Much like 1977, generally speaking 1978 was not a great year for music. Unlike 1977, the ’78 edition of new releases didn’t have a Bat Out of Hell or Rumours to save it.
The Cars and Queen had a couple of great songs out in 1978, and the legendary wedding reception tune Old Time Rock And Roll was also released. Outside of those and a small handful of others, I shudder to think of what the radio played throughout that year. I’m glad I was only four years old, and by the time I was older I was able to pick and choose my music and not rely on radio. I’ll be honest with ya – I had to kind of stretch my definition of “Great” and “Awesome” and even “Solid” just to fill in the blanks. If I were to compare these songs to something from my biggest tastes – early 90s – most of these would get knocked down a category.
Unlike most rankings, I won’t be simply tossing these up in a numerical order. Because I know better than anybody that on some days, some songs kick more ass than other songs. A song that is ranked 14th today could very well rank 1st tomorrow, if it suddenly comes on the radio during the perfect moment. So I’ll group them:
Awesome
Great
Solid
Not Bad
…with inter-group splitting.
First, videos of my favorites from that year…
13 Great Songs from 1978
Raise A Little Hell – Trooper
Follow You, Follow Me – Genesis
Just What I Needed – The Cars
Life’s Been Good – Joe Walsh
My Life – Billy Joel
Old Time Rock And Roll – Bob Seger
Yep, the classic heard at pretty much every wedding reception was released in 1978.
Wheel In The Sky – Journey
Sultans Of Swing – Dire Straits
Summer Nights – John Travolta and Olivia Newton
I didn’t like the movie. Not my thing. But this song and the one below are catchy and I can’t help but like them. Probably because when I hear them I’m at a wedding reception (I generally don’t hear them otherwise).
Surrender – Cheap Trick
You’re The One That I Want – John Travolta and Olivia Newton
Who Are You? – The Who
Promises – Eric Clapton
5 Truly Awesome Songs from 1978
Fat Bottomed Girls – Queen
The Gambler – Kenny Rogers
Sweet Talkin’ Woman – Electric Light Orchestra
Bicycle Race – Queen
My Best Friend’s Girl – The Cars
I put the above great songs from 1978 on a YouTube playlist for your listening pleasure here.
The full list of songs I enjoy from 1978…
| Awesome – 1 | Fat Bottomed Girls | – | Queen |
| Awesome – 1 | The Gambler | – | Kenny Rogers |
| Awesome – 3 | Sweet Talkin’ Woman | – | Electric Light Orchestra |
| Awesome – 3 | Bicycle Race | – | Queen |
| Awesome – 3 | My Best Friend’s Girl | – | The Cars |
| Great – 6 | Follow You, Follow Me | – | Genesis |
| Great – 6 | Just What I Needed | – | The Cars |
| Great – 6 | Life’s Been Good | – | Joe Walsh |
| Great – 6 | My Life | – | Billy Joel |
| Great – 6 | Old Time Rock And Roll | – | Bob Seger |
| Great – 6 | Wheel In The Sky | – | Journey |
| Great – 12 | Sultans Of Swing | – | Dire Straits |
| Great – 12 | Summer Nights | – | John Travolta and Olivia Newton |
| Great – 12 | Surrender | – | Cheap Trick |
| Great – 12 | You’re The One That I Want | – | John Travolta and Olivia Newton |
| Great – 12 | Who Are You? | – | The Who |
| Great – 12 | Promises | – | Eric Clapton |
| Great – 12 | Raise A Little Hell | – | Trooper |
| Solid – 19 | Hot Child In The City | – | Nick Gilder |
| Solid – 19 | Beast Of Burden | – | The Rolling Stones |
| Solid – 19 | Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black) | – | Neil Young |
| Solid – 19 | Runnin’ With The Devil | – | Van Halen |
| Solid – 19 | Still The Same | – | Bob Seger |
| Solid – 24 | Can’t Stand Losing You | – | The Police |
| Solid – 24 | Copacabana (At The Copa) | – | Barry Manilow |
| Solid – 24 | Da Ya Think I’m Sexy | – | Rod Stewart |
| Solid – 24 | Don’t Look Back | – | Boston |
| Solid – 24 | Hot Child In The City | – | Nick Gilder |
| Solid – 24 | I Wanna Be Sedated | – | Ramones |
| Solid – 24 | Is This Love | – | Bob Marley |
| Solid – 24 | Rasputin | – | Boney M |
| Solid – 24 | Jamie’s Cryin’ | – | Van Halen |
| Solid – 24 | Miss You | – | The Rolling Stones |
| Solid – 24 | One Way Or Another | – | Blondie |
| Solid – 24 | So Lonely | – | The Police |
| Solid – 24 | You Really Got Me | – | Van Halen |
| Solid – 24 | Hold The Line | – | Toto |
| Not Bad – 38 | Slip Slidin’ Away | – | Paul Simon |
| Not Bad – 38 | Take Me To the River | – | Talking Heads |
| Not Bad – 38 | Come Together | – | Aerosmith |
| Not Bad – 38 | Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love | – | Van Halen |
| Not Bad – 38 | Bye Bye Love | – | The Cars |
| Not Bad – 38 | Heart Of Glass | – | Blondie |
| Not Bad – 38 | Hollywood Nights | – | Bob Seger |
| Not Bad – 38 | Hot Blooded | – | Foreigner |
| Not Bad – 38 | I Will Survive | – | Gloria Gaynor |
| Not Bad – 38 | Lights | – | Journey |
| Not Bad – 38 | Pump It Up | – | Elvis Costello |
| Not Bad – 38 | Roxanne | – | The Police |
| Not Bad – 38 | We’ve Got Tonight | – | Bob Seger |
| Not Bad – 38 | Werewolves Of London | – | Warren Zevon |
| Not Bad – 38 | What a Fool Believes | – | The Doobie Brothers |
| Not Bad – 38 | WKRP in Cincinnati theme | – | Steve Carlisle |
| Not Bad – 38 | Turn To Stone | – | Electric Light Orchestra |
| Not Bad – 38 | Big Shot | – | Billy Joel |
| Not Bad – 56 | Double Vision | – | Foreigner |
| Not Bad – 56 | Le Freak | – | Chic |
| Not Bad – 56 | Shattered | – | The Rolling Stones |
| Not Bad – 56 | Three Times A Lady | – | Commodores |
| Not Bad – 56 | Y.M.C.A. | – | The Village People |
| Not Bad – 56 | You Don’t Bring Me Flowers | – | Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond |
| Not Bad – 56 | Roller | – | April Wine |
| Not Bad – 56 | Don’t Stop Me Now | – | Queen |
| Not Bad – 56 | Every Kinda People | – | Robert Palmer |
| Not Bad – 56 | Macho Man | – | The Village People |
| Not Bad – 56 | Soul Man | – | The Blues Brothers |
| Not Bad – 56 | Straight On | – | Heart |
| Not Bad – 56 | Greased Lightning | – | John Travolta |
| Not Bad – 56 | Baker Street | – | Gerry Rafferty |
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