1978 in British music
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This is a summary of 1978 in music in the United Kingdom.
Events
- 14 January – The Sex Pistols play their final show (until a reunion in 1996) at Winterland, San Francisco.
- 24 January – Wings' "Mull of Kintyre" is number one for a ninth and final week, becoming the biggest-selling single in UK history at that point.
- 25 January – Electric Light Orchestra kick off their Out of the Blue world tour in Honolulu, Hawaii.
- 11 March – Kate Bush becomes the first British female solo artist to reach number one in the UK charts with a self-written song, "Wuthering Heights".
- 30 April – The Clash, Tom Robinson Band, Steel Pulse, X-Ray Spex, the Ruts, Misty in Roots and Generation X all play live in Victoria Park, Hackney, at the Anti-Nazi League/Rock Against Racism festival, following a march from Trafalgar Square.
- 25 May – The Who play their last show with Keith Moon before his death.
- 15 July – The Picnic at Blackbushe Aerodrome, Camberley, Surrey, a concert featuring Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and Joan Armatrading, attracts some 200,000 people.[1]
- 30 July – Thin Lizzy officially announce that Gary Moore has replaced Brian Robertson on guitar.
- 18 August – The Who release their eighth studio album Who Are You. It is the Who's last album with Keith Moon as the drummer; Moon dies twenty days after the release of the album.
- September – Second anti-racism event staged in Brockwell Park, South London, featuring Elvis Costello, Stiff Little Fingers and Aswad, with 150,000 people in attendance.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- 27 November – Def Leppard's permanent drummer Rick Allen joins the band at the age of 15.
- unknown dates
- The Bee Gees' Saturday Night Fever becomes the biggest-selling album of all time (until overtaken in 1983).
- The first BBC Young Musician of the Year competition for classical players is won by trombonist Michael Hext.[2]
- Operatic contralto Helen Watts is appointed a CBE.
- Multitone Records is founded by Pranil Gohil, specialising in bhangra music.
Charts
Number one singles
| Date | Song | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | "Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School" | Wings |
| 8 January | ||
| 15 January | ||
| 22 January | ||
| 29 January | "Uptown Top Ranking" | Althea & Donna |
| 5 February | "Figaro" | Brotherhood of Man |
| 12 February | "Take a Chance on Me" | ABBA |
| 19 February | ||
| 26 February | ||
| 5 March | "Wuthering Heights" | Kate Bush |
| 12 March | ||
| 19 March | ||
| 26 April | ||
| 2 April | "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" | Brian and Michael |
| 9 April | ||
| 16 April | ||
| 23 April | "Night Fever" | Bee Gees |
| 30 April | ||
| 7 May | "Rivers of Babylon" | Boney M |
| 14 May | ||
| 21 May | ||
| 28 May | ||
| 4 June | ||
| 11 June | "You're the One That I Want" | John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John |
| 18 June | ||
| 25 June | ||
| 2 July | ||
| 9 July | ||
| 16 July | ||
| 23 July | ||
| 30 July | ||
| 6 August | ||
| 13 August | "Three Times a Lady" | The Commodores |
| 20 August | ||
| 27 August | ||
| 3 September | ||
| 10 September | ||
| 17 September | "Dreadlock Holiday" | 10cc |
| 24 September | "Summer Nights" | John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John |
| 1 October | ||
| 8 October | ||
| 15 October | ||
| 22 October | ||
| 29 October | ||
| 5 November | ||
| 12 November | "Rat Trap" | The Boomtown Rats |
| 19 November | ||
| 26 November | "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" | Rod Stewart |
| 3 December | "Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord" | Boney M |
| 10 December | ||
| 17 December | ||
| 24 December | ||
| 31 December | "Y.M.C.A." | The Village People |
Number one albums
| Date | Album | Artist | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 January | Disco Fever | Various Artists | 2 |
| 14 January | |||
| 21 January | The Sound of Bread | Bread | 1 |
| 28 January | Rumours | Fleetwood Mac | 1 |
| 4 February | The Album | ABBA | 7 |
| 11 February | |||
| 18 February | |||
| 25 February | |||
| 4 March | |||
| 11 March | |||
| 18 March | |||
| 25 March | 20 Golden Greats | Buddy Holly and The Crickets | 3 |
| 1 April | |||
| 8 April | |||
| 15 April | 20 Golden Greats | Nat 'King' Cole | 3 |
| 22 April | |||
| 29 April | |||
| 6 May | Saturday Night Fever | Original Soundtrack | 18 |
| 13 May | |||
| 20 May | |||
| 27 May | |||
| 3 June | |||
| 10 June | |||
| 17 June | |||
| 24 June | |||
| 1 July | |||
| 8 July | |||
| 15 July | |||
| 22 July | |||
| 29 July | |||
| 5 August | |||
| 12 August | |||
| 19 August | |||
| 26 August | |||
| 2 September | |||
| 9 September | Nightflight to Venus | Boney M | 4 |
| 16 September | |||
| 23 September | |||
| 30 September | |||
| 7 October | Grease | Original Soundtrack | 13 |
| 14 October | |||
| 21 October | |||
| 28 October | |||
| 4 November | |||
| 11 November | |||
| 18 November | |||
| 25 November | |||
| 2 December | |||
| 9 December | |||
| 16 December | |||
| 23 December | |||
| 30 December |
Year-end charts
The tables below include sales between 31 December 1977 and 30 December 1978: the year-end charts reproduced in the issue of Music Week dated 23 December 1978 and played on Radio 1 on 31 December 1978 only include sales figures up until 16 December 1978.
Best-selling singles
| No. | Title | Artist | Peak position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Rivers of Babylon"/"Brown Girl in the Ring" | Boney M | 1 |
| 2 | "You're the One That I Want" | Script error: No such module "Sort". and Olivia Newton-John | 1 |
| 3 | "Summer Nights" | Script error: No such module "Sort". and Olivia Newton-John | 1 |
| 4 | "Three Times a Lady" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 1 |
| 5 | "The Smurf Song" | Script error: No such module "Sort". and the Smurfs | 2 |
| 6 | "Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord" | Boney M | 1 |
| 7 | "Night Fever" | Bee Gees | 1 |
| 8 | "Rat Trap" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 1 |
| 9 | "Take a Chance on Me" | ABBA | 1 |
| 10 | "Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs" | Brian and Michael | 1 |
| 11 | "Dreadlock Holiday" | 10cc | 1 |
| 12 | "Wuthering Heights" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 1 |
| 13 | "Sandy" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| 14 | "Rasputin" | Boney M | 2 |
| 15 | "Substitute" | Clout | 2 |
| 16 | "Denis" | Blondie | 2 |
| 17 | "Baker Street" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 3 |
| 18 | "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 1 |
| 19 | "Figaro" | Brotherhood of Man | 1 |
| 20 | "Come Back My Love" | Darts | 2 |
| 21 | "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" | Rose Royce | 2 |
| 22 | "Mull of Kintyre"/"Girls' School" | Wings | 1 |
| 23 | "It's Raining" | Darts | 2 |
| 24 | "Wishing on a Star" | Rose Royce | 3 |
| 25 | "Lucky Stars" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 3 |
| 26 | "Dancing in the City" | Marshall Hain | 3 |
| 27 | "Boogie Oogie Oogie" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 3 |
| 28 | "Oh What a Circus" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 3 |
| 29 | "Grease" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 3 |
| 30 | "Jilted John" | Jilted John | 4 |
| 31 | "Y.M.C.A." | Village People | 2Template:Efn |
| 32 | "Annie's Song" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 3 |
| 33 | "Stayin' Alive" | Bee Gees | 4 |
| 34 | "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" | Script error: No such module "Sort". and Deniece Williams | 3 |
| 35 | "The Boy from New York City" | Darts | 2 |
| 36 | "Hopelessly Devoted to You" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| 37 | "Blame It on the Boogie" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 8 |
| 38 | "Darlin'" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 6 |
| 39 | "Never Let Her Slip Away" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 5 |
| 40 | "Sweet Talkin' Woman" | Electric Light Orchestra | 6 |
| 41 | "If I Had Words" | Script error: No such module "Sort". and Yvonne Keeley with the St Thomas More School Choir | 3 |
| 42 | "I Can't Stand the Rain" | Eruption featuring Precious Wilson | 5 |
| 43 | "Mr. Blue Sky" | Electric Light Orchestra | 6 |
| 44 | "Uptown Top Ranking" | Althea and Donna | 1 |
| 45 | "MacArthur Park" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 5 |
| 46 | "I Wonder Why" | Showaddywaddy | 2 |
| 47 | "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" | Sylvester | 8 |
| 48 | "If You Can't Give Me Love" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 4 |
| 49 | "A Taste of Aggro" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 3 |
| 50 | "Forever Autumn" | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 5 |
Best-selling albums
| No. | Title | Artist | Peak position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saturday Night Fever | Original Soundtrack | 1 |
| 2 | Grease | Original Soundtrack | 1 |
| 3 | The Album | ABBA | 1 |
| 4 | Nightflight to Venus | Boney M | 1 |
| 5 | 20 Golden Greats | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 1 |
| 6 | Rumours | Fleetwood Mac | 1 |
| 7 | Out of the Blue | Electric Light Orchestra | 5Template:Efn |
| 8 | Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 5 |
| 9 | Images | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| 10 | 20 Golden Greats | Script error: No such module "Sort". & the Crickets | 1 |
| 11 | The Kick Inside | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 3 |
| 12 | And Then There Were Three | Genesis | 3 |
| 13 | Classic Rock | London Symphony Orchestra | 3 |
| 14 | New Boots and Panties!! | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 8Template:Efn |
| 15 | Live and Dangerous | Thin Lizzy | 2 |
| 16 | Reflections | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| 17 | The Sound of Bread | Bread | 1 |
| 18 | The Singles: 1974–1978 | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| 19 | Street-Legal | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| 20 | A Tonic for the Troops | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 8 |
| 21 | 20 Golden Greats | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| 22 | The Stud | Original Soundtrack | 2 |
| 23 | City to City | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 6 |
| 24 | The Big Wheels of Motown | Various Artists | 2 |
| 25 | You Light Up My Life | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 3 |
| 26 | Greatest Hits (1976-1978) | Showaddywaddy | 4Template:Efn |
| 27 | 20 Golden Greats | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| 28 | Bat Out of Hell | Meat Loaf | 11Template:Efn |
| 29 | London Town | Wings | 4 |
| 30 | Emotions | Various Artists | 2 |
| 31 | Midnight Hustle | Various Artists | 5 |
| 32 | Some Girls | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| 33 | Variations | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| 34 | Pastiche | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 10 |
| 35 | Greatest Hits | ABBA | 12Template:Efn |
| 36 | Kaya | Script error: No such module "Sort". and the Wailers | 4 |
| 37 | Blondes Have More Fun | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 3 |
| 38 | Parallel Lines | Blondie | 7Template:Efn |
| 39 | Foot Loose & Fancy Free | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 4Template:Efn |
| 40 | Plastic Letters | Blondie | 10 |
| 41 | Arrival | ABBA | 12Template:Efn |
| 42 | Black and White | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 2 |
| 43 | 20 Giant Hits | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 3 |
| 44 | The Greatest Hits of Donna Summer | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 4 |
| 45 | Natural High | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 8 |
| 46 | This Year's Model | Script error: No such module "Sort". and the Attractions | 4 |
| 47 | Anytime...Anywhere | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 6 |
| 48 | Octave | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 6 |
| 49 | A Single Man | Script error: No such module "Sort". | 8 |
| 50 | Bloody Tourists | 10cc | 3 |
Notes: Template:Notelist
Classical music: new works
- Malcolm Arnold – Symphony No. 8
- Peter Maxwell Davies – Symphony no. 1
- Daniel Jones – String Quartet No 4
- Malcolm Williamson
- Azure
- Fiesta
Film and Incidental music
- Tony Banks – The Shout, starring Alan Bates, Susannah York and John Hurt.
- Roy Budd – The Wild Geese.
- Ron Goodwin – Force 10 from Navarone directed by Guy Hamilton, starring Robert Shaw and Edward Fox.
- Ed Welch – The Thirty Nine Steps, starring Robert Powell.
Births
- 1 January – Tarik O'Regan, composer
- 13 January – Shelley Nash, singer (Girls@Play)
- 15 January – Sandi Lee Hughes, singer (allSTARS*)
- 19 January – Wayne Williams, singer (Another Level)
- 13 February – Hamish Glencross, Scottish guitarist
- 14 February – Ryan Griffiths (The Vines)
- 22 February – Jenny Frost, singer (Atomic Kitten)
- 6 April – Myleene Klass, singer (Hear'Say), radio and TV presenter
- 7 April – Duncan James, singer (Blue)
- 9 April – Rachel Stevens, singer (S Club 7)
- 16 April – Terry Daly, Irish singer (Mytown)
- 23 April – Tom Lowe, singer and keyboardist (North and South)
- 25 April – Luke Bedford, composer
- 28 April – Lauren Laverne, singer, radio DJ and TV presenter
- 4 May – Matthew Rose, bass
- 22 May – Jordan, model and would-be singer
- 29 May
- Adam Rickitt, singer and actor
- Daniel Pearce, singer (One True Voice)Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- 6 June – Sophie Solomon, violinist
- 16 June – Elisa Cariera, American-born singer (Solid HarmoniE)
- 4 July – Stephen McNally, English singer-songwriter (BBMak)
- 1 August – Jonathan Wilkes, singer and entertainer
- 21 August – John Paul "J-Rock" Horsley, American-born singer (Big Brovaz)
- 3 September – Johnny Shentall, singer (Boom!)
- 15 September – David Sneddon, singer-songwriter
- 27 September – Jamie Benson, singer (Hepburn)
- 7 October – Alesha Dixon, singer (Mis-Teeq)
- 9 October
- Nicky Byrne, Irish singer (Westlife)
- Beverley Fullen, drummer (Hepburn)
- 26 October – Rachael Carr, singer (Boom!)
- 27 October – Sabrina Washington, singer (Mis-Teeq)
- 29 October – Sam Chapman, singer and keyboardist (North and South)
- 1 November – Bobak Kianovsh, singer (Another Level)
- 7 November – Mark Read, singer (A1)
- 23 November – Randy Brown, Jamaican-born singer (Big Brovaz)
- 27 November – Mike Skinner, rapper, musician and record producer
- 12 December – Paul Walker, Irish singer (Mytown)
- 18 December – Lindsay Armaou, Greek-born Irish-based singer (B*Witched)
- date unknown – Oliver Weeks, composer, arranger and guitarist
Deaths
- 11 January – William John Edwards, Cerdd Dant singer (b. 1898)[5]
- 15 January – Jack Jackson, trumpeter, bandleader and radio disc jockey (b. 1906)[6]
- 24 February – Mrs Mills, pianist (b. 1918; heart attack)[7]
- 9 March – L. Radley Flynn, singer and actor (b. 1902)
- 12 March – Tolchard Evans, songwriter, composer, pianist and bandleader (b. 1901)[8]
- 3 April – Ray Noble, composer and bandleader (b. 1903)
- 21 April – Sandy Denny, singer (Fairport Convention) (b. 1947) (cerebral haemorrhage)[9]
- 14 August – Victor Silvester, dance band leader (b. 1900)[10]
- 7 September
- Keith Moon, drummer of The Who (b. 1946) (Clomethiazole overdose)[11]
- Charles Williams, composer (b. 1893)[12]
- 15 September – Robert Bruce Montgomery, writer and composer (b. 1921)[13]
- 13 December – Jack Doyle, Irish-born boxer and singer (b. 1913; cirrhosis of liver)[14]
See also
- 1978 in British radio
- 1978 in British television
- 1978 in the United Kingdom
- List of British films of 1978
References
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- ↑ Scaping (1979). "Top 200 LPs in 1978". pp. 182–85.
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