Great Songs From 1979 That Aren't Disco Quiz

Answer: I Don't Like Mondays

This song by The Boomtown Rats was released in 1979 and spent four weeks at number one on the UK charts. It is based on the true story of a sixteen year old girl who shot at a school in San Diego, California, killing two adults and injuring eight children and a police officer. Allegedly, when Brenda Spencer, the shooter, was asked why she did it, she replied that she doesn't like Mondays and that was the inspiration for the song.

The song only reached number seventy-three on the Billboard Top 100 and some radio stations in San Diego declined to play the song due to its sensitive and too close to home subject matter.

Answer: Debbie Harry

Debbie Harry, lead singer of Blondie, is a singer, songwriter and actress who worked as a secretary and Playboy Bunny before breaking into the music industry. Blondie had a lot of success in the late 70s and early 80s and had six number one singles off their third studio album, called "Parallel Lines." It was off this album that "Heart of Glass" was released in early 1979.

The single went to number one in both the UK and the US. Although Blondie was a new wave band and part of a growing New York new wave scene, this song definitely had more of a disco vibe to it and the band was criticized for selling out.

Answer: London Calling

"London Calling", a single off the double album of the same name, was released in late 1979 in Britain and in January 1980 in the US. The song, one of the greatest of all time in my opinion, did not make the US charts at all and reached number eleven in the UK.

A lot of the band's lyrics throughout their music were politically charged and commenting on social issues and the band has had a huge influence on bands such as Rancid, Green Day and Bad Religion. In 2002 the band sold the rights to this amazing song to Jaguar for a car commercial and that just makes me sad.

Answer: Joy Division

Although originally recorded in 1978, Joy Division re-recorded and then released "Transmission" in October 1979 and then re-released with a different sleeve in 1980. The song hit the charts twice in New Zealand, once in 1981 and again in 1984. This influential song has been covered a lot, by Bauhaus, The Weather Station and by Smashing Pumpkins on their 1998 Adore tour. Joy Division only ever released two albums as their lead singer, Ian Curtis, suffered personal problems and from epilepsy; the seizures he had made it difficult for him to perform live. Tragically, he died by suicide in 1980.

The remaining members of the band re-formed under the name New Order.

Answer: The Attractions

Elvis Costello and the Attractions had a hit with "Oliver's Army" which reached number two in the UK. It was kept out of the number one position by "Staying Alive" by the Bee Gees and "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor. Costello's song about the troubles in Northern Ireland, which included a racial slur that is usually played uncensored on radio stations, is regarded as one of his best songs.

It is included regularly in his live shows. Costello performed it at a 1984 protest concert against Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Answer: The Police

"Message in a Bottle" was released in September 1979 as the first single off the second Police studio album, "Reggatta de Blanc"; the song reached number one in the UK and was the first of five number one songs for the band there. It only reached number seventy-four in the US.

The band held what were called "Police picnics" for three years in a row in Ontario, Canada, organizing festivals with other new wave acts that included Simple Minds, Oingo Boingo, The Talking Heads, Iggy Pop and Peter Tosh.

The first one was held in Oakville, Ontario and the subsequent two in Toronto, Ontario.

Answer: Brass in Pocket

"Brass in Pocket" is a 1979 single by the band The Pretenders. The song, all about confidence and sass, was a big success for the band, reaching number one in the UK and number fourteen in the US. Singer Chrissie Hynde is originally from Ohio and moved to London, England in 1973 where she worked at the musical newspaper NME and at the clothing store owned by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm MacLaren. Hynde was involved in early versions of The Clash and The Damned before forming the band that would become The Pretenders in 1978.

Answer: Nick Lowe

The song "Cruel to be Kind" was released in 1979 and peaked at number twelve in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. It was Lowe's only single in the US to hit the top forty. The video features actual footage from his wedding to Carlene Carter, who is the stepdaughter of Johnny Cash.

The song has been covered A LOT, including by the band Letters for Cleo for the 1999 movie "Ten Things I Hate About You."

Answer: Rock Lobster

"Rock Lobster", "Planet Claire" and "Dance This Mess Around" are all singles from the first studio album from Athens, Georgia band The B-52's. Known for their beehive hairdos, outlandish wardrobe, fun lyrics and over the top vocals, the band has had many hits, including the three singles from their first album. "Planet Claire" and "Dance This Mess Around" both reached number twenty-four on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart and "Rock Lobster" reached number fifty-six on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number one in Canada on the RPM national chart.

Answer: Video Killed the Radio Star

This song was written in 1978 and originally recorded by Bruce Woolley and the Camera Club with Thomas Dolby on keyboards. It was then recorded by The Buggles and released in September, 1979 on their first album "Age of Plastic." The song was a huge success, reaching the top ten in Canada, Germany and New Zealand.

The accompanying music video was the first ever played on MTV, in August 1981. For some reason, in mid-2020 the song became popular by users of the app Tik-Tok.