List of years in music (table)
In radio
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
In television
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
+...

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1978.

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

January–April

May–July

August–December

Also in 1978

  • Kenny Rogers continues his highly successful solo career with the single (and album) "The Gambler" and will go on to star in no less than five movies based around the song.
  • In the UK, singles sales are at their all-time high this year, boosted by the simultaneous peak of the disco and punk phenomena and the success of singles from the movie Grease.
  • Mozambique holds its first National Dance Festival, involving half a million people.
  • New Edition formed in Massachusetts, USA.

Bands disbanded

  • See Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1978

Albums released

January

Day Album Artist Notes
2 We All Know Who We AreCameo
3 Level HeadedSweet
White HotAngel
18 Excitable BoyWarren Zevon
19 PasticheThe Manhattan Transfer
20 City to CityGerry Rafferty
InfinityJourney
White MusicXTC
27 Bootsy? Player of the YearBootsy's Rubber Band
? Attention Shoppers!Starz
Double Live Gonzo!Ted NugentLive
Endless WireGordon Lightfoot
I'm ReadyMuddy Waters
The Modern DancePere Ubu
Open FireRonnie Montrose
Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent TownEmmylou Harris
Street PlayerRufus
Ten Years of GoldKenny RogersCompilation
Waylon & WillieWaylon Jennings and Willie Nelson

February

Day Album Artist Notes
6 EarthJefferson Starship
10 British LionsBritish Lions
It Begins AgainDusty Springfield
Stained ClassJudas Priest
Van HalenVan Halen
Waiting for ColumbusLittle FeatLive
17 Crossing the Red Sea with The AdvertsThe Adverts
ImpeckableBudgie
The Kick InsideKate Bush
24 WatchManfred Mann's Earth Band
27 Macho ManVillage People
? CasinoAl Di Meola
All This and Heaven TooAndrew Gold
Animal GamesLondon
Bring It Back AliveOutlawsLive
Tell Us the TruthSham 69
Drastic PlasticBe-Bop Deluxe
Easter IslandKris Kristofferson
Even NowBarry Manilow
Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush – LiveMahogany RushLive
It Happened One BiteDan Hicks
Let's Keep It That WayAnne Murray
Plastic LettersBlondie
Street ActionBachman–Turner Overdrive
Street HassleLou Reed
What Do You Want from LiveThe TubesLive

March

Day Album Artist Notes
2 Quiet RiotQuiet RiotReleased only in Japan
3 A Song for All SeasonsRenaissance
EasterPatti Smith Group
Southern WindsMaria Muldaur
Zappa in New YorkFrank ZappaLive
6 A BiographyJohn Mellencampas Johnny Cougar
10 NorthwindsDavid Coverdale[6]
Another Music in a Different KitchenBuzzcocks
13 Double DoseHot TunaLive
Gettin' the SpiritRoberta Kelly
Guilty Until Proven InsaneSkyhooks
17 Double FunRobert Palmer
Generation XGeneration X
Son of a Son of a SailorJimmy Buffett
This Year's ModelElvis Costello and the Attractions
23 KayaBob Marley & The Wailers
31 ...And Then There Were Three...Genesis
London TownWings
? Adolescent SexJapan
Champagne JamAtlanta Rhythm Section
First GlanceApril Wine
Hope & Anchor Front Row FestivalVarious ArtistsLive
Jesus of CoolNick Lowetitled Pure Pop for Now People in US
The RutlesThe RutlesSoundtrack
Some Things Don't Come EasyEngland Dan & John Ford Coley
SqueezeSqueeze
Warmer CommunicationsAverage White Band
What IfDixie Dregs

April

Day Album Artist Notes
7 For YouPrince
Hermit of Mink HollowTodd Rundgren
The Last WaltzThe BandSoundtrack
10 Heavy HorsesJethro Tull
12 FMVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
13 Almighty FireAretha Franklin
I Would Like to See You AgainJohnny Cash
14 Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion PictureVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
Long Live Rock 'n' RollRainbow[7]
17 Mutiny Up My SleeveMax Webster
19 TastyPatti LaBelle
20 Come Get It!Rick James
21 Bad BoyRingo Starr
24 Cold ChiselCold Chisel
Heaven TonightCheap Trick
25 ShowdownThe Isley Brothers
28 PowerageAC/DC[8]
? Double PlatinumKissCompilation
SagaSaga
MagazineHeartRe-issue with re-recordings
AdventureTelevision
You Can Tune a Piano, but You Can't Tuna FishREO Speedwagon
Boys in the TreesCarly Simon
Cats Under the StarsJerry Garcia Band
Future BoundTavares
A Live RecordCamelLive
The Only OnesThe Only Ones
Please Don't TouchSteve Hackett
Rainbow TakeawayKevin Ayers
StardustWillie Nelson
V2The Vibrators

May

Day Album Artist Notes
2 David Bowie Narrates Prokofiev's Peter and the WolfDavid Bowie with the Philadelphia Orchestra
We'll Sing in the SunshineHelen Reddy
You're Gonna Get It!Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
5 Stranger in TownBob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
12 Black and WhiteThe Stranglers
16 But Seriously, Folks...Joe Walsh
LivetimeHall & OatesLive
19 MisfitsThe Kinks
Natural ForceBonnie Tyler
The Man-MachineKraftwerk
26 David GilmourDavid GilmourSolo Debut
? U.K.U.K.Debut
PyramidThe Alan Parsons Project
Eternally YoursThe Saints
The Image Has CrackedAlternative TV
Love Me AgainRita Coolidge
Natural HighCommodores
The ParkerillaGraham Parker and The RumourLive
RecklessThe Sports
SongbirdBarbra Streisand
Stone BlueFoghat
Welcome HomeCarole King

June

Day Album Artist Notes
2 Darkness on the Edge of TownBruce Springsteen
Live and DangerousThin LizzyLive
Peter GabrielPeter Gabrielsecond album
SnakebiteWhitesnakeEP[9]
6 The CarsThe Cars
7 FameGrace Jones
9 OctaveThe Moody Blues
Some GirlsThe Rolling Stones
Dire StraitsDire Straits
Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the WorldsJeff Wayne
15 Living Room SuiteHarry Chapin
Street-LegalBob Dylan
SunlightHerbie Hancock
19 Thick as ThievesTrooper
20 Double VisionForeigner
? Face to FaceThe Angels
If I Weren't So Romantic I'd Shoot YouDerringer
NestedLaura Nyro
ObsessionUFO
Real LifeMagazine
See Forever EyesPrism
Shadow DancingAndy Gibb
Struck DownYesterday and Today
A Tonic for the TroopsThe Boomtown Rats
We Have Come for Your ChildrenDead Boys

July

Day Album Artist Notes
7 Nightflight to VenusBoney M
12 NightwatchKenny Loggins
14 More Songs About Buildings and FoodTalking Heads
17 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club BandVarious ArtistsSoundtrack
Cheryl LynnCheryl Lynn
HeartbreakerDolly Parton
20 TouchdownBob James
21 Can't Stand the RezillosThe Rezillos
? Under WrapsShaun Cassidy
Alicia BridgesAlicia Bridges
AmericanaLeon Russell
Dream of a ChildBurton Cummings
Hobo with a GrinSteve Harley
I've Always Been CrazyWaylon Jennings
Love or Something Like ItKenny Rogers
Norma JeanNorma Jean Wright
Out of ReachCan

August

Day Album Artist Notes
7 Roberta FlackRoberta Flack
11 C'est ChicChic
14 LanquiditySun Ra
15 Don't Look BackBoston[10]
21 Who Are YouThe Who[11]
Along the Red LedgeHall & Oates
28 Are We Not Men? We Are Devo!DevoDebut album
31 Live and MoreDonna SummerDouble LP; 3 sides live, 1 side studio
? All Night LongSammy HagarLive
Chairs MissingWire
Danger ZonePlayer
Do It All NightCurtis Mayfield
Frozen in the NightDan Hill
Is It Still Good To YaAshford & Simpson
Jass-Ay-Lay-DeeOhio Players
Kingdom of MadnessMagnum
Luxury You Can AffordJoe Cocker
Rose Royce III: Strikes Again!Rose Royce
Sir Army SuitKlaatu
Tokyo TapesScorpionsLive
Twin Sons of Different MothersDan Fogelberg and Tim Weisberg
Well Kept SecretJuice Newton
White, Hot and BlueJohnny Winter
Who Do Ya (Love)KC and the Sunshine Band
With Luv'Luv'

September

Day Album Artist Notes
1 Bloody Tourists10cc
The Bride Stripped BareBryan Ferry
Molly HatchetMolly Hatchet
5 Blue ValentineTom Waits
Skynyrd's First and... LastLynyrd SkynyrdRecorded 1971–'72
8 StageDavid BowieLive
Systems of RomanceUltravox
Tracks on Wax 4Dave Edmunds
11 Giant for a DayGentle Giant
15 Studio TanFrank Zappa
Wet DreamRick Wright
18 Ace FrehleyAce Frehley
Gene SimmonsGene Simmons
Paul StanleyPaul Stanley
Peter CrissPeter Criss
19 All Fly HomeAl Jarreau
Living in the USALinda Ronstadt
22 BreathlessCamel
TormatoYes
Bursting OutJethro TullLive
Road to RuinRamones
Love BitesBuzzcocks
The ManBarry White
One Nation Under a GrooveFunkadelic
Wet DreamRichard Wright
25 Cruisin'Village People
Ugly EgoCameo
29 Never Say Die!Black Sabbath
Green LightCliff Richard
NicoletteNicolette Larson
? Parallel LinesBlondie
Pieces of EightStyx
Fallen AngelUriah Heep
Flamin' Groovies NowFlamin' Groovies
GillanGillan
Leo SayerLeo Sayer
Mr. GoneWeather Report
RossDiana Ross
Back on the StreetsGary Moore
Dog & ButterflyHeart
O ZambeziDragon
RoughTina Turner
Some Enchanted EveningBlue Öyster CultLive
Time PassagesAl StewartIt will be released on November in UK
WavelengthVan Morrison
Weekend WarriorsTed Nugent
XKlaus Schulze
Feel the NeedLeif Garrett

October

Day Album Artist Notes
2 Hot StreetsChicago
M.I.U. AlbumThe Beach Boys
6 25 Years OnHawkwindas Hawklords
Go 2XTC
Pleasure and PainDr. Hook
So AloneJohnny Thunders
12 ChakaChaka Khan
13 52nd StreetBilly Joel
Comes a TimeNeil Young[12]
Christmas PortraitThe CarpentersChristmas
Fool AroundRachel SweetUK version
If You Want Blood You've Got ItAC/DCLive
16 A Single ManElton John
24 HemispheresRush
27 Slade Alive, Vol. 2SladeLive
Obscure AlternativesJapan
30 Pain KillerKrokus
31 Thoroughfare GapStephen Stills
? TotoToto
Photo-FinishRory Gallagher
Brass Construction IVBrass Construction
Coliseum RockStarz
Don't Cry Out LoudMelissa Manchester
If You Can't Stand the Heat...Status Quo
Inner SecretsSantana
Live! BootlegAerosmithLive
Money TalksThe Bar-Kays
Music for FilmsBrian Eno
New DimensionsThe Three Degrees
Not AvailableThe Residents
Playin' to WinOutlaws
Prehistoric SoundsThe Saints
Private PracticeDr. Feelgood
Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller)Captain Beefheart
TroubleWhitesnake
Two for the ShowKansasLive
Pleasure TrainTeri Desario
You Had to Be ThereJimmy BuffettLive

November

Day Album Artist Notes
1 Midnight OilMidnight Oil
3 Outlandos d'AmourThe Police
Killing MachineJudas PriestUK
All Mod ConsThe Jam
You Don't Bring Me FlowersNeil Diamond
10 Babylon by BusBob Marley & The WailersLive
Germfree AdolescentsX-Ray Spex
Give 'Em Enough RopeThe Clash
JazzQueen
13 LionheartKate Bush
The ScreamSiouxsie and the Banshees
15 Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Vol. 2Barbra StreisandCompilation
Shakedown StreetGrateful Dead
17 Love BeachEmerson, Lake & Palmer[13]
Dub HousingPere Ubu
20 Motor Booty AffairParliament
22 VariationsAndrew Lloyd Webber
23 The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1Earth, Wind & FireCompilation
24 Blondes Have More FunRod Stewart
Tubeway ArmyTubeway Army
Yellow Magic OrchestraYellow Magic Orchestra
27 Wings GreatestWingsCompilation
Love TracksGloria Gaynor
28 Briefcase Full of BluesThe Blues BrothersLive
30 Greatest HitsSteely DanCompilation
? BacklessEric Clapton
Crazy MoonCrazy Horse
Nina Hagen BandNina Hagen Band[14]
CrosswindsPeabo Bryson
Duck Stab/Buster & GlenThe Residents
EnergyThe Pointer Sisters
The GamblerKenny Rogers
Greatest HitsBarry ManilowCompilation
Greatest Hits 1974–78Steve Miller BandCompilation
LegendPoco
Live: Take No PrisonersLou ReedLive
Move It On OverGeorge Thorogood & The Destroyers
Profile: Best of Emmylou HarrisEmmylou HarrisCompilation
Rose TattooRose Tattoo
SanctuaryThe J. Geils Band
So YoungJo Jo Zep & The FalconsMini-LP
TNTTanya Tucker

December

Day Album Artist Notes
1 IncantationsMike Oldfield[15]
If You Knew Suzi...Suzi Quatro
Minute by MinuteThe Doobie Brothers
2 Quiet Riot IIQuiet RiotJapan
4 D.o.A: The Third and Final Report of Throbbing GristleThrobbing Gristle
8 Public Image: First IssuePublic Image Ltd
15 Here, My DearMarvin Gaye
18 DestinyThe Jacksons
From the InsideAlice Cooper
Back to the BarsTodd RundgrenLive
ÉquinoxeJean Michel Jarre
Back to EarthCat Stevens
American DreamsJesse Colin Young
Natural ActKris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge

Release date unknown

Biggest hit singles

The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1978.[16]

# Artist Title Year Country Chart entries
1Bee GeesStayin' Alive1977Australia / United KingdomUS BB 1 – Dec 1977, Canada 1 – Jan 1978, Netherlands 1 – Feb 1978, France 1 – Feb 1978, Italy 1 of 1978, Australia 1 for 7 weeks Jan 1979, US CashBox 2 of 1978, Austria 2 – Apr 1978, Switzerland 2 – Mar 1978, Germany 2 – Mar 1978, Scrobulate 2 of disco, Sweden (alt) 3 – Mar 1978, UK 4 – Feb 1978, Norway 4 – Mar 1978, Australia 4 of 1978, South Africa 4 of 1978, US BB 8 of 1978, POP 8 of 1978, AFI 9, OzNet 9, Party 13 of 2007, RYM 34 of 1977, Europe 36 of the 1970s, 80 in 2FM list, RIAA 94, Acclaimed 98, Germany 100 of the 1970s, Rolling Stone 189
2John Travolta & Olivia Newton-JohnYou're the One That I Want1978United States / AustraliaUK 1 – May 1978, US BB 1 – Apr 1978, Canada 1 – Apr 1978, Netherlands 1 – May 1978, Sweden (alt) 1 – Jul 1978, Switzerland 1 – Jul 1978, Norway 1 – Jul 1978, Australia 1 of 1978, Germany 1 – Jun 1978, Republic of Ireland 1 – Jun 1978, Australia 1 for 2 weeks Apr 1979, Austria 2 – Jul 1978, France 5 – May 1978, US CashBox 9 of 1978, Italy 12 of 1978, POP 15 of 1978, US BB 17 of 1978, Germany 17 of the 1970s, South Africa 17 of 1978, TOTP 20, Poland 26 – Jul 1998, Global 33 (5 M sold) – 1978, Europe 72 of the 1970s, RYM 153 of 1978
3Village PeopleY.M.C.A.1978United StatesUK 1 – Nov 1978, Netherlands 1 – Dec 1978, Sweden (alt) 1 – Dec 1978, Austria 1 – Jan 1979, Switzerland 1 – Dec 1978, Germany 1 – Jan 1979, Republic of Ireland 1 – Jan 1979, Australia 1 for 5 weeks Oct 1979, POP 1 of 1979, US BB 2 – Nov 1978, Canada 2 – Dec 1978, Norway 2 – Jan 1979, US BB 3 of 1979, France 3 – Dec 1978, Party 03 of 1999, US CashBox 4 of 1979, Global 7 (10 M sold) – 1978, Australia 15 of 1979, Germany 23 of the 1970s, Scrobulate 38 of disco, Europe 86 of the 1970s, RIAA 86, RYM 95 of 1978, Acclaimed 1662
4Boney MRivers of Babylon1978GermanyUK 1 – Apr 1978, Netherlands 1 – Apr 1978, Sweden (alt) 1 – May 1978, France 1 – May 1978, Austria 1 – May 1978, Switzerland 1 – Apr 1978, Norway 1 – May 1978, Germany 1 – Apr 1978, Republic of Ireland 1 – May 1978, Australia 1 for 6 weeks Apr 1979, South Africa 1 of 1978, Australia 3 of 1978, Germany 3 of the 1970s, TOTP 8, US BB 30 – Jul 1978, Italy 36 of 1978, RYM 77 of 1978, Global 100 (5 M sold) – 1978, OzNet 867
5Bee GeesNight Fever1978Australia / United KingdomUK 1 – Apr 1978, US BB 1 – Feb 1978, US CashBox 1 of 1978, Canada 1 – Feb 1978, France 1 – Apr 1978, Republic of Ireland 1 – Apr 1978, Norway 2 – May 1978, Germany 2 – May 1978, Netherlands 3 – Apr 1978, Switzerland 3 – May 1978, Austria 4 – Jun 1978, Sweden (alt) 5 – May 1978, US BB 10 of 1978, POP 11 of 1978, South Africa 12 of 1978, Italy 29 of 1978, Scrobulate 39 of 70s, RYM 59 of 1978, Party 77 of 1999, Germany 94 of the 1970s, Europe 96 of the 1970s, OzNet 894, Acclaimed 2046

Chronological table of US and UK number one hit singles

US number one singles and artist
(weeks at number one)

UK number one singles and artist
(weeks at number one)

Top 40 Chart hit singles

Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) US UK Highest chart position Other Chart Performance(s)
"5–7–0–5"City BoyAugust 19782788 (United Kingdom)11 (Australia) - 55 (Canada)
"Airport"The MotorsJune 1978n/a43 (Israel)See chart performance entry
"Alive Again"ChicagoOctober 197814n/a11 (Canada)13 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 39 (US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks)
"Are You Old Enough?"DragonAugust 1978n/an/a1 (Australia)6 (New Zealand)
"B-A-B-Y"Rachel SweetDecember 1978n/a3535 (United Kingdom)47 (Australia)
"Baby Hold On"Eddie MoneyJanuary 197811n/a4 (Canada)5 (U.S. Cash Box Top 100) - 19 (Australia) - 41 (Netherlands [Single Top 100])
"Don't Cry Out Loud"Melissa ManchesterOctober10n/a9 (Canada)2 (Canada RPM Adult Contemporary) - 9 (US Billboard Adult Contemporary) - 10 (US Cash Box Top 100) - 57 (Australia)
"Ça plane pour moi"Plastic BertrandJanuary 19784781 (France, Switzerland)See chart performance entry
"Pump It Up"Elvis Costello and the AttractionsJune 1978n/a2424 (United Kingdom)55 (Australia)

Other Chart hit singles

Notable singles

Song title Artist(s) Release date(s) Other Chart Performance(s)
"Alternative Ulster"Stiff Little FingersMay 1978n/a
"Ambition"Subway SectNovember 1978n/a
"Another Girl, Another Planet"The Only OnesApril 1978n/a
"Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)"BuzzcocksSeptember 197812 (UK Singles Chart)
"I Don't Mind"BuzzcocksApril 197855 (UK Singles Chart)
"I See Red"Split EnzDecember 1978began charting in 1979
"Know Your Product"The SaintsFebruary 1978n/a
"Ready Steady Go"Generation XMarch 197847 (UK Singles Chart)
"Rock Lobster"The B-52'sApril 1978Re-recorded version began charting in 1979
"Teenage Kicks"The UndertonesOctober 197833 (UK Singles Chart)
"What Do I Get?"BuzzcocksFebruary 197837 (UK Singles Chart)

Other Notable singles

Classical music

Opera

Ballet

Jazz

Musical theater

Musical films

Births

  • Unknown: Leilani Sen, English singer and television personality

Deaths

Awards

References

  1. "simpleminds.com 14 Jan, 2022 Out Now – Act Of Love". simpleminds.com. January 14, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  2. "Kate Bush's only tour: pop concert or disappearing act?". The Guardian. May 13, 2010.
  3. "The Picnic at Blackbushe Aerodrome 1978". www.ukrockfestivals.com. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  4. "Duran Duran – The Early Days Chapter 1". durancompilations.com. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  5. Flippo, Chet (November 30, 1978). "Keith Richards Guilty – But Free". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  6. Popoff, Martin (2016). The Deep Purple Family (2nd ed.). Wymer Publishing. p. 234. ISBN 978-1-908724-42-7.
  7. Popoff, Martin (2016). The Deep Purple Family (2nd ed.). Wymer Publishing. p. 234. ISBN 978-1-908724-42-7.
  8. "Certification for the UK".
  9. Popoff, Martin (2016). The Deep Purple Family, vol 1 (2nd ed.). Wymer Publishing. p. 237. ISBN 978-1-908724-42-7.
  10. "RIAA certifications". Recording Industry Association of America.
  11. "RIAA certifications".
  12. "BPI".
  13. "BRIT Certified". Bpi.co.uk. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  14. "Nina Hagen Band Album" (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  15. "BPI".
  16. Songs from the Year 1978
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