The biggest-selling album of 1979, based on worldwide sales and impact, was Pink Floyd's *The Wall, a massive double album released late in the year that quickly became a monumental commercial success and defined the era's sound, alongside other huge sellers like the Bee Gees' Spirits Having Flown and Michael Jackson's Off the Wall**.
1979 Best Selling Albums Based on Worldwide Sales
London Calling is the third studio album by the English rock band the Clash. It was originally released as a double album in the United Kingdom on 14 December 1979 by CBS Records, and in the United States in January 1980 by Epic Records.
The best-selling album of all time worldwide is Michael Jackson's Thriller, with estimated sales exceeding 66-70 million copies, making it a global phenomenon since its 1982 release. The second best-selling album, often cited for the US market, is the Eagles' *Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975)*, while AC/DC's Back in Black and various soundtracks also rank highly.
Globally, Elvis has sold over one billion records, more than any other artist. His American sales have earned him gold, platinum or multi-platinum awards for 150 different albums and singles.
Garth Brooks has received seven Diamond awards for seven individual albums from the RIAA for selling over ten million units each, a feat only he can claim, and is the No. 1 selling solo artist in U.S. history certified by the RIAA with over 138 million album sales.
David Gilmour refuses to play Pink Floyd's epic "Echoes" live without the late keyboardist Richard Wright, feeling their musical interplay was too unique to replicate. Additionally, for recent solo tours, he's omitted songs like "Run Like Hell," "Another Brick in the Wall," and "Money" because he finds their themes or lyrics uncomfortable or doesn't feel ownership over them, preferring songs he was more involved in writing, such as "Comfortably Numb" or "Wish You Were Here".
There's no single "number one" album due to different metrics (sales, critical acclaim, cultural impact), but Michael Jackson's Thriller (1982) is consistently cited as the best-selling album worldwide and a landmark pop record, while The Eagles' Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) often tops US sales charts. Other contenders for "best" often include Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, and recent critical favorites like Adele's 21.
In 1979, the United States officially severed diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan). This decision marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, turning to view the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate representative of China.
Art Garfunkel (pictured in 2017) had the best-selling single of 1979 with "Bright Eyes", which spent six weeks at number one. Blondie secured three top 10 singles this year, including two number ones: "Heart of Glass" and "Sunday Girl".
Top 50 Songs of 1979
There's no single "best album of all time" as it's subjective, but critically acclaimed and popular choices consistently include The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Michael Jackson's Thriller, Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, and Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, with recent lists from Apple Music placing Miseducation at #1, while Rolling Stone often highlights Sgt. Pepper's.
1979 was the year that new wave became the genre. It went from being a purely underground movement to a massive commercial success. There were so many top-notch new wave albums that came out that year, with Talking Heads, Blondie, The Police, Squeeze, and more all climbing the charts with their releases.
1. Led Zeppelin. With more than 300 million albums sold, Led Zeppelin is one of the most successful bands in rock history – not just of the '70s!
There's no single "greatest" guitar solo, as it's subjective, but David Gilmour's "Comfortably Numb", Jimmy Page's "Stairway to Heaven", Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower", and Don Felder & Joe Walsh's "Hotel California" consistently top polls by critics and fans, alongside solos from Slash ("Sweet Child o' Mine"), Eddie Van Halen ("Eruption"), and Prince ("Purple Rain"), showcasing incredible technicality, emotion, and melodicism.
There's no single "saddest" Pink Floyd song, but common contenders include "Wish You Were Here" (loss of Syd Barrett), "Jugband Blues" (Syd Barrett's mental decline), "Comfortably Numb" (detachment), and tracks from "The Final Cut" (war's trauma, like "The Gunners Dream"), with the choice often depending on personal connection to themes of loss, isolation, mental illness, or grief.
The "most suspicious song" likely refers to "The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet," identified as "Subways of Your Mind" by the German band FEX, a mystery that captivated online communities for years until its identification in late 2024 by internet sleuths, involving a 1980s radio recording that sparked a massive search for its origins.
There's no single "greatest band" as it's subjective, but The Beatles consistently top lists for impact, sales, and cultural influence, often competing with bands like The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Queen, all British rock giants renowned for their artistry and enduring popularity. Other contenders often cited include The Who, Black Sabbath, Metallica, and AC/DC, reflecting diverse tastes in rock history.
Top 100 biggest selling albums by total units:
Pages in category "Musical groups established in 1979"
George Strait holds the record for the most platinum albums, with 33 certified by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for selling over one million copies each in the USA, a feat that cements his status as the "King of Country" and leads all artists across genres. He is followed by Elvis Presley and The Beatles in overall platinum awards, but Strait leads the pack specifically for platinum albums.
Garth Brooks is the artist with nine diamond-certified albums, a record for album sales (10 million+ units each), though Drake now leads in total Diamond certifications (albums and singles combined) with over 10, followed by Post Malone for singles. Brooks' nine diamond albums include classics like Double Live, The Ultimate Hits, and In Pieces, making him the sole artist with this many album awards from the RIAA.