Despite it being on the same 1979 album as Another Brick in the Wall, it wasn’t released as a single until January 4, 1980, thus passing the criteria for making it into this countdown.  And boy does this song make an impact even today.  It is one of the greatest guitar solos of all time, and the song is still as massive today as it was then.  When you can listen to the song and end up singing back both the lyrics and the guitar solos, it’s not to place this at #4 in the countdown – Comfortably Numb by …..more →

We enter the top 5 with a song that is as much important today in its lyrical subject matter as it was back then.  At a time when many 70s prog rock bands were dying out, the few that survived into the 80s changed with the times.  This song was no different, but even better was it managed to stick to its prog rock roots while having enough crossover appeal in its sound.  It is almost a rock masterpiece, lyrically and musically, and it’s the #5 song turning 40 years old, The Spirit of Radio by Rush.

The sixth song on this countdown wouldn’t be on many others’ countdowns but it’s here for personal reasons.  It’s one of my all time favorite Genesis songs during the post-Gabriel/Hackett era, and I worn this song out when I first listened to it.  I still love it and could listen to it non-stop.  Coming in at #6 is Turn it On Again by Genesis.

Who doesn’t remember those weird, red energy domes?  They are synonymous with 80s pop culture, and the video and song that launched them into the public consciousness is the #7 song of 1980.  Nobody else that I can think of could have pulled off this song and production the way these guys did, and the song is still playable to this day.  Coming in at #7 is Whip it by Devo.

Pat Benatar returns for the second time in this countdown with her best track from Crimes of Passion.  The song’s chorus is actually quite anthem-like when you listen to it, and the song doesn’t get old the more you listen to it.  The fact that this track lives on to this day is a testament to it’s greatness.  At #8 is Hit Me With Your Best Shot by Pat Benatar.

We enter the top 10 40 year old songs countdown with the second of AC/DC’s classic return tracks.  The reason why this one scored better than the anthem preceding it is because of its musical and cultural impact.  This song has so many great guitar riffs that rock guitarists love to play, and it drives like a mother.  Try not banging your head slightly as you hear this song I dare you.  It also is the title track for an album that sold over 20 million copies, hard not to place Back in Black by AC/DC as the #10 song …..more →