Today I will talk about the year I have come to call the music year. 1980 was the break out year and ending year for many artists and bands. First on January 7th R&B/Rock 'n' roll songwriter Larry Williams is found dead he is known for being a big influence for John Lennon and the Beatles. This year many bands/artists would would have there debut album such as Iron Maiden,The Pretenders,Bryan Adams,The Romantics,U2,Survivor,INXS, Loverboy and Huey Lewis and the News are some of the many that would start out in this year.
This year would be big for British Metal artists such as Judas Priest with the classic ablum "British Steel,"Motorhead with the classic album "Ace of Spades."Black Sabbath with new lead singer Ronnie James Dio released one of there best albums "Heaven and Hell." Former lead singer Ozzy Osburne along with guitarist Randy Rhoads would go on to make "Blizzard of Ozz" which with the songs "Crazy Train and Mr. Crowley" would become one of the greatest metal albums of all time.
1980 would also become the biggest year for AC/DC first on February19th lead singer Bon Scott would die. Then they would bring in Brian Johnson and make the best rock and second best selling album of all time "Back in Black." Two more deaths would come in the rock world on September 25 Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham would be found dead by band member John Paul Jones this would cause one of the biggest bands in the world to break up. Then one of greatest song writers of the 20th century and former Beatle John Lennon would be shot to death outside his home in New York City just three weeks after the release of his latest album Double Fantasy. The album would become big all around the world. Others who died that year include lead singer Darby Crash of the Germs,Ian Curtis of Joy Division,Blues Piano player Professor Longhair,Tommy Caldwell bass player of the Marshall Tucker band,Keith Godchaux piano player for the Grateful Dead,Steve Peregrin Took who played percussion for T. Rex,John Poulos drummer for the Buckinghams and
Tim Hardin a composer who's songs were covered by Johnny Cash,Robert Plant,Rod Stewart and The Byrds to name a few.
Bob Seger would have his first and only number 1 album this year "Against the Wind" spending six weeks at the top and earning him two Grammy awards. Billy Joel's album "Glass Houses" would be big for him With the hits "It's Still Rock 'n' Roll to Me" and "You May Be Right" it would be the 4th biggest album of the year. "Emotional Rescue" By the Stones would be the number one album in the U.S. and UK and spend 7 weeks on the charts. "Hold Out" remains Jackson Brwone's only album to date to reach #1 on the Billboard chart. This year was huge for Queen with there album "The Game" which along with the classic songs "Another One Bites the Dust" and Crazy Little Thing Called Love" would become number 1 in America and around the world. It would go platinum in the U.S,U.K and Canada.Other big albums include "Remain in Light" by Talking Heads,"The River" by Bruce Springsteen and "Crimes of Passion" by Pat Benatar
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One of the biggest Musicals of all time was released this year. "The Blues Brothers" about a traveling blues band led by Dan Akroyd John Belushi. It also stars many blues and soul artists such as the Mg's,John Lee Hooker,James Brown,Ray Charles,Big Walter Horton,Pinetop Perkins and Aretha Franklin to name a few. since it's release it has gained a cult following.
Many of the eighties biggest Bands REM,Mr Mister, Stray Cats,Depeche Mode,Soft Cell and Eurythmics would be founded in this year.
Hear is a list of some of the many songs that were big in this year "You Shook Me All Night Long, Hells Bells, I Wanna Be Sedated, Hungry Heart, Turning Japanese, I Can't Tell You Why, The Long Run, The Tide Is High,
Call Me
, Hit Me with Your Best Shot ,Once in a Lifetime ,Celebration, Any Way You Want It, Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin', Living After Midnught, You Make My Dreams, Run Like Hell, Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2), Escape (The Piña Colada Song), Sailing, Brass in Pocket, Flirtin' With Disaster, Cars" and "Hit Me with Your Best Shot".
I have just finished reading a book about the life of Roy Orbison. I did not know very much about Roy. It was a very sad book due to the fact that many of his friends and family died young in tragic accidents including his wife,two of his sons and his older brother. It also talked about that he was not as pretty as Elvis and Ricky Nelson. Reading this book made me see how underrated Roy Orbison was. But to many in the music world he was a god. Some of these included Bruce Springsteen,Bono and Jeff Lynne of ELO. Springsteen honors him in his album Born to Run. He was raised only a few miles from Buddy Holly in Wink. He never became poplar in the U.S. as much as he did in England. He was still poplar even after those four men came in the music scene. He did record the smash hit Oh, Pretty Woman which knocked the Animals and Herman's Hermits off the English charts. which has been covered by every one from Bon Jovi and Al Green to Green Day and most notably Van Halen. He made many other classics including Sweet Dreams Baby,Crying and Blue Bayou. Roy Orbison was also a big daredevil when it came to Motorcycles and broke his foot once while riding. We can't forget his part in the greatest supergroup of all time the Traveling Wiburys with George Harrison, Bob Dylan,Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne. The debut album by the Wilburys, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 would be released in 1988 and be the last album for Roy who would be be dead soon after from a heart attack at age 52. Overall it was a good and interesting book. Here on the left is Roy with some of his friends from the Sun Years. Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.
