Is there a reason so many great rock albums came out in 1980?

Question

The year 1980 has so many classic rock albums. More than any other time in history. Your thoughts as to why?

Answer 1

That was before the synthesizer dominated popular music. So it makes sense. Some classic rock was able to incorporate it into the "classic guitar-based rock." The eighties are it's own entity because music EXPLODED into so many different directions, and MTV brought videos to the mainstream (meaning lots of money bands had to shell out) then bombed after the nineties.

Video killed the Radio Star!

Answer 2

Glad you asked The era 1978-80 is just about my favorite in the history of classic rock.Here's a few reasons why
Snakebite-Whitesnake
Pay It In Metal-Krokus
Just A Game-Triumph
Van Halen-Van Halen
Van Halen 2-Van Halen
Yes-Drama
Deguello-ZZ Top
The Cars-The Cars
Iron Maiden-Iron Maiden
Killers-Iron Maiden
British Steel-Judas Priest
In Through The Out Door-Led Zeppelin
David Gilmour-David Gilmour
Sammy Hagar-Red Album
Alcatrazz-No Parole From Rock And Roll
Whitesnake-Trouble
Queen-The Game
Rolling Stones-Tatto You
Bob Seger-Stranger In Town
Are just a few of the multitudinous AWESOME albums released in that Era.I was 13 in 1980 it was an excellent year all the way around.

Answer 3

1980, the start of a new decade, was a transitional time and year. Disco music had taken its last dance, and the era of the singer song writers took a back seat. John Lennon created his best work with Imagine. Blondie was all over the airwaves. The Pretenders, AD/DC, and Pink Floyd, put out great albums. And the time was ripe for a creative movement for new genres in music of punk, new wave, and grunge. I think there was a genre war at the time to gain wider appeal and faithful audiences as the baby boomers settled down and married. It was a great time. MTV was about to be born.

Answer 4

ACDC - Back in Black
Joy Division - Closer
John Lennon and Yoko - Double Fantasy
Steely Dan - Gaucho
Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
Kurtis Blow - Kurtis Blow
Def Leppard - On Through the Night
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
The Jam - Sound Affects
The Police - Zenyattà Mondatta
Talking Heads -Remain in Light

If this is not a great year in music, i dont know what is?

Answer 5

I can only think it happened because it was a rebellion against Disco. People were ready for a change.

To everyone calling the 80's a bad decade for music: listen to what music is the most popular today, namely Rap and Hip Hop. We are living through the worst decade for music right now, because Rap and Hip Hop dominate the industry and the awards shows. With the exception of some modern pop, r&b and alternative rock bands, the music of this decade is the worst.

Answer 6

There were much better years in music...1967, for example...the only album I can think of from 1980 is Back in Black...I'm not sure if R.E.M.'s Murmur album was released that year...and the 80's was the crappiest decade in music by far.

Answer 7

The albums weren't great they were just really popular and went down in history because all tof the baby boomers were teenagers and young adults and that was the only music that was out at the time for them.

Answer 8

1980 marked the true end of the disco era, and people were in need of better music. I think this was the beginning of the "New Wave" era.

Answer 9

Are you kidding? The 80's should be banned for music. It was the worst period in history for music. Have you heard Don McLean's American Pie? Listen to the Lyrics....it says it all. I'm really not all that old and I happen to LOVE the music of today, esp alternative rock, but the 80's? UGH. Sorry...just my opinion.
I am referring to the questioners reference to "classic" rock...not all the other techno stuff that came out in the 80's

Answer 10

i think back in black was out in 80