Robert Christgau: Consumer Guide Index by Release Year: 1979

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Consumer Guide Index by Release Year: 1979

Listing for 319 records from 1979 (selected by release date), sorted by grade.

A+	Neil Young: *Rust Never Sleeps* [Reprise]
A	Air: *Air Lore* [Arista Novus] B-52's: *The B-52's* [Warner Bros.] Arthur Blythe: *Lenox Avenue Breakdown* [Columbia] Burning Spear: *Harder Than the Best* [Mango] The Clash: *The Clash* [Epic] Michael Jackson: *Off the Wall* [Epic] Nick Lowe: *Labour of Lust* [Columbia] Lynyrd Skynyrd: *Gold and Platinum* [MCA] Van Morrison: *Into the Music* [Warner Bros.] Graham Parker and the Rumour: *Squeezing Out Sparks* [Arista] Pere Ubu: *Dub Housing* [Chrysalis] The Roches: *The Roches* [Warner Bros.] Donna Summer: *On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volume I & II* [Casablanca]
A-	Terry Allen: *Lubbock (On Everything)* [Fate] Blondie: *Eat to the Beat* [Chrysalis] James Blood: *Tales of Captain Black* [Artists House] David Bowie: *Lodger* [RCA Victor] The Brides of Funkenstein: *Never Buy Texas from a Cowboy* [Atlantic] James Brown: *The Original Disco Man* [Polydor] Buzzcocks: *Singles Going Steady* [I.R.S.] Chic: *Les Plus Grands Succes de Chic/Chic's Greatest Hits* [Atlantic] Chic: *Risque* [Atlantic] Elvis Costello: *Armed Forces* [Columbia] Culture: *International Herb* [Virgin International] Cory Daye: *Cory and Me* [New York International] Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band: *James Monroe H.S. Presents Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band Goes to Washington* [Elektra] Dave Edmunds: *Repeat When Necessary* [Swan Song] Marianne Faithfull: *Broken English* [Island] Fashion: *Product Perfect* [I.R.S.] Taana Gardner: *Taana Gardner* [West End] The Heartbreakers: *Live at Max's Kansas City* [Max's Kansas City] Henry Cow: *Unrest* [Red] Ian Hunter: *Shades of Ian Hunter: The Ballad of Ian Hunter and Mott the Hoople* [Columbia] Irakere: *Irakere* [Columbia] Millie Jackson: *Live and Uncensored* [Spring] Linton Kwesi Johnson: *Forces of Victory* [Mango] George Jones: *My Very Special Guests* [Epic] Si Kahn: *Home* [Flying Fish] Lene Lovich: *Stateless* [Stiff/Epic] Jackie McLean: *New Wine in Old Bottles* [Inner City] Midnight Rhythm: *Midnight Rhythm* [Atlantic] Mutiny: *Mutiny on the Mamaship* [Columbia] The Only Ones: *Special View* [Epic] Pretenders: *Pretenders* [Sire] Richard Pryor: *Wanted* [Warner Bros.] Smokey Robinson: *Where There's Smoke . . .* [Tamla] Tom Robinson Band: *TRB 2* [Harvest] Roxy Music: *Manifesto* [Atco] Shoes: *Present Tense* [Elektra] Steel Pulse: *Tribute to the Martyrs* [Mango] Donna Summer: *Bad Girls* [Casablanca] Talking Heads: *Fear of Music* [Sire] Tipica Ideal: *Out of This World* [Coco] Tom Verlaine: *Tom Verlaine* [Elektra] Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson: *Kidney Stew Is Fine* [Delmark] Don Williams: *The Best of Don Williams Volume II* [MCA] Wreckless Eric: *The Whole Wide World* [Stiff] XTC: *Drums and Wires* [Virgin] Neil Young: *Live Rust* [Reprise] ZZ Top: *Deguello* [Warner Bros.] *Living Chicago Blues Volume I* [Alligator]
B+	Art Bears: *Winter Songs* [Ralph] Ashford & Simpson: *Stay Free* [Warner Bros.] Bee Gees: *Bee Gees Greatest* [RSO] Chuck Berry: *Rockit* [Atco] The Bizarros: *The Bizarros* [Mercury] The Boomtown Rats: *A Tonic for the Troops* [Columbia] Breakfast Special: *Breakfast Special* [Rounder] Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers: *Bustin' Loose* [Source] The Cars: *Candy-O* [Elektra] Ray Charles: *Ain't It So* [Atlantic] The Contortions: *Buy the Contortions* [ZE] Ry Cooder: *Bop Till You Drop* [Warner Bros.] Miles Davis: *Circle in the Round* [Columbia] Bob Dylan: *Slow Train Coming* [Columbia] Electric Light Orchestra: *ELO's Greatest Hits* [Jet] Joe Ely: *Down on the Drag* [MCA] The Fall: *Live at the Witch Trials* [I.R.S.] Fleetwood Mac: *Tusk* [Reprise] Robert Fripp: *Exposure* [Polydor] Funkadelic: *Uncle Jam Wants You* [Warner Bros.] Terry Garthwaite: *Hand in Glove* [Fantasy] The Gibson Brothers: *Cuba* [Island] Gichy Dan: *Gichy Dan's Beachwood No. 9* [RCA Victor] Philip Glass/Robert Wilson: *Einstein on the Beach* [Tomato] Al Green: *Truth n' Time* [Hi] Peter Green: *In the Skies* [Sail] Merle Haggard: *Serving 190 Proof* [MCA] John Hiatt: *Slug Line* [MCA] Holy Modal Rounders: *Last Round* [Adelphi] Hot Chocolate: *Going Through the Motions* [Infinity] Ijahman: *Are We a Warrior* [Mango] John Jackson: *Step It Up and Go* [Rounder] Millie Jackson: *A Moment's Pleasure* [Spring] Millie Jackson & Isaac Hayes: *Royal Rappin's* [Polydor] David Johansen: *In Style* [Blue Sky] The Jimmy Johnson Band: *Johnson's Whacks* [Delmark] Tonio K.: *Life in the Foodchain* [Full Moon/Epic] K.C. & the Sunshine Band: *Do You Wanna Go Party* [T.K.] B.B. King: *Take It Home* [MCA] Led Zeppelin: *In Through the Out Door* [Swan Song] Jerry Lee Lewis: *Jerry Lee Lewis* [Elektra] Richard Lloyd: *Alchemy* [Elektra] Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty: *The Very Best of Loretta and Conway* [MCA] Jay McShann: *The Big Apple Bash* [Atlantic] The Members: *At the Chelsea Nightclub* [Virgin International] Randy Newman: *Born Again* [Warner Bros.] NRBQ: *Kick Me Hard* [Rounder/Red Rooster] Gary Numan & Tubeway Army: *Replicas* [Atco] Parliament: *Gloryhallastoopid* [Casablanca] Peaches & Herb: *Twice the Fire* [Polydor] Pearl Harbor & the Explosions: *Pearl Harbor & the Explosions* [Warner Bros.] The Persuasions: *Comin' at Ya* [Flying Fish] Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: *Damn the Torpedoes* [Backstreet/MCA] Esther Phillips: *Here's Esther . . . Are You Ready* [Mercury] The Pop: *Go!* [Arista] Iggy Pop: *New Values* [Arista] Elvis Presley: *Our Memories of Elvis Volume 2* [RCA Victor] Prince: *Prince* [Warner Bros.] Bonnie Raitt: *The Glow* [Warner Bros.] Ray, Goodman & Brown: *Ray, Goodman & Brown* [Polydor] Raydio: *Rock On* [Arista] The Reds: *The Reds* [A&M] Lou Reed: *The Bells* [Arista] Brenda Russell: *Brenda Russell* [Horizon] Sister Sledge: *We Are Family* [Cotillion] The Slits: *Cut* [Antilles] Patti Smith: *Wave* [Arista] Sparks: *No. 1 in Heaven* [Elektra] Rod Stewart: *Greatest Hits Vol. 1* [Warner Bros.] Rachel Sweet: *Fool Around* [Stiff/Columbia] Sylvester: *Stars* [Fantasy] 10cc: *Greatest Hits 1972-1978* [Polydor] Irma Thomas: *Safe With Me* [RCS] Tin Huey: *Contents Dislodged During Shipment* [Warner Bros.] Toots and the Maytals: *Pass the Pipe* [Mango] 20/20: *20/20* [Portrait] The Undertones: *The Undertones* [Sire] Muddy Waters: *Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live* [Blue Sky] Weather Report: *8:30* [Columbia/ARC] Hank Williams Jr.: *Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound* [Elektra] The Wipers: *Is This Real?* [Park Ave.] XTC: *White Music* [Virgin International] *Permanent Wave: A Collection of Tomorrow's Favorites by Today's Bands on Yesterday's Vinyl* [Epic]
B	The A's: *The A's* [Arista] Moe Bandy & Joe Stampley: *Just Good Ol' Boys Featuring "Holding the Bag"* [Columbia] The Beat: *The Beat* [Columbia] Carla Bley: *Musique Mecanique* [Watt] John Cale: *Sabotage/Live* [Spy/I.R.S.] Rosanne Cash: *Right or Wrong* [Columbia] Marshall Chapman: *Marshall* [Epic] Leonard Cohen: *Recent Songs* [Columbia] Ian Dury & the Blockheads: *Do It Yourself* [Stiff/Epic] Earth, Wind & Fire: *I Am* [Columbia] Brian Eno: *Music for Airports* [Ambient/PVC] Aretha Franklin: *La Diva* [Atlantic] Robert Gordon: *Rock Billy Boogie* [RCA Victor] GQ: *Disco Nights* [Arista] Arlo Guthrie: *Outlasting the Blues* [Warner Bros.] Henry Cow/Slapp Happy: *In Praise of Learning* [Red] Ian Hunter: *You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic* [Chrysalis] Iron City Houserockers: *Love's So Tough* [MCA] Joe Jackson: *Look Sharp!* [A&M] The Jam: *All Mod Cons* [Polydor] Garland Jeffreys: *American Boy and Girl* [A&M] Kris & Rita: *Natural Act* [A&M] Bob Marley & the Wailers: *Survival* [Island] Delbert McClinton: *Keeper of the Flame* [Capricorn] Ian McLagan: *Troublemaker* [Mercury] Mighty Diamonds: *Deeper Roots (Back to the Channel)* [Virgin International] Sugar Minott: *Black Roots* [Mango] 999: *High Energy Plan* [PVC] One Way Featuring Al Hudson: *One Way Featuring Al Hudson* [MCA] Teddy Pendergrass: *Teddy* [Philadelphia International] Genya Ravan: *. . . And I Mean It!* [20th Century-Fox] Diana Ross: *The Boss* [Motown] Sly & the Family Stone: *Back on the Right Track* [Warner Bros.] Squeeze: *Cool for Cats* [A&M] The Whispers: *The Whispers* [Solar] The Who: *The Kids Are Alright* [MCA] Wire: *154* [Warner Bros.] Witch Queen: *Witch Queen* [Roadshow] *Living Chicago Blues Volume II* [Alligator] *A Night at Studio 54* [Casablanca] *Quadrophenia* [Polydor] *Rock 'n' Roll High School* [Sire]
B-	Be-Bop Deluxe: *The Best and the Rest of Be-Bop Deluxe* [Harvest] Bee Gees: *Spirits Having Flown* [RSO] The Boomtown Rats: *The Fine Art of Surfacing* [Columbia] Lonnie Brooks: *Bayou Lightning* [Alligator] Jimmy Buffett: *Volcano* [MCA] Cheap Trick: *Cheap Trick at Budokan* [Epic] Cheap Trick: *Dream Police* [Epic] Eric Clapton: *Backless* [RSO] Devo: *Duty Now for the Future* [Warner Bros.] Dire Straits: *Communique* [Warner Bros.] Steve Forbert: *Jackrabbit Slim* [Nemporer] The J. Geils Band: *Best of the J. Geils Band* [Atlantic] Eddy Grant: *Walking on Sunshine* [Epic] Jimi Hendrix: *The Essential Jimi Hendrix Volume Two* [Reprise] Freddie James: *Get Up and Boogie* [Warner Bros.] Rick James: *Bustin' Out of L Seven* [Gordy] Jefferson Starship: *Gold* [Grunt] Rickie Lee Jones: *Rickie Lee Jones* [Warner Bros.] The Kinks: *Low Budget* [Arista] The Knack: *Get the Knack* [Capitol] Roy Loney & the Phantom Movers: *Out After Dark* [Solid Smoke] Machine: *Machine* [RCA Victor] Carolyne Mas: *Carolyne Mas* [Mercury] Mary McCaslin: *Sunny California* [Mercury] McFadden & Whitehead: *McFadden & Whitehead* [Philadelphia International] John McLaughlin with the One Truth Band: *Electric Dreams* [Columbia] Anne Murray: *I'll Always Love You* [Capitol] Willie Nelson: *Willie Nelson Sings Kristofferson* [Columbia] Willie Nelson & Leon Russell: *One for the Road* [Columbia] Michael Nesmith: *Infinite Rider on the Big Dogma* [Pacific Arts] Wilson Pickett: *I Want You* [EMI America] Pink Floyd: *The Wall* [Columbia] The Police: *Regatta de Blanc* [A&M] John Prine: *Pink Cadillac* [Asylum] The Records: *The Records* [Virgin] Rufus & Chaka: *Masterjam* [MCA] The Rumour: *Frogs Clogs Krauts and Sprouts* [Arista] Bobby Rush: *Rush Hour* [Philadelphia International] Devadip Carlos Santana: *Silver Dreams Golden Reality* [Columbia] The Shirts: *Street Light Shine* [Capitol] Carly Simon: *Spy* [Elektra] The Sinceros: *The Sound of Sunbathing* [Columbia] Gino Soccio: *Outliine* [Warner Bros./RFC] Spinners: *Dancin' and Lovin'* [Atlantic] Spinners: *From Here to Eternally* [Atlantic] Sly Stone: *Ten Years Too Soon* [Epic] Sylvester: *Living Proof* [Fantasy] Village People: *Go West* [Casablanca] James White and the Blacks: *Off White* [ZE] Tony Williams: *The Joy of Flying* [Columbia] Stevie Wonder: *Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants* [Tamla] Ron Wood: *Gimme Some Neck* [Columbia] XTC: *Go for 2* [Virgin International] Yachts: *Yachts* [Polydor] Yipes!: *Yipes!* [Millennium] Frank Zappa: *Sleep Dirt* [DiscReet] *Living Chicago Blues Volume III* [Alligator]
C+	Aerosmith: *Night in the Ruts* [Columbia] The Allman Brothers Band: *Enlightened Rogues* [Capricorn] Asleep at the Wheel: *Served Live* [Capitol] Bobby Bare: *Sleeper Wherever I Fall* [Columbia] The Beach Boys: *L.A. (Light Album)* [Caribou] Pat Benatar: *In the Heat of the Night* [Chrysalis] Bootsy's Rubber Band: *This Boot Is Made for Fonk-n.* [Warner Bros.] Larry Coryell: *Return* [Vanguard] Dr. John: *Tango Palace* [Horizon] Bob Dylan: *Bob Dylan at Budokan* [Columbia] The Eagles: *The Long Run* [Asylum] Flash & the Pan: *Flash & the Pan* [Epic] Generation X: *Valley of the Dolls* [Chrysalis] Lowell George: *Thanks I'll Eat It Here* [Warner Bros.] Herbie Hancock: *The Best of Herbie Hancock* [Columbia] The Isley Brothers: *Go All the Way* [T-Neck] The Isley Brothers: *Winner Takes All* [T-Neck] Joe Jackson: *I'm the Man* [A&M] Little Feat: *Down on the Farm* [Warner Bros.] Nils Lofgren: *Nils* [A&M] Kenny Loggins: *Keep the Fire* [Columbia] Barbara Mandrell: *The Best of Barbara Mandrell* [ABC] Bette Midler: *Thighs and Whispers* [Atlantic] Joni Mitchell: *Mingus* [Asylum] Molly Hatchet: *Flirtin' With Disaster* [Epic] Ohio Players: *Everybody Up* [Arista] Suzi Quatro: *If You Knew Suzi* [RSO] The Raes: *Dancing Up a Storm* [A&M] The Rubinoos: *Back to the Drawing Board!* [Beserkley] Gary Stewart: *Gary* [RCA Victor] The Stylistics: *Love Spell* [Mercury] Supertramp: *Breakfast in America* [A&M] James Taylor: *Flag* [Columbia] Livingston Taylor: *Echoes* [Capricorn] Bram Tchaikovsky: *Strange Man, Changed Man* [Polydor] The Tubes: *Remote Control* [A&M] Dwight Twilley: *Twilley* [Arista] Van Halen: *Van Halen II* [Warner Bros.] Anita Ward: *Songs of Love* [Juana] Dionne Warwick: *Dionne* [Arista] Lenny Williams: *Love Current* [MCA] Yellow Magic Orchestra: *Yellow Magic Orchestra* [Horizon] *No Nukes* [Asylum] *Propaganda* [A&M]
C	Abba: *Greatest Hits Vol. 2* [Atlantic] Average White Band: *Feel No Fret* [Atlantic] Bad Company: *Desolation Angels* [Swan Song] Blue Oyster Cult: *Mirrors* [Columbia] The Charlie Daniels Band: *Million Mile Reflections* [Epic] The Dickies: *The Incredible Shrinking Dickies* [A&M] The Fabulous Poodles: *Mirror Stars* [Epic] Foreigner: *Head Games* [Atlantic] George Harrison: *George Harrison* [Dark Horse] Syl Johnson: *Uptown Shakedown* [Hi] M: *Pop Muzik* [Sire] Magazine: *Secondhand Daylight* [Virgin International] McGuinn, Clark & Hillman: *McGuinn, Clark & Hillman* [Capitol] Teddy Pendergrass: *Teddy Live! Coast to Coast* [Philadelphia International] Santana: *Marathon* [Columbia] War: *The Music Band* [MCA] Hank Williams Jr.: *Family Tradition* [Elektra] Wings: *Back to the Egg* [Columbia] Roy Wood: *On the Road Again* [Warner Bros.] Frank Zappa: *Sheik Yerbouti* [Zappa] *The Rose* [Atlantic]
C-	Bobby Bland: *I Feel Good, I Feel Fine* [MCA] The Bottles: *The Bottles* [MCA] Jefferson Starship: *Freedom at Point Zero* [Grunt] Elton John: *Victim of Love* [MCA] Madleen Kane: *Cheri* [Warner Bros.] Melissa Manchester: *Melissa Manchester* [Arista]
D+	Horslips: *The Man Who Built America* [DJM] Platinum Hook: *Platinum Hook* [Motown]
D	Mac Davis: *Greatest Hits* [Columbia] The Alan Parsons Project: *Eve* [Arista]

1978

1980