Music was rapidly changing in 1979. This thing called “New Wave” was creeping in and replacing some of our good ol’ Rock standards. Plenty of established acts continued to hold their own while trying to adapt to this new movement. We were introduced to new bands like The Clash, The Cars, Cheap Trick, The Police, and others during the year. The decade of Progressive Art Rock was coming to a screeching halt! And as music made its way into the 80s, we tried our best to hold onto all the good times we experienced musically throughout the 70s. The result — an uptempo “clash” of sounds proliferated throughout the year of 1979.  And, we ended up loving all of it!

Also happening back in 1979:

• Minimum wage in the U.S. was $2.90 per hour
• The average annual income was $17,533
• A new car sold for $5,758
• You could build a new house for $58,099
• A loaf of bread was 47 cents
• A gallon of gas was 86 cents
• First Class postage was only 15 cents

1979 World News Headlines:

• The Shah of Iran was forced to leave the country after 37 years of rule
• Iran seized the U.S. Embassy and took 54 American hostages
• Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty at The White House
• Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan
• The United States broke ties with Nicaragua
• Mother Teresa, the empress of charity, accepted the Nobel Peace Prize
• Margaret Thatcher became the first female prime minister of England
• The Music for UNICEF concert was held at the United Nations to promote the “Year of the Child”

1979 U.S. News Headlines:

• Former Governor Ronald Reagan and President Jimmy Carter secured their parties’ presidential nominations
• The Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania began emitting radiation when part of the cooling system’s inner core became exposed
• The U.S. Government ordered the deregulation of oil companies
• Chrysler Corporation asked the federal government for a $1 billon loan
• Actor Lee Marvin was hit with a palimony suit from a former female companion

The top TV shows in 1979:  Dallas, Three’s Company, M*A*S*H*, The Jeffersons, Alice, The Dukes of Hazzard, One Day at a Time, WKRP in Cincinnati, Taxi, CHiPs, Mork & Mindy, Benson, Fantasy Island, Starsky & Hutch and Knots Landing

Favorite movies from 1979:  Kramer vs. Kramer, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Alien, Apocalypse Now, Life of Brian, Manhattan, Being There, Rocky II, The Jerk, 1941, Breaking Away, The China Syndrome, Norma Rae, “10”, Escape from Alcatraz, Meatballs, All That Jazz, The Frisco Kid, Electric Horseman, Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, The In-Laws, The Rose and Warriors

Check out the great music and lifestyle memories from 1979 on-the-air right now on both Live365 and TuneIn apps!

Share your favorites, plus any feedback and comments on the show.

Thanks for listening…

– Fred