Michael Jackson dropped his classic “Off the Wall” album in 1979.
The year 1979 was a special year in the history of mankind.
The grass was greener.
And the sky was bluer.
Magic Johnson led Michigan State to the collegiate basketball national championship before becoming the first overall NBA draft pick by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Muhammad Ali was heavyweight champion of the world.
And the Seattle Supersonics (NBA), Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB) were world championships in their respective leagues.
And in music, Michael Jackson and Prince finally began becoming the superstars that so many had envisioned when they were teenagers and even younger.
Therefore, RegalMag.com would like to jump back into its time machine to celebrate the 10 best albums released during the final year of the 1970s.
- “Inspiration” by Maze featuring Frankie Beverly—By 1979, Frankie Beverly and Maze had begun to hit their stride as Black America’s favorite R&B group. Forty-five years later, Maze has not relinquished the throne. The “Inspiration” LP contained “Lovely Inspiration,” “Feel That You’re Feeling” and “Call on Me.”
- “Identify Yourself” by The O’Jays—Thanks to the Gamble and Huff sound, The O’Jays ruled 1970s R&B. And by the close of the decade, they let everyone know that they still had it. The “Identify Yourself” album contained the timeless hit “Forever Mine,” in addition to the track “Sing a Happy Song.” No surprise that the album went platinum with over one million sales.
- “Midnight Magic” by The Commodores—Lionel Richie’s pop success as a solo star might have led many to forget how great the band from Tuskegee University was. But like The O’Jays, they did some damage in the 1970s. With “Midnight Magic,” the former opening act for the Jackson Five released hit records like “Still,” “Sexy Lady” and “Sail On.”
- “Risqué” by Chic—Every hip-hop head on the planet should bow down to Chic because a sample of “Good Times” provided rap music with its first hit record in “Rapper’s Delight” by Sugar Hill Gang. The band that included Nile Rogers also dropped “My Forbidden Lover” and “My Feet Keep Dancing” on this classic disco record.
- “Prince” by Prince—When Prince Rogers Nelson entered the music business, he was already known as a musical genius who could play any instrument put in front of him. While his debut album in 1978 (“For You”) showed promise with hits like “Soft and Wet,” it was not until his self-titled sophomore album that people knew a star was soon to be born. With such anthems as “I Wanna Be Your Lover,” “Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad” and “I Feel For You,” he was off to the races.
- “Teddy” by Teddy Pendergrass—Yes, Cedric the Entertainer was hilarious in mocking “Teddy P” on “The Original Kings of Comedy.” But there was nothing to joke about when it came to the vocal prowess of the actual star from Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes. It was actually from the “Teddy” album that Cedric got his “Turn Off the Lights” joke. However, Pendergrass did not really have to holler to make some of the best baby making music of all time with classics like “Come Go With Me,” “If You Know Like I Know” and “Do Me.”
- “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge—The track “We Are Family” became so huge that it was the theme song for the 1979 World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates. The disco divas were not finished with the title track though. “He’s the Greatest Dancer” was another anthem off the “We Are Family” album. Fans loved “Easier to Love” also.
- “Bad Girls” by Donna Summer—It took Donna Summer a minute to find her groove in the music business. But when she found disco and fused it with raw sensuality and sexuality, she became the “Queen of Disco” music. Even if some people thought disco sucked, they probably could not deny the magnetism in songs like the title track and “Hot Stuff.” Hollywood executives, please give Summer fans the big screen biopic they want, with Kelly Rowland starring in the lead role.
- “I Am” by Earth, Wind & Fire—If people want to know how jamming the “I Am” album by Earth, Wind & Fire was, let Regal just list a few songs from the album and then think about how many bands from Historically Black Colleges and Universities rock out to them at halftime and battle of the bands almost 50 years after the fact. Songs include: “In the Stone,” “After the Love Has Gone” and “Boogie Wonderland,” which featured the marvelous voices of The Emotions. Fans also enjoyed “Can’t Let Go,” “Let Your Feelings Show” and “You and I.” A complete album with very little, if any, filler.
- “Off the Wall” by Michael Jackson—In 1978, Michael Jackson had finally become a respected adult star thanks to the “Destiny” album by The Jacksons, which was largely self-written and self-produced by the group of brothers. But when “Off the Wall” dropped the year later, Jackson would begin his launch into a stratosphere that was so far away that it made it impossible to come down from the clouds. Hooking up with Quincy Jones after working with him on the movie “The Wiz,” the dynamic duo dropped timeless hits like the title cut, “Rock With You,” “Workin’ Day and Night,” “She’s Out of My Life” and the Stevie Wonder-penned “I Can’t Help It.”
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