A handful of #1's from the UK, 1979:
Tubeway Army - Are 'Friends' Electric?
That's Gary Numan pre-"Cars". A bit of a revelation for me, since I didn't know he ever did anything but that one song.
Blondie - Sunday Girl
Another revelation for me. Up until recently, I didn't know this song was any kind of hit at all (let alone a #1). My friends and I were huge (9 year old) Blondie fans, but local radio never played this one. To us, this one was (as the kids on XM say) a "deep cut". Maybe it was only really big in the UK?
Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall
My 4th grade teacher would let us play records on the little crappy turntable before school started. I lived across the street from a juke box / arcade supply company, and would spend all of my allowance on 45s which I brought in to school. This song was a favorite in the classroom.
Speaking of Pink...
Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays
Ian Dury And The Blockheads - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
I've never heard this one before. I only know these guys from the earlier and much better "Sex And Drugs And Rock And Roll":
For many years “Another Brick in the Wall part 2” was all I knew about Pink Floyd, because my grade school friend Paul had the cassette of The Wall and we listened to that one a lot.
Oh and also: 30 years ago in the UK, the Gang of 4 was recording “Entertainment!”.
Love Ian Dury for breaking cracks in the “grr…snarl”-y 70s punk attitude. Badass yet completely goofy. I like “Rhythm Stick” better than “Sex & Drugs.” Fucking anthemic, if you ask me.
BTW I would love to participate in the Youtube fests but I have completely miserable internet.