Robert Christgau: Pazz & Jop 1980: Critics Poll (original) (raw)

Albums

1. The Clash: London Calling (Epic) 1347 (89)
2. Bruce Springsteen: The River (Columbia) 973 (80)
3. Talking Heads: Remain in Light (Sire) 863 (77)
4. Pretenders: Pretenders (Sire) 702 (68) *
5. Public Image Ltd.: Second Edition (Island) 625 (51) **
6. Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band: Doc at the Radar Station (Virgin) 594 (56)
7. Elvis Costello & the Attractions: Get Happy!! (Columbia) 571 (53)
8. Stevie Wonder: Hotter Than July (Tamla) 400 (35)
9. Prince: Dirty Mind (Warner Bros.) 383 (38)
10. Gang Of Four: Entertainment! (Warner Bros.) 383 (30)
11. Peter Gabriel: Peter Gabriel (Mercury) 280 (31)
12. Steely Dan: Gaucho (MCA) 268 (24)
13. Michael Jackson: Off the Wall (Epic) 267 (24) *
14. Peter Townshend: Empty Glass (Atco) 251 (26)
15. Rockpile: Seconds Of Pleasure (Columbia) 232 (28)
16. X: Los Angeles (Slash) 229 (22)
17. The Feelies: Crazy Rhythms (Stiff) 221 (19)
18. Dire Straits: Making Movies (Warner Bros.) 209 (24)
19. David Bowie: Scary Monsters (RCA Victor) 186 (19)
20. The Rolling Stones: Emotional Rescue (Rolling Stones) 181 (19)
21. The English Beat: I Just Can't Stop It (Sire) 178 (22)
22. Joy Division: Closer (Factory import) 166 (13)
23. Smokey Robinson: Warm Thoughts (Tamla) 165 (17)
24. Squeeze: Argybargy (A&M) 153 (14)
25. Young Marble Giants: Colossal Youth (Rough Trade import) 152 (15)
26. T-Bone Burnett: Truth Decay (Takoma) 150 (15)
27. Van Morrison: Common One (Warner Bros.) 148 (19)
28. The Police: Zenyatta Mondatta (A&M) 146 (15)
29. Lydia Lunch: Queen of Siam (ZE) 143 (12)
30. Iron City Houserockers: Have a Good Time (But Get Out Alive) (MCA) 139 (14)
31. Professor Longhair: Crawfish Fiesta (Alligator) 138 (15)
32. The Specials: The Specials (Chrysalis) 125 (13)
Neil Young: Hawks and Doves (Reprise) 125 (13)
34. Arthur Blythe: Illusions (Columbia) 122 (15)
35. Carlene Carter: Musical Shapes (Warner Bros.) 120 (15)
36. Graham Parker: The Up Escalator (Arista) 116 (12)
37. John Lennon/Yoko Ono: Double Fantasy (Geffen) 114 (12)
38. Joan Armatrading: Me Myself I (A&M) 108 (10)
39. Diana Ross: Diana (Motown) 106 (16)
40. Pink Floyd: The Wall (Columbia) 103 (9) *

* Includes 1979 votes: 26 (3) for Pretenders; 179 (16) for_Off the Wall_; 65 (5) for The Wall.

** Includes votes for The Metal Box (Virgin), the import-only 45-rpm mix of Second Edition.

Singles

1. Kurtis Blow: "The Breaks" (Mercury) 40 *
2. Joy Division: "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (Factory import) 38
3. Blondie: "Call Me" (Chrysalis) 36 *
4. The Clash: "Train in Vain"/"London Calling" (Epic) 32
Pretenders: "Brass in Pocket" (Sire) 32 **
6. Stevie Wonder: "Master Blaster (Jammin')" (Tamla) 29 ***
7. John Lennon/Yoko Ono: "Just Like Starting Over"/"Kiss Kiss Kiss" (Geffen) 27
8. The Vapors: "Turning Japanese" (United Artists) 23
9. Lipps Inc.: "Funkytown" (Casablanca) 22 *
10. Diana Ross: "Upside Down" (Motown) 18
Bruce Springsteen: "Hungry Heart" (Columbia) 18
12. Devo: "Whip It" (Warner Bros.) 17
13. Pretenders: "Talk Of the Town"/"Cuban Slide" (Real import) 16
14. Martha & the Muffins: "Echo Beach" (Virgin) 15
Rolling Stones: "Emotional Rescue" (Rolling Stones) 15
16. Jermaine Jackson: "Let's Get Serious" (Motown) 14
The Pointer Sisters: "He's So Shy" (Planet) 14
18. Bush Tetras: "Too Many Creeps"/"Snakes Crawl"/"You Taste Like the Tropics" (99) 13
The Jam: "Going Underground" (Polydor import) 13
Joy Division: "Atmosphere"/"She's Lost Control" (Factory 12-inch) 13
21. Paul Simon: "Late in the Evening" (Warner Bros.) 12
Donna Summer: "The Wanderer" (Geffen) 12
23. Jim Carroll Band: "People Who Died" (Atcol) 11
Dead Kennedys: "Holiday in Cambodia" (Optional) 11
Pylon: "Cool"/"Dub" (Caution) 11
Split Enz: "I Got You" (A&M) 11

* Includes votes for both seven-inch and 12-inch versions

** Includes seven 1979 votes for Real import version

*** Includes vote for import-only dub 12-inch

Village Voice, Feb. 9, 1981


1979 Essay | Dean's List 1981