#XPN5050: 1978

For fifty weeks over the next year, we’re celebrating the music of a specific year every Saturday on WXPN. We’ll be choosing the years randomly; for this week’s #XPN5050, Dan Reed is putting the musical spotlight on the year 1978.

Bruce Springsteen, Blondie, and Big Star were just a few of the artists who made music in the year 1978. Theatrical singer-songwriter Kate Bush debuted with The Kick Inside featuring the classic “Wuthering Heights,” experimental punk band DEVO released Q. Are We Not Men? A. We Are Devo., Kraftwerk’s seventh album The Man-Machine made a huge impact, The Clash revved up fans with Give ‘Em Enough Rope, Patti Smith broke new ground with Easter, and so much more.

On television, 1978 saw the debut of classic series such as Dallas, Taxi, Mork and Mindy, Diff’rent Strokes and a television show near and dear to our hearts, WKRP In Cincinnati.

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Horror and suspense fans had a lot to be thrilled about in the movie theater in 1978, between Halloween, Day of the Dead, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Jaws, though the year also featured a variety of drama and comedy as well, including Animal House, Grease, Midnight Express, and the amazing big-screen production of The Wiz starring Diana Ross.

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Listen to a playlist of music from the year 1978 below.