Greatest Music Year in AT40 history

[BROWNJB1]

What do you think was the greatest music year in American Top 40 history? What I mean is, I'm not talking about the greatest year in terms of the shows popularity, or their ratings, I'm talking about the music that was on AT40 during a certain year. Every year is different, and they have their own identity, and music is no different. Lately I have been listening to American Top 40 shows from 1977, and there was some unbelievable music that came out that year. For me, it's hard to say what was the greatest music year in AT40's history. I do have some picks for the greatest music year in AT40 history: 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004. It's hard to say which one of these years was the greatest in terms of music in AT40 history. All of these year had great music. I would like to know what you think was the greatest music year in AT40's history.

[Jeffster]

1989 is my favorite, with 1985, 90, 88, 87, 91, 93, and 86 all not too far behind. Easy to see I'm a late-80s, early 90's guy.

[Deleted]

84 is probaby my favorite, with 85, 83, 90, 92, and 93 in there as well in some order following it.

[Scott Lakefield]

I'd have to say 1983, hands down. Followed probably by 84, 82, and 85.

[Alfred]

I agree with Scott. 1983 is really the best by far primarily due the big influx of Foreign acts.

Hits from The British acts (The Police, Culture Club, Eurythmics, Phil Collins, Madness, Asia, Human League, Naked Eyes, ABC, Thomas Dolby, Simple Minds, The Clash, Duran Duran) and Australian acts (Men at Work, Little River Band; Air Supply); Canadian (Men Without Hats)..I could go on and on...

[Scott Lakefield]

Wow...when I look at Alfred's list of 1983 hitmakers, I second my vote for 1983! (Can you second your own vote?

[BROWNJB1]

I have decided which year I feel was the greatest in terms of music in AT40 history. It's a tie between 1976 & 1977. With 1980, coming in at 3rd place.

[Michael1973]

I voted for 1983 also, mostly because that was the year I first heard AT40 and I have a lot of good memories of that time.

1988 and 1991 would be close behind.

[Deleted]

honestly I think 83-85 was gold as far as music is concerned.

[JLBass]

I like 1980 and 1981 the best. I grew up with Disco and was ready for a change and got it those years.

John

[Matt Cameron]

1983, for the reasons noted above (plus Mtv debuted in my hometown that year, and everybody looked so cool!!), followed closely by 1979, 1978, 1981 and 1986 (the year I graduated).

[Mark Johnson]

I would have to say 1985-1986, probably because that the year that I graduated high school. Especially the Fall of 1985. There were so many good songs then. Since I have all of those, I really like to listen to them every Fall.

[nenad]

I'd vote for 1983-1986 (mostly because it is the time I discovered AT40!) closely followed by 1994 (when alternative music found its way to the charts)!

[mstgator]

Gotta go with 1978, 'cause that's when I first discovered AT40. Also, that's around the time I really started listening to pop radio on a regular basis, so I like most of the songs from that year.

[Karstens]

mstgator said:

Gotta go with 1978, 'cause that's when I first discovered AT40. Also, that's around the time I really started listening to pop radio on a regular basis, so I like most of the songs from that year.

Pretty much the same boat as this the first year I kept tracks of the charts on weekly basis. It seems that most people go with the time period they were first exposed to the show.

They were other great years....by 1985, I stopped tracking the show (weekly) with multi-colored pens, so anything after that I didn't hear every show. Also, 1979 I missed a most of the shows because of a self-imposed ban on AT40 for one year.