On November 2, 2025, Donna Jean Thatcher Godchaux-MacKay died aged 78. She was singer member of the bands Heart of Gold Band, Jerry Garcia Band, Dinna Jean Godchaux Band, but was best known as member and singer of Grateful Dead (1972 – 1979). Donna Jean recorded with Elvis Presley, Cher, Boz Scaggs, Johnny Jenkins, Bob Weir, David Bromberg, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Jerry Garcia, Zero, Jazz Is Dead and Robert Hunter. As leader or co-leader she released eight albums.
Tag Archives: 1979
Rainbow: Down To Earth
On August 3, 1979, “Polydor” label released “Down to Earth”, the fourth Rainbow studio album. It was recorded March – July 1979, at “Château Pelly de Cornfeld” in France, “Kingdom Sound Studios” in Long Island, and was produced by Roger Glover.
Personnel:
- Graham Bonnet – lead vocals
- Ritchie Blackmore – guitars
- Don Airey – keyboards, backing vocals
- Roger Glover – bass, backing vocals
- Cozy Powell – drums, percussion
- Gary Edwards – engineer
- Michael Palmer, Leigh Mantle – engineer assistant
- Greg Calbi – mastering
Track listing:
All tracks are written by Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover, except where noted.
- All Night Long
- Eyes of the World
- No Time to Lose
- Makin’ Love
- Since You Been Gone – Russ Ballard
- Love’s No Friend
- Danger Zone
- Lost in Hollywood – Ritchie Blackmore, Cozy Powell
Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons: Screaming Targets
On July 13, 1979, “Mushroom Records” label released “Screaming Targets”, the fourth Jo Jo Zep & the Falcons studio album. It was recorded 1978 – 1979, at “Armstrong Studios”, and was produced by Peter Solley.
Personnel:
- Joe Camilleri — vocals, saxophone, guitar
- Jeff Burstin – guitar
- Tony Faehse – guitar, backing vocals
- John Power – vocals, bass
- Gary Young – drums
Track listing:
All tracks by Joe Camilleri, Jeff Burstin and Tony Faehse, except where noted.
- Hit and Run
- Don’t Wanna Come Down
- Katschara
- Only the Lonely Hearted – Paul Jelly
- You Made a Fool Out of Me – Mickey Jupp
- Close to the Bone
- Shape I’m In
- Trails and Tribulations
- Thin Line
- Open Hearted
The Kinks: Low Budget
On July 10, 1979, “Arista” label released “Low Budget”, the eighteenth Kinks (The) studio album. It was recorded January – June 1979, at “Power Station” and “Blue Rock Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Ray Davies.
Personnel:
- Ray Davies – vocals, guitar, keyboards, cover concept
- Dave Davies – guitar, backing vocals
- Jim Rodford – bass, backing vocals
- Mick Avory – drums
- Gordon Edwards – piano
- Nick Newall – saxophone
- John Rollo – engineer
- Ron Kellum – art direction, design
- Gary Gross – photography
- “Special thanks to” Scott Litt and Raymond Willhard
Track listing:
All tracks by Ray Davies.
- Attitude
- Catch Me Now I’m Falling
- Pressure
- National Health
- (Wish I Could Gly Like) Superman
- Low Budget
- In a Space
- Little Bit of Emotion
- A Gallon of Gas
- Misery
- Moving Pictures
Leño: Same
On July 1, 1979, “Chapa Discos” label released the self-titled, debut Leño album. It was recorded in December 1978, at “Kirios Studios” in Madrid, and was produced by Teddy Bautista.
Personnel:
- Rosendo Mercado – lead vocals, guitar
- Chiqui Mariscal – bass, backing vocals
- Tony Urbano – bass, backing vocals
- Ramiro Penas – drums, backing vocals
- Teddy Bautista – harmonica, keyboards
Track listing:
- Castigo – Rosendo Mercado, Chiqui Mariscal, Ramiro Penas
- El Oportunista – Rosendo Mercado, Chiqui Mariscal, Ramiro Penas
- El Tren – Rosendo Mercado, José Carlos Molina
- Este Madrid – Rosendo Mercado, Chiqui Mariscal, Ramiro Penas
- La nana – Rosendo Mercado, Chiqui Mariscal, Ramiro Penas
- Sodoma y chabola – Rosendo Mercado, Chiqui Mariscal, Ramiro Penas, Mª Fernanda de Andrés
- Se acabó – Rosendo Mercado
Queen: Live Killers
On June 22, 1979, “EMI / Parlaphone” label released “Live Killers”, the first Queen live album. It was recorded January – May 1979, and was produced by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon.
Personnel:
- Freddie Mercury – lead vocals, piano
- Brian May – guitars, backing vocals
- John Deacon – bass guitar, triangle, backing vocals
- Roger Taylor – lead, co-lead and backing vocals, drums, tambourine, timpani
- George Marino – mastering
Track listing:
- We Will Rock You – Brian May
- Let Me Entertain You – Freddie Mercury
- Death on Two Legs – Freddie Mercury
- Killer Queen – Freddie Mercury
- Bicycle Race – Freddie Mercury
- I’m in Love with My Car – Roger Taylor
- Get Down, Make Love – Freddie Mercury
- You’re My Best Friend – John Deacon
- Now I’m Here – Brian May
- Dreamer’s Ball – Brian May
- Love of My Life – Freddie Mercury
- 39 – Brian May
- Keep Yourself Alive – Brian May
The Clash: The Cost Of Living
On May 11, 1979, “CBS” label released “The Cost of Living”, the second Clash (The) EP. It was recorded in 1978, and was produced by Bill Price, Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Nicky “Topper” Headon.
Personnel:
- Joe Strummer – lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar
- Mick Jones – lead and backing vocals, lead guitar
- Paul Simonon – lead and backing vocals, bass guitar
- Nicky “Topper” Headon – drums, percussion
Track listing:
All tracks by Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, except where noted.
- I Fought the Law – Sonny Curtis
- Groovy Times
- Gates of the West
- Capital Radio
- The Cost of Living Advert
Charlie Daniels Band: Million Mile Reflections
On April 20, 1979, “Epic” label released “Million Mile Reflections”, the seventh Charlie Daniels Band studio album (the tenth Charlie Daniels studio overall). It was recorded 1978 – 1979, at “Woodland” in Nashville, Tennessee, and was produced by John Boylan.
Personnel:
- Charlie Daniels – vocals, guitar, fiddle
- Tom Crain – vocals, guitar
- “Taz” DiGregorio – vocals, keyboards
- Charles Hayward – bass
- James W. Marshall – drums, percussion
- Fred Edwards – drums, percussion
- Terry Mead – trumpet
- Lea Jane Singers – backing vocals
- Bergen White – string arrangements
- Paul Grupp – engineer
- Steve Goostree – recording assistant
- Dave Rideau, Erik Zobler – mixing assistant
- Bill Myers – illustrations
- Virginia Team – Wm. J. Johnson – design
- Joseph E. Sullivan – production supervisor
Track listing:
All tracks by Charlie Daniels, Tom Crain, Taz DiGregorio, Fred Edwards, Charles Hayward and James W. Marshall, except where noted.
- Passing Lane
- Blue Star
- Jitterbug – Charlie Daniels, Tom Crain, Taz DiGregorio, Fred Edwards, Charles Hayward, Don Murray
- Behind Your Eyes – John Boylan
- Reflections
- The Devil Went Down to Georgia
- Mississippi – Charlie Daniels
- Blind Man – Tom Crain
- Rainbow Ride
The Pop Group: Y
On April 20, 1979, “Radar” label released “Y”, the debut Pop Group (The) studio album. It was recorded 1978 – 1979, at “Ridge Farm Studios” in Surrey, England, and was produced by Dennis “Blackbeard” Bovell. Magazine The Wire included “Y” in its list of “The 100 Most Important Records Ever Made”.
Personnel:
- Mark Stewart – vocals
- Gareth Sager – guitar, saxophone, piano
- John Waddington – guitar
- Simon Underwood – bass guitar
- Bruce Smith – drums, percussion
- Disc O’Dell – musical direction
- Mike Dunne – engineer
- Brian Gaylor – engineer assistant
- Eddy Gorecki – mastering
Track listing:
All tracks by Mark Stewart, Gareth Sager, John Waddington, Simon Underwood and Bruce Smith.
- Thief of Fire
- Snowgirl
- Blood Money
- Savage Sea
- We Are Time
- Words Disobey Me
- Don’t Call Me Pain
- The Boys from Brazil
- Don’t Sell Your Dreams
Judas Priest: British Steel
On April 11, 1980, “CBS” label released “British Steel”, the sixth Judas Priest studio album. It was recorded in 1979, and was produced by “Tittenhurst Park” in Ascot, England, and was produced by Tom Allom.
Personnel:
- Rob Halford – vocals
- K. K. Downing – guitars
- Glenn Tipton – guitars
- Ian Hill – bass
- Dave Holland – drums
- Lou Austin – engineer
- Ray Staff – cut
- Rosław Szaybo – design
- Robert Elsdale – photography
- Robert Ellis – photography
Track listing:
All tracks by Glenn Tipton, Rob Halford and K. K. Downing.
- Breaking the Law
- Rapid Fire
- Metal Gods
- Grinder
- United
- Living After Midnight
- You Don’t Have to Be Old to Be Wise
- The Rage
- Steeler
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