Highlights 1979
Pink Floyd release their first single in 12 years and it tops the chart... Blondie have two consecutive No. 1s... Gary Numan lights the touchpaper for the explosion in electronic pop... Cliff Richard has his first No. 1 in 11 years... it's a vintage year for punk and new wave... and disco has its last hurrah with the million-selling Y.M.C.A...
Biggest Chart Single
BRIGHT EYES
Art Garfunkel
The curly-haired half of Simon & Garfunkel had his second and final solo No. 1 in the UK with this leporine ballad from the movie Watership Down. See Biggest Chart Singles
Biggest Chart Act
ABBA
For the first time in three years, the Swedish superstars failed to reach No. 1, yet they were the biggest chart act of the year. See Biggest Chart Artists
NME Song of the Year
ETON RIFLES
The Jam
The Jam's thunderous tirade about class war was the trio's biggest hit to date - and lit the fuse for their successful UK career. See WOW's Top Singles for 1979
Ivor Novello for Best Pop Song
I DON'T LIKE MONDAYS
The Boomtown Rats
A haunting and original song about the San Diego school shooting that gave The Rats back-to-back No. 1s. See WOW's Top Singles for 1979
WOW's Top Single of 1979
ARE 'FRIENDS' ELECTRIC
Tubeway Army
The first electronic No. 1 of the post-punk era was a peek into a dystopian future filled with android sex workers. See WOW's Top Singles for 1979
Most Played Song on the Radio†
BRIGHT EYES
Art Garfunkel
The year's best-selling single was also the most played on the radio - a nice earner for song writer Mike Batt
† The disc received the Ivor Novello award for most performed song of 1979