The UK Albums Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling albums of the week in the United Kingdom. Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical albums. This list shows albums that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart during 1979, as well as albums which peaked in 1978 and 1980 but were in the top 10 in 1979. The entry date is when the album appeared in the top ten for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).
The first new number-one album of the year was by Greatest Hits (1976-1978) by Showaddywaddy. Overall, eighteen different albums peaked at number one in 1979, with ABBA, Blondie and Gary Numan each having two albums hit that position.
Top-ten albums Key SymbolMeaning‡Album peaked in 1978 but still in chart in 1979.♦Album released in 1979 but peaked in 1980.EnteredThe date that the album first appeared in the chart.PeakHighest position that the album reached in the UK Albums Chart.
Entered (week ending)Weeksintop10 Single ArtistPeak Peakreached (week ending)WeeksatpeakAlbums in 1978 11New Boots and Panties!!Ian Dury and the Blockheads 5 1 5A Tonic for the Troops ‡The Boomtown Rats 8 2 28Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture ‡John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John and Various artists 1 13 26Nightflight to Venus ‡Boney M. 1 4 37Parallel LinesBlondie 1 4 8Emotions ‡Various artists 2 1 8A Single ManElton John 8 1 820 Golden Greats ‡Neil Diamond 2 1 7Midnight HustleVarious artists 2 1 12Blondes Have More Fun ‡Rod Stewart 3 4 8The Singles: 1974–1978 ‡The Carpenters 2 3 6Greatest Hits (1976-1978)Showaddywaddy 1 2 320 Songs of Joy ‡Harry Secombe 8 3Albums in 1979 7Don't Walk – BoogieVarious artists 1 3 13Armed ForcesElvis Costello and The Attractions 2 3 4Wings GreatestWings 5 1 6The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1Earth, Wind & Fire 6 1 7Action ReplayVarious artists 1 1 3Strangers in the NightUFO 7 1 15Spirits Having FlownBee Gees 1 2 4Marty Robbins Golden CollectionMarty Robbins 5 1 3Thank You Very Much (Reunion Concert at the London Palladium)Cliff Richard and The Shadows 5 2 9C'est ChicChic 2 1 32Manilow Magic: The Best of Barry ManilowBarry Manilow 3 3 2Live (X Cert)The Stranglers 7 1 3The Great Rock 'n' Roll SwindleSex Pistols 7 2 152nd StreetBilly Joel 10 1 9Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits Volume 2Barbra Streisand 1 4 7A Collection of Their 20 Greatest HitsThe Three Degrees 8 2 5ManifestoRoxy Music 7 1 1Desolation AngelsBad Company 10 1 20Breakfast in AmericaSupertramp 3 6 8Dire StraitsDire Straits 5 1 10The Very Best of Leo SayerLeo Sayer 1 3 5Country LifeVarious artists 2 1 12Last the Whole Night Long – 50 Non Stop Party Greats from James LastJames Last 2 1 4Black Rose: A Rock LegendThin Lizzy 2 1 4Fate for BreakfastArt Garfunkel 2 1 18Voulez-VousABBA 1 4 4Bob Dylan at BudokanBob Dylan 4 1 3The Billie Jo Spears Singles AlbumBillie Jo Spears 7 2 5Do It YourselfIan Dury and the Blockheads 2 2 5LodgerDavid Bowie 4 1 3This Is ItVarious artists 6 1 21DiscoveryElectric Light Orchestra 1 5 2SkySky 9 1 3CommuniquéDire Straits 5 1 4Back to the EggWings 6 1 14I AmEarth, Wind & Fire 5 5 9ReplicasTubeway Army 1 1 4BridgesJohn Williams 5 1 3Night OwlGerry Rafferty 9 1 5Live KillersQueen 3 1 11The Best Disco Album in the WorldVarious artists 1 6 2The Best of the DooleysThe Dooleys 6 1 3Some Product: Carri on Sex PistolsSex Pistols 6 2 12Outlandos d'AmourThe Police 6 1 2Highway to HellAC/DC 8 1 3Down to EarthRainbow 6 1 5In Through the Out DoorLed Zeppelin 1 2 5Slow Train ComingBob Dylan 2 1 1Street LifeThe Crusaders 10 1 7The Pleasure PrincipleGary Numan 1 2 4Rock 'n' Roll JuvenileCliff Richard 3 3 13String of Hits ♦The Shadows 1 3 5Oceans of FantasyBoney M. 1 1 1The Adventures of the Hersham BoysSham 69 8 1 3The RavenThe Stranglers 4 1 6Eat to the BeatBlondie 1 1 5The Long RunEagles 4 2 1Unleashed in the EastJudas Priest 10 1 26Reggatta de BlancThe Police 1 4 20Off the WallMichael Jackson 5 1 3Whatever You WantStatus Quo 3 1 6TuskFleetwood Mac 1 1 6Lena's Music AlbumLena Martell 4 1 6The SpecialsThe Specials 4 1 2The Fine Art of SurfacingThe Boomtown Rats 7 1 5Greatest Hits 1972–197810cc 5 1 5Rock 'N' Roller DiscoVarious artists 3 1 12Greatest Hits, Vol. 1Rod Stewart 1 5 13Greatest Hits Vol. 2ABBA 1 4 2Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants"Stevie Wonder 8 1 820 Golden GreatsDiana Ross 2 1 2Setting SonsThe Jam 4 1 220 Golden GreatsMantovani 9 1 6Love Songs ♦Elvis Presley 4 1 9The WallPink Floyd 3 4 6ELO's Greatest HitsElectric Light Orchestra 7 1 2Crepes & DrapesShowaddywaddy 8 2 4Peace in the ValleyVarious artists 6 3 1Night Moves 10 1 620 Hottest Hits ♦Hot Chocolate 3 1 3London CallingThe Clash 9 3
See also 1979 in British music List of number-one albums from the 1970s (UK)
References General
Specific
External links 1979 album chart archive at the Official Charts Company (click on relevant week)