What was the #1 album on the Billboard chart the week of June 16, 1979?

My Thoughts on Billboard Chart History June 1979

So, June 1979 was—I'm looking at the top albums—it was rather uneventful.

* Bad Girls did all right.
* Breakfast in America was dying out. It had been really big in February, April, and May, but by June it was slowing down.

I mean, it was still doing well, just not the gangbusters it had been.

* Ricky Lee Jones, I think, was the hottest thing we had. That was a new style of music and very, very much FM.

The radio was playing Ricky Lee Jones a lot. Cheap Trick’s live cut was raucous and getting airplay as well.

We did all right on Cheap Trick. It was never huge, but we did all right.

Of the top‑10 albums, I would say Ricky Lee Jones and Van Halen II got the most attention.

Van Halen was a good group for the Rochester market.

Desolation Angels with Bad Company—I really don’t remember getting many sales from Bad Company.

The Bee Gees’ *Spirits Having Flown* was a dead‑on‑arrival type album. I know it did well nationwide, but in our market people were basically Bee‑Geed out and it wasn’t selling much.

We had a large spread on them; I still had baskets on the feature wall full of them and ended up marking them down.

I actually returned a lot of them in my August and September return that year.

James Taylor always did pretty well, but *Flag* was all right.

We did all right on the two albums before that, though. So that’s why I said it was kind of non‑eventful at the time.

Ricky Lee and Cheap Trick were probably the biggest of these top‑10 albums.

Album of the Week Spotlight

Cheap Trick Live At Budokan– CheapTrick 

Album of the Week Spotlight

Live at Budokan – Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick’s Live at Budokan exploded thanks to word-of-mouth and massive radio response. Originally intended for the Japanese market, demand in the U.S. forced an official domestic release.

What made it connect:

• Captured the raw energy of a live rock show
• Fans drove demand before labels caught on
• Became the band’s breakthrough moment

Notable Tracks

• I Want You to Want Me
• Surrender
• Ain’t That a Shame

These songs drove sales through heavy FM radio airplay and crowd buzz.

“I Want You to Want Me” in particular became a radio staple, pushing album demand almost overnight.

America’s Top Ten Albums – Week of June 16, 1979

Bad Girls – Donna Summer
Breakfast In America – Supertramp
We Are Family – Sister Sledge
Rickie Lee Jones – Rickie Lee Jones
Cheap Trick At Budokan – Cheap Trick
2 Hot – Peaches & Herb
Van Halen II – Van Halen
Desolation Angels – Bad Company
Spirits Having Flown – Bee Gees
Flag – James Taylor

What Drove These Albums?

Bad Girls – Donna Summer

Hot Stuff
Bad Girls
Dim All the Lights

Disco radio dominance + club play drove massive sales.

Breakfast In America – Supertramp

The Logical Song
Goodbye Stranger
Take the Long Way Home

Constant radio rotation made this album unavoidable.

We Are Family – Sister Sledge

We Are Family
He’s the Greatest Dancer
Lost in Music

Dance floors + crossover radio appeal.

Rickie Lee Jones

Chuck E.’s In Love
Young Blood
Easy Money

Strong critical buzz + radio curiosity.

Cheap Trick At Budokan

I Want You to Want Me
Surrender
Ain’t That a Shame

Fan-driven demand + live energy.

2 Hot – Peaches & Herb

Reunited
Shake Your Groove Thing
We’ve Got Love

“Reunited” was a #1 single—huge driver.

Van Halen II

Dance the Night Away
Beautiful Girls
Somebody Get Me a Doctor

Rock radio + band momentum.

Desolation Angels – Bad Company

Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy
Gone Gone Gone
She Brings Me Love

Established fan base + AOR radio.

Spirits Having Flown – Bee Gees

Tragedy
Too Much Heaven
Love You Inside Out

Continued disco-era dominance.

Flag – James Taylor

Up on the Roof
Millworker
Brother Trucker

Adult contemporary radio appeal.

Your Records Deserve Better Than the Floor!

What Was Happening That Week

Music & Pop Culture

• Disco remained dominant, but rock was pushing back
• FM radio stations controlled what became hits
• Arena tours were expanding across the U.S.

Television & Movies

• Three’s Company and Happy Days were popular TV staples
• Alien (1979) was gaining attention in theaters

News & World Events

• The energy crisis continued to affect U.S. daily life
• Gas shortages led to long lines nationwide
• Tensions in the Cold War remained high
• The Iranian Revolution earlier in 1979 continued to impact global politics
• Inflation and economic concerns shaped consumer spending

 This mix of uncertainty and escapism helped fuel upbeat, radio-friendly music.

  Trivia

1. Breakfast In America became Supertramp’s biggest-selling album worldwide
2. “Reunited” by Peaches & Herb was one of the biggest ballads of 1979
3. Cheap Trick’s Budokan album was first released only in Japan
4. Donna Summer earned the title “Queen of Disco” during this era
5. The Bee Gees were still dominating charts post-Saturday Night Fever

Better Sound Starts with the Right Turntable!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What was the #1 album on the Billboard chart on June 16, 1979?
A: Breakfast In America by Supertramp.

Q: How long did Bad Girls by Donna Summer stay at number one?
A: It spent multiple weeks at #1 in 1979, driven by strong single releases and club play.

Q: What other albums were popular the same week?
A: Bad Girls, We Are Family, and Van Halen II were among the top sellers.

Q: What drove album sales the most during this week?
A: Heavy FM radio airplay, artist momentum, and hit singles pushed listeners to buy full albums.

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