest Uriah Heep
Mad Love Linda Ronstadt
Soldier Iggy Pop
Supercharged Tavares
Survivor Survivor
That's What You Get Babe Kevin Ayers
Willie Nile Willie Nile

March

Day Album Artist Notes
1 Sequel Harry Chapin
3 Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
7 Coal Miner's Daughter Various Artists Soundtrack
Nobody's Heroes Stiff Little Fingers
The Psychedelic Furs The Psychedelic Furs
10 Hot Spikes Myofist - As Fist
12 Angel Witch Angel Witch
Glass Houses Billy Joel
14 On Through the Night Def Leppard
Released Patti LaBelle
15 Half-Mute Tuxedomoon
17 Let's Get Serious Jermaine Jackson
18 Dreams Grace Slick
21 For How Much Longer Do We Tolerate Mass Murder? The Pop Group
23 Departure Journey
24 Keepin' the Summer Alive The Beach Boys
Rarities The Beatles Compilation
25 Progressions of Power Triumph
26 Naughty Chaka Khan
One Eighty Ambrosia
Women and Children First Van Halen
Welcome To The Club Ian Hunter
28 Duke Genesis
Look Hear? 10cc
31 Animal Magnetism Scorpions
? Frantic City Teenage Head
Let the Music Do the Talking The Joe Perry Project
Lost in Love Air Supply
Sacred Songs Daryl Hall
Reaching For Tomorrow Switch
Somebody's Waiting Anne Murray

April

Day Album Artist Notes
3 The Barbara Dickson Album Barbara Dickson
4 Light Up the Night Brothers Johnson
14 British Steel Judas Priest
Iron Maiden Iron Maiden
18 Solo in Soho Phil Lynott
Power The Temptations
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
Los Angeles X
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
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

May

Day Album Artist Notes
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
17 Bad Reputation Joan Jett Self-titled album released in 1980. Re-released as Bad Reputation in Jan 1981
20 Unmasked Kiss
22 Diana Diana Ross
23 Flesh and Blood Roxy Music
Peter Gabriel Peter Gabriel Third Album
Travelogue The Human League Second Album
The Up Escalator Graham Parker
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 Judie Tzuke
Suicide: Alan Vega and Martin Rev Suicide
Tangram Tangerine Dream
The Tale of the Tape Billy Squier
Three Mantras Cabaret Voltaire
Young and Restless Prism
What's the Word The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Woman Love Burton Cummings

June

Day Album Artist Notes
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
7 New Clear Days The Vapors
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
27 Head On Samson
Xanadu Olivia Newton-John and ELO Soundtrack
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
Heroes Commodores
Defector Steve Hackett
Endangered Species Klaatu
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

Day Album Artist Notes
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
No Night So Long Dionne Warwick
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
Playing for Keeps Eddie Money
Sinsemilla Black Uhuru
The Voice of America Cabaret Voltaire
Seeds of Change Kerry Livgren

August

Day Album Artist Notes
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
14 Give Love at Christmas The Temptations Christmas
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
Living in a Fantasy Leo Sayer
Loverboy Loverboy
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

September

Day Album Artist Notes
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 Times Square Various Artists Soundtrack
12 Black Sea XTC
Empires and Dance Simple Minds
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) David Bowie
15 Nothin' Matters and What If It Did John Cougar
17 Oingo Boingo Oingo Boingo EP
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
30 Aretha Aretha Franklin
? 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

Day Album Artist Notes
1 Group Sex Circle Jerks
3 Lightning to the Nations Diamond Head
Zenyatta Mondatta The Police
4 More Specials The Specials
5 Killing Joke Killing Joke
6 Feel Me Cameo
8 Dirty Mind Prince
Remain in Light Talking Heads
10 Chance Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Chinatown Thin Lizzy
Icehouse Icehouse as Flowers
Kilimanjaro 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
Beat Crazy Joe Jackson
27 Drugstore Dancer Streetheart
Levitation Hawkwind
31 Dig It Klaus Schulze
QE2 Mike Oldfield
? Black Market Clash The Clash 10" mini LP released in U.S. & Canada only
Borderline Ry Cooder
Commercial Album The Residents
A-Z Colin Newman
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
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 EP
Greener Postures Snakefinger

November

Day Album Artist Notes
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
In the Flat Field Bauhaus
Super Trouper ABBA
The Black Album The Damned
7 Divine Madness Bette Midler Live
Eagles Live Eagles Live
8 Ace of Spades Motörhead
10 The Jazz Singer Neil Diamond Soundtrack
Visage Visage
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 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs Dolly Parton
Bird Noises Midnight Oil
Yesshows Yes Live
28 Laughter Ian Dury & The Blockheads
Sound Affects The Jam
Toyah! Toyah Live
? 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
The Paris Collection Dollar
Silent Knight Saga
Solid Pleasure Yello
Song of Seven Jon Anderson
Stage Fright Witchfynde
Stone Jam Slave
This Is My Dream Switch
Taking Liberties Elvis Costello Compilation
The Turn of a Friendly Card The Alan Parsons Project

December

Day Album Artist Notes
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, Republic of Ireland 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, Republic of Ireland 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)

Other major hits

Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) Highest chart position
"Against The Wind" Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band April 1980 5
"Ah! Leah!" Donnie Iris October 1980 6 (Canada)
"All Out Of Love" Air Supply 2
"An American Dream" Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 3 (Can, NL)
"Amigo" Black Slate September 1980 9 (UK, NZ)
"Amoureux solitaires" Lio 1 (FRA)
"Another One Bites the Dust" Queen 5 (UK)
"Antmusic" Adam and the Ants 1 (Australia)
"Army Dreamers" Kate Bush 2 (Israel)
"Ashes To Ashes" David Bowie August 1980 1 (UK)
"Babooshka" Kate Bush June 1980 2 (Australia)
"Back Together Again" Roberta Flack featuring Donny Hathaway 3 (UK)
"Baggy Trousers" Madness September 1980 3 (UK, NZ)
"Better Love Next Time" Dr. Hook 7 (IRL)
"Biggest Part of Me" Ambrosia March 1980 3
"Boulevard" Jackson Browne June 1980 4 (CAN)
"Breakdown Dead Ahead" Boz Scaggs March 1980 8 (CAN)
"Can You Feel It" The Jacksons 1 (BEL)
"Cruisin'" Smokey Robinson 1 (NZ)
"Cupid/I've Loved You For A Long Time" The Spinners 4
"Desire" Andy Gibb January 1980 4
"Don't Ask Me Why" Billy Joel 4 (CAN)
"Don't Do Me Like That" Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers November 1979 3 (CAN)
"Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" Kenny Rogers and Kim Carnes 1 (CAN)
"Dreamin'" Cliff Richard September 1980 2 (BEL)
"Drivin' My Life Away" Eddie Rabbitt June 1980 5
"Emotional Rescue" The Rolling Stones June 1980 3
"Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime" The Korgis May 1980 1 (FRA)
"Fire Lake" – Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band 3 (CAN)
"Give Me the Night" George Benson June 1980 3 (FRA)
"He's So Shy" The Pointer Sisters July 1980 1 (NZ)
"Hey!" Julio Iglesias 1 (SPA)
"High School Confidential" Rough Trade 1 (CAN)
"Him" Rupert Holmes January 1980 4 (CAN)
"Hungry Heart" Bruce Springsteen October 1980
"Hurt So Bad" Linda Ronstadt 8
"I Can't Tell You Why" Eagles 8
"I Got You" Split Enz December 1979 1 (AUS, NZ)
"I Pledge My Love" Peaches & Herb January 1980 1 (NZ)
"I Wanna Be Your Lover" Prince 3
"Il jouait du piano debout" France Gall 1 (FRA)
"It's Hard to Be Humble" Mac Davis March 1980 3 (NZ)
"It's Only Love" Elvis Presley 3 (UK)
"Killer on the Loose" Thin Lizzy September 1980 5 (IRL)
"Köppäbävisan" Bengt Pegefelt 1 (SWE)
"La Quiero a Morir" Francis Cabrel 1 (Spain)
"Let My Love Open The Door" Pete Townshend June 1980 5 (CAN)
"Let's Get Serious" Jermaine Jackson 9
"Little Jeannie" Elton John May 1980 1 (CAN)
"The Long Run" Eagles November 1979 8
"Longer" Dan Fogelberg December 1979 2
"Lost In Love" Air Supply January 1980 3 (BEL)
"Misunderstanding" Genesis 1 (CAN)
"More Love" Kim Carnes 10
"Never Knew Love Like This Before" Stephanie Mills August 1980 1 (NL)
"Off the Wall" Michael Jackson 4 (NOR)
"On and On and On" ABBA 1 (AUS)
"On the Radio" Donna Summer November 1979 2 (CAN)
"Pearlydumm" BZN 1 (NL)
"Pilot of the Airwaves" Charlie Dore 3 (CAN)
"Real Love" The Doobie Brothers August 1980 5
"Refugee" Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers January 1980 2 (CAN)
"Ride Like The Wind" Christopher Cross February 1980 3 (UK)
"Santa Maria" Roland Kaiser 1 (GER, NL)
"Sara" Fleetwood Mac December 1979 7
"The Second Time Around" Shalamar October 1979 8
"Send One Your Love" Stevie Wonder November 1979 4
"Sexy Eyes" Dr. Hook 1 (NZ)
"She's Out Of My Life" Michael Jackson 3 (UK)
"Shining Star" The Manhattans February 1980 2 (NZ)
"Steal Away" Robbie Dupree April 1980 6
"Stomp!" The Brothers Johnson February 1980 1 (NZ)
"Take Your Time (Do It Right)" The S.O.S. Band March 1980 3
"This Is It" Kenny Loggins October 1979 9 (CAN)
"Tired of Toein' the Line" Rocky Burnette May 1980 1 (AUS)
"Too Hot" Kool & the Gang January 1980 5
"Turn It On Again" Genesis March 1980 8 (Italy)
"Turn Me Loose" Loverboy 3 (AUS)
"Tusk" Fleetwood Mac September 1979 3 (AUS)
"Vis Ta Vie" Jeane Manson 1 (FRA)
"The Wanderer" Donna Summer September 1980 3
"Weekend" Earth and Fire November 1979 1 (NL)
"With You I'm Born Again" Billy Preston and Syreeta December 1979 2 (UK)
"Yes, I'm Ready" Teri DeSario and K.C. December 1979 2
"You Decorated My Life" Kenny Rogers September 1979 7
"You May Be Right" Billy Joel March 1980 6 (CAN)
"You're Only Lonely" J.D. Souther September 1979 7

Classical music

Opera

Jazz

Musical theater

Musical films

Births

Deaths

Notes


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